By Cassandra Sturos
Photo courtesy of Hayes and Fisk Photography.
Celebrating Christmas in Northern Virginia comes naturally with beautiful parades, light displays and activities in abundance. If you’re looking for some Christmas fun outside our neck of the woods, however, check out these destinations that tout jolly excitement for the whole family.
Photo courtesy of Hayes and Fisk Photography.
The Classic Christmas
Keswick Hall at Monticello pulls out all the stops for the Christmas season, with trees aplenty, antique toy decorations, and their season’s best on full display. To enjoy the holidays at this luxurious estate would be more than delightful: have breakfast with Santa, make a Gingerbread house or take a holiday wreath making workshop. Besides the Christmas events, Keswick has got you covered when it comes to relaxation and activities. Spend a day at the spa, go hot air-ballooning, take a walk with the hounds, or check out their courtside winery. That combined with all the Christmas ambiance you could muster will make for a Christmas to remember. Distance from Fairfax: 100 Miles
Photo courtesy of River Riders.
The Adventurer’s Christmas
Why go driving around looking for Christmas lights when you can zip-line and see them from the trees instead? For the adventuresome sort, Festival O’ Flights in Harpers Ferry, WV is exactly the way to do Christmas in an over-the-top way, literally. This zip-lining adventure tour combines a two-hour aerial tour in their illuminated Adventure Park, followed by a holiday hayride to take you to the canopy course in the trees just as night begins to fall, where you will then zip-line through lit up trees for three hours. Hot chocolate and granola bars will be provided in between activities. You will also receive a glow stick and t-shirt with your adventure package. The cost is $139 and the Festival O’ Flights takes place on Saturdays starting Dec. 14 – Jan. 4. The adventure starts at 1 p.m., but arrive 45 minutes early to check in and get set up. Distance from Fairfax: 53 Miles
Christmas on the Slopes
Combine your love of the Christmas season with your love of skiing for this holiday getaway. Wintergreen Resort not only has the Blue Ridge Mountains and ski packages to entice you, but plenty in the way of holiday celebrating. Santa will go slope-side to pass out candy canes and then take photos, Christmas cookies will be available for decorating and Mrs. Claus and Santa’s elves will stop by for a visit, all this and more to make your stay memorable during the month of December at Wintergreen. Christmas kicks off at Wintergreen starting Dec. 21 with a holiday sing-a-long with folk musician Bill Wellington and the festivities continue straight through the New Year. Distance from Fairfax: 170 Miles
Photo courtesy of Kubaeva/Shutterstock.com.