Vacations Blog

Santa Claus passes over Los Angeles on his yearly flight.

In just a few days Santa Claus will be gearing up for a trip that most of us can only dream about, a trip around the world.  Of course, his trip is business and he’s a bit pressed for time, but the concept is still beyond cool.

I was lucky enough to sit down with Santa recently and we had a conversation about his yearly journey, the best places for coffee and what music he likes for his trip.  For the record, this is just the second interview I’ve ever conducted while sitting on the subject’s lap (the first was Hugh Jackman).

Whit: Santa, I must say that this is awesome.  I know that you’re busy this time of year and I thank you for taking the time to talk to me for UpTake.

Santa: Whit, it’s my pleasure.  By the way, that Hugh Jackman interview almost landed both of you on the naughty list.   I know that the dark side is strong and that coal is a good investment right now, but seriously, what kind of example are you two setting?

Whit:  I’m terribly sorry, Santa.  I can honestly say it won’t happen again, and I have the court order to prove it.

Santa:  Ho, ho, ho.  Very well.  Now what was it that you wanted to know?

Whit:  I suppose the big question is how do you do it?  How do you travel the world in one night?  Where do you start?

Santa:  It’s a combination of speed, luck and magic.  There’s a lot of math involved.  I usually start at the North Pole and take it from there.

Whit:  Was that sarcasm, Santa?

Santa:  I don’t traffic in sarcasm.

Whit:  Speaking of traffic, you’re on the road, or air as the case may be, for quite some time.  Do you have scheduled stops so you can rest and whatnot, or do you just sit a spell in random houses as needed?

Santa:  Generally speaking I don’t schedule breaks.  However, I have been known to hit a Starbucks every other timezone or so.  I’m a sucker for the Gingersnap Latte.  The Espresso Truffle is good, too.  Plus, they always have clean restrooms.

Whit:  I agree.  That’s good stuff.  Do you have a soundtrack to your trip?  Do you make mixes?

Santa:  Well, I’m under contract with iTunes to play at least 70% holiday music, but since everyone and their brother has a Christmas record out this days I rarely have any repeats.  I just hit shuffle on my iPhone and let it roll.  I’m rather partial to Dean Martin and Bing Crosby, but the new Barenaked Ladies is pretty good.

Whit:  Have you heard the Jack Johnson Christmas stuff?

Santa: I have.  That whole album is great.  I also like Sufjan Stevens.

Whit:  Very nice.  So, do you have a special place that you like more than others?  Does your route allow you to take in the scenery at all?

Santa:  My route varies depending on solar wind and military testing.  Interested parties can track my path and progress at NORAD.  They’re good people.  As for favorite places, Paris is lovely in the winter.  New York and Vegas are good as well.  Basically I like a place that’s well-lit.  Rudolph’s nose gives me a headache after awhile and it’s nice to let him rest it now and again.  I also like Seattle, for the coffee.

Whit:  Wow, that’s a lot of insight, Santa.  I really appreciate it and I know our readers will feel the same.  Is there anything else you would like to add?

Santa:  Just that people don’t leave bran for the reindeer.  It messes with their insides something fierce and it makes for a pretty uncomfortable ride- for all of us.  Other than that I’d just like to wish everyone a very happy holiday.  Peace.

Photo by Tricia Honea

Winter Wonderland at The Grove

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, shopping in L.A. is a more than a passing fancy- it is a way of life.  Shopping is the cause and cure of all that ails the City of Angels.  Well, shopping and the Lakers, but you get the idea.

When the holidays roll around it all goes into high gear.  A higher gear.  It’s a blur, really.

We talked earlier about The Americana at Brand and the seasonal delights it offers to locals and visitors alike.  It’s a great place.  However, The Grove is the original in that respective mold and it still the best.  Not only that, unlike The Americana, it is upscale but still affordable.

It’s a place to see and a place to be seen.  Celebrities are everywhere.

The seasonal decor is very festive.  There is a musical water show in the fountain, live bands and a very quaint cottage in which Santa spends his days gathering Christmas wishes from children, starlets and even canines.  It snows twice nightly.

