Even though you’re in the Sunshine State, you can still find plenty of opportunities to enjoy a Winter Wonderland in Orlando, Florida.

We even have snow and ice.

That is a video of my two children sledding - on real snow – in Central Florida. We attended a holiday festival at Avalon Park, one of the many holiday festivals in the Orlando area that feature machine made snow and winter activities. While that event only lasted one night, there are still plenty of chances to get cold in the Sunshine State this month.

Holiday Events in Orlando, Florida

ICE! at Gaylord Palms

Ice slide at Gaylord Palms

From November 14th to January 3rd, the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee presents “a walk-through Christmas attraction hand-carved from nearly TWO MILLION pounds of ice.” The exhibit features ice sculptures and an ice slide in a hall kept at a chilly 9 degrees. Thankfully, parkas are provided to help you keep you warm.

Save on your admission price by purchasing your tickets online.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney's Specatcle Of Dancing Lights

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights started as a home display in Arkansas. Every year, Jennings Osborne and his family set up an elaborate collection of holiday lights and over the years, the collection grew, and grew… and grew! In 1995, Walt Disney World became the permanent home of the Osborne family’s holiday light display – and they added a little Disney magic, of course.  When you watch the light show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll notice it actually start to snow!

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is included with regular admission to the Hollywood Studios theme park.

Now Snowing in Downtown Celebration

Snowing in Celebration, Florida

From November 28 to December 31, the town of Celebration, Florida puts on a free festival that let’s everyone enjoy the magic of the season.  Snowfalls nightly for 10 minutes at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm.  In addition to snow, you’ll find strolling Charles Dickens Carolers, the Celebration Express, horse drawn carriage rides, and a chance to take pictures with Santa.  You can also go ice skating at the local Celebration Town Tavern.

Did I mention that admission for this event is free?  Really.

Orlando prides itself on its ability to entertain.  The holidays are no exception, and we certainly aren’t going to let something like natural climate get in the way of enjoying a Winter Wonderland!

Photo credit: Avitable, Walt Disney World Resorts, Celebration Town Center

Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle

If you’ve never been to Disneyland during the winter holiday season, allow me to submit that a visit to the park at this time will cure your “been there, done that” blues.  The enormous Christmas tree, the holiday music piped in, the lights over Main Street USA, the LED icicle-draped Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle at the center of the park – all conspire to melt the heart of the Scroogiest among us.

I’ve been to the park twice in just a few months, after a very very long spell of not ever visiting at all.  My first visit was on my birthday, a Wednesday in September that, besides being my birthday, was just another day in the life of the happiest place on Earth.  Since it was my two young sons’ first time there, I looked at everything with a critical travel blogger’s eye.  We all had a great time, but for the ticket price of $72 for adults and $62 for children, I expected perfection and that is not what I found.  Read More »

Orlando Museum of Art welcomes winter

We don’t have snow, ice or frigid temperatures, but even Orlando welcomes the winter holidays.

We hang tiny white lights from our rooftops and set plastic reindeer in our yards next to our pink flamingos.  Our malls are filled with holiday sale signs by Halloween and our children stand for hours for a chance to cry on Santa’s lap.

Yes, even in Florida, we welcome the chance to pay homage to the North Pole.

The Orlando Museum of Art offers a beautiful program to celebrate the winter holidays, although the timing of the event is a little bizarre.  The Orlando Festival of Trees begins and ends before Thanksgiving.

The Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees exhibit runs from November 14th to November 22nd.  The annual festival dates back to 1986 and strives to provide museum guests with a “winter wonderland” experience.  Room after room is decorated with wreaths and trees and holiday trimmings.

Christmas Trees in Orlando

The exhibit features a Gingerbread Village, Toyland Town and Christmas Village.  There’s also live entertainment provided by local choirs, dance groups and musical groups.  Of course, the holiday atmosphere wouldn’t be complete without a place to shop, so the museum provides a Holiday Boutique and Holiday Garden where they’ll happily feed your need for celebratory consumerism.

The event is open from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours to 8pm on Thursday the 19th and Saturday the 21st.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children.  Additional information on hours, parking and special events can be found at the Festival of Trees web site.

Orlando Festival of Trees

The Orlando Museum of Art is well north of the infamous amusement park district.  It’s surrounded by other Orlando museums and theaters and offers a more cultural view of Orlando, Florida than the hats with ears version.

Photo Credit:  Orlando Museum of Art

Southwest Airplanes

For the last couple years, as many airlines have gone under, there have been that select group of airlines that have continued to grow and rise in popularity. Although considered a smaller airline compared to some of its competitors, Southwest Airlines has quickly risen as one of the most liked and most flown airlines, predominantly because of its customer service and low fees. Now, for only a couple days, you can fly for Southwest Air for even cheaper rates, as they’re offering steeply discounted fares for as low as $25.

Southwest has become quite popular and talked about among the major airlines over the last year because of its strong social media and customer service presence. Southwest is especially popular on Twitter, as it ranks high in popularity along with JetBlue with almost one million followers. Southwest is also preferred because of the perks it offers that other airlines do not. To this point, Southwest continues to offer complimentary snacks and drinks, while many airlines have started to charge for many food and drink options. Another major pain for travelers is fees for checking in baggage. This is a fee that Southwest waives, compared to many other airlines which are now charging for checked bags. Read More »

My tree at home? Wouldn't be this good anyway.

