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Best Holiday Events in Toronto

Distillery Winter Village: Nov 17 – Dec 31

Join us and experience the magic of the holiday season. Stroll the cobblestone streets under the canopy lights while you shop for that perfect gift, marvel at the centerpiece Christmas Tree in Trinity Square, wave hello to Santa, and enjoy live entertainment.

This year’s 50 foot tall White Spruce Christmas tree has been designed by DIOR by PARFUMS CHRISTIAN DIOR, this year’s title sponsor of The Distillery Winter Village. It will be decorated with 400 custom midnight blue ornaments, 1,700 shiny and matte gold balls, and 70,000 twinkling lights. The tree also features 1,000 custom DIOR by PARFUMS CHRISTIAN DIOR star charms. Restaurants, shopping

Holiday Hills at Stackt Market

Holiday Hills will transform STACKT into a show stopping winter wonderland where you can immerse yourself in the holiday spirit with a whole roster of cozy, fun + festive activities + experiences.

From November 18 – December 31, Holiday Hills is a FREE festival that will take over a whole city block of Toronto with immersive photo installations and experiences, eye-catching holiday ambience, unique hospitality concepts, small business holiday shopping, community-led events, workshops + family programs.

Evergreen Brickworks Holiday Market – December 17 – December 22
Shop at one of the largest sustainable holiday markets in Toronto! Featuring a rotation of over 40 locally-crafted, sustainably produced and handmade vendors, you’ll be sure to find a unique gift for everyone on your list.

Grab a bite to eat of local street fare from the food trucks and food stalls. From dumplings to arepas, gluten-free goodies to gourmet grilled cheese, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The Bentway – Polar Bear Skate

We’re thrilled to welcome back local neighbours and fun-seekers for our fifth year of winter programming at The Bentway! In addition to the Skate Trail opening December 17 (weather permitting), this year a number of festive favourites are back, including free skate rental nights, free hot chocolate nights, beginner skate lessons, and The Bentway’s Polar Bear Skate.

Adding some extra warmth this year, we’ll be celebrating the experiences of newcomers encountering Toronto’s cold season for the first time. Featured “First Winter” programming includes a glowing new art installation by Shellie Zhang, plus performance, music, storytelling, and community care initiatives. December 17, 2022 – February 20, 2023

Cavalcade of Lights

Since 1967, Toronto has announced the arrival of the holiday season with the Cavalcade of Lights. This glittering festival captures Canada’s winter spirit and transforms Nathan Phillips Square. The plaza is filled with over half a million LED lights, ice sculptures and Toronto’s official Christmas tree—typically a spruce tree around 18 m high. Enjoy fireworks, cultural celebrations, art installations and ice skating performances. For the past 20 years, the Cavalcade of Lights also had free Saturday night skate parties on the schedule, amping up the interactive magic until after New Year’s Eve.

Glow Christmas Toronto
Glow Christmas Toronto – It’s like being transported straight into a Christmas storybook, holiday-lovers of all ages can delight in the joys of the season without commuting to the North Pole. At Canada’s premium indoor holiday festival, you and your loved ones are invited to savour delicious food, sip on holiday inspired drinks, shop for one-of-a-kind gifts, decorate cookies with Mrs Claus and enjoy story time with Santa himself—all beneath the glow of a million twinkling lights. Takes please at Toronto Congress Centre, December 1 – 31st, 2022

Northern Lights is coming to the city for the first time ever, and it’s described as an “an unparalleled winter wonderland.” Said to be the “most immersive holiday experience in Toronto,” Northern Lights will transport you to a world filled with the cheerful lights, sights, sounds, and feelings of the holidays.December 1, 2022 – January 8th, 2023

List of MICHELIN Recommended Restaurants:

MICHELIN Guide: https://www.destinationtoronto.com/restaurants/michelin/

Other Culinary Updates:

Toronto is already known as a destination for their endless multicultural restaurants. Lately chefs are turning to the plant-based concepts and offering dishes showcasing the actual plants and grains in their simple beauty while also getting creative with textures and faux-meats. Below are some of the hot spots to hit up for vegan travelers.

