The Disney Imagineers ensure a steady supply of snow, no matter what the weather

Located just outside Orlando, Florida, Walt Disney World is arguably the best-known family vacation destination in the world. Beyond the four theme parks, Walt Disney World offers dazzling highly-themed resort hotels, world-famous golf courses, miniature golf, and the Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment district. No matter when you visit, you will find that you could spend an entire month at the resort without ever setting foot in a theme park.

But no time is more magical at Walt Disney World than the holiday season, when the entire property is decorated to the hilt and special events abound. For more info about the theme parks during Christmas time read my article Walt Disney World During the Holidays, Inside the Parks. While the theme parks charge a fairly steep admission fee, the holiday events outside the parks are entirely free of charge. In addition, plan to spend some time simply gawking at the decorations. Everywhere you go, expect gigantic Christmas trees, shiny Jewish menorahs, and tributes to Kwanzaa.

When to Go

Although some of the park events begin as soon as a week after Halloween, the season really ramps up on the day after Thanksgiving. Many Disney veterans claim that the two weeks after Thanksgiving are the best time of year to visit, as the holiday events are in full swing but the crowds are extraordinarily light. By contrast, the week between Christmas and New Year’s is typically one of the busiest weeks of the year.

Downtown Disney

Keep an eye out for strolling musicians at Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney is a highly themed shopping, dining and entertainment district owned by Disney and located on Disney property. Throughout the season, special musical performances, visits by Santa Claus and Santa Goofy, and a wide range of decorations are offered. The Downtown Disney season is comparatively short, generally lasting from Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve, so plan your time carefully.

You could see the highlights at Downtown Disney in just two hours or so, but most families choose to make an afternoon or evening of it. The 50,000 square foot, 12-room World of Disney is a wonderful place to lose track of time, while the 12 Days of Christmas shop is a true must-see during the season. Of course, you might want to do some of your Christmas shopping at the fascinating specialty boutiques. Dining opportunities run the gamut from the Earl of Sandwich, featuring gourmet sandwiches at fast food prices, to such celebrity chef outposts as Wolfgang Puck’s. Leave room for dessert at Ghirardelli!

Gingerbread Houses

The Contemporary Resort's impressive gingerbread tree

The Walt Disney World resort hotels are renowned for the culinary talents of their chefs, and one of the biggest demonstrations of the year occurs during the holidays. Several Disney resorts present gingerbread house displays–but these are unlike any gingerbread houses you are likely to have seen before!

At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you can gawk at the 17-foot holiday tree constructed entirely of gingerbread. The tree features more than 2,000 gingerbread shingles, and the recipe is simply mind-boggling. More than 200 pounds of flour, 150 pounds of chocolate, 130 pounds of honey and 100 eggs are used in creating the elaborate display. Pick up a gingerbread shingle or other holiday treat at the small shop in front of the tree.

A homey scene made entirely of gingerbread

At Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Stitch joins classic Disney characters in a warm, homey scene–perhaps a little too warm for Donald Duck! Dressed as Santa, he is halfway down the chimney when he realizes that the fire is lit. The scene is created from highly decorated gingerbread in proportions similar to those used at the Contemporary.

The Disney Beach Club Resort offers a long-standing favorite–a gingerbread carousel with five

A rotating gingerbread carousel

individually decorated chocolate ponies. The rotating carousel utilizes 50 pounds of dark chocolate, 100 pounds of confectioner’s sugar and 100 pounds of icing, in addition to the gingerbread ingredients.

Save the display at the Disney Grand Floridian for last. The stunning Victorian resort is spectacular at any time, and the graceful, elegant yet unpretentious Christmas overlay literally takes my breath away. Musicians perform throughout the afternoon and early evening, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse are decked out in their Victorian holiday best. But a sizable portion of the ground floor is dedicated to the jaw-dropping 16-foot tall gingerbread house.

This impressively detailed gingerbread house stands 16 feet tall!

The elaborately decorated house contains more than 10,000 shingles made from a secret Austrian recipe. It takes a team of chefs, designers, bakers and builders more than 400 hours to create and install. The house is so big that Disney cast members actually sell a wide variety of baked goods across a counter–from inside the house! The display draws quite a crowd, so the baked goods line may be long.

Hidden Mickeys have become a Walt Disney World tradition. In rides, shows, restaurants and shops, Disney designers hide the image of Mickey Mouse or other characters within plain sight. In fine Disney tradition, each of the annual gingerbread displays contains numerous Hidden Mickeys. The gingerbread Mickeys are always the classic “three circles” shape and are typically silver or gold. Ask the nearest Cast Member how many there are, as the numbers change each year.

Christmas at Walt Disney World is truly magical

Walt Disney World, near Orlando, Florida, is mind-boggling in every way. From roller coasters to motion simulators, Broadway-quality production shows to personalized meet-and-greets, Walt Disney World is arguably one of the most beloved family vacation destinations in the world. But the Disney magic takes on a particularly special significance at Christmas time, when the entire complex is blanketed in holiday sparkle.

About the Theme Parks During the Holidays

The crowds are massive between Christmas and New Year's

Disney starts the holiday season earlier and earlier each year, with some events beginning right after Halloween. The week between Christmas and New Year’s is a lot of fun, but visitors should be prepared for absolutely staggering crowds. In fact, if you visit on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, it is essential to arrive at your park of choice early in the morning and stay all day. The parks regularly hit capacity by 10 am.

Instead, consider visiting during the two weeks immediately following Thanksgiving, when the holiday season is in full swing but the crowds have not yet arrived. Many annual visitors feel that this is the absolute best time of the year to make the trek. The season starts winding down just after Christmas, although some events continue into the first week of January.

