With the holidays coming, are you looking for some special gift to reward your kids for being extra good this year? Instead of buying them a pile of new toys, why not pack their bags and take them someplace different for a really special Christmas?
www.saintpatrickscathedral.org
Join the crowds in New York City and take kids of all ages to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and go ice skating at the rink below the tree – if you can tear yourself away from the city’s Christmas shopping. At the center’s Web site, click on “See &Do” and “The Tree.” The Web site has links to information about tours of Rock Center, NBC Studio and Radio City, and the Radio City link will tell you all about the annual Christmas Spectacular show at Radio City Music Hall, just a block west of the tree. A block east of the tree, and a half-block up Fifth Avenue, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is an inspiring monument at any time of year; click on “Music” for a calendar of frequent concerts and recitals.
Give the youngsters a little surprise and take them high above this year’s 80-foot-plus tree to the Top of the Rock, the Rockefeller Center observation deck 70 stories above street level. Check out “About the Top” for a little history, then click “Visitor Info” for a link to Rock Center’s shops and restaurants.
Maybe your young’uns would like something more active and less traditional. Combine that idea with a little relaxation for yourself by going to Club Med. Use the Web site’s “Village Finder” to look in the USA-Mexico region to find Sandpiper, at Port St. Lucie, Fla. On the Sandpiper page, click on “Children’s Clubs” to see what’s available for various age groups, including sailing and flying trapeze lessons for teenagers.
www.universalorlando.com/holidays
While you’re thinking of Florida, consider Walt Disney World, where you can type “Christmas” into the search window at the top of the page to see what special events are planned. Also in central Florida, Universal Studios Orlando has a parade and special shows to entertain families around Christmastime.
www.skilouise.com/vacations/ski_packages.asp
Too warm? Pack the family’s ski gear and head to Canada. Click on “View Holiday Packages” at the Lake Louise Mountain Resort site to see what’s available around Christmas and New Year’s for skiing in the deep snow of the Canadian Rockies.
If you’re not into skiing, put everyone on a train to see the mountains the old-fashioned way. Go to Rocky Mountaineer for a two-day excursion. According to the entertainment section of “Onboard the Rocky Mountaineer,” there’s a decorated specialty car set aside for younger passengers as well as visits by Santa.
Roger Petterson, Associated Press
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