Holiday Getaways…
In under two hours
It’s December. Some of us will be traveling for the holidays — spending hours planning, hours in airports, hours in planes, trains or cars, and even more hours checking in and settling in. Maybe not the ideal holiday we hoped for.
Perhaps what we’re secretly yearning for is to experience the onset of winter, the cheer of Christmas and dawn of the New Year in a different setting but without all the work. A light getaway, but close to home?
Within a two-hour drive, there are a variety of exciting places offering light shows, horse-drawn carriages, ice-skating rinks, train rides, parades of lighted boats, candlelit house tours, arts and craft fairs, breakfast and pictures with Santa. We’ve chosen four options to heighten your holiday spirit: Lancaster County, Chesapeake City, Jim Thorpe and Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
Lancaster County
Only an hour or so away, Lancaster is one obvious choice for the holidays. Think of the famous attractions like Dutch Winter Wonderland and Kitchen Kettle Village. Add in wonderful restaurants for every taste, many welcoming accommodations, and a host of excellent shopping opportunities. Plus, it’s a wonderland for kids at Christmas time.
Start with Penn Medicine Park (formerly Clipper Magazine Stadium) in Lancaster City. A minor league ballpark during warm months, it’s lit up with hundreds of thousands of animated, color-changing lights, all synchronized to music, all experienced from your car. There’s a walking portion as well, with over 100 decorated trees, live reindeer and Santa. It’s spectacular!
In nearby Strasburg, you can join Santa on the Paradise Express, Christmas Trolley, Christmas Caboose Charter, Night Before Christmas Train or Christmas Tree Train. On the Night Before Christmas train, you’ll see the classic Christmas story, while on the Christmas Tree Train, you can pick out your fresh holiday tree.
At Christmas in Barnyard at Country Barn, you can also cut your own tree. Kids will be especially captivated by giant slides, barnyard animals, straw pyramid, hedge maze, Elf Scavenger Hunt and much more.
And in Elizabethtown, a few miles to the west of Lancaster City, visit the 285-acre Stone Gables Estate, where you can drive through a three-mile, 600,000-light display and take the narrated Santa Express train, featuring several replicas of antique train cars. You’ll be visited by Santa and stop in his animated workshop.
Chesapeake City
For a quieter, more romantic December, head about 70 minutes to the south of West Chester to Chesapeake City, Maryland. Situated on the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, this charming town hosts several B&Bs, good restaurants, antique stores, an art gallery and the C&D Canal Museum. Not that this destination is without its amusements. Check out the town Christmas tree made entirely of crab pots!
On December 6, you can watch the city’s 3rd annual Lighted Boat Parade. Good vantage spots for enjoying the parade include from Pell Gardens, Bayard House, Schaefer’s Canal House and the Chesapeake Inn. Boats will cruise down the C&D Canal, past the Chesapeake City Bridge, and then head into the basin by the Chesapeake Inn at about 5:30 p.m. The parade is for charity, so bring nonperishable food items or canned goods collected at local restaurants.
On December 13, enjoy a walking tour of the city’s historic district and admire the beautiful Victorian architecture of its 19th-century homes. Along the way, hear strolling carolers singing your favorite classic holiday songs. Horse and carriage rides will also be available to cap off an enchanted evening surrounded by the glow of Christmas lights.
Jim Thorpe
If you haven’t heard of Jim Thorpe, you should. He was a Native American sports legend, the first to win a gold medal — actually two — in 1912 at the Olympics. Later, he played professional football, baseball and basketball. In 1953, he was buried in the town of Jim Thorpe, although he had no prior connection to the town. The town had been called Mauch Chunk until it was renamed to attract attention and to create a national memorial.
Tucked into the Lehigh Gorge, the town of Jim Thorpe features a variety of architectural styles: Federal, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Queen Anne and others. These beautifully preserved buildings are the foundation of much of its tourism. Taking a trip on the Jim Thorpe Trolley Company’s tour is a great way to see the town, some beautiful natural scenery, and many of the historic buildings along Broadway, including the Mauch Chunk Opera House and the Old Jail Museum. The town’s Victorian buildings are decorated with lights, garlands and candles. The 70-minute tour includes a live narration of some of the most interesting history of the town.
In December, the town holds its annual Olde Time Christmas celebration, with special events held over three weekends, beginning December 5 with the tree lighting ceremony in Josiah White Park. The festival continues with strolling carolers and musicians, holiday shopping, horse and carriage rides, gingerbread house contest and plenty of free family activities.
A December trip to Jim Thorpe wouldn’t be complete without a Santa Train Ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. The railway follows the majestic Lehigh River over bridges into Lehigh Gorge State Park, traversing high-rising cliffs, forests and mountain scenery. Some of the vintage coaches date back to 1917. Yet another highlight — Santa and Mrs. Claus greet passengers on board. Look for hot chocolate and cookies, which are often available nearby at the station, to end a perfect trip.
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
About two hours away, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has much to offer beyond the usual stops at the National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, American Visionary Art Museum — for fun all year round.
In December, under the stars, among the skyscrapers, city lights and tall ships, nestled by the bay, the Inner Harbor ice rink is spectacular! Strap on your skates! Your kids will love it! So will your spouse, parents, friends.
The weekend of December 6 and 7 features local artists, craftsmen and other makers at The Holiday Makers Market at Harborplace. Load up on gifts, such as vintage wear, toys and musical instruments. Choirs will sing! Restaurant pop-ups will offer comfort food and seasonal cocktails!
For the entire month, on the western edge of Inner Harbor is the German Christmas Village, a lovely setting to create lasting holiday memories. Modeled on Nuremberg’s historic 16th-century Christkindlesmarkt, the market features over 65 vendors in charming wooden booths. The Glühwein Pyramid is the market’s stunning highlight. Crafted in Germany, standing 35 feet tall and illuminated with 3,000 lights, the pyramid is visible throughout Inner Harbor. You can get mulled wine — glühwein — there, also from Germany, made with red wine, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves and sugar, with flavors like blueberry, cherry and baked apple. Mmmm!
There’s more fun on the historic carousel and 65-foot Ferris wheel and at the beer garden. Warm up with a mug of glühwein, or enjoy a stein of German beer from the Hofbrau. Chow down on bratwurst, schnitzel, raclette cheese dishes and other selections of German cuisine.
Oh! You can visit with Santa as well.
For more information about these destinations go to: DiscoverLancaster.com, ChesapeakeCity.com, PoconoMountains.com and Baltimore.org.