Rock City Garden’s “Enchanted Garden of Lights” Brightens the Holidays
For a unique holiday celebration, head to Chattanooga to experience Rock City Gardens 16th Annual “Enchanted Garden of Lights.” Rock City is already known as one of the famous Lookout Mountain Attractions, and this event only makes it that much more exciting to visit. This holiday celebration truly makes for an enchanted evening when Rock City is lit up with over a million lights that show over 30 holiday scenes for guests to enjoy. The holiday magic in Rock City begins November 19th and continues through January 1st, so guests will have plenty of opportunities to visit. This celebration even includes the chance to decorate gingerbread cookies and enjoy hot cocoa with your family and friends. It’s a magical way to spend some quality time with those you love.
Continue your enjoyment of Chattanooga with the popular Crystal Palace Cave Tour. This tour is a wonderful way to explore more of the natural beauty of the area. The cave is known for its incredible rock formations including stalagmites, stalactites, soda straws, fossils, natural bridges and rimstone pools. A guide will explain how these natural wonders are created as well as some of the history of the cave as he takes you through each cavern. Guests of all ages are able to enjoy this tour.
Warm up after spending time outdoors with a visit to the Murder Mystery Dinner Shows at Vaudeville Cafe. This exciting dinner and show combination puts you and the other guests in the spotlight when you become the detectives in solving a murder. You can mingle with the cast and ask them questions in order to gather clues and decide who the culprit is. You never know what mysteries you might uncover at these family-friend shows!
Celebrate the Season with Ripley’s Aquarium Festival of Trees
Get your holidays started out on a high note with Ripley’s Aquarium Festival of Trees. With 50 trees that are decorated to represent all 50 United States, the Festival of Trees is a truly festive occasion with a patriotic flair. The festival begins November 1st and continues to December 31st, so you can come by anytime during those months and take a look at these beautifully decorated trees. With the festival at Ripley’s Aquarium, you’re certain to get some exciting looks at marine life while you’re there as well. It’s a two-in-one experience you won’t want to miss out on!
If you want to see more of Ripley’s amazing attractions after visiting Ripley’s Aquarium, visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum where the variety of strange and interesting exhibits will keep you exploring for hours. Check out the rollercoaster built from over 30,000 matchsticks or the vampire killing kit. You will laugh at some exhibits and be amazed at others. It’s a fun way to spend time with family or friends.
While you’re on a roll with your Ripley’s adventures, stop by Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze. This maze covers over 2,000 square feet and has numerous paths, crazy circles, and dead ends for you to explore. The lighting and sound effects that work with the mirrors will have you entertained and wondering what surprise you will find next during the entire experience. This is not your average fun house mirrors experience!
Christmas in March in Gatlinburg, TN
February 15, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge TN
Though the air might not be filled with snow, and it might not be beginning to feel a lot like Christmas come March 13 through 16, Gatlinburg, TN will still be showcasing winter wonder as Santa Clause comes to town! The Gatlinburg Convention Center will once again host the annual Celebrate Santa Convention as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, elves, reindeer owners and breeders, and holiday enthusiasts gather for their very own convention. Aside from the general convention meetings and exhibits, Gatlinburg visitors will find a wealth of entertainment options associated with Celebrate Santa, including the Holly & Shamrock Parade, Santa’s Fashion Show, and Santa’s Snow Tube Races at Ober Gatlinburg! Even if you aren’t directly involved in the wonder of winter, admission is free and you are encouraged to come out and celebrate with Santa!
While you’re in town for the convention, don’t forget that it’s still spring. It may feel like a Winter Wonderland at the convention center, but everywhere else flowers are starting to bloom and Gatlinburg is the perfect place to enjoy the beauty of nature in spring. Take the Nantahala Raft and Rail – Train and Jeep Tour. Go hiking the trails, river rafting, and more in this fun-filled outdoors exploration. It has everything a nature lover could ask for. Gatlinburg in spring can’t be missed, and you won’t miss a second of it with this tour.
If you’re worn out in the evening after a day outdoors, spend your evening at a dinner show. It’s the perfect way to sit back and relax after a day spent having fun outside. Try the Black Bear Jamboree Dinner and Show. This energetic musical and dinner experience will have you tapping your toes and clapping your hands. From gospel music to bluegrass, the music is incredible and the food is delectable. Also check out Hoot ‘n’ Holler Dinner Show, for another musically entertaining dinner show. This show will take you on a musical review of the 20th century that will have you grinning from ear to ear. Don’t miss out on all Gatlinburg has to offer.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City, New York
On March 17th, the famous and much-loved St. Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled to begin on 5th Avenue of New York City, NY. New York is well-known for its grand parades and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York is one of the oldest and biggest parades worldwide.