Each of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World offers something special for the holidays. Due to its nature as a wildlife park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom keeps its celebration relatively low-key. Decorations abound and the afternoon parade takes on a special holiday theme, but overall the party is less in-your-face than those at the other three parks.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The Osborne Lights are breathtaking

In 1986, Arkansas businessman Jennings Osborne fulfilled a simple Christmas wish for his young daughter by decorating the outside of their home with 1000 sparkling lights. Each year the display grew bigger, until he eventually bought the houses on either side and decorated them as well. By 1993, the collection had grown to over three million lights, including a lighted rotating globe, two lighted carousels, and a 70-foot Christmas tree made entirely of lights. The family lit the display for 35 nights each Christmas season, drawing visitors from across the country and even around the world.

The tourists may have enjoyed the lights but the neighbors did not. Citing traffic snarls and safety issues, six neighbors filed suit. Osborne fought back, but in 1995 the state Supreme Court forced him to end the spectacle. Numerous cities offered to take the display, but as a fan of Walt Disney World, Osborne accepted the company’s offer to move the lights to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (then known as Disney-MGM Studios). Every year the lights are displayed on Residential Street, a backlot area that recreates a typical small town.

The tree changes colors in time to the music

Disney retained Osborne’s original collection and has gradually added on each year. Today the collection stands at approximately six million lights. In the past few years, the lights have been timed to a musical soundtrack that includes holiday songs by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Mannheim Steamroller as well as classic seasonal tunes.

In 2011-2012, the lights were displayed from November 10 through January 7. The lights are illuminated just after sunset (around 6 pm, but varies slightly throughout the season) with a narration that tells the story of Jennings Osborne, and remain lit through park closing. The display is included with park admission. The magic of Disney Imagineering guarantees snow every night, despite the balmy Florida weather.

On a hilarious side note, when the display was first shipped to Disney from the Osborne home, one of the family’s Halloween decorations was accidentally included–an illuminated black cat. Disney cast members decided to hide the cat among the Christmas lights and see if anyone noticed. Not only did visitors notice, but they were delighted! Now the cat is hidden in a different spot each year and thousands of families can be seen on any given night carefully craning their necks and peeking into almost-hidden locations in search of the black cat.

Epcot

The Candlelight Processional is a highlight of any Disney holiday vacation

Many families plan their annual vacation around one specific event–the Candlelight Processional at Disney’s Epcot. Replacing two previous shows, the smaller Candlelight Processional at the Magic Kingdom and the Living Nativity at Downtown Disney, the current incarnation has been an annual Epcot event since 1994. A celebrity narrator recounts the Biblical story of Christmas backed by a 50-piece orchestra and a 500-voice mass choir.

The celebrity narrators rotate every few days. We have seen stars as diverse as Neil Patrick Harris, Peter Graves and Marlee Matlin. The choir consists of vocalists from high schools around the country who perform for a few days each. An estimated 21,000 vocalists participate during each season.

Learn the holiday traditions of a dozen nations

Less well known but no less exciting is the Holidays Around the World presentation. The back half of Epcot is known as the World Showcase, featuring pavilions created and staffed by representatives of 11 nations including the United States. During the holiday season, most pavilions feature storytellers who share the classic traditions of their nation. In the American pavilion, where the Candlelight Processional takes place, storytellers share the traditions of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Each performance is short, typically lasting 15-20 minutes, allowing visitors to take in most or all in a single day.

Both Holidays Around the World and the Candlelight Processional are included with Epcot admission. They are generally presented from the day after Thanksgiving through December 30, although dates are subject to change each year. Dinner packages are available that include a table-service Epcot meal and reserved seating for the Candlelight Processional, but these often book up months in advance. General admission seating is provided, though you will need to line up an hour or more before show time. Dad and I have found that we can see perfectly when we stand behind the ropes at the back of the open-air theater, and we need arrive only 15 minutes or so before the performance begins.

Stay for park closing to see the holiday version of Illuminations. This fireworks and laser light show is spectacular all year, but the extended holiday show is truly not to be missed.

Magic Kingdom

Cinderella's Castle is covered in tiny icicle lights

As the flagship park, the Magic Kingdom takes the holidays to a whole new level. Approximately a week after Halloween, the park becomes a winter wonderland, its plethora of decorations capped off by the transformation of Cinderella’s Castle into a glittering ice castle. The effect is achieved with over 200,000 LED lights, known as the Castle Dream Lights, which are illuminated nightly during the season following a special holiday show on the Castle Forecourt stage.

The Magic Kingdom also offers a separately-ticketed holiday event known as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The party lasts from 7 pm until midnight and features a wide range of special holiday shows and character meet-and-greets. The holiday parade and the holiday version of Wishes, the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks extravaganza, are particular highlights. Free cookies and hot cocoa are available at stations throughout the park and most, though not all, attractions are open. Despite the warm Florida weather, through the magic of Disney Imagineering, expect snow on Main Street each night.

If you are unable to make it to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, you may still be able to enjoy some of the celebration. In recent years, Disney has offered the shows and parade during the day later in the season, after the Christmas parties end but before the park removes its decorations. Daytime events are included in regular park admission.

On New Year's Eve, you can see the original Fantasy in the Sky fireworks with a 360 twist

New Year’s Eve is always celebrated in high style with a late-evening performance of Wishes and an 11:45 performance of Fantasy in the Sky, the original Magic Kingdom fireworks show, with added 360-degree fireworks launches. Immediately after Fantasy in the Sky, the Disney characters perform the countdown to midnight over a park-wide loudspeaker. In 2010 and 2011, a preview New Year’s Eve celebration was offered on December 30. This proved exceptionally popular and is likely to continue in the future.

