Tis the season for holiday cheer!  For many of us, that means seeking out family friendly spots to enjoy festive fun.   These are some of our family’s favorite places to get into the Christmas spirit and all are easy to get to from most places throughout New Jersey and the Philadelphia area.

Photo Courtesy Storybookland

Storybook Land is one of our favorite theme parks all year round but at Christmastime it takes on a magical appearance when they feature Christmas Fantasy with Lights.  Every night at 5pm Santa climbs out of his chimney and turns on over a million holiday lights throughout the park.  He has even managed to make it snow!   You can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus in their home as well to tell them how good you’ve been all year long.  All the rides of the theme park are open too!

A visit to Koziar’s Christmas Village  is like stepping into Christmas Land.  Walk along the path and take in the beauty of displays featuring Christmas in the jungle, beneath the sea, and around the globe lit by over a half million lights.  The reflective view from the pond is a breathtaking sight!  When you get chilly be sure to stop for some hot chocolate or a visit with Santa himself.

The Nutcracker is one of my favorite holiday shows.  My mom used to take me every year and I couldn’t wait to take my daughter for the first time.  During her first show she sat rapt with attention at the edge of her seat.  To find a show be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for where to see The Nutracker in Philadelpia  and New Jersey.

Photo Courtesy New Hope Ivyland Railroad

Taking a train ride with Santa has always been at the top of my children’s lists, even before they ever saw the movie Polar Express. This holiday tradition has become more popular than ever with kids all around the country dressing in their pajamas and taking a magical Christmas ride. While some stations started the tradition after 2004 movie, others like the Pine Creek Railroad in New Jersey, have been taking families on rides with Santa Claus for over 30 years!  See where to board a train ride with Santa in New Jersey and Philly areas.

Another family favorite of ours is piling in the car in our jammies, bringing along some hot chocolate and turning on some Christmas music while driving around the neighborhoods in our area to enjoy the lights. Some of the people in our town really go all out! However, if you want to make more of an adventure out of it, how about heading to Center City Philadelphia to see the Macy’s Holiday Light Show . While  at Macy’s, be sure to visit the third floor where you will find a 6,000 foot recreation of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. Over 100 animated figures help bring this Christmas classic to life. You might even be able to get some Christmas shopping done!

Photo Courtesy Visit Philly

While I have never been to Christmas Village located in Love Park in Center City, Philadelphia, it looks to have some real charm. This traditional German Christmas Market features over 50 vendors selling arts and crafts, jewelry, ornaments and all sorts of other goodies you can purchase as a treat for yourself or as a holiday gift. You can also sample European food and drink while browsing about. If you happen to visit the market on December 7th,  your family can even attend the tree lighting!

Longwood Gardens is another one of those year round gems that transforms at Christmas time. Walk through the gardens and see how they have been transformed into a gingerbread fantasy with over 40 miles of lights and displays. During the season there will be performances in the evenings by local choral groups and vignettes from the Nutcracker.

May you all have a happy and healthy holiday season filled with many wonderful memories!

Looking for more holiday-fun activities?  Check out your neighborhood below.

California:  San Diego | Orange County | LA & Environs | Bay Area |  Lake Tahoe | Sacramento

Other US cities:  Dallas | NYC/NJ | Philadelphia | Salt Lake City |  Seattle

Don’t see your city??  Make a list of fun activities in your neck of the woods to share with Trekaroo users.

Beth Keklak is Trekaroo’s Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware Destination Guroo

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Southern California!  There may not be snow on the ground, and the shining sun may make it feel like the perfect 75 degrees, but decorations are popping up at every corner and special holiday events are being held almost daily.  There are so many special activities to enjoy with your family that we’ve tried to pare down the list to just 10.  If you live or vacation in Southern California this December, we hope you enjoy one of these events!  If you call another part of the country “home”, check out the lists of local activities below.  Enjoy the season, and Merry Christmas!

Boat Parades

Photo by: Flickr/YoTuT

Millions of twinkling lights covering cleverly decorated boats float through harbors and canals up and down the Pacific Coast of Southern California.  Families who don’t mind bundling up their kids in the cool marine air will enjoy sitting and watching this quintessential SoCal event.  Check out the harbor city near you for specific dates and times.  Be sure to find out where the parade starts so that you know the approximate time of when it will float by your location.

