If you’re a fan of eating (and drinking) local, you’ll want to be traveling through Cleveland during the holiday season.  That trip will give you a chance to tipple a little Christmas Ale, a holiday beer from Great Lakes Brewing Company.
This limited production brew is only available from November through December, and in past years (2007, 2006, and 2005) has won several Gold Medals from the World Beer Championships.  I didn’t even know there was such a thing!
Christmas Ale is robust ale brewed with honey and spiced with fresh ginger and cinnamon, and is supposed to be THE …read more

Earlier this week, I was the fortunate recipient of some great travel gifts, and I know other travelers would appreciate them as much I do.

A nightlight.  I usually bring night light with me when I travel, putting it into the bathroom, and making it a little easier to get around at night.  I’m in so many different hotels that it’s sometimes hard to remember where I am, and having a night light just brings a little familiarity to my surroundings.  I’ve had a plain standard light, and I’ve had a lava lamp night light.  This week I received a gift …read more

A holiday shopping excursion in New York City is not complete without checking out the decorated windows.  I spent one Christmas Eve on a layover in the city, and enjoyed a trip to look at all the beautiful lights and decorations.  It made being away from home on a holiday a little less depressing.
What is there to see?  Here are some of the major displays that I’d recommend:

Rockefeller Center:  The tree is lit, and the Swarovski decorations are up.  There are lots of other decorations to see in the area, and there’s skating at the ice rink.   Rockefeller Center is located …read more

 
Details:  Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska.  Although it has turned Santa into a cottage industry, about 1,800 people live here year round.  I first visited North Pole one summer as a child.  It was then, and still is a great place to take kids to see how Santa lives in the “off season.”
Photo credit:  flickr