Vegan:

Osteria Du

Italian can be vegan and is done so perfectly at this eatery. The menu changes regularly with availability of seasonal ingredients and the creativity from the team of chefs. Highlights include Fritto Misto with lightly battered and fried maitake and oyster mushrooms, chili pepper, served with a pesto sauce, house made agnolotti filled with almond ricotta and mint, and a variety of pizzas perfect to share with the table.

Hogtown Vegan

Toronto’s plant-based food game is so strong now they even have vegan junk food: a lot of it. At Hogtown Vegan, guests indulge on the signature Un-Chicken and Waffles and other dishes like “phish ‘n chips” to fake steak to every kind of sandwich you can think of, this restaurant has possibly the biggest variety of junk vegan food you can find in the city.

LOV

Earlier this year, Toronto welcomed a taste of Montreal’s vegan food scene as the beloved and insta-famous LOV restaurant joins the neighborhood of King West. LOV stands for Local, Organic and Vegan, principles the restaurant tries to adhere to in every way. Standout dishes include dumplings stuffed with mushroom, leek, onion and cabbage and deep fried, Kale Mac n Cheese, Quinoa Croquettes and more.

Sustainable:

1 Kitchen
Located inside 1 Hotel Toronto, 1 Kitchen is zero-waste and utilizes their on-site garden, the Garden Pavilion, to supply produce, including herbs, edible flowers and fruits. In addition, they also have a composting program on location to turn organic wet waste into reusable soil, further supporting their garden and other plants within the hotel.

Hotel Updates and Eco-Friendly Approaches

W Toronto – Opened July 21, 2022

The W Toronto is the newest and most sought-after hotel destination in Yorkville. Surrounded by iconic galleries, sophisticated shopping, and electric nightlife, the brand-new luxury hotel is an urban oasis of culture and style located in the heart of one of Toronto’s most stylish areas – Yorkville. Explore what’s New/Next at the live music and DJ series in the Living Room.

More Hotel Selections

Gladstone Hotel
The Gladstone Hotel is a trailblazer when it comes to its sustainability model and social impact initiatives. Not only does the accommodation have numerous eco-friendly projects happening—green roofs, nontoxic cleaning products, compost and recycling initiatives—but the company is 100% woman-owned and queer feminist led.

1 Hotel Toronto

With nature as our true north, sustainability comes naturally at 1 Hotel Toronto. We allow nature to guide our journey, breathe life into our vision, inspire us to place intuition before expectation, and continuously realign us with our sustainability keystones—environmental impact, health and wellbeing, resiliency and ongoing performance improvement, and food and beverage responsibility.

Hotel X Toronto

Designed with a focus on the vibrant Toronto community and driven by environmentally sustainable practices and eco-friendly initiatives, the new Hotel X Toronto is a proud member of the Library Hotel Collection and perfectly encapsulates authentic hospitality by offering a modern hotel experience in the heart of Toronto’s most historic and iconic location.

PARKS & GREEN SPACES

The Meadoway
The Meadoway is transforming a hydro corridor in Scarborough into a vibrant 16-kilometre stretch of urban greenspace and meadowlands that will become one of Canada’s largest linear urban parks.

University Park

University Park is revisioning of Toronto’s iconic street as a 90-acre park, running from the provincial legislature to the city’s waterfront.

Hotels

The Ode Toronto

Ode is the latest Black-owned hostel in Toronto. Opened in 2021 and located in one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Toronto— Dundas St West, Ode offers something completely different from the typical hospitality experience.

Othership

WELLNESS

If you’re looking to improve your self-care routine and make some new friends while you’re at it, this new retreat is the place to do it. Othership is a one-of-a-kind oasis in the city built for social connection and transformative experiences through a sauna and ice bath circuit.

Unbound Well

Toronto’s First Outdoor Wellness Playground. With an emphasis on hot and cold therapy, breathing techniques and movement, we promote thoughtful and somatic wellness experiences to support both physical and mental well-being.