In 2011-2012, the Magic Kingdom holiday season ran from November 8 through the first week in January. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was offered on select nights from November 8 through December 18.

Weather in Florida

November and December weather is nothing if not unpredictable. In 2011, we had an 80-degree Christmas week, immediately followed by two nights of temperatures that dipped into the 20s! Only a little over 100 miles across and situated between the cold Atlantic and the warm Gulf of Mexico, Florida is renowned for its humidity. Consequently, the winter wind chill is often much lower than the recorded temperature.

Combat the weather by dressing in layers. It is not unusual to start your day at the park with a wind chill of 30 degrees, hit the low 80s by 2 pm, and then experience a wind chill below 20 that night. Always carry rain ponchos as well. Winter is typically the drier season, but there really is no such thing as a dry season in the subtropics! Winter rains are typically ice cold and miserable, even when the ambient temperature is mild. Although you may want to purchase souvenirs, forking over $65 for a Disney sweatshirt because you are freezing may not be a fun way to spend your time.

The Fairmont San Francisco commands panoramic views atop Nob Hill

Since its opening in 1907, the Fairmont in San Francisco has treated guests to an extraordinary experience from check-in to check-out. It sits atop Nob Hill and is close to all the wonderful sites that make San Francisco the wonderful cosmopolitan city that it is.  Everything about this hotel speaks of old world elegance and comfort, from its lofty ceilings in the grand lobby, to its Corinthian columns, the intricate architectural details, gleaming marble, posh accommodations, and superior service.

The flags from the participating countries in the United Nations grace the entrance facade

This hotel was the site of the 1945 drafting of the United Nations Charter. The flags of those participating countries still grace the stunning façade of the hotel’s entrance today. It has also been featured in movies, and hosted celebrities and dignitaries from around the world.

This life size ginger bread house was a sweet delight made with 7,500 real ginger bread bricks, 1,500 pounds of icing and 650 pounds of candy

We visited the Fairmont during the recent holidays when the lobby area was transformed into a wonderland with a giant Christmas tree and life-size gingerbread house standing 22 feet tall and 23 feet wide, complete with icing, candy canes, gum drops, marshmallow figures, candy sprinkles and a miniature village with electric toy train, toy penguins, toy polar bears and other nostalgic accessories of the season. It was nice to see children and their parents exploring the grand room with all its attractions at this family-friendly resort.

We spent our days discovering San Francisco’s popular attractions – from Alcatraz, to Chinatown, North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf, The California Academy of Sciences, Muir Woods and more. The concierge was extremely helpful in suggesting great food at local restaurants, and tips on fun excursions and transportation, helping to make our expeditions seamless and stress-free.

Accommodations, Dining & Shopping

The accommodations are elegant and very comfortable

The accommodations are spacious and well-appointed with complimentary bath amenities, luxurious linens, flat screen televisions, paid high-speed wired and wireless internet access, in-room safes, views of the surrounding city and more. We stayed in a one bedroom suite with separate living room and an additional connecting hotel room so that we could have plenty of space.

The suite's living room is spacious with a lovely balcony

The suite also came with a lovely spacious balcony that boasted city and partial bay views. Those traveling with families will appreciate the diverse accommodation options to suit their individual needs.

There are three restaurants and lounges at the hotel including the famous Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar with its South Pacific tiki décor surrounding the hotel’s former pool that was converted into a tropical lagoon with thunder storms that thrill guests at regular intervals with simulated lighting, thunder and rain. This is a very family-friendly venue, though it is best to reserve a table a day or more in advance due to its popularity. The drinks and appetizers are especially delicious. Be sure to try the chicken satay and spring rolls.

The Fairmont San Francisco has its own culinary garden and honey beehives to support the bee population

For breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar offers a superb selection. The omelet bar at the buffet breakfast was my favorite, freshly prepared to order and cooked while you wait. The children enjoyed the waffles – also freshly made – with real maple syrup. A little known fact about the hotel is that it has its own culinary garden and honey beehives. I had the opportunity to try their delicious honey, and it was unlike anything I have had before. Pure, raw and natural, it retains the sweet and delicate floral bouquet of the flowers from which it has been harvested by the bees. What a treat! I wanted to take some home with me.

The grandiose lobby is a great gathering place

There are several boutique shops, a business center, and a health club and spa on site. Guest services also include babysitting, concierge, a bell staff, daily housekeeping, laundry service, safe deposit boxes and more. Guests can also catch the historic cable cars just outside the hotel, making transportation both fun and convenient.

Our stay at the Fairmont San Francisco made a trip to this renowned city unforgettably luxurious, and is definitely on our list to visit again in the future. The Fairmont San Francisco is located at 950 Mason Street in San Francisco, California 94108 (866) 540-4491. For more information visit their official website at www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco

From the middle of December to the end of the month, you’ll enjoy the music and art offerings in their thirty fifth year at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. This well known Austin holiday event is both an art fair and a music celebration, with handmade crafts, great musical acts, and of course, visits from Santa. Decorated with trees and wreathes, the artists booths and crafts makers are supplemented by stellar live music and food offerings too. My kids loved watching a leather craftsman create designs on an amazing vest, and enjoyed listening to alt country singers while nibbling on holiday cookies.

