(The following post was contributed by TravelMuse writer Laurie Bain Wilson.)
Travel is a great way for families to experience the holiday season’s joys, and it’s just as fun to unwrap the surprises that visiting a new destination brings than getting a handful of gifts. Here are some far-flung and close-to-home ideas for getaways where you can enjoy the holidays.
Canada
Our neighbor to the north beckons families to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler with its dozens of 12- to 14-foot tall Christmas trees all gussied up and in display in the lobby. But the best part of staying here for the holidays because each guestroom gets a fresh, live tree and decorations so families can create a home away from home. Nice touch: The trees are planted after Christmas at the resort’s golf course and surrounding areas. Call 866-540-4424 or visit www.fairmont.com/whistler. (Read our recent Whistler coverage!)
Across the Pond
Christmas in Europe is steeped in tradition thanks, in part, to the hundreds of authentic Christmas markets that are visually stunning and spiritually uplifting. In Austria, there is a Christkindlmarkt on in most cities throughout the country. One of the most engaging markets for children is Rathausplatz, a classic Christmas market in Vienna, located on the square in front of the City Hall. In addition to food and gifts and gluhwein (mulled wine) there is a collection of elaborately decorated trees in the square. Inside City Hall is where kids delight in Christkindls Werkstatt, the setting for thousands of kids to decorate cookies and make gifts. For more information about Austria’s Christmas markets visit the Vienna Board of Tourism at www.wien.info.
Oregon
Old-fashioned sleigh rides are free for resort guests at Sunriver Resort, located in Sunriver, Oregon, 15 miles from Bend. The resort also holds the distinction of boasting Central Oregon’s biggest holiday light display. Kids can have breakfast with Santa, enjoy a teddy bear tea and get an elf tuck-in. Bonus: Family Christmas sing-along concerts. Call 800-801-8765 or visit www.sunriver-resort.com.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
The combo of Western, Hispanic and Native American traditions make celebrating Christmas here a true cultural experience. Farolitos, small bags filled with sand and lit from within by votives, are Santa Fe’s traditional Christmas decoration and you’ll see them everywhere you go here, especially on Christmas Eve when Santa Fe Plaza, the city’s heart and soul, is decorated with 1,000 farolitos; cider is served, carols are sung and you can walk from here to the nearby Cross of the Martyrs, also outlined by farolitos. You’ll also see luminarias, small bonfires that are believed to have lighted the way for the Three Wise Men to Mary and the baby *****.
Make reservations at one of Santa Fe’s many restaurants to dig into the traditional Christmas meal of posole (dried corn like hominy in a thick soup or stew with chiles.) The Santa Fe ski area, known as Ski Santa Fe, located 16 miles from the Plaza, typically has all 43 of its runs open by Christmas. For more information, visit www.santafe.org.
New England
Dog sledding has become a popular New England adventure, and one of the few places you can do it is at the historic Mount Washington Hotel nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The resort also offers sleigh rides, snowshoeing, and skiing. Kids can snuggle in front of a fire with eggnog or cider and then get tucked in by one of Santa’s elves. Bonus: The “Family Fun for the Holidays” camp offers supervised day and evening activities for kids ages 4 to 12. Call 800-258-0330 or visit www.mountwashingtonhotel.com.
In Boston, lace up your ice skates and trace figure eights at Frog Pond at the Boston Common, America’s oldest park. Take skating lessons at the Boston Common Skating School; they make a nice holiday gift. The school offers classes for kids as young as 3, plus hockey skating lessons for your budding Gretzky. Call 617-635-2120 or visit www.bostoncommonfrogpond.org.
Keep the skating theme going and reserve the Disney on Ice Presents World of Fantasy package at The Langham, Boston hotel. The package includes accommodations for four, use of the fitness center and indoor pool, a Disney gift and four tickets to Disney on Ice’s Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey production (Dec. 26 to Dec. 30.) Rates begin at $199 per night. Call 800-791-7761 for more information on the package.
