Midwest travel: Tour the city's lights on a Chicago Trolley
Chicago
Pretty lights!
Light up your holidays with a spin on the Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co.'s Holiday Lights Tour. It launches on Michigan Avenue, with a stop by Sprinkles Cupcakes for a free cupcake before the 2.5-hour holiday journey throughout the city. You'll travel down State Street past the Macy's Windows, stopping at Christkindlmarket, where you can explore the Daley Plaza tradition. The trolley heads over the river to ZooLights in Lincoln Park and then one last trip down the Mag Mile for even more dazzling lights. Runs Nov. 25-Dec. 26, starting from the John Hancock Center, 875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Tickets cost $18-$29 and are available online at chicagotrolley.com/.
Good things, small packages
If you like your seasonal experience more low-key, get to the Lincoln Square Ravenswood neighborhood on Small Business Saturday. Unwrap LSR is a holiday wonderland with festive decorations, carolers, ice sculptures and a tree-lighting ceremony. Businesses throughout the area offer shoppers great promotions and discounts on the special day, and restaurants showcase their best seasonal offerings. Stop by for 30-minute Victorian caroling performances at the top of every hour, see the Ice Sculpture Spectacular; taste Glühwein and hot chocolate in Giddings Plaza; and enjoy the tree lighting with Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim from Goodman Theatre's "A Christmas Carol." 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, in the Lincoln Square and Ravenswood neighborhoods, within the boundaries of Foster, Ashland and Montrose avenues and the Chicago River. lincolnsquare.org/unwrap-lsr.
Sweet suite
Where does Santa hole up? It could be at Chicago's Swissôtel Christmas-themed Santa Suite. You can take an elf-guided tour of the 41st floor five-room Santa Suite, complete with 12 Christmas trees, a table set for Santa Claus and his reindeer, a letter-writing station for leaving holiday wish lists, complimentary treats and a keepsake gift for all children on the "nice list." Post or tweet a photo of your Santa Suite visit using the hashtag #SwissSantaSuite and be automatically entered to win a number of prizes, including a one-night stay at Swissôtel Chicago. Select times and dates Dec. 3-23 at Swissôtel Chicago, 323 E. Upper Wacker Drive, Chicago. Santa's calendar is subject to change, so check the latest schedule at swissotel.com/hotels/chicago/ or call (312) 268-8110.
Midwest
Have a heart
If meditation, working out, lake walks, dancing, yoga, swimming, seminars and healthy food is on your agenda, check out the specials at Heartland Spa & Fitness Resort. Book by the end of November for a stay through the end of February to enjoy two-for-one savings. The Heartland, formerly of central Illinois, is now in nearby Lake Geneva offering sunrise views during morning yoga and walks, low-calorie flavorful meals and snacks and an indoor pool. Choose a two-night stress buster; a three-night reboot and relax; a five-night detox and rejuvenate package; or a seven-night life-changing "UnBootcamp" package. Classes, meals, seminars and either a massage or a facial are included. Book through Nov. 30 for stays through February 2017 at Heartland Spa & Fitness Resort, 335 Wrigley Drive, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Check in at the single rate and bring a friend for free. Reserve at (262) 248-2157 or heartlandspa.com/.
Christkindlesmarkt
With a trip to Christmas past less than three hours from Chicago, The Osthoff Resort's Old World Christmas Market is a Midwestern take on the celebrated Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, that dates back to 1545. It's warm inside the tented market and isn't that the scent of bratwurst, gingerbread and roasted almonds? Have some mulled wine while you shop among dozens of vendors offering authentic European gifts such as hand-carved wooden toys and blown-glass ornaments. Tell the kids to keep an eye out for Santa, hop aboard a hayride outfitted with hot drinks and blankets and get in on cookie decorating. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 2-11 at The Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. christmasmarketatosthoff.com/.
Worth the trip
There is still time to experience some of the magical events at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida this November and December. Take in Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom and Holidays Around The World along with the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. Plus, there are special holiday rates at the seven Disney Springs hotels. The seven official Walt Disney World hotels are an easy walk to the expanded Disney Springs entertainment area, and shuttle transportation every 30 minutes gets you to all four Walt Disney World theme parks, two water parks, and to the Disney Springs area at night. Holiday rates for stays now through Dec. 22 are: B Resort & Spa - 30 percent off the best rate; Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel - third night free, with rates from $89. Also, kids eat free at the hotel (valid for one child 10 and younger per paying adult); DoubleTree Suites by Hilton - Orlando Lake Buena Vista - rates from $119 per suite; Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace - rates from $109; Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista - rates from $95; Holiday Inn located in the Walt Disney World Resort - rates from $99; and Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area - rates from $72. For stays between now and Dec. 22. For info or to make a reservation, visit DisneySpringsHotels.com, specifically bit.ly/dsrah2016.