Of all the vacation attractions in Connecticut, I think that Mystic Seaport in Mystic most defines the state’s history. From the seventeenth century, a naturally protected shoreline on Long Island Sound has provided safe harbors for trading, fishing and whaling ships. In 1929, Mystic Seaport—the Museum of America and the Sea—was founded as a maritime museum of these tall ships, ship building, and a recreated nineteenth-century coastal town. My family has a membership there which pays for itself with just two or three visits each year.

It won’t surprise anyone who knows me to learn that my favorite time of year at the Seaport is summer. Even in winter though—and especially around the holidays—there are some fantastic programs going on for visitors. This year Time.com listed Mystic Seaport as the number two holiday destination in the United States. Here are its three most popular holiday attractions.

Lantern Light Tours

Lantern Light Tour at Mystic Seaport

This is much more than a tour—it’s a show that moves its audience from place to place.  Groups are greeted by a costumed guide who’ll bring them through the town on Christmas Eve in the year 1876.  Based on the premise that the town is putting on a production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the tour blends Seaport history with the familiar Christmas ghost story.

Tours run through December 28 on scheduled dates and reservations are strongly recommended.  Admission fees and other details can be found at the Seaport website.

Carol Sing

On December 21, the Seaport hosts its annual Community Carol Sing which attracts thousands of visitors each year.  Even better?  If you bring a canned food to be donated to charity, your admission is free.  All ships, buildings and exhibits will open at 10 a.m., the Seaport’s carolers perform at 2 p.m., and at 3 p.m. the Community Carol Sing begins.

The Community Carol Sing attracts thousands to Mystic Seaport.

Another great attraction to take in this day is at the Seaport’s planetarium.  The Star of Bethlehem is a show about “the splendor of the winter skies, merging science, mythology, religious observance, winter traditions and music.”  (I didn’t think I could paraphrase that great description.)  The planetarium program runs hourly from noon through 3 p.m. and does require an additional admission of $2.50 ($2.25 for members), but it’s worth it.

Holiday Magic

We all know that museums sometimes bore kids to tears. And I literally mean tears. But even my seven year-old has been enjoying Mystic since she was about two. There are playscapes (for warmer weather) and a children’s building that a lot of kids don’t want to leave.

Taking advantage of kids’ love for the Seaport, they’ve scheduled some activities for the school break that cater to families and kids. Tours aboard a historic fishing schooner include sailors’ stories about their holidays at sea and their families back home. Daily nineteenth-century magic shows and even some how-to magic should interest young illusionists. Special shows are also at the planetarium, and another exhibit lets kids explore a far away sea—the Arctic—at the museum’s newest exhibit. Daily schedules and admission fees are available at the Seaport website.

I may be a warm weather type of guy, but activities like these at Mystic Seaport make even me think winter in Connecticut may be bearable. As much as I love the Seaport any time of year though, I’m still waiting for spring and summer.

All photos courtesy of Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea.

Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney!

Sure, the holidays are for family and traveling back to your hometown.  It’s just not Christmas without 13 cousins sharing a bedroom and unspoken tension as the in-laws analyze your gift wrapping abilities.  Right?

It’s no wonder that Disney World is attracting more and more visitors throughout the holiday season.

Many families (including mine) are choosing to use their precious vacation days and time off school to enjoy the warm weather and the enchantment of Disney World.  After all, if Christmas is the season for magic – nobody does magic better than the Walt Disney World Resort!

While Orlando‘s largest theme park promises a once in a lifetime experience year round, Disney truly pulls out all the stops for the winter holidays.  You’ll enjoy attractions and sights that are only available for visitors in November and December.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – this Magic Kingdom event is not available during regular park hours.  It’s a special evening event on select nights in November and December.

Christmas Lights On The Cinderella Castle

In addition to most of the rides being fully functional, party attendees can also enjoy the evening Christmas parade.  Of course, the biggest difference between this and the usual Magic Kingdom evening parade that is included with regular park admission is that all of the characters and floats are themed in holiday garb.  What you can’t get any other night is free hot chocolate and cookies!

