Traveling on a Budget: Electrifying Holiday Light Displays

If you don’t have the cash to deck your halls like the Griswolds this Christmas, don’t fret. Fortunately, there are tons of places to view electrifying displays of holiday lights without having to travel far or zap your budget. The following cities are home to some of the nation’s most merry megawatt-lined miles and sparkling seasonal streets that won’t cost you a dime to view: New York City: It won’t take long for you to get into the holiday spirit when strolling along the streets of the Big Apple. The city’s massive window displays, blinged out trees and public parks, … Continue reading

Making the Most of Holiday Travel

If you are planning to hit the highway to visit grandma this holiday weekend, expect a lot of company. According to AAA, you’ll be joined by nearly 92 million other Americans traveling more than 50 miles away from home for Christmas or New Year’s. For those taking to the skies in the next couple of days, you’ll be joined by more than 5 million fellow passengers, according to AAA. If you think that’s a lot of people to be sharing elbow space with, consider that the number reflects a 9.7% decline from a year ago. AAA says this year’s air … Continue reading

Capturing Christmas Lights

A few weeks ago my family took a trip to view some of our state’s most elaborate Christmas light displays. Being a snap-happy parent, I didn’t let the event go by without taking a few hundred photos: A few dozen of my daughter posing in front of brightly-lit gingerbread mansions, a dozen more of her in front of the State Capitol’s 60-foot Christmas tree, and even more of the awe-inspiring twinklers at the botanical garden. The trip was great. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of all of my pictures. Some of the shots that I took of the outdoor … Continue reading

Family-Friendly Holiday Travel Destinations

There’s no time like the holidays to travel with your extended family. However, you don’t have to break the bank jetting off to a tropical island or a high-end ski resort to bond with grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins. Instead, consider checking out these affordable holiday-themed events and attractions that are ideal for family members of all ages: CANADA The Zoolights event at the Calgary Zoo is a real crowd pleaser. In addition to viewing the animals, you can take in an interactive light show that features more than 1.5 million twinklers. The zoo is also home to an … Continue reading

Christmas in Florida

After the Blizzard of 2009, I’m sure more people than ever are considering traveling to Florida for Christmas. I prefer Hawaii myself, but I digress. Sunny Florida is a hotspot for snowbirds looking to escape Old Man Winter’s blast. However, some shy away from flying south because they don’t think the sand and surf make for a traditional Christmas backdrop. Little do they know that Florida is filled with festive displays and attractions this time of year, including: ORLANDO The House of Mouse goes all out for the holidays. If you are planning to travel to Orlando this month, don’t … Continue reading

More Family-Friendly Christmas Displays

Who says you have to spend a ton of money or travel to the far ends of the planet to view fabulous holiday light shows? Christmas displays are a dime a dozen this time of year, and most don’t require draining your wallet to enjoy. Hundreds of communities from coast-to-coast erect awe-inspiring seasonal showcases to inspire Christmas goodness. The following festive displays are among the nation’s most popular: Atlanta: Macy’s Great Tree at Lenox Square Mall is a stunning piece of holiday craftsmanship. The towering tree is festooned with hundreds of lights and serves as the backdrop for many family … Continue reading

Family-Friendly Christmas Displays

My neighbor’s 8-foot tall inflatable snowman didn’t survive last night’s blizzard. The nearly two feet of snow and 35 mph sustained winds that ripped through our rural Wisconsin neighborhood proved too much for Frosty to take. Such a shame. The snowman is just a small part of an elaborate Christmas display that our neighbor painstakingly erects each year. His holiday light show has all the pizzazz associated with professional displays put on by major cities, only on a slightly smaller scale. If you are looking to take in the sights and sounds of the season this month, consider visiting the … Continue reading

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 … Continue reading

More Ideas for Holiday Family Fun—Christmas Light Displays

My preschooler squealed with delight as we drove through our city’s downtown area yesterday. Crews were busy stringing lights, trimming trees and hoisting the gigantic Christmas angel above Main Street. The countdown to Christmas is on and my daughter couldn’t be happier. While most of us are still eating Halloween candy, there are some communities that are moving full steam ahead with their holiday light displays. While the vast majority of Christmas displays don’t start until December, there are a few places where you can take in the festive sights right now. The Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling, … Continue reading

Travel Tidbits: Unique Holiday Destinations and Good News for Directionally Challenged Travelers

Christmas is exactly one week away and by now most families have their holiday travel plans set in stone. I’ve covered dozens of destinations worth traveling to this season in the past month, and thanks to some well-heeled readers I have a few more to add to the list. Thank you to Angela who reminded me that reindeer parks make for great family outings this time of year. If you live near Redmond, Oregon consider yourself lucky. Operation Santa Clause at The Reindeer Ranch near Redmond bills itself as the home of the country’s largest herd of domesticated reindeer. If … Continue reading