EAST COAST HOLIDAY GETAWAYS

PHOTO BY EMILY CHAPLIN/EXPLORE ASHEVILLE

CHANGE UP YOUR FAMILY

TRADITIONS BY VISITING ONE OF

THESE FESTIVE DESTINATIONS

BY MANDY HOWARD

DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE LIGHTS UP DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

Never have the words from the popular Christmas carol, “We Need a Little Christmas,” felt more true. Collectively, we have been through a lot and we need a lot of holiday cheer, right this very minute! So, whether you’re looking for joyful festivities or a peaceful holiday season, pack up the car, gather the kids and make your merry!

THE MOUNTAINS (ASHEVILLE)

There are many obvious reasons Asheville should be at the top of your holiday destination list. Christmas at Biltmore, America’s Largest Home, is one of North Carolina’s most beloved and well-known holiday traditions. With distinct celebration events planned for day and night, Biltmore transports its guests back in time to catch a glimpse of what it was like to be hosted by the Vanderbilt family for Christmas. More than 100 decorated trees, 10,000 ornaments and 100,000 lights make Biltmore a nonstop holiday feast for the eyes.

Asheville and surrounding towns also boast fantastic winter sports opportunities. High elevation mountain peaks make Asheville the perfect destination for skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and zip lining. But have you tried snowshoeing and ice climbing? Maybe a winter adventure is the perfect gift for that hard-to-shopfor person in your life.

While these may be the best-known reasons to hop on Interstate 40 and head west for the holidays, don’t forget to check out the National Gingerbread House Competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn, or the drive-through Winter Lights show at The North Carolina Arboretum.

While you’re there, keep your eyes peeled for B-boy Santa, the dancing man in the bright red suit who loves to surprise shoppers and delight visitors with smooth moves straight outta the North Pole.

THE BEACHES (WILMINGTON)

North Carolina’s beaches, as they say in show biz, need no introduction. Call it lucky, call it blessed, call it a smart choice … we have the unbelievable luxury of packing up our cars and heading east to some of the most beautiful beaches in the country on a moment’s notice. But, too many of us confine beach getaways to summer or spring break. Here’s why you should spend this holiday season at one or more of our nearby beaches.

Let’s start by talking about the most festive race on the coast: The Jingle Bell Run at Wrightsville Beach. Think Santa can’t take a 5K? Let this run prove you wrong as you watch a dozen Santas, some reindeer and the occasional snowflake sprint by. Prizes are awarded for the race, of course, but what makes this run truly an event is that prizes are also awarded for best holiday costume, best group holiday costume, best pet costume and best decorated stroller.

If hundreds of holiday dashers aren’t enough to drive you a tad over two hours east, check out Enchanted Airlie at Airlie Gardens to see magnificent holiday lights and displays (tickets sell out quickly so order them in advance; no tickets are sold at the door). And just across the bridge, Kure and Carolina beaches host a month-long Island of Lights Festival that includes a Christmas Flotilla (scheduled for November 27 this year) and New Year’s “Beach Ball Drop.”

LOW COUNTRY (CHARLESTON)

Charleston is ready for Christmas and hopes you’ll come along for the sleigh ride. One glance at christmasincharleston.com will prove that if

anyone is ready for Christmas this year, it’s the Low Country.

Start your visit with a trip to the Charleston Visitor Center on Meeting Street to see the Festival of Trees. This free event serves as a festive fundraiser where visitors can bid on trees and wreaths in order to support cancer patients and survivors.

Next, make sure you reserve a spot for the 32nd annual Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park. Open every night, rain or shine, mid-November through December 31, this dazzling display includes a driving tour, festival train ride, “Amazing Dancing Light Display,” carousel, Santa’s Sweet Shoppe and marshmallow roasting. Did we mention photo opportunities with Santa and the area’s largest sand sculpture? This event is truly for the whole family.

Last, while you know and love Charleston for its historic charm, holiday spirit takes this beloved Southern town to the next level. Nearly every historic home and walking tour features houses and neighborhoods decked out in full décor. The candlelit tour of Drayton Hall, for example, is a can’t-miss event, as it boasts being the “oldest untouched home open to the public in the United States.”

Need to do some last-minute shopping? Find the perfect gift at the Charleston Holiday Market or “Yuletide on the Ashley” Holiday Market and Craft Fair.

NEW ENGLAND (MANCHESTER AND WOODSTOCK, VERMONT)

Did you binge Hallmark Christmas movies last year and are ready to experience that Northeastern small-town holiday charm for yourself? Look no further than the cozy town of Woodstock, Vermont. Your own personal Hallmark Christmas experience is only a 12-hour drive or four-hour flight away!