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

You’ll want to get outside after the bazaar, held indoors at the Palmer Center. And the best place for that is around the tree lined trails of Lady Bird Lake, a body of water created by the Colorado River. If its time for lunch, check out La Condesa in the 2nd Street area for great Mexican food, and fresh squeezed guava juice.

Once you’ve revived, there’s a host of holiday activities to choose from. Early in December, you’ll find a holiday sing along and a shoppers stroll around the Capitol Building where a massive Texas tree looms with multi-colored lights. Free gallery exhibits for all and hot chocolate for the kids make this downtown Austin tradition a truly fun event. Also early in the month is a tree lighting in Zilker Park, with Santa Claus and live music playing straight through the month of December. Ice skating rinks also abound around Austin. We went to the rink sponsored by Whole Foods and made a stop in the organic grocery chain for vegan sushi for dinner. Other rinks also offer family skating events around town.

A holiday must see is the massive Gingerbread Village at the Four Seasons Hotel. Ever seen a gingerbread Alamo? Or the Texas State Capitol topped with icing? The hotel also offers a Teddy Bear Tea with strolling carolers and a reading of the Night Before Christmas. Of course, Santa makes his presence known here, too.

Austin’s Auditorium Shores area offers a wonderful New Year’s program for families. Outdoor and indoor music, film, and dance events, open galleries and a massive, three dimensional light sculpture create an alcohol-free celebration that’s filled with children and adults. The night ends with an explosion of fireworks. The performances highlight Austin’s cultural diversity, with Mexican flamenco dancing, musical yoga, and more. Best of all, the entire event is free.

Austin at Christmas time is a lot of fun!

Earlier in December, and also free, my kids enjoyed participating in the nightly performances by the Southwest Key and East Austin College Prep’s Latino Arts Preservation, a re-enactment of a Mexican posada, the recreation of the Christmas story. Santa showed up too, along with pinatas for punching, face painting, and game booths.

Any time of year is a good time for some family biking fun, and we hit the jackpot with rentals from Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, with inexpensive four hour rentals and bikes in all sizes and styles. We also liked that the shop had a cafe next door and we enjoyed some tasty strawberry smoothies before heading out along a bike trail prepared for us by friendly staff members.

The smoothies didn’t keep us going all day however, and after cycling around Lady Bird Lake, we took a local’s advice and checked out the charming Justine’s, a French bistro located in the warehouse district. French you’re saying? French with children? Think crispy thin french fries and delicious onion soup, tasty quiches and salads. Large family groups and friends are common here, and the kids will love the old turn-table playing classic tunes – holiday jazz any one?

Bats may seem more Halloween creatures than Christmas critters, but the Congress Avenue Bridge is a treat in any season. Over a million bats come out of the bridge and head out to forage for bugs at dusk every day; however you’ll see more of the spectacular migration spring through autumn. While there are less winged wonders soaring the through the night sky at winter time, the Austin sunsets can be spectacular this time of year. You’ll find the best viewing from the bridge’s south-east end.

Although your kids may clamor to hang upside down with the bats, you’ll want a more traditional night’s rest. We stayed nearby at the Hotel St. Cecelia, where bungalows and studios are an option to rooms, giving families more space. We loved “Suite Four” which included an outdoor fireplace and porch. Santa won’t even need to squeeze down a chimney if he’s arriving here! My musician daughter preferred “Suite Five” that housed an upright piano, but alas, that was not available. Still, the starry Texas nights and that outdoor fireplace was conducive for family gatherings and guitar playing. This off the beaten track hotel has modern/rustic furnishings and a quirky vibe along with its spacious quarters.

Luminarias say Christmas-time in Santa Fe

Santa Fee in Winter

The Christmas season festivities include secular and religious songs in the historic churches, re- enactments of the Christmas story in the plaza, and holiday parties at world-class galleries friendly to small children. But the pricing in Santa Fe this time of year can be less than festive. If you have a little bit of flexibility with your winter vacation time, wait until just after New Years. You’ll still have some snow, some cold but clear star filled nights, and bright sunny days to stroll the plaza, too.

We stayed at the pleasant Santa Fe Motel and Inn, a comfortable twenty minute stroll from the plaza that’s downtown’s heart. Southwestern decor and spacious rooms and casitas combined with low prices, make the walk well worth doing. When we were there a full, hot southwest breakfast was included in the price.

Things to do and Places to Eat

Arriving after the holidays meant more space in town, and free Friday nights at two wonderful museums the whole family will enjoy: Georgia O’Keeffe’s museum right on the plaza, and the New Mexico Museum of Art nearby. We loved the local slant on art at the New Mexico Museum, and what child won’t find accessible Ms. O’Keeffe’s flowers and brilliant colors.

More bargains abound at restaurants such as the Blue Corn Café where tamales are sweet, and meat eaters will enjoy the burgers and chili – all moderately priced.

Bargains, treats, and great post-New Year’s gifts for the folks at home are all yours at the Santa Fe Farmers Market. Located about fifteen minutes outside the plaza in what’s called the revitalized Railyard District, we found the usual fresh produce and juices, but so much more, too – Mexican wedding cookies, hand crafted soap products, pottery, rugs, and necklaces. The kids loved strolling and sampling; live music ranges from country to classical. Fortified with a breakfast burrito – warning, be sure to ask for it sans-chile’s for the small fry – we were ready for some more of the visually arresting art Santa Fe is known for.

Near the farmer’s market location is a fun collection of contemporary art in a nicely open space: SITE Santa Fe. If you catch it in the morning, you may get in free of charge; regardless, interesting, large scale works, mostly three dimensional, with draw adult eyes and keep the kids amused.

