3 Trips: Holiday Getaways

Where:

Chicago

Lebanon, Ohio

Mount Washington

Why:

You need an urban shopping adventure and you’re just an hour flight and short “L” ride away from shopping bliss.

The holidays are a time for family, so take yours away for a small-town Christmas, in Lebanon, just thirty miles between Cincinnati and Dayton.

It’s only a two-hour drive from Boston to Mount Washington Resort, in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire—and a real ski holiday.

Do:

Stroll along Chicago’s bustling, Christmas–lit Magnificent Mile and duck into high-end boutiques such as Chanel, trendy hot spots such as H & M, and everything in between. And don’t forget to stop by the ice skating rink in Millennium Park and the German–themed Christkindlmarket (Nov. 28–Dec. 24) with its ninety-foot-tall Christmas tree in the middle of Daley Plaza.

The town definitely celebrates the twelve days of Christmas—and then some. From November 29 to December 21, the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad (513-933-8022) becomes the North Pole Express, taking families for a ride with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and even Rudolph. December 6, Lebanon celebrates its annual Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade with daylight and candlelit versions. Both feature carolers, bell choirs, festive food, and extended hours at the town’s eighty-plus specialty and antiques stores.

Besides the actual skiing part—day and night—Mount Washington Resort (603-278-1000) offers myriad holiday and winter activities, including sleigh rides, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, stories with Santa, eggnog and warm cider in front of the fireplace, and more. After the family opens presents Christmas Day, you can hit the slopes. Plus, a 25,000-square-foot spa opened this winter, just in case you need a service or two.

Stay:

Accommodations near the mile include The Omni Chicago (312-944-6664), the ultra-contemporary James (312-337-1000), the Ritz–Carlton (312-266-1000), and the W–Chicago Lakeshore (312-943-9200).

The Golden Lamb Inn (513-932-5065) is the place to stay in Lebanon. After all, the master of the Christmas tale, Charles Dickens, once stayed there, as have twelve presidents. In fact, each room is named after a famous guest—we’ll take the Samuel Clemens, please.

Though the large Mount Washington Hotel provides the main lodging for the resort, there are also townhome and lodge options, as well as the Bretton Arms Inn for those who want a cozier experience. All of the options include full access to the resort’s amenities.