Art Gallery Of Ontario (AGO)
Denyse Thomasos: Just Beyond

One of the finest painters to emerge in the 1990s, the late Trinidadian-Canadian artist Denyse Thomasos (1964-2012) left an indelible, yet frequently overlooked, mark on contemporary painting. A career retrospective, Denyse Thomasos: Just Beyond, brings together more than 70 paintings, many rarely seen, to show how she challenged the limits of abstraction, infusing personal and political content onto her canvases through the innovative use of formalist techniques. October 5, 2022 – February 20, 2023

Leonard Cohen: Everybody Knows

The first museum exhibition to present the holdings of the Leonard Cohen Family Trust, Everybody Knows immerses visitors in the many facets of Cohen’s creative life. Rare concert footage and archival materials, including musical instruments, notebooks, lyrics and letters are featured alongside photographs, drawing, and digital art created by Cohen across several decades. Opens December 7, 2022.

12 Great Ways to Celebrate the Holidays at the Sonoma Coast Villa, Resort and Spa

California, California Wine, Holiday Travel, Resort, Resorts, winery

As the air turns crisper, so does the wine and nothing pairs better with the holidays than the hospitality of California wine country at Sonoma Coast. Sipping wine, enjoying cheeses, and sitting by the fire with good company is the ideal way to get in the holiday spirit. Sitting on 60-acres of wine country, guests of the resort can enjoy the spa, restaurant, and nearby attractions such as Sonoma Coast State Beach, Bodega Marine Library, Sonoma Wine Country and more.

The Tuscan-style property features limestone fireplaces and vaulted ceilings among acres of rolling hills just five miles east of Bodega Bay in the Russian River Valley area of Sonoma County that will make you want to cozy up just in time for the winter. Come take advantage of the rich coastal and redwood forest landscape, the authentic California farming culture, and the region’s deep-rooted wine culture this holiday season.

Unique, complimentary activities at Sonoma Coast include heading to the dunes to catch some fresh crab, taking a midday picnic by horseback through local mustard grasses to the nearby giant redwoods, enjoying a charcuterie plate assembled with local cheeses by the fire, barbecue fresh-caught oysters beachside, a custom Russian River wine tour, or even a little grape stomping. Start your day with a breakfast buffet offered daily with fresh farm to table selections and rise with the sun on Saturday mornings during yoga class to get centered, clear your mind, and find your calm before you start the day.

By the Numbers

100: There are over 100 wineries and 50 tasting rooms within a thirty minute drive on Sonoma Coast and over 475 wineries within an hour’s drive.

8: Minutes to drive from Sonoma Coast Villa & Spa to Bodega Bay.

60: Acres in the beautiful rolling hills of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley.

Wine O’Clock

Gather together or on your own, watch the sun set and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and cookies. After all, it’s that special Sonoma time called Wine O’Clock. Don a jacket or a comfy sweater and sit by the outdoor firepit nightly for s’mores, hot cocoa and popcorn while enjoying vintage and holiday classic movies under a night sky lit by stars and a silvery moon. Is there a better way to celebrate the holidays then with good times, wine, food, locale, and accomodations? We think not.

About Sonoma Coast Villa, Resort, & Spa

Five miles east of Bodega Bay, Sonoma Coast was originally a horse and gun club for the owners of the Blue Boar restaurant in San Francisco in the 1970s and then converted into a vacation retreat in 1982. Now being reimagined by Auric Road which specializes in petite resorts in honoring historic properties, indulging in our love for culture and adventure (think kayaking, hiking, biking, star-gazing, horseback riding, beachcombing, wine tours, and eating local), the 18 rooms in this Tuscan-style villa can be booked as can the one private four-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot house. Other Auric Road petite resorts include Hotel Joaquin in Laguna Beach, California, Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, Montana, Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs, California, and Rex Ranch in Amado, Arizona.

The Arizona Republic: A Phoenix restaurant made a New York Times’ best in the country list for this unique dish

Regional & Ethnic, Restaurants

The Arizona Republic: A Phoenix restaurant made a New York Times’ best in the country list for this unique dish. https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/12/15/new-york-times-phoenix-restaurant-best-dish-us/69722371007/

Why Branson Is the Most Christmassy Place I Know

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Mindy Bianca’s new hire, an elf named Jolly Jinglebutton, has been sending me information about some of her favorite holiday destinations. I guess elves in general know a lot about Christmas, after all, they work for Santa and so are privy to all things holiday-wise. So, here it is, straight from Jolly Jinglebutton, who in this post is talking about Branson, Missouri.

