On the road

Chicago

Bjorn to be mild

Christmas in Sweden is a lot more than dried codfish and creamed rice. There's julbok, the Christmas goat, who helps Tomten, that would be Santa, to pass out the presents. And what presents you'll find at Julmarknad, the annual Christmas bazaar held at the Swedish American Museum Center on Dec. 6 and 7, 2008. Browse through traditional Scandinavian and modern handicrafts you'll not find anywhere else while young Svea and Jorgen hang in the children's museum for crafts, games and a visit from the man in red. Count on folk dancers and musicians to entertain and Lucia processions. $2 admission. 5211 North Clark St. Call (773) 728-8111 or proceed to www.samac.org for details.

Pirouette to the Cultural Center

You say you never made it out from the back row of Sugar Plum fairies or toy soldiers and you have a thing or tutu to prove to the world? Dig out the tiaras and ballet slippers and head to the Chicago Cultural Center for what has become a popular tradition - Dance Along Nutcracker. Kids, teens, adults, grandparents, boys and girls can dance and sing along with instruction from professional dancers with a live band adding to the setting. It's free, too. Dec. 7, 2008; noon and 3 pm. 78 East Washington Street. Call (312) 744-6630 or sashay to www.cityofchicago.org/CulturalAffairs.

Wander, wonder and then try to wrangle the kids back home

Navy Pier is one of the city's most popular sites for visitors which means an outing to Winter Wonderfest can be fraught with crowds but plan wisely and you'll have some happy and tired kids by day's end. In its eighth year, the holiday event features more than three-quarters of a million holiday ornaments, hundreds of decorated trees, an indoor Ferris wheel, musical carousel, large-scale inflatable games and enormous slides, holiday entertainment and more. Dec. 5, 2008 - January 4, 2009. Wander around www.navypier.com or jingle (800) 595-PIER.

Midwest

Bolt from the malls, head to the halls of olde Xmas

Whether it's Charles Dickens, old English carols or your granny, Christmas is one time of year that age and tradition are revered and embraced. Isn't it nice to know that a trip to Christmas past is less than three hours from Chicago, too? The Osthoff Resort's Old World Christmas Market is a Midwestern take on the celebrated Christkindlesmarkt at Nuremburg, Germany that dates way back to 1545. It's warm inside the tented market and isn't that the scent of bratwurst, gingerbread and roasted almonds in the air? Have a snort of 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 kidlets to keep an eye out for Santa, hop aboard a hayride outfitted with hot drinks and blankets and try to get in on the cookie decorating. Check out special holiday rates as well as a special "Christmas Market Package" at (800) 876-3399 or park the horse at www.osthoff.com. Dec. 5-14, 2008.

Let's go Dutch

From Nov. to January, winter dons a festive, old world coat and thank goodness because it's chilly Michigan. Dutch Winterfest in downtown Holland, brims with Kerstmarkt, a Dutch-style open air market; ice sculpting contest; parade of lights on Dec. 2; Sinterklaas parade on Dec. 5; and Santa's house, holiday shopping, entertainment and exhibits all season long. Read the long list at www.downtownholland.com or talk to the cheerful folks at (800) 506-1299.

The lamb lies down with the charge card

How would you like to knock off a fat chunk of your holiday shopping all in one place? The 28th Annual Lambs Farm Holiday Art and Craft Show is so colossal, it needs to be housed in the Rosemont Convention Center because nearly 600 artists ply their wares of jewelry, fine art, housewares, gourmet foods, ceramics and much more. It will cost you $8 to get in but you may save more than that in gas, gray hairs and aggravation. .Dec. 4-7, 2008. 5555 River Road, Rosemont, IL. (630) 325-8080.

Worth the Trip

Teen Island Vacation - The Landings St. Lucia

The fact is that most resort "Kidz Klubs" offer wacky vacation fun for strictly the 5 - 12 year old set leaving teenagers to mope even more about being on a "weak" trip with 'rents. The Landings St. Lucia, a RockResort, comes to the rescue with its Teen Island Vacation" package. The package at the new beachfront all-suite property offers zip lining through the tropical St. Lucian rainforest; wakeboarding through a natural harbor; accommodations in a two-bedroom suite (with a kitchen and audio, video and internet hook ups; daily breakfast; tour of St. Lucia's lush rainforest; sea kayak and snorkeling trip; unlimited waterskiing and wakeboarding; and in-room movie night with popcorn, candy and a selection of flicks. Can you say "awesome? Available now through May 10, 2009, the package requires a seven-night minimum stay and rates vary based on dates. Check it out, dude, at www.rockresorts.com or at (877) 657- 7625.