The latest travel information plus insider event and sightseeing tips for New York City, Boston, Hawaii, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Bermuda.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Boston's First Night Celebration
Boston originated the First Night concept -- an alcohol-free New Year's Eve celebration for the entire family -- which has since become popular in many other cities. Boston's city-wide New Year's Eve party takes place on Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at 35 indoor and outdoor venues throughout downtown Boston. With the purchase of a First Night button, revelers gain admission to more than 200 performances featuring the very best in theatre, dance, music, visual arts, film and more.
Like last year, the Bronx Zoo has made its annual nighttime Holiday Lights extravaganza a daytime event . Doing so allows the Zoo to make tremendous savings in their energy output. Still the same will be wonderful holiday decorations, a festive atmosphere, ice sculptures, horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday crafts, and of course, the animals. Plus if you bring a gently used coat or new toy to their Coat and Toy Drive, you'll get free admission for your next visit!
Holiday Celebrations at NYC's Metropolitan Museum of Art
As the end of December approaches, Christmas decorations are sprouting all over the place, but there are few places that approach the holidays with the same elegance and panache as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Through early January, the Museum's annual Christmas tree and Neapolitan Baroque creche display will once again be on view in the Medieval Sculpture Hall. The brightly lit tree -- decorated with a collection of 18th-century angels and cherubs, and a baroque creche at its base -- will be set in front of the 18th-century Spanish choir screen from the Cathedral of Valladolid.
The Basic Brown Bear Factory in San Francisco offers factory tours where you can watch the stuffing machines bring the toy bears to life -- and where you can even stuff a teddy bear of your very own. Call (415) 626-0781 for tour information.
December to February are the prime whale-watching months in the Bay Area when whales head south from the Arctic Circle. Point Reyes Lighthouse is a good spot to look for the gray whales on their annual migration. Call 415-669-1534 for details.
Looking for a great source of model train supplies for the special child or hobbyist on your holiday gift list? Look no further! Charles Ro, America's largest train store, located in the greater Boston area, has everything the model train enthusiast could ever want.
For the seventh year, Macy's in San Francisco has made UCSF Children's Hospital the beneficiary of its annual holiday tree in Union Square. For $5, anyone can sponsor a light bulb to illuminate the tree. All the proceeds will benefit the Children's Hospital's palliative care program, which supports families whose children have life-threatening illnesses. Come check out this 85-foot White Fir, which is adorned with thousands of twinkling lights and 1,500 red and gold ornaments, to celebrate the season and to donate to a good cause.
More than 200 people participate in the annual re-enactment of Christmas 1776 when General Washington famously led his troops across the Delaware River near Philadelphia and marched to Trenton, NJ, surprising the Hessian soldiers and winning a critical victory in the American Revolution. While the re-enactment is a great event for the entire family, we prefer to stay at home on Christmas. Instead, we head out to Washington Crossing Park on the second Sunday in December for the dress rehearsal. Not only do General Washington and his troops cross the Delaware River in uniform just as they do on Christmas Day, but additional activities and demonstrations sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission take place throughout the historic park.
Christmas-time in Boston! It's a magical season, with snowflakes in the air, the jingle of holiday bells, and the aroma of fresh evergreens everywhere. Be sure to make time to savor some of our city's unique holiday treats and special places to shop -- you will feel refreshed, relaxed, and ready to take on old Jack Frost! Click here for a look at The Boston Insider's holiday favorites.
The tree at Rockefeller Center, which was officially lit for the first time last night, is the icon of Christmas in New York City, so be sure to make it your first stop of the holiday season. Be prepared for crowds, be prepared for the cold, and above all, be prepared to ooh and aah with the rest of the onlookers. While you're in the area, don't miss the skaters at the famous rink below the tree, and a walk through the angel-decorated Channel Gardens to the east of the tree. The country's most famous tree will stand guard through January 7, 2010. (After that, it will be recycled -- in the past, the tree provided almost 3 tons of mulch which the Boy Scouts of America used at their camps.)
Although this island country is British in many ways, Bermudians tend to follow the Americans' lead when it comes to the holiday, with visits from Santa Claus (rather than Father Christmas or Saint Nicholas) and imported turkey on the table. A few British traditions remain, of course, like Christmas Crackers and the celebration of Boxing Day on December 26th. All of this means that there are plenty of ways to get in the holiday spirit if you find yourself in Bermuda this month. One of our favorites is the annual Boat Parade around Hamiliton Harbour. This year it will take place on Saturday, Dec. 12th, starting at 6:30 pm and ending around 8:15 pm with a spectacular display of fireworks.
Don't miss Honolulu City Lights - a month-long celebration featuring beautifully decorated Christmas trees, music, entertainment, and nightly visits from Santa. The events kick-off on December 1st with a full schedule that includes a tree lighting ceremony, parade, music and plenty of food.
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