“I’m going to tell you about the town that – IMEO (in my elf opinion) – takes Christmas to entirely new levels,” Jolly wrote.” I’m talking about Branson, Missouri – population around 13,000. And that means that there are 500 Christmas lights per capita … and that’s if you only count the lights in the town’s brightest attraction, Silver Dollar City. Let me illuminate things for you!

Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City

The town’s biggest attraction, an award-winning theme park that celebrates the culture, food, music and crafts of the Ozark Mountains, launched An Old Time Christmas a few weeks ago. Through the end of the year, Silver Dollar City is home to an astounding 6.5 million lights. Santa would take away my elf credentials if I lied, so you can trust me when I say that there are parts of the park where it’s actually brighter at night than it is by day! Other highlights include an eight-story musical Christmas tree, a light parade (featuring my buddy Rudolph!), and Broadway-style stage shows. I’m more of a creative right-brainer, but for those of you who enjoy numbers, be amazed by these stats:

In this single location in Branson, you can find more than 680 miles of lights, 1,000 decorated trees, 600 wreaths, and 3 miles of garland and ribbon! Whew! If you’re covering THAT much territory on a visit, you’ll need some energy … which should come in the form of their famous Holiday Dinner, which stars smoked turkey, ham and prime rib. If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to get a hearty portion of warm apple pie topped with house-made cinnamon ice cream! Yum-o!

The Trees

Silver Dollar City may have an astounding number of trees inside the park, but there are plenty of other trees around town, too. Several tourism-related businesses decorate trees themed to what they do – so, for example, The Track Family Fun Parks uses old go-kart tires to build their tree, and Level 2 Steakhouse transforms used wine bottles into beautiful glass trees! It’s upcycling at its finest! One tree does stand a little taller than the rest, and that’s the “community tree,” whose theme changes each year. This year that theme is “We All SHINE ON!” and the tree was lighted in a special ceremony on November 1. It stands 39 feet high and is covered in stars that represent the unity and perseverance of this community.

Ice Skating

The community tree is located right next to the Branson Ferris Wheel, which – by the way – is decorated in holiday colors and has an incredible synchronized show featuring 16,000 LED lights “dancing” to favorite Christmas music every hour on the hour once night falls. Since 2020, The Track Family Fun Parks have partnered with a company called Holidays on Ice to install a 7,200-square-foot ice rink adjacent to the community tree and Wheel. Fun fact: The rink is the same size as that famous one in Rockefeller Center in New York City. More fun fact: I am the least coordinated elf you’ll ever meet. When I say I’m going to “hit the ice,” I mean it very literally. I think it has something to do with trying to cram my little elf shoes into my skates. This attraction is very dependent on Mother Nature, but the hope is that the rink will be open from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 4:30 to 10 p.m. on weekends. The rink should officially open next week and remain operational until at least New Year’s Day. If you see a tiny figure out there practicing a triple Axel, it’s probably me!

Live Entertainment

I’d have to check the law books, but I’m pretty sure you’re not allowed to live in Branson if you don’t have some sort of amazing talent. It’s like everyone here is born with the ability to sing, dance, make music, create magic, tell jokes … or do some combination of all of those things at the same time. There are entire families (the Haygoods, the Presleys and the Duttons, just to name a few) in which I’m pretty sure the kids learn how to sing before they speak, dance before they walk, and play an instrument before they clutch a rattle. At this time of year, the theatres transform into winter wonderlands and shows celebrate all the feelings of the season. I’m wondering if maybe one of these gifted families would like to adopt me for the season so I can join their show. I do love to sing-sing-sing and tap my little toes. I also play drums AND the tuba. Like the families of Branson, we elves are a multi-talented lot.

Yummy Food!

