NC is such a beautiful state and has so much to offer from the mountains to the beaches. Christmas time here in North Carolina offers families so many opportunities. Here are the top Christmas Activities that your family can enjoy this Christmas season!
1. Biltmore Christmas – One of the Southeast’s most beloved holiday travel destinations, Christmas at Biltmore in Asheville, NC, runs now through Jan. 2, 2011. Candlelight Christmas Evenings in Biltmore House takes place Nov. 12 through Jan. 1. Christmas at Biltmore during the daytime includes tours of Biltmore House, the Gardens, Antler Hill Village and Winery, where guided tours are offered. Biltmore House glows during Candlelight Christmas Evenings, with ballroom dancers dressed in vintage costumes gliding across the Winter Garden and choirs performing seasonal music. A lighted 55-foot Norway spruce greets visitors from its post on the home’s front lawn.
2. Broyhill Inn Choose & Cut Christmas Tree – Broyhill Inn in Boone, NC is partnering with Circle C Tree Farms to offer your family a Christmas Tree Package. Boone, NC is the perfect place to pick your tree and even take your family skiing during December. They are also helping you get into the spirit of Christmas with The Broyhill Inn’s Twelve Days of Christmas in the Jackson Dining Room! Eat a delicious meal and hear some joyful Christmas Holiday entertainment while you dine.
3. Chetola Resort Festival of Lights – Chetola has a beautiful array of Christmas lights that your family can take a stroll or drive thru for free. They also have Blue Ridge Mountain Holiday Packages that your family can take part in and create wonderful Christmas memories.
4. McAdenville Christmas Town – I have been visiting McAdenville since I was a little girl. This will be the 55th year that this little town has turned into a Christmas Town. There is no charge to go see these lights and your will create new Christmas memories each time you go. The lights are turned on December 1st through December 26th. Monday through Friday the lights are on from 5:30 to 9:30pm and on Saturday and Sunday nights, the lights are lit from 5:30 – 11:00pm.
5. Tanglewood Festival of Lights – Tanglewood is another fun festival of lights that has been a long tradition of my family’s Christmas! My girls enjoy this so much. We ride through with our windows rolled down and just ohhh and ahhh over all the lights. Each year Tanglewood will add more additions so it is fun to see the new traditions. Also, halfway through the lights, you can park and go through a Christmas shop from local crafters. When you finish shopping, you can go go the the fire pit and stand around and roast marshmallows. The Festival of Lights is open nightly from November 20 through January 2, 2011 from 6:00 – 11:00 pm, including holidays. The cost for the Festival of Lights for a family vehicle is $10 for Monday-Thursday and $15 Friday-Sunday and on holidays and “eves”.
6. Charlotte Motor Speedway Millions of Lights – This is so cool. The Speedway is transformed into a Winter Wonderland for the Christmas Holidays! It is one of the largest drive-through light parks and villages in the country. There are more than a million lights, a skating rink, Bethlehem Village with old-world artisans, marshmallow roasting, a Festival of Trees, photos with Santa and so much more! It is open nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. through Jan. 2, 2011. Charlotte Motor Speedway encourages you to consider visiting Sunday through Thursday to avoid longer lines and wait times. Admission is $20 per car.
7. Lights on the Neuse – Clayton, NC is the place for a fun family Christmas hayride. Their site says: “The hayride whisks you and your loved ones away to a transformed world of Christmas spirit. Pause to reflect on the true reason for the season, celebrate the joy of the birth of Jesus and feel the merriness of Christmas cheer and magic invade you and your family members with an outstanding Christmas Lights Extravaganza at Lights on the Neuse.” Tickets include Christmas Lights Hayride AND admission into the Christmas Barn, 3D Christmas House. Ticket prices are Adults (12 and over) – $10 and Children (3-11) – $7.
8. Meadow Lights – Located in Benson, NC. Their website says: “The largest Christmas Show of Lights in this area.” Meadow Lights began 29 years ago and they keep growing larger with lights every year. Some of the displays include an authentic manger scene, carousel scenes, and much more. The Meadow Lights also offers three trains that travel through a colorful area of lights that children and adults can enjoy. They noted on their website, that the newest attraction is the 16-horse carousel that can be enjoyed by children and adults. Several homes in the community also decorate and get involved in the Meadow Lights.
9. Lake Myra Christmas – As told on their site “The Most Exciting and Spectacular Light Show In North Carolina.” This is a family that puts on a huge light show by the way of computer programming. This year they will have over a quarter million of lights and 600 channels. It will be a all new Christmas show this year and promised to leave you with a lifetime of Christmas memories. On Saturday’s, there will be a magic Christmas show and a Santa show.
10. Christmas by the Sea – This celebration is held on the Boardwalk of Carolina Beach. This year will make it the 2nd Annual Celebration. The site says: “Events will then be held every Saturday through December 18 from 5-9pm. Bring the family down for free activities including a fire pit with story telling, puppet shows, hot chocolate and marshmallows, a live nativity, arts and crafts with ornament making, and of course the kids can visit Santa in his workshop! All these events are free as well.” If you are on or near the coast, it sounds like a fun family Christmas tradition!
As you can see, there is a whole lot of fun to be had here in the great state of NC. I hope you and your family will enjoy at least one of these activities. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy the season and make fun Holiday memories!