Holiday getaways: Short trips sure to fill you with cheer

Published 4:15 pm Friday, December 4, 2009

Leavenworth: a winter wonderland

Seeing festive displays of Christmas lights, especially in the winter wonderland of Leavenworth, is a seasonal rite, but if you’re worried about making a safe passage over mountain passes, then take one of these stress-free trips to holiday central:

Snow Train: Alki Tours has Saturday train rides to Bavarian-themed Leavenworth. The Snow Train leaves Seattle’s King Street Station at 8 a.m. Passengers can board at Edmonds’ Amtrak Station at 8:30 a.m. and at Everett Station at 9 a.m.

Passengers are treated to a continental breakfast and entertainment including magicians and an oompah band.

The train arrives in Leavenworth at 12:30 p.m. and departs at 5:25 p.m., with dinner provided on the way back.

Cost is $149 for adults and $139 for children. It’s a long day, so consider taking youngsters who are 4 years and older.

There’s still room available for the Dec. 12 and 19 trips. For reservations, call 206-935-6848 or go to www.alkitours.com.

Motor coach: Clipper Vacations Leavenworth Town &Tree Lighting excursion is a round-trip one-day bus trip, with several pickup locations, including the Lynnwood Transit Center. You head for Leavenworth while enjoying a complimentary continental breakfast.

Cost is $59 for adults and $46 for children under 11. To book a trip for Dec. 12, 13 or 19, call 800-888-2535 or go to www.clippervacations.com/events/leavenworthlighting.

Amtrak package: Clipper Getaways is also putting passengers on Amtrak’s Empire Builder for a cozy ride from Seattle, with stops in Edmonds and Everett, for overnight stays in Leavenworth.

These overnight stays provide lots of time for shopping, visiting St. Nick and gathering at dusk for a song of “Silent Night” as the lights go up in the entire village.

The three-day, two-night trips start at $186 and include the train ride and two nights’ stay in Leavenworth. For more information or to make a reservation call 206-448-5000 or 800-888-2535 or visit www.clippervacations.com.

Note: The Everett Parks and Recreation bus trip to Leavenworth planned for Dec. 12 is full, but there’s a waiting list. You can call 425-257-8300, ext. 2, to be put on the list.

Christmas boat parades

The Argosy Cruises of Seattle Christmas Ship Festival is under way.

Should you take a theme cruise or simply watch the parade of lighted ships and choral concerts from the shore for free?

That’s up to you and your budget. Here’s a look at your Argosy options this year:

Argosy’s Christmas Ship is sailing to and from various waterfront communities and parks nightly through Dec. 23. Every night a different local choir carols to people standing on the shore at select destinations.

Argosy’s official Christmas Ship, Spirit of Seattle, is the lead for a flotilla of other Argosy vessels decked out for the holidays.

Guests on board can mingle with Santa, hear additional choral performances, and engage in sing-alongs, “Ho-Ho-Ho” contests and children’s activities.

Rates are $25 to $35 adults, $12 to $19 ages 5 to 12, and free for ages 4 and younger, depending on the night.

Families save money on weekends by riding on one of the Argosy fleet’s parade ships, which follow the Christmas Ship and feature all the same activities without the onboard choir. Rates are $25 for adults and $12 for ages 5 to 12.

Edmonds appearance: On Monday the Christmas Ship and its flotilla will depart from Edmonds at 7 p.m. The Everett Chorale will be the featured group, performing from 7:10 to 7:30 p.m. at the Port of Edmonds and from 8:20 to 8:40 at Richmond Beach Park in Shoreline, where a special bonfire is planned.

Jazzy cruise: If it’s jazz you want, book a spot on the fleet’s jazz boat, featuring live bands with departures at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Dec. 15 and 22.

Boxed meals are available on most ships for $10 to $20.

Dinner with a view: For a three-course sit-down meal at a private table, book a spot on the Royal Argosy, the fleet’s dinner cruise ship, featuring live music most nights. Rates start at $89 for adults and $29 for ages 5 to 12.

Santa brunches: These cruises on the Royal Argosy are scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 13 and 20. They include a buffet, Santa appearances, kids’ activities and performances by local comedian Bill Robison. Rates are $37 adults and $10 for ages 5 to 12.

See www.argosycruises.com or call 206-622-8687 for more information or reservations.

Northwest aglow

Seattle’s Toyland Village: Looking for lights in downtown Seattle? Head for Waterfront Park (near the aquarium) to see more than 35 huge illuminated sculptures. The Toyland Village, at 1201 Alaskan Way, is lit up daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Then hike up to Westlake Park for a whirl around the carousel. It’s $2 donations per ride to benefit children in foster care. The carousel is in operation daily till 9 or 10 p.m. through Jan. 3.

Hop on the monorail to Seattle Center’s Winterfest. The center is aglow with lights and free activities including the ice rink, the model train and winter village and another carousel to ride. The winter festival fun goes on daily through Jan. 3.

For a whole booklet of holiday events and entertainment, go to www.downtownholidays.com.

Country Village Festival of Lights: Santa flies in by sleigh (really) at 7 tonight at Country Village in Bothell followed by a tree-lighting ceremony. Sample roasted chestnuts at 4 p.m. and take train rides all day.

Enjoy the thousands of twinkling lights outlining each of the shops all month. Light displays include a fiddling pig, a sea serpent, a dragonfly and a line of marching ducks.

A cookie fest with Mrs. Claus is planned for noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13.

Country Village is at 23718 Bothell-Everett Highway, Bothell. Call 425-483-2250 or go to www.countryvillagebothell.com for more information.

Garden d’Lights art: Bellevue Botanical Garden lights up again this year from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly through Jan. 2. New displays, include a poinsettia tree in LED lights, a purple clematis arbor and expanded aquarium displays.

Look for Charlotte, Willie and the frog hiding among the flowers, along with butterflies, dragonflies, swans, peacocks and an alligator. Maps will be given out at the entrance to help you spot the critters.

Suggested donations are $1 a person and $5 a family. Donations of $5 or more are eligible for prize drawings.

Parking is $5 in the garden parking lot. There’s free parking at Wilburton Hill Park.

Bellevue Botanical Garden is at 12001 Main St., Bellevue. For more information, call 425-452-2750 or visit www.bellevuebotanical.org.

Warm Beach Lights of Christmas: Others have “thousands of lights,” but the annual display at Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood outshines them all with more than a million.

Stroll the lanes to the tunes of carolers. Stop to warm up with clam chowder, sandwiches, corn dogs and apple pie. Attend a theater performance or treat the kids to pony rides or trips on the Polar Express.

The lights go on from 5 to 10 p.m. today and Sunday, and Dec. 9 to 13, 16 to 23 and 26 to 29.

General admission tickets are $8 to $14. Children 3 and under are admitted free. Call 800-228-6724 or go to www.warmbeach.com for theater and special event ticket information.

Warm Beach Camp is at 20800 Marine Drive, Stanwood.

Tacoma Zoolights: The Point Defiance Zoo lights up the skies west of Tacoma every year. It’s open for gawking from 5 to 9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 3

While the real animals snooze, you can see ice-skating puffins, a preying eagle and a leaping tiger all done in lights.

Other glowing displays include a flame tree and the Narrows bridges.

When it gets too brisk, duck into the South Pacific Aquarium or take a ride on the antique carousel.

Buy tickets for Zoolights only at pdza.org or at Bartell Drugs and they’re only $6.50. Zoolights tickets at the gate are $7.50. There are deals for combo tickets to visit the zoo and see the Zoolights. Go to www.pdza.org or call 253-591-5337.

The Point Defiance Zoo &Aquarium is at 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma.