Christmas treats to visit

Posted by Bill on Monday, December 10, 2007   |   No Comments

When I say “Christmas treats,” I’m guessing most of you immediately think of your favorite Christmas edible traditions—cookies, fudge, eggnog and other seasonal delights. And usually I’m no different. Believe me, I’m no Scrooge when it comes to enjoying holiday tastes. But I’m talking about holiday treats you can visit—and that are available only during the holidays.

I know I may lose some of you here if you are not a fan of house museums. But from my experience, getting a taste of how grand old historic homes celebrate the holidays is one of the best treats of all.

Nearly every one of the annual Christmas Mystery Trips I planned for my family included a tour of an historic home, sometimes two. We dropped into wonderful old homes in cities throughout the Midwest, were warmed by their charm and delighted with the historic tidbits we learned about how Victorians decorated their homes and celebrated Christmas. We learned about Victorian calling cards, gift-giving and the penchant Victorians had for lavish Christmas finery.

So if you want a treat of a different sort this year, locate a nearby house museum and pay a visit. There are so many that I hesitate to go into too much detail about any of them because I would surely be slighting another one of equal caliber. But I can make a couple of suggestions for how to find historic homes nearby. It won’t be hard because these are truly “Christmas houses” and owners (or curators) wait patiently all year to put on their best face at Christmastime.

One of the best ways to combine travel and historic homes is to seek out B&Bs that fit the bill. While they may not be museums per se, wonderful old bed and breakfast are, first and foremost, wonderful old homes—often as lavish as any museum you’ll find. Of course, the big advantage here is that you can book a special little holiday getaway, enjoy a gourmet breakfast and really immerse yourself in an authentic Christmas, if only for a night. Bookstores are full of B&B directories. Or you could do a quick Internet search.

The guides published by AAA are also a great resource—especially for some great old homes tucked away in the smaller town and cities. If you are not a member, you may be able to borrow state-specific directories from friends who are members.

Another great way to get a taste of Christmases past is to take advantage of some of the many home tour events hosted by many communities this time of year. This is an ideal solution because in the space of an evening, you will probably be able to take in several old homes. Many of these events are actually billed as “Candle Light Tours.” That only adds to the mood and holiday spirit.

You can find community homes tours by calling the chambers of commerce in towns you know (or suspect) host them. You can also use the AAA directories I mentioned. Or check with the official travel offices of Michigan and nearby states.

Illinois
800/406-6418

Indiana
800/677-9800

Michigan
888/784-7328

Ohio
800/282-5393

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