If you’d rather stay outside, check out the art work and crafts created by local Native Americans, sold along the Palace of the Governors which abuts the plaza’s north end. My daughter received her first pair of pierced earrings there – silver, with a feather motif.

The kids will love the intricate spiral stairs and delicate art work inside the Loretto Chapel, near by. My kids were fascinated by the fact that the stair case appears to be suspended in mid-air, with apparently no means of support. It looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Snowy season in Santa Fe - the beautiful old church with a little sparkling white.

Another wonderful historic site with a religious bent is San Miguel Mission, a lovely adobe church located on Old Santa Fe Trail. It has a beautiful altar screen, made from solid pine, with nine stunning painted panels that soar almost two stories above the altar. Combined with the staircase in Loretto, my kids truly felt these churches were inspired by angels. San Miguel was built in the early 1600′s, and it’s one of the oldest churches in the U.S.

Snowing or sunny, if you’re equipped with boots and parkas, check out the Randall Davey Audubon Center off Upper Canyon Road. Here you’ll find an easy and lovely half mile loop trail, interesting bird watching, and a great location to secure lunch, roam the Canyon Road galleries, and enjoy some of sugar coated almond cookies we found on offer – holiday cookies regarded as “New Year’s treats” just after the fact. If you’re toes are still warm and fingers still cozy inside mittens, you can see outdoor art aplenty on Canyon Road. Take a fun walking tour of Canyon Road’s outdoor sculptures. The kids loved the giant red steel rectangles, and the stone carved chairs. Wind sculptures are fascinating for kids of all ages: spinning copper and steel pinwheels and helixes that rise over twenty feet.

We stood and watched them spin until the bright blue skied-afternoon gave way to clouds, and yes – snow flurries. And then we stood some more, letting the kids revel in the drifting fuzzy white, before we scurried off for some hot chocolate back in the plaza again. We thought we could still hear Santa saying “ho ho ho.” Santa Fe is a great place to extend that holiday spirit.

Snow is like ice cream - cold but great fun for kids of all ages.

Okay, once you overcome the shock that not only did your child think you made a terrible mistake, but you could’ve saved a lot of money and stayed warmer by just visiting that beach boardwalk, even in winter – it’s time to hit the slopes.

The best way to do this with children of any age (once they can walk effectively and are over the age of two) is to get lessons. Kind, age appropriate, group or individual lessons that let mom or dad head off to the big slopes or the lodge for a fireplace and hot chocolate, or to ‘bunny slopes’ for slow old people, like me.

Of course you’ll need to get to that ski resort in the first place, and whether its Park City, Utah or a homespun Vermont resort geared to day trippers, you’ll need gear. You could rent it on site, like we did; or bring it with you from home – which is great if you’re planning to ski repeatedly, or are in fact an afficiando of the sport, otherwise, transporting cumbersome gear via plane or stuffed vehicle should be eschewed for the less sleek rental items available at any resort you’ll visit.

Mammoth Mountain – Mammoth Lakes, CA

Making a ski trip fun for kids should always involve great quantities of hot chocolate, grilled cheese sandwiches, and a rental condo, lodge, or motel room that’s conveniently located near the slopes. We took one such trip to Mammoth Mountain California, staying at the lodge, dining in the over priced but oh-so- convenient dining room, riding an enclosed lift car for a scenic view and then back down again to the baby slopes where we all had our respective lessons. A drive to picturesquely iced Reds Lake apres ski, and cozy rental-movie watching in our pine walled room made this one easy. Best of all was an outdoor jacuzzi which one could spend hours in and which one wanted to, at least in order to avoid getting out of it and hoping not to slip on the ice that formed as your wet footprints hit the red wood deck. Mountain views: A+, ski rentals and meals on the pricey side, convenience also great.

Skiing Park City, Utah

A different sort of a trip was found at Park City Mountain resort, where the kids were a bit older, and the ski instruction better and longer. A six hour day including lunch break took my son up amazingly high slopes when he gained fast skill and mobility in his small-fry group lesson. When his instructor called me and cajoled me into a private lesson praising his great learning ability, who was I to fight future Olympic ski champion greatness. Luckily for me I didn’t know just how high he was going, or that it was going to start snowing while he was up there. He returned triumphant, unscathed, and skilled. My daughter and I stuck to movies – we were there primarily for the Sundance Film Festival – and hot cocoa.

Tips for Parents

How early is too early to go skiing? Apparently, to my surprise, once your child can competently walk. Toddler classes are everywhere, and the babe who conquers a bunny slope will be thrilled with his or her abilities. Also apparently, the earlier you learn, the easier that learning comes, which may explain why my college age learning skill had severely limited my capabilities.

If you’re ski-inclined, a good time of year to pursue that passion is holiday time. Along with the obvious delight of children, snow, snowballs, and the ubiquitous cocoa offerings, there are usually some special events taking place. Park City Mountain Resort for example presents Santa. A skiing Santa, who will descend from the mountain top via the Town ski lift, where he waits for photo ops, carols, and cookies just after dark.

Park City Utah – snowy fun

I’m a big fan of Park City, because the resorts lessons were provably good, somewhat reasonable in price, and it’s not a glitzy show palace despite its location. It’s received several top family resort awards, and I can see why, particularly since its class sizes are for five children or less, and kids age six and up can choose lunch away from their parents in one of the resorts on-mountain restaurants. It’s toddler age program, for kids three and a half to five has only three kids per class, and these lessons are understandably shorter and do not include lunch.

