Tis the season to be with family and friends. Whether you decide to bond on the slopes or huddle together in front of the fireplace for a fierce game of Pictionary, the holidays are a great time to spend with loved ones.
However, if you don’t know how to ski or you shudder at the thought of having to stay cooped up indoors all day, you might consider the following festive family-friendly options:
CONNECTICUT
At Christmas Town in Bethlehem, Connecticut, kids can visit Santa on the Village Green and sing along with carolers strolling along Main Street. Don’t forget to bring your Christmas cards to the local post office to get the “Bethlehem” postmark stamped on them. Also, this month the Benedictine nuns at the Abby of Regina Laundis showcase their beautiful voices with concerts featuring Gregorian chants. The nuns also sell wreaths and Christmas trees too.
NEW ORLEANS
Celebrate Christmas New Orleans style in City Park. That’s where local schools have tree-decorating competitions and Santa visits every night until Christmas. During the holiday season the park also has a train and one of the oldest operating carousels in the nation. New this year: the original “Mr. Bingle,” a little snowman from a 1950s Maison Blanche department store window display, joins the other holiday decorations at the park.
GEORGIA
At Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta, Georgia, the hills come alive with the sights and sounds of Christmas. Two million lights twinkle throughout the park, which sponsors numerous holiday events, including a Christmas parade with Santa and Mrs. Claus riding in their sleigh. Kids can also catch up with Santa in his workshop after the parade. The highlight of the seasonal festivities comes when snow angels fly overhead, bringing snowflakes and fireworks.
NEW YORK
If your New Year’s resolution includes shedding some pounds, then get a jump-start by heading to the Duracell Power Lodge in Times Square next to the Virgin Megastore. That’s where you will find a bicycle that resembles a snowmobile. Visitors are encouraged to pedal away and that energy will be stored in a big Duracell battery and later be used to light up the 2009 sign after the ball drops. Event organizers estimate that it will take about 230 hours of pedal power to illuminate the legendary sign on January 1st.
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