One of my favorite things about The Grove is that it is adjacent to a Farmer’s Market that houses some of the best food in the area, from crepes to BBQ.  It is in this market that you will find a little bar that serves Anchor Steam’s Xmas Ale on tap, and that is the greatest gift of all.

The Grove is holiday shopping at its best, and it represents L.A. pretty well, too.

If you’re planning a trip, check out Los Angeles flight deals.

All photos by Tricia Honea

Visiting the Seattle area during the holidays and want to treat yourself to a unique Northwest experience?  Check out a Puget Sound Christmas cruise from Argosy Cruises.  These cruises, which have been a Northwest tradition for nearly 60 years, leave from various Seattle area ports of call each evening from late November through December the 23rd. Each beautifully decorated and lit Christmas ship is also accompanied by a number of decorated ships and private boats, creating a floating, parade-like, holiday atmosphere.  This flotilla of festive boats sails the waters of the Puget Sound spreading the cheer to land lubbers gathered at designated beachfront locations.  It is a memorable and wonderful event to experience.

Sail into Christmas on a Seattle Argosy Cruise

Santa Claus, refreshments, and photo-ops are available on board these Christmas Ships.  To add to the festive atmosphere, each lead ship in the flotilla is joined on board by a local choir, which performs a 20 minute long concert of Christmas carols at each designated port of call. (The Northwest Boys Choir put on a wonderful show on last weekend’s south sound cruise).  These holiday themed performances are simultaneously piped over state of the art speaker systems on board the ship to throngs of locals gathered around huge bonfires on shore who take the opportunity to join in.  It is a perfect Northwest kickoff to the Christmas season.

Tickets prices: $35 for adults, $19.00 for kids, Free for kids 4 and under.
Value nights: $25 for adults, $12 for kids , Free for kids 4 and under.

A portion of the proceeds from these cruises are donated to the local charity The Seattle Times Fund for the Needy. So, you can splurge a bit on your family, and still know you are donating to a good cause.  In these tough economic times, every little bit helps.

So, whether you are enjoying the food and activities on one of these festive ships, or snuggling around one to the community bonfires on a cool Northwest evening listening to the sound of the waves mix with the sweet harmonies of the carolers, you will agree that a Puget Sound Christmas Cruise from Argosy Cruises is a very unique and very Northwest way to get into the holiday spirit.

Photo courtesy of Argosycruises.com

Jack Hanna of the Columbus Zoo

What do you get when you mix sponsorship from one of America’s largest energy providers and a world renowned zoo? Not withstanding the overall sleep deprived status of the zoos inhabitants, you reap the benefits one of the most impressive and enjoyable Christmas Light displays anywhere. The Columbus Zoo is celebrating it’s 20th year of Wildlights.

The Columbus Zoo, located just north of Columbus, OH at 4850 West Powel Road in Powell, OH has partnered this year with American Electric Power (AEP) to make this year’s Christmas Light display even lighter and brighter. More importantly, the partnership has enabled the Columbus Zoo to make this year’s display greener than ever before. We’re not talking about green lights, though I’m sure you’ll find plenty among the over 3 million lights on display.

Greener, as in reducing environmental impact. AEP’s partnership with the Zoo has enabled them to convert the conventional lighting displays to the more energy friendly LED lights. The result is a brighter light that burns more efficiently and lasts longer than the traditional bulbs. They cost less to operate and by having to replace fewer bulbs will reduce waste.

Mangels Carousel

Wildlights is set to begin November 21 and will be running nightly through January 3. Hours are Sundays through Thursdays 5 pm until 9 pm (10 pm Fridays and Saturdays) and admission is free with your paid Zoo admission. A special member’s only preview is scheduled for November 20.

Local high school choirs and carolers are scheduled to perform at the newly renovated Entry Village on selected evenings. The Central Ohio Model Railroad Club has helped, in part, to provide an impressive model railroad display in that area as well.

I can’t wait to see the animated light display at The Watering Hole. Newly added this year, there is a much touted light display animated and set to music at the central pond. It is scheduled to begin every half hour and lasts approximately nine minutes. To use their words, it is “extravagant.”

Wildlights at the Watering Hole

You can also bring your ice skates (or rent a pair for $3) and enjoy the Frozone Ice Rink. According to the Zoo website, the Ice Rink usage will be based on capacity. That means expect a crowd.

