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Family Travel: Festive Christmas Displays

Last weekend my family traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, to take in the city’s spectacular Christmas displays. My kindergartner squealed with delight at the botanical garden’s annual gingerbread mansion and holiday train show. She was equally thrilled when we headed over to the State Capitol building’s rotunda to view the stunning 60-foot Christmas tree decorated with thousands of twinkling lights and handmade ornaments. Finally, her jaw dropped when we got to the city’s popular outdoor Festival of Lights event featuring more than 250,000 colorful Christmas lights strung on elaborate moving displays.

It was a great way to get into the Christmas spirit, and I’m now convinced that when it comes to family-friendly activities, you can’t beat a festive holiday display. Fortunately, most families don’t have to travel too far to view magnificent merry Christmas-related displays.

Here’s a look at some of the nation’s most popular holiday events:

NEW YORK

The world-famous Rockefeller Center tree is up and ready to be featured in your family’s Christmas photo. The 76-foot Norway spruce is decorated with 30,000 lights and will remain lit until January 7, 2010.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The National Christmas Tree, located less than a block from the White House, is shining brightly right now. The massive 40-foot Colorado blue spruce will remain on display until January 1, 2010. Also in Washington, the Capitol Christmas Tree is on display on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol near Constitution and Independence avenues. The 85-foot blue spruce from Arizona is adorned with decorations made by local school children.

TEXAS

If you are traveling to Houston this year, don’t miss the 24th annual Uptown Holiday display featuring a half-million lights on 80 trees along Post Oak Boulevard. Also in Houston, the ice skating rink at Discovery Green is open to families with kids of all ages.

HAWAII

My former hometown of Honolulu boasts an amazing Christmas light display. Honolulu City Lights, which includes a tree, wreath displays and gingerbread houses, kicked off last weekend. If you are on Oahu during the holidays, head over to Honolulu Hale, where you can snap a picture of a massive partially undressed Santa flashing the shaka sign to the crowds.

Related Articles:

A Hawaiian Hanukkah

Holiday Travel With Kids: Know Before You Go

Avoiding Holiday Travel Woes

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About Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. She spent the next ten years as a television anchor and reporter at various stations throughout the country (from the CBS affiliate in Honolulu to the NBC affiliate in Green Bay). She has won numerous honors including an Emmy Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow awards honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast journalism. In addition, she has received awards from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for her reports on air travel and the Wisconsin Education Association Council for her stories on education. Michele has since left television to concentrate on being a mom and freelance writer.