Woodstock was voted one of the most beautiful towns in America by Condé Nast Traveler, which reported, “For a dose of absurdly quaint New England charm, it’s tough to do better than this town in the Green Mountains.” While that charm includes antique shops and bed-and-breakfasts, it also claims the infamous Suicide Six ski area. First opened in 1936, the resort boasts one of the first

PHOTO BY BRETT COTTRELL, COURTESY OF NEW HANOVER COUNTY

PHOTO BY DOUG HICKOCK

ENCHANTED AIRLIE AT AIRLIE GARDENS IN WILMINGTON ATTRACTS VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

CHARLESTON’S HISTORIC CHARM AND FESTIVE SPIRIT TAKE THE HOLIDAYS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

rope tows and the oldest continually operated ski school in the nation.

Snow sports in Vermont are obviously to die for, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the actual hallmark of the Woodstock holiday season: Wassail Weekend. This event features horse-andbuggies, carolers and townsfolk all gathering for a lighting of the tree and Yule log. This Wassail is part of why Woodstock made it on Country Living’s “55 Best Christmas Towns to Put on Your Holiday Bucket List.” We wholeheartedly agree!

Also on our list is the neighboring town of Manchester. If you go, book a stay at the Wilburton Inn, which is nationally ranked by CNN and Rand McNally, and known to give a “White Christmas” vibe. (This is good to know if your Christmas movie tastes veer more toward Bing Crosby than Hallmark.)

DISNEY (ORLANDO)

You know that famous commercial, “You’ve just won the Super Bowl … What are you doing next?” To which, of course, the answer is, “I’m going to Disney World!”

Well, should we all be asked, “You’ve just experienced the craziest year ever and survived online and masked school … What are you going to do next?”—the answer might be the same!

Let’s face it—we all deserve a trip to Disney World. And with the theme park pulling out all the stops for its 50-year celebration, now is a great time to go!

Disney Magical Vacation Planner Melissa Shaheen says, “There is nothing more magical than Disney World all dressed up for the holidays. The trees in every resort are spectacular. Every park is decked out. All of the characters are in their holiday best! If you purchase a ticket to the after-hours event at Magic Kingdom on select dates, it will SNOW on Main Street!”

Just remember to either check in with a vacation planner or pay close attention to the website, because Disney has strict COVID-19 regulations to ensure the best possible experience for all guests.

Bonus? RDU offers a direct flight to Orlando! (For more direct flight holiday destinations, check out the information below.)

NONSTOP FESTIVE FUN

BY MANDY HOWARD

While COVID-19 has impacted a number of flights, Raleigh-Durham International Airport still offers dozens of nonstop flights to some of the country’s most festive destinations. Here are a few to check out.

New York City

Visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, go ice skating in Bryant Park, take a carriage ride around Central Park, check out the “Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes” and window shop on 5th Avenue.

Nashville

Check out “A Country Christmas” at Gaylord Opryland November 12–January 2, featuring events like “Breakfast With Charlie Brown,” “The Oak Ridge Boys Christmas in Tennessee Dinner Show” and the “ICE!” exhibit, which features unbelievable sculptures made entirely of ice.

Chicago

Hop on the Holiday Train in Chicago … literally. The Chicago Transit Authority annually runs a holiday train (and bus), spreading joy, cheer and festivity throughout the city. While you’re there, be sure to stroll The Magnificent Mile for shopping and stop by Millennium Park to see the official city tree and do a little ice skating!

Phoenix

Mild temperatures and an incredibly festive atmosphere will greet you if you choose to travel west for the holidays. Phoenix boasts magnificent holiday light displays—and temperatures that allow you to enjoy the walk. Check out 1.5 million lights during Glendale Glitters November 19–21, or the tree that boasts a million lighting options at Scottsdazzle November 27–January 1 in nearby Scottsdale. Also, if you’re craving space and nature, you’re less than four hours away from the Grand Canyon.

Note: Check all events ahead of time to ensure they are still scheduled to take place.

Photo courtesy of Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce

Photo by Chris Shugg

STAR IN YOUR OWN NEW ENGLAND-STYLE HALLMARK MOVIE IN VERMONT.

DISNEY PULLS OUT ALL THE HOLIDAY BELLS AND WHISTLES, FROM 70-FOOT HOLIDAY TREES TO GARLANDS ACROSS MAIN STREET.