Hoo’s Tips
www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
3
3 The holiday season is a hectic time, no doubt, but
it’s also a magical one. Our children get so few
Christmases to enjoy the beauty and sensation
through their innocent eyes. Make the most of each
year by planning trips to some Christmas cheer
destinations. You may not realize it but there’s a
lot of wonder and dazzle happening in the South!
Here’s a list of our favorite Christmas road trips,
some near and some far, to help you create some
lasting, magical memories for your child.
The Polar Express: The Polar
Express is a long-standing Christmas classic story
book, but what if you could bring that story to
life, and we don’t mean the Warner Brothers film.
Nestled in the Great Smokey Mountains, The Polar
Express takes your child on the ride of their dreams,
complete with singing, snacks and reading the Polar
Express classic. Once arriving at the North Pole, each
child receives a gift from Santa!
North Pole Limited: Take a ride
on the Tennessee Valley Railroad to the North Pole.
While riding, snack on cookies and cocoa, visit with
Santa and admire beautiful Christmas lights. Plus,
book a night at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel
and be tucked in by story-time elves! It’s really a
magical experience.
Rock City Gardens: Also in the
Chattanooga area, Rock City Gardens offers “Yule
Town,” a magical Christmas city painted in lights
for your child’s enjoyment. Sign up for dinner with
Santa, sit for story-time with Mrs. Claus or decorate
gingerbread houses!
Winter Wonderland: Fernbank
Museum of Natural History is decorated with two
floors of beautifully decorated trees showcasing
holiday celebrations around the world. Use this
Christmas destination as an educational trip!
The Santa Express: In the Village
of Blue Ridge Georgia, your child can hop aboard
the Santa Express for Christmas carols, a visit with
Santa and friends and a reading of ‘Twas the Night
Before Christmas.
Garden Lights and Holiday
Nights: Experience beauty in holiday lights
at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens with music, model
trains, the Ice Goddess and a tunnel of light. It’s a
beautiful sight for an evening stroll.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer: Does your child love Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Then a trip to Museum of
Puppetry Arts to see their live show is a must. This
isn’t just your typical behind-the-wall puppet show:
it snows, scenes change, and puppets react and
respond! It’s magic for the whole family to enjoy.
Stone mountain Christmas:
Meet Rudolph and friends, experience snow, watch
a skylight spectacular and board the sing-along
Christmas train. Stone Mountain is a year-round
destination, with extra magic at Christmas.
Christmas at the Rock
Ranch: Only an hour outside of Columbus,
the Rock Ranch offers a tractor wagon ride through
a Christmas light display, Breakfast with Santa, a
Christmas cookie decoration station, story time
with an elf, letter to Santa station, face painting and
keepsake ornament station.
Fantasy in Lights: Also just outside
of Columbus, Callaway Gardens was named one
of the “Top 10 places to see Christmas lights” by
National Geographic. This massive Christmas light
display isn’t the only attraction at Callaway; you can
also visit with Santa, shop the Christmas village and
listen to story-time with Mrs. Claus.
The winter break is long, for more details on these
magical Christmas road trip ideas, plus local holiday
events, visit our website: FamilyandKidsGA.com/
Christmas-roadtrips.
Southern
ROAD TRIP Christmas
/www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com