For families with matriarchs braver and more adventuresome than me, there are family zip line tours, an arctic coaster, night skiing, and other fast moving pursuits. At the end of a three day stay, I no longer heard any mention of skee ball, although that would be an interesting activity to add to any ski resort willing to take on such an idea.

Red rocks for climbing and exploring - Scottsdale, AZ

Pool-Side Resorts

First choice for any child-friendly vacation in these desert parts of course is the pool. So you’ll want to make sure that you select one that will keep everybody smiling throughout your vacation. On the elegant end, check out the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa with eight pools to choose from, plus a water slide. Kids will love the play area with a floating jungle gym, the extensive pool children’s menus; and family programs ranging from cooking to hiking.

Costs are a bit lower and beyond the pool there’s a full children’s playground with sand box and swings at the Doubletree Paradise. Less full scale resort and more hotel, the Hotel Valley Ho has a nice pool and offers a great location walking distance into downtown Scottsdale, with its shops, restaurants, and galleries. While a solid wallet saver, the 3 Palms Resort Oasis has modern rooms, comfortable beds, and a decent sized pool with view of Camelback Mountain.

Scottsdale Family Attractions

So you’ve found a place to stay with a pool, now what? Check out the fascinating Native American artifacts at the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix. My young children enjoyed the courtyard area most of all, where under Phoenix’s blazing sun they experienced a traditional step in Native American meal making – pounding corn into meal.

Young tourists will also enjoy the Arizona Science Center, where you must head down, down, down into the ground to find the planetarium. My kids found it an interesting oxymoron, viewing the heavens from beneath the earth. Lots of interactive exhibitions, many focusing on the Arizona area, make this a must-stop for families.

So for that matter is the Phoenix Zoo, a nice habitat for over thirteen hundred animals, including the endangered Sumatran tiger. Yes, there’s a petting zoo and a carousel ride, too, which will keep the smallest tots easily occupied. We liked best the exhibits of local animals such as the prong horned sheep and desert fox. The simians cavorting in the monkey village were also a big hit. Be warned, the zoo can get hot, even in the winter months, and we were ready for some time in the shade.

We found it by decamping for a siesta-inducing meal at La Hacienda at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. We found that many of the more sophisticated dining options in downtown Phoenix were either beyond our budget or not as child-friendly as we’d like. Given that we’re not chain restaurant or fast food diners, the alternative in Scottsdale are hotel restaurants, and this was a good one for all. Mariachis played soothingly and the menu had tasty grown up options like vegetarian ancho chiles, as well as tried and true favorites like cheese enchiladas for the kids. The kids menu was very reasonable, and it’s a restaurant you can linger in for awhile – something we particularly enjoyed after several hours at the zoo.

The warm ambiance of a Scottsdale, AZ resort...look at those blue Christmas skies!

Ready to head outside again? Try The Desert Botanical Garden with cacti from the familiar saguaro to the far less common octopus and pleated varieties of cacti. We liked that children are offered checklists to help them identify the types of plants they’re seeing, making it a kind of where’s Waldo? for the desert flora.

While these attractions are in Phoenix proper, we particularly liked Scottsdale’s McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. Playgrounds, green space, a small but interesting railroad museum inside a baggage car and Pullman car. A good place to run around, inexpensive, and completely child friendly.

Sticking close to Scottsdale for the evening, we followed our time at the park with some downtown strolling. Scottsdale’s open air sculptures and open-late shops make an appealing warm evening browse when the stars come out. Scottsdale’s old town offers access to many galleries with Native American art, contemporary and western themed pieces, and of course erasers shaped like chiles, water pistols with cowboy holsters, and packages of Christmas lights shaped like cacti, lizards, and sombreros.

A good and reasonable dinner choice is Malee’s Thai. With plenty of vegan and vegetarian options and the ability to eat family style, trying many different flavors, we loved the casual vibe and organic produce as well as the Pad Thai. During Christmas time Santa strolled through doling out candy canes, making our warm-weather holiday complete.

Bisbee was once a miner's delight - now it's a great spot for family tourists, especially for the holidays.

Bisbee Ghost Tours

My son always loves hearing ghost stories, and those abound in Bisbee, too. While we didn’t witness any signs of the paranormal here, the elegant old Copper Queen Hotel is reputedly very haunted as stories written by guests and kept in a front-desk log will attest. Our room included a small parlor, and a rollaway bed to supplement two doubles, but no ghosts. To satisfy my son’s curiosity, we did take the truly fun Old Bisbee Ghost Tour, an evening walking tour through alleys, up mountainside staircases, and inside other reputedly haunted buildings. Unlike a similar tour we took in San Antonio, we didn’t spy any ghostly apparitions. This was fine by both me and my daughter, and we loved hearing the history and ghost stories of certain eerie stair cases and back alley buildings; but my son was a bit disappointed. If you don’t want to walk, there is also a hearse ride ghost tour that takes you past some of the same sights.

Bisbee Lavender Jeep Tour

No one was at all disappointed by the cities Lavender Jeep Tour. This is a great way to experience the town’s sights, as the many steep streets and narrow stairs make difficult climbing whether you’re an adult or a small child. And if you drive through town yourself, the narrowness of the roads will keep you from getting a good look at all the funky cottages and Victorian era bungalows, gracious old bank buildings, and more that mark the city’s one time competition with San Francisco for grace and commerce. Plus, riding around in a lavender jeep is just fun. While we took the ninety minute Backroads of Bisbee tour, they too offer a ghost tour, a tour of historic churches in the area, and an adventurous tour of the surrounding area that takes you up steep mountain passes.

