The Enchanted Railroad at Morton Arboretum

Hop on board and enjoy the holiday excitement with an assortment of Chicago holiday trains. The season supplies lots of opportunity to gaze at magical, sparkly trains at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, Chicago Botanic Gardens and Morton Arboretum.  All the trains run through the season, until January 2. Read More »

Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier

The weather outside might be frightful but Navy Pier supplies indoor winter fun with the Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier.  A Chicago holiday tradition for 10 years, the festival runs daily through January 3rd and supplies a snow-covered, action-filled day for the whole family.  A diverse range of activities include a rope obstacle course, inflatable games and create-a-cookie.  Amusement rides guarantee excitement with favorites like the 50-foot indoor Ferris wheel, the Winter Wind Glider and the Reindeer Express Train.

Chicago's Christkindl Market in Daley Plaza

Gliding down the Magnificent Mile and piling up credit card charges might signal  the start of the  Chicago  holiday season for some but for me, the official launch comes with  the fresh stollen, gingerbread and hot spiced wine of  the Christkindl Market. Considered one of the best German Christmas markets in the world, this open air, month-long event offers a more authentic (and cheaper)  holiday shopping experience.  Inspired by the famous Nuremburg  Christmas Market that started in 1545, the Chicago Christkindl features an official  November 25 launch by Nuremberg’s past Christkindl, a fairy-like character who wears a  shimmering, golden robe with a crown perched atop golden locks. 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