Choose from the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, Huntington Harbor Boat Parade, Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights, Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, Long Beach’s Parade of 1000 Lights, Channel Island’s Harbor Parade of Lights in Oxnard, Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights and Winter Wonderland, and the Marina Del Rey Holiday Boat Parade.

The Nutcracker

Photo by: Flicker/kelsey_lovefusionphoto

Dancing Sugar Plum Fairies and sword battles with monkey kings will delight many children, but really only those who can sit still for long periods of time.  If you have young boys like me who like to blurt outloud, “those tight pants look funny” in a quiet theater, you may enjoy one of these special Nutcracker performances for kids.  The 45 minute narrated ballet with an audience of young children is a great way to enjoy this delightful holiday tradition.  The Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa will be performing the Nutcracker for kids on Dec 10.  The San Diego Civic Youth Ballet presents a kid friendly performance of the Nutcracker at the historic Casa Del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park.  Check websites for ticket and show times.

Special Teas

A good friend of mine loves taking her daughters with their grandma to a special Christmas tea every year.  My active little 3-year-old girl may perhaps be ready in a couple of years to sit pretty with me at one of these special events.  Pelican Hill Resort of Newport Beach is hosting a Nutcracker Tea Holiday Party on December 17 from 12-3:30 pm for parents and children.  The Langham Huntington, Pasadena will hold their annual Teddy Bear Tea on December 10, 11, 17-23 at 10 am for a story time, photos with Santa and a marionette puppet show.  The Grand Del Mar in San Diego celebrates the holidays with a Nutcracker Holiday Tea with an abridged performance of the ballet and child-friendly tea service.  The Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad is hosting a Teddy Bear Tea from December 2 – 19 on Friday – Sunday at 1 pm.  All tea events require reservations.  Please see details on resort website for ticket prices and reservations.

Amusement Park Fun

Photo by: Flicker/Thom Watson

Southern California is known for it’s many amusement parks.  Each one celebrates the holidays in grand style with extensive decorations and special events.  Visiting these parks during the Christmas season can be twice as fun, extra special, and provide decorative backgrounds for really great photos of your kids!  Knott’s Merry Farm celebrates a “Charlie Brown Christmas” with parades, carolers and a special Christmas shopping village.  The Disneyland Resort makes memories magical during the holidays.  Trekaroo has even created a list just for Disneyland to help you find all the great holiday events.  SeaWorld San Diego, the San Diego Zoo, LegoLand, and Universal Studios Hollywood all celebrate the holidays with special events, decorations, parades, and are tons of fun.

Outdoor Ice Skating

Photo by: Flickr/SonnyandSandy

Gliding over the ice, or rather, inching along with your clinging son at your side, can be a great event that creates memories through laughter and exercise.  Skating outside is twice as fun with sparkling holiday lights and music.  Check websites for details on times and ticket prices for the following outdoor ice rinks.  Ice at Santa Monica, Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles, Holiday on Ice a the Irvine Spectrum, The Strand at Huntington Beach, Horton Plaza, and the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego.

Special Light Displays

Photo by: Mission Inn

All during December I hear my little 3 and 5 year olds shouting in the back seat of the car, “Christmas Lights!!!” at the top of their lungs, just to make sure I see any and all of the twinkling lights that delight them.  We often enjoy driving around neighborhoods with hot chocolate or walking the streets with sticky candy canes to enjoy the lights of the season.  Here are some extra special places to visit this year. The Festival of Lights is held at the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa in Riverside and is open to the public to enjoy thousands of lights and decorations, visits to Santa, carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides and live reindeer.  The San Diego Botanical Gardens host the Garden of Lights from Dec 2-23, 26-30 and invite people to enjoy a stroll through the wonderland of lights in the garden, live music, horse-drawn wagon rides, Santa, and hot beverages.  At the Del Mar Race Track drive your car through the Holiday of Lights from Nov 24 – Jan 1 or take a Holiday Hayride Dec 2, 9 and 16.  Here is a list of Where to Enjoy Holiday Lights in Los Angeles.