If you know anything about elves, you know that we overflow with energy … and we’re helped along by generous portions of caffeine and sugar. Branson offers plenty of both. If you’re heading to town, I encourage you to stop at the College of the Ozarks, which is nicknamed “Hard Work U.” Students here don’t pay tuition or room and board, but they do work for their education. Among the jobs is running the bakery, which churns out thousands of fruitcakes each year and then ships them across the country. I know, I know … but ignore every joke you’ve ever heard about fruitcake and trust me when I say that these are amazing. You can order them here.

If I haven’t convinced you, that’s okay … my second suggestion is to hit Sugar Leaf Bakery Café for one of their famous yule logs and one of the richest cups of cocoa you’ll ever sip. Pro tip: Don’t skip the toasted marshmallow!

Downtown

One of my favorite parts of Branson is its historic downtown. It’s a few very walkable blocks that take you past museums, shops and restaurants. This year they’ve decorated this part of town with 65 lampposts that celebrate a “Winter Wonderland” theme, featuring a combination of nearly 400 snowflakes and pure white swirls of light that have been created by 87,568 LED lights!

These lights will help me find my way to Dick’s 5 & 10, a family business that’s one of the last proper dime stores in America. Amazon has nothing on this place, which sells everything you’ll ever need and all the stuff you didn’t even know you needed. That makes it the perfect stop for an elf who’s responsible for loading up on stocking stuffers!

There’s so much more I could tell you about Branson! I could share how the Chateau on the Lake hotel displays an amazing village made not just from gingerbread, but from all kinds of sweets (in this village, the sheepdogs are made from frosted shredded wheat!).

Or I could tell you that this is the home of the World’s Largest Toy Museum, which is where Santa goes when he needs to get blueprints for beloved old toys so he can pass them to the elves in his workshop. But we don’t want this release to go on for pages and pages.

So … I’ll leave you with the knowledge that there’s a whole lot of Christmas tucked away in this Ozark Mountain town. I hope you can come visit … if not this year, then soon.

Literary Hub: The 10 Best Cookbooks of 2022 for Everyone on Your Holiday List

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Literary Hub: The 10 Best Cookbooks of 2022 for Everyone on Your Holiday List. https://lithub.com/the-10-best-cookbooks-of-2022-for-everyone-on-your-holiday-list/

Article: The 7 Iconic Paris Cafés You Cannot Miss

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The 7 Iconic Paris Cafés You Cannot Miss https://flip.it/wK_tvH

Michigan’s Oldest Winery is Now Making Sholom Kosher Wine Again

Kosher, Kosher wine, winery

St. Julian has partnered with Rabbi Jason Miller and Kosher Michigan to resume the production of Sholom Concord wine.

First introduced in the mid-1940s, Sholom, a deliciously sweet wine made from 100% Michigan Concord grapes, has been a popular offering from the Michigan winery. It ceased production in 2020 due to the loss of the winery’s longtime friend and rabbi. In order for a wine to be deemed kosher, the wine must be made under supervision of a rabbi, include only kosher ingredients and must be processed using equipment rabbinically certified to make kosher wines. The kosher certification allows many different communities to enjoy its fresh grape flavors and aromas.

“Kosher certification is something that we take very seriously. We want to be respectful of different communities and know that we are providing a legitimate option for those looking for kosher qualification,” explains Apollo Braganini II, President at St. Julian Winery which is located in Paw Paw, in Southwest Michigan.

Rabbi Miller visited St. Julian Winery this past summer. After meeting the team and touring the location, he agreed to a partnership with the winery to assist in the production of Sholom.

“Over the past few years, many people – including a local Michigan rabbi – reached out to me about Sholom wine, telling me that they love the product but that it wasn’t available anymore. I reached out to the team at St. Julian and they also said they’ve heard from many fans of Sholom who miss it and want it back. We began discussing whether it would be possible for me to certify the wine as kosher.”

“After a visit to the winery and more in-depth discussions, it began to seem like a reality that Sholom wine would be in production again. Kosher Michigan is following the exact same kosher supervision process as the rabbis who previously certified Sholom wine for many decades, so there should be no concern that the highest kosher standards are being followed.”

“While this is the first wine that KM has certified in its fifteen years of existence, it just feels like this is the right one to start with. There’s such a rich history with Sholom, a huge following, and a local Michigan connection” explains Rabbi Miller.