Bisbee Arizona main street

Bisbee Mines

Kids over the age of five will love putting on a hard hat and a miner’s lamp and taking a train tour of Bisbee’s famous copper mine, the Queen Mine. Smaller children may find the extended time underground a little scary – if you think otherwise, the train is a comfortable ride. The mine once produced a massive quantity of copper, but it closed in the mid-seventies. In place of copper mining came tourist mining, and the public tours are led by miners who once worked in the property, and can offer many interesting stories about working as a miner. If your kids haven’t had enough mining lore, or if you decide to eschew the tour, check out instead the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum in town. Accessible and well laid out, you’ll learn everything from how to mine to the quality of copper ore. We found Bisbee’s colorful past well presented here, in a museum that’s proud to be a National Registered Landmark as well as an affiliate of the Smithsonian. The building was once the  headquarters of the Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company.

More of Bisbee’s Rich History

Nearby, the Muheim Heritage House Museum is another historic building, a home built between  1898 and 1915. Fully restored and furnished, this Victorian home offers a great view of Bisbee from its perch on a hilltop, and we spent a fair amount of time after the guided tour just taking pictures of the mountain view and the sprawl of the town below.

We also explored the kitschy aluminum Airstream Travel trailers that offer an alternative accommodation to the Copper Queen. We didn’t stay, but we did look inside the Shady Dell’s Airstream collection which is supplemented by a yacht and a bus. The kids were fascinated and voted to stay here next time; as much fun as it looked we thought the Copper Queen offered better accommodations for a family.

Bisbee Shops and Dining

In town, there were plenty of Santa Fe-style small art galleries, and eclectic shops, many featuring copper jewelry and turquoise in a uniquely bright shade of blue. And there were also fun restaurants. Bella Roma’s organic-sourced pizzas and salads were delightful and very reasonably priced. Cafe Roka’s upscale, super cool modernity served up a reasonable, Italian-themed four course meal with wonderful vegetarian soups, and an emphasis on plant based cuisine that we really appreciated. And we loved the historic, multi-leveled setting in a former department store.  The kids enjoyed getting their choice of dining spots on the ground floor or mezzanine.

Bisbee During the Holidays

In November and December, holiday decorated historic homes are opened for tours, Santa visits downtown, and lights are strung merrily throughout the quaint streets. We came specifically for the Small Town Holiday weekend just after Thanksgiving. A homey carnival like atmosphere reigns downtown with face painting for the kids, balloon animal crafting, and plenty of music playing on every corner. Best of all were free horse and carriage rides for the family, and for the adults, wine and appetizers offered in shops and galleries. As dusk fell and the lights twinkled on, carolers sang; many of the downtown shops and restaurants decorated their windows festively, too. We’ve heard another family-friendly event is the Halloween celebration with costumes and hayrides. But, whatever time of year you visit Bisbee, you’ll have busy days in this beautiful old mining town.

Even the boats are decked with holly...in Santa Barbara

The Bellosguardo

We started our most recent Santa Barbara sojourn at the Bellosguardo – or Beautiful View property.
Poised on a cliff at the end of the East Beach, section of town, this enormous property was bequeathed by its recently deceased owner to become a museum open to the public. While this project is underway, families can enjoy the beautifully secluded Butterfly Beach which adjoins the Four Seasons Santa Barbara.

Our Lunch Choices

When your little ones have burnt off a little steam on the soft sand, head to La Super Rica Taqueria for quesadillas or tostadas. If the lines are too long here, just down the street you’ll find Taqueria La Colmena, not as lionized by foodies, but with excellent home made tortillas and fresh guacamole at bargain prices. Seasonal treats like sweet green corn tamales are delicious here, and either spot is budget-friendly.

Tis the Season to Shop

Thus sated, you’ll be more sanguine handling the shopping crowds at specialty stores and galleries around State Street. Kids of all ages will enjoy browsing the vintage records at Warbler Records and Goods, or enjoying the tasting room selection of olive oils and crackers at the C’est Cheese store just off State. Somehow we always enjoy shopping in small stores more than malls, and even better are small shops we only visit a few times a year. We seem to always find that special small gift or perfect stocking stuffer in this setting, and it seems like the children are more interested in the wares displayed, too, unlike a visit to a busy mall.

Other Santa Barbara Attractions

Done with shopping? Check out what’s new at the small but well curated Santa Barbara Museum of Art. A current exhibit at this thoughtfully designed museum allows tech savvy kids old enough to understand how a cursor moves to explore an interactive experience with Picasso and Braque. iPads are lent out at the exhibits entrance that thoroughly enliven the viewing process.

Speaking of viewing, another option when night falls, is to check out the classic West Wind Drive In. Recently refurbished, the drive-in operates year round after a long closure. It’s just up the highway from Santa Barbara – about a fifteen minute drive – in the small town of Goleta.

During daylight hours, check out the gentle hiking trails that encircle the city. The peaceful Douglas Family Preserve, is located atop a mesa, and is the kind of trail even the smallest tot can toddle along and enjoy. No fuss, no muss, just outdoor pleasures. Older kids or adults who can carry the smallest members of the family troop will enjoy taking the just under two mile loop trail off Mountain Drive known as the Cold Spring loop. Small streams run through this one, sometimes a bit too alluring for small feet – unless you’ve brought along boots.

Christmas lights in Santa Barbara - the town is lit up and lovely!

