Winter Adventures and Holiday Happenings

Winter Adventures & Holiday Happenings

Christmas on the Potomac at Gaylord National in National Harbor, MD As summer fades into fall, the winter weather and holiday season soon will arrive here in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Region. But the start of winter doesn’t mean the end of fun and adventure. Destinations up and down the Eastern Seaboard are offering plenty to see and do in the coming months.

From the Virginias to New England, activities abound as the crisp autumn air gives way to the season’s first snowfall. Whether groups are looking to get out on the slopes, enjoy quaint and picturesque towns, get geared up for the holidays, or enjoy festivals and unique experiences, there is plenty to see and do for groups and individuals alike.

Holiday Lights at Peddler's Village in Lahaska, Bucks County, PA; photo credit: Allure West Studios

Winter in the Sullivan Catskills of New York is filled with beauty and wonder. The snow-filled landscapes bring scenic views and ample opportunity for recreation. Properties here offer downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and ice skating so there are plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Take in the light displays at Peace, Love & Lights at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Running on a partial schedule from November 25 through December 11, and then daily December 15 through January 1, 2023, visitors can experience this drive-thru holiday display on the Bethel Woods grounds.

There are opportunities to “Cut Your Own Tree” at a local tree farm and enjoy the fresh scent of pine during the holidays. Or discover the bald eagle, as the Sullivan Catskills are home to the second largest nesting population in New York State. These majestic birds stand out against the bare branches during this time of year.

“Holiday shopping pop-ups are found each weekend throughout our Sullivan Catskills where you can find locally-made wares, perfect for holiday gifting,” explains Roberta Byron-Lockwood, president and CEO, Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association. “Canal Towne Emporium, a nearly two-century-old country store that is historic, charming and rustic, transforms into a Christmas shop. And back indoors, we have some of the finest fireplaces to nestle in on a cold winter’s eve.”

Many large properties can host groups here, from the Villa Roma to Resorts World Catskills, and offer excellent amenities, world-class dining, inventive cocktails, and more. Escape the cold at The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark, with the latter kept at 84-degrees yearround. This laid-back resort is just fivemiles from winter sports at Holiday Mountain Ski & Fun.

“We will have winter travel packages so you can experience the Sullivan Catskills fully during the wintertime,” says ByronLockwood. “Stay by a cozy fireplace, snowshoe on trails, and enjoy a complimentary breakfast. We have customizable food and beverage experiences. Explore our Good Taste Beverage Trail and warm up with a local whiskey.”

Winter in Saratoga Springs, NY offers plenty of activities like snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in Saratoga Spa State Park, sledding, ice skating, an outdoor ice bar experience with specialty cocktails, plus plenty of places to celebrate the season, enjoy a chilly adventure, or settle in for a cozy indoor retreat.

Saratoga Spa State Park offers 12-miles of trails for cross-country skiing, many of which are near to natural mineral springs. For just $10, rent some snowshoes and head out for an all-day adventure. Or, enjoy two ice skating rinks located in front of the Victorian Pool.

In addition to Spa State Park, there are several places to ice skate in the Saratoga area, both indoors and outside. The Saratoga Springs Ice Rink, for example, is suitable for both ice skating and ice hockey.

Saratoga also offers plenty of open land for sledding, and the Saratoga National Historic Park has designated hills for snow tubing and tobogganing as weather

Meet in Chester County Corporate meets Countryside

Add charm to your business meetings in our unique venues and interesting atmospheres, or pair traditional hotels and meeting spaces with our vibrant attractions and team building options.

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Contact Courtney Babcock for more information. Courtney@BrandywineValley.com | 484-840-7213

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• Ample meeting space • Elegant 66-room inn • 60+ shops • Multiple restaurants & eateries • Beverage tasting rooms • 14-passenger shuttle • Indoor entertainment center

For inquiries, contact Brian Shields at 215-794-4062 or bshields@peddlersvillage.com PeddlersVillage.com

Gallery Row in Lancaster, PA; photo courtesy: Discover Lancaster

permits. Saratoga RV Park offers winter campsites where visitors can enjoy the beauty of winter days (and nights) and head on out to the snowshoe trails available to guests.