Kosher Michigan is a kosher certification agency founded by Rabbi Miller. KM certifies thousands of products throughout North America and India. Rabbi Miller is from Metro Detroit, Michigan and has served on several local and national boards. He is also an alum of the Rabbis Without Borders fellowship through the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, among many other accolades.

Sholom can be found at St. Julian’s online store, their six tasting rooms, and at select retail partners.

St. Julian is Michigan’s largest and longest-operating winery and has been family-owned since its founding in 1921. In addition to the winery in downtown Paw Paw where they produce hundreds of award-winning wines, sparkling juices, spirits and hard cider, St. Julian also offers tasting rooms in Dundee, Frankenmuth, Rockford, Troy and Union Pier and distributes to thousands of retail partners throughout the Midwest.

Great Value and Premium Winter Sports in the Black Forest Highlands

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Skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, relaxing spas in the Black Forest Highlands holiday region create serious fun for great value with the brand new digital Red Inclusive Card.

In the winter months, situated at an altitude of approximately 2,700 to almost 5,000 feet, the Black Forest Highlands holiday region offers visitors many winter attractions. The skiing area in the vicinity of the Feldberg mountain promises winter sports enthusiasts guaranteed snow. On the region’s sunny peaks, it is possible to enjoy unique views of the Alps and the Rhine valley as the region is so close to France and Switzerland.

With 74 ski lifts, skiers and snowboarders can take to more than 50 miles of slopes. The “highest peak” in Baden-Wuerttemberg, the Feldberg, offers superbly prepared runs at every difficulty level from the challenging FIS World Cup piste and the more straightforward family slope on the Seebuck.

For cross-country skiers, the Black Forest Highlands are home to 150 cross-country trails totaling 560 miles. At an altitude of over 3,000 feet, the Thurnerspur trail at St. Märgen offers optimal conditions for ambitious sports enthusiasts and beginners alike: Suitable for both the classic and skating technique, two cross-country trails, almost 10 miles long, wend their way over snowy expanses and woodland, while the 1.5 mile night trail offers floodlit skiing several times a week.

The Thurnerspur trail is also part of the Schonach-Belchen long-distance skiing trail which is just over 60 miles long, and approximately half of it makes its way through the Black Forest Highlands, passing Waldau at Titisee-Neustadt and on to Notschrei. The Nordic Center Notschrei, with cross-country trails of 2 miles to 12 miles in length, are suitable for both the classic and freestyle techniques. Cross-country skiing courses are on offer and equipment is available to hire at the Ski Nordisch sports base, which features biathlon facilities and evening floodlit opening.

The 466 miles of winter hiking trails on the sunny uplands of the Black Forest Highlands provide unique views of the Alps and the Rhine valley. Several premium winter hiking trails are specially signposted and are checked and maintained on a daily basis. They have been designed so that they offer especially attractive views and are easy to walk along. The entire network of trails, which has been created in collaboration with the Southern Black Forest Nature Park, provides for both a safe and eco-friendly winter hiking experience.

Along the 13 signposted snowshoe trails, those who love the great outdoors can enjoy the free and authentic landscape. The trails are signposted especially and reserved for snowshoe walkers. A variety of different difficulty levels and offers promise varied experiences – whether it is a short tour of the peaks, around Hinterzarten, or a guided walk on the Feldberg as the sun sets.

The Black Forest Highlands are also famous for their excellent toboggan runs. The longest downhill tobaggan runs are the Hasenhorn (2 miles), the Todtnauer Hüttenweg (2 miles), and the toboggan run from Saig to Titisee (just under one mile). Several of the runs are floodlit and open in the evening.

After an action-packed day in the snow, the spas and swimming pools in the Black Forest Highlands, not to mention several hotels with day spa facilities, are a great place to relax and stock up on energy. Seven hotels in the holiday region have the Wellness Stars Germany seal of approval, which guarantees the independently verified quality in the area of wellness.