Certainly this is not a comprehensive or ranked list of the many activities you can expect to enjoy at this year’s Wildlights for, as my kids are quick to mention, Santa will also be there. Is it mention or scream? “SANTA, SANTA, SANTA!!!”  Sometimes I get confused. By all means, make sure your kids bring their wish list as Santa will be on hand at the Water’s Edge Events Park to assess naughty and nice and accept last minute requests and pictures. Hint: Don’t pull this Santa’s Beard!

There are so many things to do during Wildlights that you may just forget that there are animals on display. Don’t forget, the zoo is open year round 9 am – 6 pm. Though some of the animals are off display during the colder winter months there are plenty of creatures that love this time of year as well as the numerous indoor exhibits.

Come early and stay late experiencing one of Central Ohio’s favorite holiday traditions, Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo.

Wildlights is closed Nov. 27, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.

Photos: Ed Lamaze, Fensterbme (Creative Commons)

Clifton, Ohio

I can think of countless ways to usher in the Holiday Season, but none better than a Christmas Lighting Extravaganza.  Couple over 3.5 million lights with the gorgeous backdrop of Clifton Gorge and the Little Miami River at Clifton Mill and your Holiday Season can officially be declared as having begun.  Clifton Mill has been celebrating the Christmas season for almost 20 years with an extraordinary lighting display that takes a crew of six roughly 3 months to set up.

The Mill is located at 75 Water St. in Clifton, Ohio just 9 miles south of Springfield.  Follow OH-72 south (Exit 54) off of Interstate 70 and you can’t miss the Mill on your right.  Parking is free.  Gates open daily at 5pm.  Admission is $8 (children 6 and younger are free).

The weekends are definitely the busiest time, so you may want to keep that in mind when visiting.  Loosely translated, you will have a much more relaxed and leisurely visit if you can swing a trip during the week.  This is really important when you travel, as I do, with a horde of small children.  The area is accessible to strollers but they are not allowed in some of the buildings.

Clifton Mill Lighted for Christmas

The lights go on at 6:00 pm with the flip of a single switch.  It’s absolutely amazing to see the darkened gorge and mill come to life with the brilliant lights.  A definite, “Ooh” and “Ahhh” moment.  My kids often prefer to just scream, “WOW!!!”  There’s even a synchronized light show set to music.  Each hour the lights go out leaving visitors standing in the darkness and slowly they dance back to life as music echoes through the gorge.  It’s captivating, really!

While at the Mill you’ll want to check out the Santa Claus museum, home to over 3000 Santas and Santa memorabilia, the Miniature Village and the spectacular views from the Covered Bridge which spans the gorge and river below.  Concession style meals are served (soups, hot dogs, hot chocolate, cookies) during the evening.

Hours of operation for the lighting display are from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm.  The display starts the day after Thanksgiving and runs every night until January 1st, closing at 8pm on Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Years Eve.

The Waterfall at Clifton Mill

I suggest, though, that a trip to Clifton Mill should encompass the whole day.  The Millrace Restaurant located inside of the Mill is open for breakfast and lunch 9:00 am until 2:00 pm.  There’s no better way to start your day than with a stack of fresh pancakes.  The flour, of course, was milled fresh on the premises probably just hours earlier. (Normally closing at 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm on weekends, the restaurant observes abbreviated hours during the Christmas lighting season.)  Afterward, you may wish to tour the mill, which boasts itself as the largest water powered grist mill still in operation in America, for a firsthand look at one of America’s earliest industries.

You’ll have plenty of time in the afternoon to do some antiquing at Weber’s Antique Mall in Clifton or maybe just a leisurely hike at nearby Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve.  It offers incredible views of the gorge from several bridges and platforms.  If you’re looking for a truly unique gift idea or collectible check out The Fish Decoy Company on the corner of Dayton St. and OH-72.

Clifton Mill Overlooking the Gorge

After having explored Clifton’s charm you’ll have plenty of time to make it back to the Mill, grab a cup of hot chocolate and welcome the Christmas Season with the Legendary Lights at Clifton Mill.

Photos courtesy of Clifton Mill website and Bret Arnett (creative commons).