Reserve a heated pod (those igloo-looking bubble tents) at Prime at Saratoga National and enjoy a unique food and beverage experience. For some indoor fun, take a clay sculpting class at Saratoga Clay Arts Center or try a ceramics class at Creative Sparks and Balloonatics.

Plus, there are plenty of museums for art lovers, history buffs, dance devotees, and even car enthusiasts to be explored. The Children’s Museum at Saratoga offers hands-on and interactive exhibits in their new location at Lincoln Baths, and the National Museum of Racing offers a state-of-the-art Hall of Fame experience.

Check out a live performance at Universal Preservation Hall, a former church reimagined after a $14-million renovation in 2020. Skip the cinema and enjoy a show at Home Made Theater, a community theater with a professional edge. In addition, Saratoga County is home to craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries for an innovative craft cocktail, a thirst-quenching craft beer, or a full-bodied wine.

The Saratoga New Year Fest takes place December 31 and January 1 with family-friendly activities and live music (including a multiple Grammy winner). Dis-

cover Saratoga’s Annual Chowderfest is one of the area’s most highly anticipated events of the year and will take place February 11, 2023.

The Flurry Festival, one of the largest folk dance and music festivals in North America, draws roughly 4,500 attendees and 400 performers each February to Saratoga. The Saratoga Fat Bike Rally takes place every year in February, too, with fat bikes, community, giving, and good beer. Speaking of beer, Saratoga Beer Week takes place every February at the Saratoga Springs City Center and includes the Saratoga Beer Summit, a fullday event with over 125 different craft beers available.

On November 18, Vintner Wonderland Returns to the 158-year-old historic Renault Winery Resort & Golf in Egg Harbor, NJ, notes Kevin P. McCarty, the resort’s general manager. “We have a full slate of family-friendly events and holiday activities, including: ice skating on our outside rink; fire pits and champagne bubbles to enjoy while dining outdoors; live music; events such as Storytime with Santa, Brunch with Santa, Cookies & Cocktails, Gingerbread Cookie Decorating, Tree Lighting with Santa and more.”

New for 2022, Vintner Wonderland can serve an outstanding business tool, observes McCarty. The rink can be rented for private events, bulk tickets can be purchased as gifts for employees or clients, or they can be bought and resold as part of an organizational fundraiser.

“The best part about Renault is there is something for everyone,” McCarty exclaims. “Family fun, great for a girls’ getaway weekend or a day tip, Renault really has it all. Historic wine tours and tastings, interactive culinary events that will teach and tantalize your taste buds at the same time. With a 55-room hotel on property, all events turn into a getaway with award winning accommodations.”

Snow covered trail in the Sullivan Catskills, NY; photo courtesy: Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association

Atlantic City, NJ is a great place to visit any time of year, and this winter is no exception. AC is home to a number of spas, features lots of shows and entertainment (such as The Midtown Men “Holiday Hits”), and offers plenty of fun places to visit, including: Lucky Snake Arcade & Raceway at Showboat Hotel; Little Water Distillery; The Seed: A Living Beer Project; Westecunk Axe Throwing; Topgolf Swing Suite at Ocean Casino Resort; The Atlantic City Experience at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall; the IMAX Theatre and Escape AC at Tropicana; and Tanger Outlets The Walk.

“The winter season is the perfect time for a getaway to Atlantic City,” notes Larry Sieg, president and CEO, Meet AC. “We invite you to escape the cold winter days and take advantage of luxuriating at one of our world-class spas, explore our growing culinary scene, or take in a dazzling show. Group and family-friendly attractions such as Lucky Snake Arcade & Raceway, Westecunk Axe Throwing, and Topgolf Swing Suite are not to be missed. Not to mention, Tanger Outlets The Walk is just steps from the Atlantic City Convention Center and boasts more than 100 brand name outlets with incredible savings and tax-free shopping.”

“We have a bustling meeting and convention season throughout the winter months,” Sieg continues. “Once the meetings are through, many attendees like to

relax, mingle, and dine at one of Atlantic City’s fine dining establishments. Entertainment also is at the forefront in Atlantic City. Whether it be a concert, a comedy show, or dancing the night away at one of our night clubs, the options are endless. With these added amenities and offerings, an event organizer doesn’t have to worry about planning additional ancillary events outside of the show floor and meetings.”