Personally, I think the best thing about Christmas at the Magic Kingdom is the Cinderella Castle glittering with holiday lights.  It’s a constant reminder that I need to convince my husband to buy more icicle lights next year.

Epcot’s Candlelight Processional at the American Gardens Theatre – easily the most faith based of all the Disney Celebrations, this nightly event takes the Christmas concert to a whole new level.  It boasts a 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir of amateur vocalists, just like at home (if your home happens to have a world renowned orchestra).  And of course, the biblical Christmas story is read aloud – by celebrity narrators like Neil Patrick Harris.

If you’re planning to attend one of these shows, prepare to get in line early.  My family arrived an hour before one performance and were the very last people allowed in for that showing.

Why would anyone spend Christmas at Disney?

The Osborne Family Spectacle Of Dancing Lights at Hollywood Studios – this is the most underrated Christmas destination as far as I’m concerned.  What Disney’s web site unenthusiastically describes as holiday light display is the physical personification of the Christmas Spirit.

Based on the free light display an Arkansas man once hosted in his own neighborhood before neighbors sued to have it removed, the Spectacle Of Dancing Lights features an illumination spanning nearly three city blocks and requiring over 20,000 man hours to assemble.  Holiday music keeps time for the blinking displays as crowds of people do nothing more than stand and stare.

But what truly makes this a must-see is the snow.  Several snow machines set loose a swirling snow storm on the city “streets” that is so realistic you’ll see children and adults alike trying to catch flakes on their tongues.  They’ll soon discover the snow is made from soap.

Standing between the two story buildings covered in pulsing lights, listening to the notes of holiday classics and watching the snow fall around you in Florida is, I’m convinced, the closest one can come to knowing what it feels like to be inside a Christmas movie.

Oh, yeah.  Animal Kingdom offers a Jingle Jungle Parade, too.

All pictures taken by Britt Reints.

This time of year can shake a soul right to its very foundation. Sure, it’s festive and merry and sometimes our bellies, in fact, shake like a bowl full of jelly. But boy-howdy, when January 2nd rolls around, listen with the right kind of ears and you can hear a chorus of relaxing exhales.

Need to wind down? I would recommend a drive through the rolling hills of Central Kentucky. Destination? Four Roses Distillery.

Outside the distillery

Nestled in the rolling Hills near Lawrenceburg, Ky., and smack on the banks of the Salt River sits a charming distillery that features Spanish Mission style architecture as uncommon in Kentucky as heavy snow. Built in 1910, Four Roses Distillery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Whether or not said distillery used their product to grease the wheels of the National Register is unknown to me. But, those little airplane bottles do work magic.

Drive into the parking area and you know where you are. The heavy smell of fermentation and corn and finished product intermingle with the country air. Upon entering the visitor center, built to complement the historic distillery, the tour starts with an informative video about the magic that is bourbon. Then, a brief tutorial on Four Roses patented “mash bill.”

Mash Bill

The visitor center also offers a miniature cross section of its multi-tiered still. A walking tour of the historic Distillery is a fantastic way to get a feel for this glorious product. Ever wanted to know what Bourbon tastes like before barreling? Distillers call it “White Dog” and you will sample it on the tour. Twice.

If you plan on visiting Four Roses Distillery, July through mid-September is right out. While the gift shop and visitors center are open year-round, production at the Distillery comes to a stand-still during the afore mentioned months. If you feel like traveling a bit further, you may want to visit Four Roses’ state-of-the-art single story barrel houses in Cox’s Creek, Ky, a short drive from Louisville, Ky. and the famous Brown Hotel.

Note: Tours ending before noon will be, by state law, void of a product tasting. While touring the facility is a treat in itself. Sampling the myriad of different styles is quite another. So, timing is everything.

*All photos by Charles A. Downs III