Celebrate season with day trips

No matter how beautiful Washington is during the holiday season, everybody needs a weekend to get away, to see the open road and get some fresh air.  Strategically located along the Potomac River and cradled in between Maryland and Virginia, there are plenty of places to go to during the holidays that are less than a three-hour drive away. Whether it’s a romantic getaway or an exciting outdoors trip with the family, there’s a trip for everyone this holiday season.

For a full weekend of activities, your first stop is Hershey Park in Hershey, Pa., a two hour and forty-five minute car ride on Route 15 north.  The “Sweetest Place on Earth” features family-friendly activities such as breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, light shows, choral group showcases and overnight weekend packages for those who need more than one chocolate-filled day. At the Hershey Lodge or the Hotel Hershey you can have breakfast with Santa, roast s’mores by the fire, play Christmas bingo, decorate holiday cookies, go ice-skating, and meet all of the Hershey’s product characters.  

Hershey Sweet Lights lets you enjoy a dazzling 600 light display from the warmth of your car.  The two-mile long wooded trail features Christmas-themed animated light shows, and it is located just minutes away from Hershey Park. 

Reilly Fies, a public relations coordinator at Hershey Park says that everyone at Hershey always looks forward to Christmas.

“The park, hotels and the town really transform during Christmastime, Santa is at different locations with his nine live reindeer for people to meet, there’s special classes for kids, themed vacation packages and Christmas decorations all over the town. We can always expect to be very busy during the holiday season,” Fies said.  

The town of Hershey is also a perfect spot for a weekend getaway with the girls, or a special someone. Treat yourself to a spa package and enjoy peppermint-themed treatments like a peppermint holiday hydration facial, or a peppermint hot chocolate immersion.  Hotel Hershey is worth considering for an intimate meal. The Circular dining room has a holiday special where $75 will get you a six-course meal cooked for you personally.  You can also talk with the chef about the dish and its preparation.  

For a more history-charged trip, head south two and half hours to Colonial Williamsburg. This timeless and charming town could get even the greenest of Grinches into the holiday spirit simply by strolling down Duke of Gloucester street.  

And if that’s not enough, go online and buy tickets for the Christmas decorations walking tour.  Get into the holiday spirit by walking through the town and seeing the quirky holiday decorations and picturesque homes.  

A tour guide will tell you about the town’s decorating traditions, construction techniques and materials used in town decorations, for just $10 with a Colonial Williamsburg admission, and $15 without admission.

Walking isn’t the only way to see this delightful town, horse and carriage rides are a popular way to enjoy the cool winter weather and see what colonial Williamsburg has to offer.  There are a variety of carriages to pick from, depending on if you want a more private experience or want to sit back and enjoy the fresh air, and are driven daily by an authentic Colonial citizen tour guide. 

Looking for something a little closer to home, the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center on the Potomac has 2 million pounds worth of fun.  

The ICE! 2012 holiday attraction is a DreamWorks-themed ice display made up of 5,000 blocks of ice. “Shrek the Halls” was created by 40 different artists from Harbin, China — a town famous for its annual snow and ice festival — and took more than 30 days to complete.  

Make sure you bring a hat and gloves to ICE! — the walk through attraction is kept at a chilling temperature of 
9 degrees and guests are given oversized thick winter coats to keep them warm. The ice has been hand carved to depict scenes from the Shrek movie series with your favorite characters Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and many others, as they celebrate Christmas. The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is a short 30-minute ride away, and perfect for a quick get away.