Winter Season Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara’s Christmas lights and unique shopping options are not the only way the town marks the holidays. Early in December, there’s a community sponsored, song filled re-enactment of the Christmas story, with a costumed Mary and Joseph riding a donkey through the streets searching for shelter. This free event is coupled with another Santa Barbara tradition mid-month, the Christmas Revels. This unique celebration of a Bavarian Winter Solstice serves up jovial songs, dances, and stories set to music. It’s held at the Lobero Theater in downtown Santa Barbara.

Thoroughly decorated for the holidays is Jeannine’s, a cozy cafe right on State Street, with beautifully made Christmas cookies and other highly caloric fresh and delicious pasteries in the glass cases. The kids will love the banana and brown sugar French Toast.

Head on out to the Wharf to run off some of those sweets, and take a look back down the long pier at a town whose stylish adobes and Mediterranean style looks especially charming during the holidays. Don’t forget to check out the Sea Center on the wharf, where exhibits include touch tanks, models of a gray whale, and various aquarium creatures. Step off the wharf and enjoy a long stroll or rent a buggy for a ride along the cement pathway that parallels the beach front. In the winter, you won’t find yourself competing for pavement space with other tourists, and the ride or walk will be that much sweeter. We joined in some impromptu caroling with other walkers, under a low hanging full moon that looked like “an ornament in the sky,” according to my son.

If you’re spending the night, we recommend the Hotel Mar Monte. This historic hotel retains its 1931 Spanish Colonial feel, but the guest rooms are well sized, and the pool is open year round. But be sure to stop in the Four Seasons or the Montecito Inn for a look at their gorgeous holiday trees.

Las Vegas, baby, where else? With great shops to choose from in faux Venice or in the spectacularly high end shops of Crystals at City Center, Santa Claus is an even more ubiquitous sighting than Elvis impersonators in Las Vegas during the holiday season. Best of all, prices are low, low, low up until New Year’s Eve, when prices are higher than the top of the Stratosphere Hotel.

Las Vegas for Children?

Will your children love Las Vegas? Of course. What child doesn’t like neon lights, towering fountains of water “dancing” to music outside the Bellagio, the Tim Burton-esque flora and fauna of the indoors gardens, also at Bellagio? Afternoon magic shows cater to children of all ages; older children and parents who spring for show tickets will find Blue Man Group and several of the Cirque de Soleil shows running in town to be child-friendly and memorable fun. Holiday themes are incorporated into many of the shows, too.

Nothing says the Holidays like the Bellagio Fountains dancing in time to holiday carols.

At City Center, when not browsing the emerald necklaces we weren’t really planning to buy at Tiffany’s, we enjoyed the sculptures of artist Dale Chihuly, whose medium of sculpture is primarily colored glasswork – awesome visually, and a kaleidoscopic draw for kids. Kids will also like strolling beneath the digital sky show of downtown’s Freemont Street, where street performers play holiday music.

Our Recent Accomodations

We’ve stayed at many different spots in Las Vegas in recent visits – The Vdara Hotel and Spa offers and excellent location on the upper end of the Strip and connects easily to Bellagio, Aria, and the opulence of Crystals at CityCenter mall. We like the upscale kitchenette, the sleek modern look of the rooms; some rooms are smaller than others though, and you’ll really need the one bed room units not a studio for families. Smoke and casino free, Vdara is quiet and well located. Large, spotless, and with a full modern kitchen describes the just-off-the-Strip Platinum behind Bally’s. We loved the huge kitchen and living room, plus an outdoor balcony with a view of the Strip. We were not keen on the location; it’s a long block and a half walk to the Strip even cutting through Bally’s, and not the most pristine block, either. The dining options were not fulfilling enough for us to stay on the property at night. We ended up retrieving the car and valet parking again on the Strip – if that doesn’t bother you, the room is a great value in terms of size and family friendly amenities such as a washer dryer.

Las Vegas glitters any time of year, but shines especially bright during the holiday season.

A little further – a fifteen minute drive or free shuttle ride away in Henderson Nevada - is the Green Valley Ranch. Large rooms in a not-too-large environment of less than five hundred rooms, we liked this more remote location especially at holiday time. Both family friendly and spa-oriented, we enjoyed having the Original Pancake House on site as a dining option after returning from a Strip visit one evening. Also adjacent to the property is a shopping complex with a carousel that kids loved. The District offers less upscale choices than say, City Center, the Forum shops at Caeser’s Palace, or the Canal Shops at the Venetian, but that carousel was a huge draw and it was less crowded. An extra bonus was what we thought was one of the best pizza places in Las Vegas, Pizzeria Napoletana here. A close second in our opinion is the Vegas outpost of Il Fornaio in the New York, New York hotel on the Strip.

And speaking of New York, New York, older kids will want to ride the high speed roller coaster, which will undoubtedly include a slow speed line to board. Small children will enjoy a run through the game arcades around it, or in the Circus themed arcade with free aerial acts soaring overhead at Circus Circus, at the opposite end of the Strip. For our family brief stops at these locations are sufficient, as noise level and crowds are high.

We prefer to take a little get away – and for the holidays you might even find a dusting of snow in the lovely Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, a different universe from Las Vegas showmanship and sound. The red rocks themselves are gorgeous, and caught in the right light, they “glow like neon on the main street,” at least according to my kids.

And of course all of Las Vegas looks like one big glittering holiday ornament any time of year, especially when seen from above. The best spots for viewing are the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower at Paris casino, mid-strip, the restaurant or viewing decks at the top of the Stratosphere at the far end, or head out to the pool deck at the hip, noisy Cosmopolitan and look straight out. No matter which angle you choose, you’ll find the Yule time season in Las Vegas.