Early in the morning, the streets being to fill with revelers looking for places to sit or stand to watch the parade go by. At 11 am, the parade begins and the merriment of the holiday is in full swing. After a day full of celebration, parade floats, and marching bands, the night is sure to be full of excitement. A unique tour of the city of New York at night such as the New York Nights and the City tour is sure to be the perfect end to a wonderful day.
The day before or the day after the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, New York back to its fast-paced way of life during the day would be thrilling to explore in the New York See It All tour. After your tour, a visit to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Modern and Contemporary Art Museum cannot be missed. As one of the most famous and beautiful art museums in the world, it’s one experience in New York that is essential.
Rock City Offers Holiday Cheer with Its Enchanted Garden of Lights
Running through January 5, Chattanooga visitors will find a superb ode to the holidays with Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights. This amazing lights display transforms the natural beauty of Rock City into a winter wonderland complete with more than 30 meticulously decorated scenes displaying various customs and traditions of the holidays. From trails of nutcrackers and candy houses to Christmas trees and nativity scenes, a variety of holiday sights will be covered throughout the scenes - each offering its own, unique take on this special time of the season.
Those looking to experience the day-time offerings of Rock City while visiting the area will definitely be interested in the Lookout Mountain Attractions. This comprehensive package of area activities offers admission to Rock City, as well as Ruby Falls and the Incline Railway all for one price! Rock City, as the name might imply, features a variety of natural, towering rock formations that overlook the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. The Incline Railway travels to the top of Lookout Mountain, and travels at an amazing steep grade of 73%. As for Ruby Falls, it offers travelers an amazing cave experience complete with an underground 145 foot waterfall!
Another great option for exploring the area’s wondrous outdoors is the Crystal Palace Cave Tour. Along this guided tour you’ll travel through Crystal Palace Cave and learn of the various stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws and other geological features found throughout the cave. Of course, even if you care nothing about the technical nature of these formations, even just experiencing them first-hand is an amazing sight to behold.
Celebrate 2010 On The Las Vegas Strip
Times Square is the destination most associated with New Year’s Eve, but who wants to deal with the crushing crowds that descend on Times Square come December 31? If you’re looking for a New Year’s celebration that allows for some elbow room, Las Vegas is the place for you.
With a nickname like “Sin City” it’s easy to think that Las Vegas’ New Year’s Eve celebration would be a rowdy one. If that’s what you’re thinking, you would be right. The Vegas Strip opens it’s doors for one night only, making the Strip one big party. Lights shows and pyrotechnics light up the city from the roofs of the casinos and when the clock strikes twelve, computer-choreographed fireworks light up the skies.
The New Year’s Eve festivities that consume Sin City should not be missed, and if you are planning to be in the area there are several hotels to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly room or a suite in the lap of luxury, Vegas can accommodate.
Check out the Las Vegas page on Vacations Made Easy to book your hotel or reserve a vacation package to make your New Year’s Eve as easy as watching the ball drop!
Create Warm Winter Memories in Sunny San Diego
Whether you are tired of typical winter weather, looking to start a new holiday tradition or simply need a break, San Diego offers winter travelers a metropolitan city combined with the natural beauty and outdoor activity of southern California for an adventurous vacation that is sure to both warm and liven your family’s holiday. From flying planes to strolling along the beaches of Mexico, read on for a few ideas on how to make this holiday season one that truly stands out!
Beginning the last week of December, the San Diego Whale Watch cruise allows you to take to the Pacific Ocean and experience one of nature’s largest creatures in their natural habitat. California gray whales will be the star of the cruise, though they are far from the only sight you will encounter as dolphins and sea lions are also known to frequent the waters surrounding the San Diego Harbor. From simply witnessing amazing sights to learning a little about the California gray whale, the San Diego Whale Watch can definitely impart meaningful holiday memories on your family.
Learn to Fly Discovery Flight 60 Minute Flight
Those looking for full-throttle adventure will be hard pressed to find an activity better suited than the Learn to Fly Discovery Flight 60 Minute Flight. This unique adventure tour gives you a crash course on flying a plane before actually allowing you the opportunity to take to the skies with a certified pilot and gain first-hand experience controlling a Varga VG-21. Even if you’ve never flown in a plane, let alone controlled one, this is a safe experience that can provide lifetime memories for one and all.
