THE THOMS SUNDAY TRAVEL SECTION
Finishing out the Christmas travel ideas in the United States, let’s look at places inspired by one location.
It’s not a place you can get to by boat or a train. Very few people live there. A man with a severe glucose imbalance, his wife and elves, at least one is questioning their career choice.
North Pole Inspired
Several places exist more because of Christmas than old traditions.
What inspires them? It is not the old world, but a place in the heart.
Frankenmuth, MI
There are exceptions to every rule, and Frankenmuth is Michigan’s Little Bavaria. But people do not travel to this little town north of Detroit for its scenery or chicken dinners. It’s the elephant in the middle of the room, the world’s largest Christmas store, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. Seven hundred billion square miles of decorations on sale. At least that’s what my feet felt like at the end. Go for the shopping, but also check out the traditional Christkindlmarkt, the holiday home tours, and the chicken dinners.
Santa Claus, IN
This little town, just over an hour’s drive west of Louisville Ky, calls itself America’s Christmas Hometown. The local postmaster began to promote the city around 1928, as a place for kids to send letters to Santa. Ever since letters pour in every year and a team of volunteers answers them. And you can visit the town where holiday treats include a candy castle (selling hard-to-get candies from yesteryear). There are parades and a drive-through holiday light show.
North Pole, AK
On the highway just outside Fairbanks is North Pole Alaska, 1700+ miles south of the magnetic North Pole. Between the mortgage company and a Thai restaurant is the Christmas store that is open year-round. At the far end of the parking lot, there are some reindeer, but not one that flies.
Since the 1960s, they have been sending letters, for a fee, from Santa at the North Pole.
Polar Inspired
For ten months of the year, there are tourist trains that make scenic tours. You can find them in numerous locations. (See the blog on USA trains here) But come the beginning of November, many of them become Polar Expresses. For some, that means the staff, in tattered costumes, have to deal with kids for two more trips a day. Others transport you on a magical experience.
Park City, UT
The Heber Valley Train departs from Park City for a ride through the mountains. If you are around, stay for the Christmas Eve torchlight parade, where skiers and snowboarders are carrying torches down the hill to guide Santa’s sleigh.
Essex, CT
The Essex Steam Train puffs out of town several times a day during the season. Onboard they present a reading of the “Night Before Christmas” and sugary treats. There is a cash bar for the big kids in select cars. A nightcap at the Griswold Inn (No relation to Clark or Ellen Griswold) is a perfect cherry on the top
Blue Ridge, GA
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad offers its take on a holiday train but for a limited time in December only. The station is approximately 90 minutes east of Chattanooga Tn.
Cape Cod, MA
The Cape Cod Central Railroad takes their guests to Christmas Town, a decorated siding area where Santa boards the train for a visit. Lots of Children, high on cookies and cocoa, in an enclosed car. I believe Dante wrote about such a trip.
Branson, MO
The Branson Scenic Railroad offers its version of a Polar Express from downtown Branson through the Ozark Mountains. A bonus is the month-long Christmas festival, throughout the area. And the live shows celebrate the season. Andy Williams is no longer alive, but his Christmas show features the Lemmon Sisters and at least one Osmond. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Special Polar Mention
Durango, CO
The historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge train offers Polar Express-inspired trips for kids. But what I think sets it apart is Christmas Tree Trains on the weekends. Guests ride out on the train, cut their tree, and the train transports it back to town. That sure beats driving to a tent to buy a tree cut sometime in October…
Polar Movie, Literary, or Art Inspired
Stockbridge, MA
The town is pretty enough for a Rockwell picture. Well, at least that’s what Norman was thinking when he did the painting, “Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas” in 1967. Each Christmas, the locals, reproduce the setting during their annual festival.
Manchester, VT
If you watch “Holiday Inn” or “White Christmas” every holiday, then get to Manchester. This quaint Vermont town and several others nearby are rural Vermont at its best. During the holidays, local inns offer holiday open house, so you get the real Holiday Inn experience.
Franklin, TN
Step into the pages and imagination of Charles Dickens during the town’s annual “Dickens of a Christmas festival”. It takes place in the historic section of downtown. Not only will you see Tiny Tim, but be on the lookout for the Artful Dodger, Fagan, and Oliver Twist. The Victorian Village features Victorian-era Christmas decorations and treats.
Greenville, SC
Standing on S Main Street, you expect to see a frazzled big-city female, come stumbling out of a store. She runs into a guy off the cover of a modeling magazine who works at his dad’s store. She says she never wants to see him again, and storms off. THOSE movies all film in Canada, but at Christmastime in Greenville, you might not believe that. Well, many S.C. main streets. There are festivities all month long, including parades, performances, and a festival of trees.
Unique “Polar” Places
Disney
They “get it”. Just walking around Disney Springs, or visiting the hotels to see the decorations put me in a holly jolly mood. The parks are whip cream.
White Sulfer Springs, WV
In the Greenbrier Valley, the towns of Lewisburg and White Sulfer Springs are delightful, and you should take a look. But the main attraction in this area is The Greenbrier Hotel. Beautiful year-round, they pull all the stops out at Christmas. Go for the decorations, stay for the performances, cookie workshops, and Christmas Eve Gingerbread Ball.
Ashville
Another charming town and area that is in the shadow of a large structure. As big as a grand hotel, the Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate is a private home. The lower floors are open most days to the public. Exciting any time of the year, the house puts it on for the holidays. It is America’s Downton.
Newport, RI
Another Christmas gift from the Vanderbilts is the Breakers in Newport. Along with the Elms and Marble House, these three “summer cottages” decorate their already impressive interiors for the holidays. Even the gingerbread houses are mansions… The rest of the town has several holiday festivities as well.
Light Displays Santa Can See From the North Pole
McAdenville, NC
Just outside Charlotte is McAdenville, or as they call it in December, Christmas Town USA. For over 60 years, this neighborhood has been decorating more than 250 evergreen trees and more than 150 houses. Not bad for a town with less than 1000 people.
Bernville, PA
William Koziar began decorating his farm home in 1948 for his family. To say it has grown would be quite the understatement. It is now a major attraction. Outdoor decorations are covering the entire property and indoor scenes to visit, including photos with the fat guy.
Jackson, WY
The town square in Jackson is impressive eleven months out of the year. In December, it becomes magical. Four monumental arches made out of local elk antlers anchor the four corners. It does not take the elves very long to turn them into holiday beacons. There are festivities, a good chance of snow, and on New Year’s Eve, a downhill torch parade of skiers.
North Pole Summary
No matter where you are, there seems to be something to do that relies on nothing more than your imagination. Visit a North Pole display, take a polar adventure, or visit Santa Claus.
These are just a very few of the different activities the North Pole inspires.
There are Christmas shows, festivals, markets, and more. Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer.
Enjoy the holiday. After all, Christmas is for children of all ages.
To read more, click on any of the orange links.
“See the World” Continued on Page T3 “Taste the World” Continued on T11
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