Art and Culture

Photo by: Sawdust Art & Craft Festival

We drive by the Sawdust Art Festival every summer on our way to the sands of Laguna Beach and I always think, “I want to take my kids there!”  I’ve heard of the fun crafts, art demonstrations, and beautiful displays that kids and parents enjoy.  I was  surprised to find that there is a Sawdust Art Festival Winter Fantasy that would be equally delightful this season.  Other cultural and artistic events are taking place all over the southland to celebrate the holidays. Las Posadas, a nightly tradition of acting out the journey of Mary and Joseph through the streets of Nazareth takes place at Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles Dec 16-24.  Pinatas and live entertainment make for a special cultural holiday event.  A special Irish Holiday Festival will take place at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana on Dec 11 from 12-4pm.  Families will enjoy live music, dancing and special holiday treats.

History

Photo by: Flickr/Patrick Denker

Celebrate Christmas at historical sites in So Cal and let an old-fashioned Christmas come alive for your family.  Christmas at the Mission will take place Dec 3 at the San Juan Capistrano Mission.  Christmas comes to Heritage Hill in Lake Forest with a Victorian Christmas on Dec 3 and a Candlelight Tour on Dec 10 and 11.  Children will learn history through butter churning, candle dipping, and decorating cookies with Mrs. Claus.  Storytelling in the old one-room schoolhouse will delight children and parents.  The La Mesa Village transforms into an old fashioned Christmas in the village with Victorian decorations and special events on Dec 9 and 10.  The Queen Mary, the grand ocean liner docked in Long Beach, will hold it’s annual free Christmas Tree Lighting in honor of the military, the police and fire fighters on Wed, Dec 7, Pearl Harbor Day.

Train Rides to Visit Santa

Photo by Irvine Park Railroad

Visiting Santa is often at the top of most family’s checklist for the season.  How much more fun to visit them on a farm or at the end of a train ride!  Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center, north of San Diego is hosting Christmas in the Valley on Dec 9 and 10.  Take a Polar Express Hay Ride to visit Santa and then enjoy live entertainment, crafts, a living nativity, and more.  Take the Christmas Train on the Irvine Park Railroadto visit Santa during December.  Kids will be delighted to find  Santa at the North Pole after their nighttime ride on the train through the park.

Rose Parade

A list of holiday events in Southern California would be grossly inadequate without the famous Tournament of Roses Parade held every January 1 in Pasadena.  Every year that I watch the parade and see the sun shining down on the beautiful floats covered with flowers, I am reminded of the blessing of living in sunny So Cal.  Our family hasn’t been able to make the commitment of spending the night on the street, nor buying a ticket for the grandstands, but we did drive down Colorado Blvd. 2 days before New Years and our kids were fascinated with the preparations for the grand parade.  I can’t wait to take them to the Showcase of Floats at the end of the parade to see the amazing structures up close.

Looking for more holiday-fun activities?  Check out your neighborhood below.

California:  San Diego | Orange County | LA & Environs | Bay Area |  Lake Tahoe | Sacramento

Other US cities:  Dallas | NYC/NJ | Philadelphia | Salt Lake City |  Seattle

Don’t see your city??  Make a list of fun activities in your neck of the woods to share with Trekaroo users.

Michelle McCoy (aka: McFam) is the Southern California Destination Guroo for Trekaroo.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Ahhhh… the Holiday Season is here!  What could be better than whisking your family off to Italy to enjoy winter in Venice???

If you are like me, this thought has run through your head a few times, but the actual planning, organizing, and financing a trip of these sorts is more than you can jump on board with.  This year, instead, my family indulged in a much closer Venice.  The Palazzo and The Venetian Hotels in Las Vegas, collectively the largest five-diamond resort in the world, have created a magical Venetian holiday package that will draw your family (as it did ours) into the wonder of a holiday in Europe, only much closer to home.

My family in front of one of the beautiful fountains in "Venice"

If you have never been to these resorts, or even to Las Vegas for that matter, let me explain that everything – from the architecture of the buildings to the painted ceilings, and even canals inside the mall made to look like streets in Venice – gives the very authentic representation of being in Venice, Italy.  The added holiday decorations, lights, strolling carolers, as well as the fun, whimsical walking entertainers give the finishing touches of Venice during Christmas.  The Venetian and The Palazzo are beautifully adorned in holiday cheer from their large interior atriums with beautiful glass snowflakes, to tiny touches in all the shops, to the amazing 65 foot LED Christmas tree, ice skating rink, and holiday lights outdoors.