Laura recently shared 5 Little Ways To Save Money for Vacations. Her suggestions were sensible, savvy and financially sound, and called for little to no disruption in your day to day life.

I’d like to offer a suggestion that’s a little more extreme.

Cancel Christmas.

Seriously.

Now before you start throwing the Scrooge label around, hear me out.

I’ve been thinking recently about how much I want to take my kids on a great vacation.  I travel quite a bit on my own, and I’ve noticed that it’s much more affordable to travel solo than it is in a group.  Even when I go places with just my husband, the sticker shock of two airplane tickets and two full sized meals (as opposed to one street vendor hot dog) never ceases to amaze me.  (Plus, when you’re traveling with your husband, you can’t save money by splitting a hotel room with 3 of your closest friends.)

I can easily scratch the heck out of my travel itch for under $400 – when I’m traveling alone.

But I’ve been wondering, where can I come up with the well over $400 needed for a great vacation for a family of four?

Obviously, one of the first things I could do to save money is stop traveling alone.  And to that I say, Ba Humbug!  I’m a travel writer, for Pete’s sake!  I pretty much have to take regular trips or I’ll lose my job! Nobody wants that!

My next idea was to stop buying groceries.  But then I considered the enormous hassle of dealing with Child Protective Services and quickly scrapped that plan.

And then came my brilliant idea to cancel Christmas.

Read More »

Happiest pumpkins on Earth - or at least Disneyland.

Yes, those are real pumpkins.  Yes, they are intimidating.  No, I didn’t carve them.  That’s a little something the kids call Disney magic.  They do, I’ve heard them.

Your moment will soon be upon you.  Prepare for pumpkins! Also, turkey.  Happy carving!

For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.

Photo by W. Honea

With its upscale restaurants, landmark buildings, beautiful bridges and breathtaking views, San Francisco always tops the lists of favorite US cities and tourist destinations.  Many people come to visit during the summer months and get disappointed by the cold fog and damp weather. However you would be pleasantly surprised if you made a trip to the city during this time of year.  The winter months often bring cold temperatures but very blue skies during the day and nights full of stars.

San Francisco is almost more beautiful at night during the holidays than any other time of year – and that is saying something.

During the holidays living in the City is such a gift: the bright lights on the Embarcadero Center row of buildings, outlined to look like giant present boxes; the beautiful window displays in high-end stores like Gump’s and multi-colored lights adorning neighborhood parks and homes. Walk through any of these areas of the city and you can’t help but smile and get a little more into the holiday spirit.

If you are visiting the City or planning to in the future and want to experience a uniquely San Francisco evening, I have the perfect recipe for you. The itinerary will need a little planning but should only require one phone call for the dinner reservation.  This evening is a local favorite for a romantic date but it can be adjusted for just a great night out with friends or family.

First thing you want to do is plan on wearing some warm layers of clothing, especially a scarf and gloves.  San Francisco at night, during this time of year, can be very cold. Wear some nice holiday clothes and comfortable shoes and you will be set for the evening.

Begin the evening with a drink at the beautiful Big Four Restaurant on Nob Hill. Located inside the Huntington Hotel, this secret spot doesn’t have the view that you can get from the Top of the Mark, but this is the place locals go. Filled with beautiful dark wood, the bar area is rich and a historic reminder of the robber barons that built San Francisco.

After a glass of wine or cold cocktail, walk slowly across California Street, watching out for the cable cars and taxi drivers heading across town. Criss-cross the street and stroll through Huntington Park, a wonderful small city park situated between Grace Cathedral and The Fairmont Hotel.  It is one of my favorite parks to visit at night during the holidays because the neighborhood association installs beautiful old-fashion lights in the trees.

Walk through the park towards your dinner reservations, at Venticello Ristorante on Taylor Street. This wonderful Italian restaurant has a warm intimate setting that reminds you of San Francisco society pages from the 1920s. I have had dinners where I have watched patrons walk in that could have been related to Grace Kelly or Kim Novak, in their style of dress and manner. The food is classic Italian with homemade pastas, risotto and roasted meats. The fireplace and wood oven add warmth to your dinner setting along with a backdrop of cable cars going up and down California Street.

After your dinner walk down Taylor Street to Jackson Street and catch the Powell-Hyde Cable Car, with its maroon colored sign, to head towards the waterfront and Hyde Street Pier.  The cable car ride will be very chilly but you can cuddle up inside the center of the car or wrap your scarf tighter and hang onto the outer poles like a local.

Your ride will take you up past Nob Hill and across Russian Hill until you head down Hyde Street to the end of the line. Hop off and turning your back to the bay, walk into The Buena Vista Cafe – home of the perfect Irish Coffee!

Irish Coffee

The recipe of this famous drink was created in 1952 when the restaurant owner and a well known travel writer worked to re-create a highly touted “Irish Coffee” served at Shannon Airport in Ireland.

The Irish Coffee served here at the Buena Vista is the perfect night cap any night of the year, but especially in winter.  How and when you decide to end your evening is up to you, but after all the lights, rich foods, fresh air and drinks – I recommend taking a cab home. Enjoy!

If you’re planning a trip, check out flights to San Francisco.

Photo credits to bill lim, tinou, shayne kaye and rick

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.