Around the world, you’ll find classic holiday tales coming to life with tours, performances and attractions that keep the magic of the season alive. Enjoy these classic Christmas stories on a new level with a trip to one of these destinations.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Everyone’s favorite Christmas villain is up to his old antics again, this time at Universal Orlando Resort. Take a trip to the recreated Whoville for this year’s Grinchmas, where you can meet Cindy Lou for a reading of the classic Dr. Seuss tale, enjoy musical performances by Whoville characters and catch a holiday show by the Grinch himself. Plus, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get in the holiday spirit, whether you’re creating a holiday ornament, decorating your own gingerbread cookie or taking a picture with the Grinch and his dog, Max. As night falls, don’t miss the magical lights that twinkle on the distinctly Seuss-ical Christmas tree.
“The Night Before Christmas”
You could probably recite most – if not all – of this famed poem that starts with the words, “’Twas the night before Christmas.” But why settle for the poem when you could see the words come to life in ice form at the Gaylord Opryland Events Center in Nashville, Tenn.? The center’s annual ice sculpture garden is a sight to behold, thanks to 2 million pounds of ice that have been carved into beloved Christmas figurines. This year, six separate rooms tell the tale of “The Night Before Christmas,” and you’ll also spot holiday classics like a nativity scene made of ice. After wandering through this winter wonderland, you can take a ride down one of the center’s four ice slides or check out the Frostbite Factory, where you can see ice carvings. Adults can also indulge at the ice bar, where cider, wine and cocktails will keep you warm.
“The Gift of the Magi”
The heartbreaking tale of lovers Jim and Della, who sacrifice their most prized possessions to give each other a Christmas present to remember, is a classic holiday tale set in a nondescript city – though many would assume the author drew inspiration from his surroundings in New York. While you won’t find Jim and Della’s actual apartment in the Big Apple, you can see the famed booth where O. Henry (the nom de plume for author William Sydney Porter) penned this classic Christmas tale. Head to Pete’s Tavern in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park neighborhood, where the second booth near the front welcomes bibliophiles with a plaque that reads, “In this booth, O. Henry wrote… Gift of the Magi in the year 1905.”
“The Nutcracker”
No matter where you live, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to catch a performance of the famed “Nutcracker” ballet at a theater near you. A winter favorite for local ballet companies, “The Nutcracker” will also hit the road this season as the Moscow Ballet takes their “Great Russian Nutcracker” show around the world. If you’d rather see where it all started, though, head to where Clara first went on her magical adventure: The historic Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Fittingly, performances of “The Nutcracker” will run throughout the season.
“The Polar Express”
The magic of “The Polar Express” lives on throughout the U.S., thanks to a number of train companies that offer holiday-themed train rides during the month of December. Believe in the spirit of Christmas again with a Polar Express train ride through the Grand Canyon, where your journey to the North Pole to see Santa will take you along the South Rim of this natural wonder. Or take a ride through the Great Smoky Mountains as chefs serve cookies and hot cocoa. At your destination, Santa awaits with a souvenir silver sleigh bell that you can ring as you sing Christmas carols on the ride back to the station.
Polar Express train rides to the “North Pole” are held throughout the U.S. Find a full list of Polar Express train rides across the U.S. here.
“A Christmas Carol”
Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale about the angry old Ebenezer Scrooge and his otherworldly Christmas Eve visits quickly became a holiday classic after the English author published “A Christmas Carol” in 1843. Explore London through Dickens’ – and Scrooges’ – eyes with “A Christmas Carol” walking tour, fittingly led by a tour guide dressed in full Victorian garb. The walking tour highlights both the author and the tale, and to top it off, you can catch a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at The Pleasance theater in London.
(Main image: gabrielsaldana used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