Giant LED Christmas Tree

The Palazzo is offering a lovely Winter in Venice package that my family was thrilled to enjoy.  The Prestige level package includes a fantastic assortment of holiday cheer including your stay in a luxury or bella suite, two ice-skating rentals, two free hot chocolates for warming up (yes, it was actually quite chilly at night in Vegas, helping to aid the Venetian theme!), access to the Prestige lounge that offers daily continental breakfast, afternoon snacks and evening hors d’oeuvres and a hosted bar.  In this private, smoke-free, non-Vegas feeling lounge area, Santa & Mrs. Clause stop in nightly to meet with kids and read them Christmas stories; later at night, festive holiday movies are even shown!

Your stay also includes an elf tuck in, which was the highlight of my kid’s stay.  I was a bit intimidated by how this would play out, but was so pleasantly surprised.  An adorably festive and cute female elf arrived in our room as scheduled, with a decorated holiday cart full of goodies playing quiet Christmas music.  She brought each of our girls a Christmas plate full of beautifully decorated cookies and cute glasses full of milk – all that they got to keep.  She then read them the story of “Christopher Pop-In-Kins”, and presented them with their own Christopher elf (and book) that would come alive at our house and report back to Santa each night.  Our girls were truly caught up in the wonder of this activity and it was such a fun, magical experience for all of us.

Elf tuck in with cookies & milk

The whole resort is taking part in the Winter in Venice theme and your booking includes a free gift from the shops at the Palazzo and a shopping passport; restaurants are offering holiday prix-fix menus, and you will find special holiday concoctions at bars and eateries around the resort. The prestige package has more perks than I can list here; you can read my full review of The Palazzo (and see all of the benefits of booking a Prestige package.)  One of the coolest benefits of this package was the free access to the Canyon Ranch Spa, full of classes, a very cool Aquavana water treatment experience, and a full service salon and spa.  The resort treated me to one of their Winter in Venice body treatments, a holiday cocoon consisting of a deep exfoliation and then relaxing wrap.  No more last minute Christmas shopping for dad, hint to him how much you would love a relaxing spa day—your Winter in Venice package includes a $40 voucher toward any spa treatment!

Beautiful Angel "statue" coming to life as we took the picture

Every night, the outside of the Venetian rings in the season hourly (on the half) with a festive holiday light show highlighting the amazing focus the resort has placed on the Winter season.  Statue-like drummers come to life with epic “Blue Man Group” style entertainment, violinists rock out to some upbeat holiday tunes, and a magnificent angel lights the LED Christmas tree.  All of this, set outside with beautiful lights and decorations, lighted gondolas passing by, and outdoor ice skating under the lights and stars, makes for an incredibly themed holiday getaway that you won’t want to miss.

Watch this video following my family on our trip:

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary Prestige package at The Palazzo in order to write about my experiences.  All opinions are entirely my own.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Happy Thanksgiving! All of us at trekaroo extend our warmest wishes to you this Thanksgiving season. We are truly thankful for you. Thank you for contributing to the grassroots community of parents, grandparents, teachers, and caregivers who make up trekaroo. And we are thankful for the daughters and sons who inspire us, whom we seek to guide, love, and care for.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect on what we’re thankful for, whether it be friends and family, a piping hot turkey with gravy, beautiful fall colors, or a roof over our heads.

And what comes after Thanksgiving? Well, Black Friday of course. During the unofficial kick-off to holiday shopping season, the masses rise before the crack of dawn and wait out in the freezing cold seeking to find the best deals on clothes, electronics, toys, and more.

Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity

We’re truly thankful for what’s important in life. And I think we can all agree that the people in our lives are most important. Family, friends, and experiences with one another. So this Thanksgiving, Christmas and holiday season, think about gifting experiences and buying locally. What does that mean? Studies on consumption show us that people are happier when they have experiences instead of obtaining material objects. Buying locally helps our economy and neighborhood small businesses.

So we encourage you to think differently this year. Give experiences and mix it up with the purchase of local gifts. Give a “gift” of a hike, or a picnic to the beach, a trip to a National Park, or a gift certificate to the local go-kart racing place. Support local businesses. Buy a locally made hand-knit sweater from your local shop on Main Street, pick up baked goods from the farmer’s market, or buy someone art classes. Hire a local worker to do yard work, or carpentry, or to tune-up a car, or fix a friend’s computer. Give an overnight stay to a local hotel or bed & breakfast.

