Mystic Seaport, Essex, Bethlehem and More…

The state of Connecticut is so small, sandwiched in between Massachusetts and Rhode Island above, and New York below it. All of New England and the Tri-State area are within easy reach, never taking very long to get where you're going. Its cities are small in comparison, and its towns are quaint, still capturing that colonial atmosphere.

Having done most of my growing up there, I can genuinely say that there's a ton of things to do, especially when it comes to the fall and winter months, and the Holiday season in particular.

Lantern Light Tours

Mystic Seaport is straight along the coast on I-95, neighboring New London and Groton, where the Coast Guard Academy is located. And just an FYI, there is actually a restaurant there called Mystic Pizza, just like the movie! Mystic features its Lantern Light Tours throughout the month of December.

Mystic recreates Christmas Eve, 1876. You can stroll through a festive holiday village, kdance up a storm in a tavern and visit with sailors in port for the holiday. The tours are mainly scheduled for Thursday through Sunday evenings, from December 1st - 31st. The first tour leaves at 5 p.m. except for all Saturday dates and Friday, December 22, when the tours begin at 4:45 pm. The last tour leaves at varied times. Each tour is about 70 minutes long and is not recommended for children under the age of four.

You really should make reservations for Friday and Saturday evening performances. Adult tickets are $25, and childrens tickets are $18 (ages 4 to 18) ($22/$16 for members). Tickets go on sale to Museum members Saturday, September 30th. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, October 10th. You can buy tockets by calling (888) 973-2767 Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, or by stopping by their Visitor Reception Center seven days a week, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Once you buy your tickets, there is a $5 per ticket charge for changes to your reservation.

The North Pole Express

Essex, CT was established in 1852, being first settled by William Pratt in the mid 17th century, and sits along the Connecticut River. The North Pole Express at the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat will run November 24th - 26th and 30th, and in December 1st - 3rd, 7th - 10th, 14th - 17th and 21st - 23rd. The ride is one hour long, with departures at 5:00pm and 7:00pm, and will run rain or shine.

The North Pole Express features a trip to the North Pole to pick up Santa and Mrs. Claus, festive trackside displays, sugar cookies and hot chocolate for all guests. . . and most importantly, each child will get to meet Santa to receive a small Christmas gift. This year, the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat is adding something new to the North Pole Express, a musical version of a favorite, holiday classic poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Professional actors from Riverway Studios, East Haddam, CT, accompany you to host a maxi-fun, magical ride that includes song, creative play and heaps of Christmas spirit!

Reservations are highly recommended, because the tour is very popular and North Pole Express sells out every year! Adult tickets are $23 and children's tickets are $16, ages 1 - 11. You can buy tickets by phone at (860) 767-0103, online at www.essexsteamtrain.com, or at the Valley Railroad Ticket Office, starting August 1, 2006. There aren't any refunds or exchanges.

Christmas Town Festival 2006

Did you know that there is actually a town called Bethlehem in CT? It's located in Litchfield County. Each year, thousands of people visit the famous Bethlehem Post Office to make certain their Christmas cards bear a Bethlehem postmark and hand stamp them with special Bethlehem Christmas stamps. The Post Office will be extending its hours for your convenience during the Festival.

Connecticut's Christmas Town, Bethlehem, where The Christmas Spirit Abounds Year 'Round, is holding its 26th annual Christmas Town Festival 2006 on Friday, December 1st from 5:00 - 10:00pm and Saturday, December 2nd from 10:00am - 4:00pm (It doesn't continue into Sunday), at Bethlehem's Town Green, at the junction of Rt. 61 and Rt. 132. The buildings and churches around The Green will be decorated and brimming with holiday crafters and delicious food.

There will be activities for the entire family: the tree Lighting Ceremony and the arrival of Santa Claus, a candlelight procession and reenactment of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter, hayrides and photographs with Santa Claus, story telling at the Library, ornament making workshop at The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, and before leaving, you can pick up the limited edition pewter Bethlehem Christmas Town ornament (available at the festival's Information Booth). Buy one early because they're sure to sell out!

The Festival's admission is free, and there will be free shuttle buses, which travel from the parking area at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds on Rt. 61, to the center of town and back. There's plenty of parking for tour buses, and parking in the center of town during festival hours is by permit only. For more information you can call (203) 266-5557.

One other thing that you may want to check out is the 12th Annual Fantasy of Lights at New Haven's Lighthouse Park on Lighthouse Rd. It'll be held from November 17th - December 31st: Sundays - Thursdays from 5:00 - 9:00pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 - 10:00pm. You can drive through an enchanting land of sparkling lights and spectacular holiday light displays. It's a wonderful delight for both children and adults of all ages. Admission price is $10 per vehicle, $25 per mini-bus and $50 per bus. For more information, you can call (203) 777-2000.

Again, Connecticut itself may be small in size, but it's big in history and in heart, and always has something fun in store. Happy Holidays!