With the brand new digital Red Inclusive Card, guests can take advantage of more than 70 basic leisure offerings in the region every day, free of charge, including for example, free entrance to in-and outdoor swimming pools, museums, and free rental of cross-country equipment. In addition, the Red Inclusive Card offers many attractions a discount of at least 20%. The Red Inclusive Card is available as a free added benefit at approximately 500 hotels for guests staying for at least two nights. For further information, please visit www.hochschwarzwald.de/Card.

Six Fantastic Holiday Light Shows Not To Be Missed

Holiday Travel

Holiday Lights Extravaganza Tour

Location: New York, NY (Midtown)

Dates: Tours run now through December 31, 2022

Details: If you’re planning a trip to the Big Apple this season, book a guided walking tour to ensure you have a front row seat to the incredible displays that light up Midtown. Starting off at Herald Square, the 3–4-hour tour will take you down Fifth Avenue, where you’ll view over-the-top attractions from the high-end retailers before heading to the iconic Rockefeller Center. Adorned with over 30,000 lights and topped with a 9.5-foot-wide Swarovski crystal star, the Christmas Tree is a sight that will put everyone in the holiday spirit. To ensure you’re in the center of the action, book a stay at the Martinique New York on Broadway, conveniently located 3 blocks away from the tour’s meeting point.

Luminaria Tour with ABQ RIDE

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dates: Entire month of December Details: Luminaria Tour: Take a magical ride with ABQ RIDE on its Luminaria Tour. Enjoy this annual New Mexican tradition without worrying about parking, driving through snow, or traffic delays. The tour, which begins and ends at the Albuquerque Convention Center, takes approximately 45 minutes and travels through Old Town and the nearby neighborhoods.

The Country Christmas at Ingleside Hotel

Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Dates: The Country Christmas Package is available select nights November 25, 2022 – January 1, 2023.

Details: Nestled in the heart of Southeastern Wisconsin is a holiday destination steeped in festive tradition. Each year, The Ingleside Hotel is transformed into a winter wonderland called Country Christmas. The hotel is home to Wisconsin’s largest drive-through Christmas lights display, with over a million lights along a mile-long trail over 40 acres of woodland. The Ingleside Hotel also features other holiday-themed attractions, such as Christmas wagon rides, a Christmas village and Streets of Bethlehem exhibit where it features nearly life-sized Fontanini nativity characters. The hotel offers a Christmas Getaway package which includes overnight accommodations, tickets to Country Christmas, a large pizza, hot chocolate and cookies.

The Tree at Christmas at Union Station (The Durham Museum)

Location: Omaha, NE

Dates: November 24, 2022 – January 8, 2022

Details: Home to the largest indoor Christmas tree in the region, Christmas at Union Station is back for another year of holiday cheer. The tree serves as the centerpiece of the museum’s Christmas at Union Station celebration. It’s part of a long-standing tradition dating back to the 1930s. Decades ago, Union Pacific would harvest a tree from the pacific northwest and bring it on a train to Union Station, which is now the Durham Museum. It’s a tradition the museum is happy to continue and why Union Pacific workers still harvest the Omaha tree each year. Families come experience the magic of the region’s largest indoor Christmas tree, learn about holiday traditions from Omaha and around the globe.

Winterlights at Newfields

Winter Lights Grounds and Gardens Winter 2017

Location: Indianapolis, IN

Dates: Open Daily from 5pm to 9pm, November 20, 2022 – January 8, 2023

Details: Featuring more than one and a half million lights, visitors can experience the warmth and wonder of the holiday season as they explore a world of lights at Newfields. Sip on some hot apple cider or hot cocoa and devour some sweet treats while taking in the dazzling displays. For those interested in an elevated experience, the premier package includes festive blinky lights, holographic glasses, a non-alcoholic drink ticket and a light snack.

Discovery Park of America’s “Let It Glow” light show

Location: Union City, TN

Dates: Open daily 5-9pm, November 11, 2022 – December 30, 2022 (closed Nov. 24 and Dec. 24 & 25)

Details: See 1+ million bright (holiday) lights synchronized to festive tunes at Discovery Park of America’s “Let It Glow” light show, the largest light show you’ll find in northwestern Tennessee. Grab some hot cocoa, the kids, and have yourself the perfect festive family night strolling (or driving-thru) 50 acres of the heritage park. With new routes opening this holiday, the family friendly environment is a neat way to experience Christmas light displays near Nashville.

