Christmas in August!

Up for Christmas anytime of the year? We're just back from Santa's Land, a "fun park" theme park in Cherokee, NC. It has a 40+-year history and is a wonderful, welcoming place to spend a few hours with young children. The park features lots of "photo spots," a small zoo with touch-able animals, a few refurbished department store displays, simple rides, and a friendly Santa. The famous Rudicoaster is a quick ride for most any age--a small roller coaster with the kind of jerks that make you smile and slide, not the kind that result in a headache. Elijah was able to ride (and enjoy!) a helicopter and car ride, as well as the family train,and Kim was very happy to hit a sale of older Santa's Land souvenirs. If you go, bear in mind that there is no park reentry privilege and that credit cards are not accepted beyond the main gate. Kids 1-8 would probably have the most fun here, and plan in accordance with the operating hours (closing at 6 most open days; seasonal operation April-fall).

If you are doing Christmas in this region, also go to the Incredible Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, TN. The ornament selection is broad and features quality items and major brands like Radko and Dept. 56. The villages available are well-displayed, and there is a robust selection of Fontanini including an institutional set valued at $25K (go home with the postcard of this one). The Christmas Place enterprise has expanded to a nearby hotel and a restaurant, but the restaurant is open only for dinner at present. We ate at the Mellow Mushroom across the street instead and enjoyed a wholesome, fresh pizza in a "hippie" atmosphere.

Just like there's always room for one more ornament on the tree, it's always a good time for Christmas!

Related Links:
Santa's Land, Cherokee, NC
The Christmas Place
Mellow Mushroom Pigeon Forge

Myrtle Date

We found ourselves with two relatively rainy days on our recent trip to Holden Beach, NC, providing the perfect excuse to take in some of the busy, bustling south. Kim grew up vacationing in Myrtle, so a quick trip in is always somewhat nostalgic. It was too hot and rainy to play putt putt next year, but we did make it to fun at Ripley's Aquarium. Kim's a Facebook fan of the Aquarium and received a free ticket during a recent giveaway, and Elijah seemed to appreciate the "moving sidewalk" tunnel that allows visitors to stand under sharks and other sealife. If you go, visit early before the crowds hit and tote your young child along! Afterwards, lunch is fun at Hard Rock Cafe, Johnny Rockets, or one of the other "fun chains" at Broadway at the Beach.

We also snuck in a lunch date at Barefoot Landing, visiting the House of Blues this year. The House of Blues complex is larger than we expected and full of simple, eye-catching folk art. The spirit of the place is more subdued than Hard Rock, and on the day of our visit, the staff had less enthusiasm. It made for a yummy lunch of interesting calamari and a burger, though, and we'd love to go back for their inexpensive, big brunch. For shopping, Kim can't miss the reasonably-priced jewelry at Black Market Minerals, Justin finds Ghosts and Legends a wonderful stop, and both of us enjoy Christmas Mouse. We also recommend Alligator Adventure for folks of all ages.

On the way back to Holden from either complex, a stop in Calabash for dinner is worthwhile. Some folks find it to be a culinary delight; we find it to be a simple "have to do" to claim having been to the beach. Justin prefers Coleman's due to a simple boat display inside, an object of fascination when he was a child. Don't miss Callahan's, a gift shop that is the best place for Christmas ornaments in the region! They have decreased their Dept 56 selection in recent years much to our disappointment, but in 2010, we found the shop reorganized and more shoppable in several areas, including jewelry. Go and enjoy it!

Sorry--no pictures on this blog post. We tried a new camera and were less than successful. Better luck next time!

Holden On

We're just back from the annual July relaxation vacation at Holden Beach, NC. Holden, billed as a family beach, is a wonderful island of beach houses that makes a great place for simple hanging out with family and friends. Sleeping in, walking the shore, reading, splashing around--not the most exciting Halterman adventure, but one of the most anticipated of the year for its quality, simplicity, and ability to inspire rejuvenation.

Holden is a well-known turtle sanctuary, and this year, we stayed near several ready-to-hatch nests. Justin and Kim walked by a single baby being released to the ocean on our first night, but otherwise, we did not see any hatchlings. We did have fun, however, hanging out with the good folks of the Turtle Patrol, knowledgeable volunteers clearly loving what they do. A Leatherback has nested along Holden for the first known time this year, creating a bit of a stir.

If you go, soak up the funky atmosphere at Paradise Cafe, learn about the turtle population, and walk plenty at night. We've had success renting from Hobbs Realty and Brunswick Realty--and Second Row is fine. Keep it calm--and when you need some spunk, take a day trip south (and see our next post)!