In historic Colonial Williamsburg, VA, the fifth annual Merchants Square Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place Friday evening, November 25 on the Duke of Gloucester Street in front of Danforth Pewter.

Grand Illumination Weekends will take place over three consecutive weekends in December this year, with festivities beginning each Friday night that include the Lighting of the Cressets, 18th century entertainments, and a Celebration of the Yule Log, a holiday procession beginning at the Capitol and ending at the Magazine where guests will have an opportunity to make a wish and toss a sprig of greenery into the bonfire.

Saturday evenings will include a dramatic presentation of an original holiday story, music, and an appearance by Father Christmas, culminating in simultaneous Grand Illumination fireworks displays over the Governor's Palace and Capitol building.

The Williamsburg Inn offers its own annual Tree Lighting Ceremony that is available exclusively to Colonial Williamsburg Resorts guests. Snap postcard perfect photos and witness the illumination of thousands of lights at the inn. The affair will fea"Staying at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square puts you right at the center of all the holiday fun and festivities,” Hans Schreiber, Lancaster Marriott and Convention Center

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it’s Time to meet in Lancaster

Whether you’re looking to hold a small corporate retreat, a reunion, a convention, or any other event, Lancaster County offers a variety of fantastic meeting venues in a picturesque location that are perfect for any occasion. We have approximately 8,200 overnight rooms and 1,000,000 square feet of meeting space, state-of-the-art technology and all the amenities you’ll need for an on-the-road office.

Let us help you find the perfect venue. Contact cackerman@discoverlancaster.com

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ture musical performances and special guests. In addition, there will be caroling, a gingerbread house display, and Santa featured in the hotel lobby throughout the holiday season.

Colonial Williamsburg is a living history museum that encompasses part of the historic district within the city of Williamsburg. As a modern-day representation of the Revolutionary-era town, guests can watch craftspeople and artisans recreate their trades, take interactive tours of monumental buildings and be escorted to dinner by fifes and drums or taken by a horse-drawn carriage.

The Williamsburg Inn and the nearby Williamsburg Lodge offer indoor and outdoor event space, and The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg was designated as a four-star retreat by Forbes Travel Guide in 2021. The resort also is a premier golf destination. Among the top 100 public golf courses in the country, The Golden Horseshoe Golf Club honors the classic traditions of the game while offering modern amenities.

Lancaster, PA is an ideal holiday destination. Its bustling downtown center blends with small town charm making visitors feel like they have stepped right into a Hallmark movie.

Check out the Mayor’s Tree Lighting in Penn Square on November 25, and Menorah Lightings throughout Hannukah from December 18-26. Santa will be dropping by Lancaster on December 9,10, 16 and 17. For those traveling with kids, Dutch Wonderland transforms into Dutch Winter Wonderland with thousands of lights, fun rides and attractions, and more from November 19 through December 31.

“Throughout the season, you can marvel at beautiful holiday lights at the Christmas Spirit Light Show, an exciting, oneof-a-kind Christmas light display that

your whole family can enjoy right from your vehicle,” explains Hans Schreiber, director of sales and marketing, Lancaster County Convention Center and Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square. “Need to do some last-minute holiday shopping? The Tanger Outlets are your all-encompassing spot to check off gifts for everyone on your list.”

Lancaster has something for everyone, Schreiber adds. “So, whether you’re traveling as part of a conference or work event, with your family, if you’re here for a wedding, or just for a winter getaway, there’s a piece of Lancaster for you to explore.”

The Lancaster Marriott is located in the center of historic downtown Lancaster, just steps from shopping, art galleries, breweries, the Central Market, and more. It also is home to two dining destinations: Plough, which features a menu that simultaneously celebrates Lancaster’s rich cultural roots while embracing a new era of modernity; and The Exchange, a rooftop restaurant showcasing views of downtown and the surrounding countryside along with cocktails and a roaring fire top table and heaters.

Historic Fulton Theater is showing White Christmas this year from November 17 December 31. Start off with pre-show dinner and drinks at Plough and then head to the theater for an evening of festive song, dance and joy.

“Staying at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square puts you right at the center of all the holiday fun and festivities,” says Schreiber. “You’re never more than steps away from something exciting. Plus, the Lancaster Marriott and Convention Center are located within the same property, cutting down on travel time and making it easy to explore between meetings and to make the most of your time here.”