If you would like epic memories without the thrills a visit to Rosarito Beach, Mexico may be a better suited recommendation. Along this tour, you will travel down the Pacific Coast and through Tijuana, soaking in cultural and natural sights, before having the opportunity to relax along Rosarito Beach. Whether you choose to spend your time exploring the local resort, browsing the arts & crafts market, or simply lounging in the sand, you are sure to find a tropical twist that can offer refreshing memories.
Christmas Comes to the Country Music Capital of the World
November 27, 2009 by admin
Filed under Nashville TN
As the Winter season officially sets in much of Music City will be covered in the warmth and cheer of the season, if not necessarily a blanket of snow. From luxurious resorts to historic homesteads, throughout the area travelers will find a wealth of options for enjoying a traditional Nashville vacation coated with a touch of the holidays!
Gaylord Opryland Resort’s encompassing A Country Christmas has all four atriums of the popular resort decked out for the holidays while the resort’s Gaslight Theatre plays host to both Louise Mandrell’s “Joy to the World” Christmas Dinner & Show and the interactive ICE!, featuring classic scenes from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” through exquisite ice sculptures. Additionally, the famed Radio City Rockettes will be performing at the nearby Grand Ole Opry House as part of the festival!
Throughout December, the Belle Meade Plantation will tweak its typical historical entertainment and education to provide a more concentrated look at Christmas in the 19th century. Victorian finery and a general sense of luxury and sophistication will be on display as you experience how the elite of yester year celebrated the holidays.
The General Jackson Showboat and Tim Watson will be teaming up this Winter season to bring Nashville visitors a historic and lively time along the Cumberland River with Tim Watson’s Tennessee Christmas. Tim Watson’s acclaimed fiddle abilities will be put on center stage as he combines his perfected style with the nostalgia of Christmas classics. Of course, dinner and stunning views of Nashville will help compliment your experience for a varied occasion of entertainment.
Christmas at Graceland in Memphis, TN
Celebrate this holiday season with Memphis and memories of the King with Christmas at Graceland! Running from now through December 25, Graceland will be transformed into a veritable winter wonderland through a variety of holiday lighting, exhibits and general joy. As has been done for years, Graceland will be adorned with the same décor Elvis used during his residence, offering yet another way to catch an intimate glimpse into the life of one of America’s brightest stars. Other seasonal touches are set to include a lighted Christmas tree. Whether an avid Elvis fan or simply looking for a unique way to celebrate the season, Christmas at Graceland can warm the hearts of one and all!
Learn more about Christmas at Graceland and find hotel options near Graceland online.
Of course, if you are visiting Memphis this winter, then a visit to Graceland is practically a must-do. Tours of Elvis’ legendary house will take guests through eight rooms of the actual mansion, as well as Elvis’ custom airplanes and even the final resting place of The King himself. And while a walk through this famed estate is always memorable, the addition of Christmas at Graceland is sure to make the moment all the more special.
Reserve Your Tickets Today for Silver Dollar City’s Old Time Christmas
November 11, 2009 by admin
Filed under Branson MO, VME
Your 2009 holiday season will be incomplete without a visit to Silver Dollar City’s Old Time Christmas Festival! Hailed as one of the best theme park holiday festivals in the United States, this Christmas celebration offers fun and entertainment for the whole family, from the young to the young at heart.
The Old Time Christmas Festival began on November 7, and it runs until December 30. During the winter months, Silver Dollar City is open Thursday through Sunday, and our two-day tickets are the perfect choice for a fun weekend vacation. During the holiday festival, Silver Dollar City has many special shows and attractions to help get you in the Christmas spirit. Visitors can see the Living Nativity, Frosty, Kris Kringle, and A Dickens’ Christmas Carol and experience world-class singing, dancing, and more.
The undeniable highlight of a Silver Dollar City Christmas is the five-story tall illuminated Christmas tree in the park square. The Christmas tree is the focus of Christmas on Main Street, the park’s light display. The Technicolor tree sparkles with a choreographed routine to some of your favorite holiday tunes. More lights, 100,000 to be exact, can be found on the Gifts of Christmas Holiday Light parade, which can be seen each evening. In total, Silver Dollar City is emblazoned with 4 million lights!
To make planning your vacation to Silver Dollar City and Branson easy, we offer pre-built vacation packages. The Day in Silver Dollar City Package features one night of lodging in Branson as well as tickets to Silver Dollar City, which will give you just enough time to experience everything that Silver Dollar City has to offer.
If you have longer to spend in Branson, A Silver Dollar City Vacation is a better choice for you. With two nights of lodging in Branson and tickets to Silver Dollar City, you will have time to experience the theme park as well as take in some of the other fantastic Branson holiday attractions, including the Trail of Lights and Miracle of Christmas at Sight and Sound Theatre, which can easily be added to your vacation package.