Holiday Lights at Conner Prairie

Location: Fishers, IN

Dates: Entire Month of December

Details: Get wrapped up in the warmth of the holidays at Conner Prairie’s A Merry Prairie Holiday, with thousands of sparkling lights, breathtaking rides, and enchanting performances.

Take a spin on the Holiday Trolley around Carmel’s entertainment districts where you can shop your heart out at the Art & Design District and Carmel City Center

WORLD’S TALLEST WOODEN HOTEL OFFERS NEW CLIMATE-POSITIVE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Northern Lights, Sustainable travell, Sweden, Swedish Lapland

“Wood Hotel Experience” Blurs Luxury with Sustainability in Swedish Lapland.

After a soft local opening, the world’s tallest hotel made almost exclusively from wood, has now opened for guests everywhere at the birthplace of cross-country skiing, Skellefteå in Swedish Lapland. The new hotel is part of a five-day/four-night Wood Hotel Experience from Off the Map Travel adventure travel specialists, offering a mix of sustainability and nature in a beautiful setting.

Designed for enjoyment in the forested area of northern Sweden, couples as well as families will experience the hotel along with local adventure and gastronomy. Available from December to March, the Wood Hotel Experience begins with an overnight stay in Stockholm before a flight to Skellefteå where guests will be transferred by electric car to the Wood Hotel.

The new Wood Hotel stands 75 meters tall with 20 storeys and is made almost entirely from spruce and pine sourced from the neighboring forests. Dominating the skyline but fitting into the town’s natural beauty with its wood construction, the hotel has 205 contemporary rooms filled with the rich, warm smell of the trees they are built from. In addition to a rooftop spa, the hotel has three stunning restaurants including an Italian café, an Asian restaurant and one with locally sourced, Sami-inspired food.

“This is an opportunity for sustainability-minded visitors who search out “neo luxury,” looking for culture and escapism all wrapped into one comfortable, climate-sensitive package,” says Alex Minnis, Chief Operations Officer of Off the Map Travel. “Being made out of wood contributes to the building’s being climate-positive as the structure absorbs more CO2 than it uses. It also contributes to comfort and personal well-being, reducing stress and improving sleep” he added.

As part of the experience, guests will create their own gin at Skellefteå’s award-winning distillery using locally foraged ingredients. Guests can also choose to go snowshoeing to take in the sights of this beautiful part of Swedish Lapland and then relax in the hotel’s Vana Spa with its saunas and outdoor pool offering panoramic views over Skellefteå and its forests. In winter, the new itinerary is ideally located for guests to experience the Northern Lights on a self-guided walk with well-marked trails leaving directly from the hotel.

For cross-country skiers, Skellefteå is a dream, offering choices for all levels of enthusiasts, with optional excursions possible according to guests’ interests and levels.

Priced from £2045 per person ($2500 USD at the time of this writing), the five-day/four-night Wood Hotel Experience itinerary includes all accomodations, daily breakfast, one lunch and gin making, snowshoeing and the rooftop spa. Flights and travel insurance are additional, and the package can be customized to include excursions such as cross-country skiing.

For more information visit www.offthemap.travel, call 0800 566 8901 or email info@offthemap.travel

Full Itinerary:

Day 1 – Arrive in Stockholm and stay overnight in the city

Day 2 – Fly from Stockholm to Skellefteå Airport for an electric car transfer to The Wood Hotel

Day 3 – Lunch at Gin Distillery followed by gin making

Day 4 – Morning snowshoeing and afternoon at the hotel’s panoramic Spa

Day 5 – Return to Stockholm

OFF THE MAP TRAVEL

The team at Off the Map Travel works with experiences and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of our planet. Specializing in the Nordic region OTMT creates tailor-made holiday itineraries offering authentic experiences not offered by many larger travel companies. For more information on Off the Map Travel itineraries visit www.offthemap.travel; call 1-646-701-0041; email info@offthemap.travel or join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or Pinterest