Shop local. Bella Vita Home - Oakland, CA

And don’t forget the neediest among us. Try volunteering at a soup kitchen as a family, or singing carols at an elderly home, gathering clothes for a non-profit, or just stopping for a minute to greet the homeless guy on the street and buy them a cup of coffee.

After September 11th, we had a nationwide campaign of, “America Open for Business”. In our down economy today, we can each do our part to help. This holiday season, let’s band together and occupy Main Street. We’re thankful for you. You are America. Keep on keeping on and keep on trekarooing.

Find experiences, activities, hotels, and local businesses at trekaroo »

Support local grocers and farmers.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. Congratulations to our winner, comment number 190 which belongs to Naomi! Enjoy your trip!!!!

Don’t you just love the winter holiday season?  Ice skating, beautifully trimmed Christmas trees, strolling carolers, visits with Santa- reminds you of the Vegas strip doesn’t it?

It doesn’t?

The Palazzo and Venetian look forward to changing Vegas holiday perceptions with their Winter in Venice celebration.  Beginning November 21^st, the canals of the Venetian will be transformed into a winter wonderland complete with an ice skating rink, strolling carolers, and a 65-foot LED holiday tree. Of course, they couldn’t put together a celebration without a touch of Vegas whimsy so there will also be candy cane stilt walkers, puppets, jugglers and magicians. Every evening a “Nightly Holiday Spectacular” will take place at the Venetian’s Doge’s Palace featuring music, a light show, and a special tree lightening by a stunning angel.

To celebrate all this holiday magic, the Palazzo is offering fabulous package to families with holiday season. With the Winter in Venice Prestige Package  families will enjoy  two nights in a luxurious suite on the Prestige floor as well as one Elf tuck-in with milk and cookie delivery, a Winter in Venice bath drawn by a bath butler (tres chic), showings of movie classics such as” Charlie Brown Christmas”or “Miracle on 34th Street” in the Prestige Concierge Lounge, holiday story readings with Santa, hot chocolates from Cafe Presse, complimentary ice skating, and discounts around the resort. Sounds like a wonderful holiday experience for the whole family doesn’t it?

Trekaroo will be sending out our new Assistant Editor, Katie Bodell, to check out the experience and bring back a full report but since this package sounds like so much fun we decided we would give one lucky family a chance to enjoy Winter Venice as well!

The Steal: Win a Prestige at The Palazzo Suite Package and enjoy Winter in Venice (valued at $800)

Includes:

• Two nights in a Luxury or Bella Suite on the exclusive Prestige Level at The Palazzo
• One Elf-Tuck in at night w/milk and cookies and souvenir item
• Specialized butler-drawn holiday bath
• Nightly showings of holiday movies in Prestige lounge
• Nightly offerings of festive foods and beverages in Prestige lounge
• Nightly holiday story readings and photo opportunities with Santa Clause in Prestige lounge
• Two ice skate rentals, each with 30-minute session
• Hot chocolate for two at Café Presse at The Venetian
• Canyon Ranch SpaClub – $40 off Winter in Venice seasonal facial, cocoon or massage
• The Grand Canal Shoppes^® and The Shoppes at The Palazzo^® – Shopping Passaporto and signature gift

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Step 1: Share this giveaway using the Facebook by clicking the FB “Like” button at the top of the page

Step 2: Leave a blog comment below letting us know that you did.

Get extra entries by repeating steps 1 and 2 once a day.  But be sure to leave a new comment each time.

Want more chances to win?

Feel free to do any or all of the following actions.  Each action counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE or the entry will not be counted.

• 
• Like Trekaroo on Facebook
• Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo using the Twitter share button at the top of the page.

• Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog

• Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
• Post this giveaway on your blog

Rules and guidelines:

• 18 years of age or older
• US Residents only

Deadline to enter: Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 11:59PM PST

What is Monday Madness?

Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal.  It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.

Thanks to  Online Sweepstakes and CashNet Sweepstakes,.

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Sharlene Earnshaw is the blog editor  for Trekaroo.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA