December 15, 2015
New and Now: Winter Travel Trends
Beth J. Harpaz READ TIME: 2 MIN.
OHIO HOLIDAYS
You'll shoot your eye out!
That line lives on from the cult movie "A Christmas Story," and film fans in Cleveland can visit A Christmas Story House. While you're there, climb under the sink where Randy hid, get a selfie by the car from the "oh, fudge" scene and grab a souvenir leg lamp at the gift shop.
Other holiday attractions in Ohio include a SegAway Holiday Lights Tour in Columbus that takes participants past downtown light displays, including those along the river at the Scioto Mile and at Columbus Commons. And instead of the Times Square ball drop, folks in the town of Port Clinton, along Ohio's Lake Erie border, mark New Year's Eve by dropping a 20-foot, 600-pound walleye (made from papier-mache). The celebration of the ubiquitous local fish is called Walleye Madness and it includes walleye chowder, walleye popcorn and even walleye wine (it's white, but not fishy).
WOMEN'S SKI FESTIVAL
Vail Mountain is hosting a new women's ski event Jan. 20-22 named for Skadi, a Norse goddess of winter.
Skadi Fest will include ski lessons designed for women with female instructors, evening events, and ski equipment demos geared for women. All levels of skiers are invited.
The event will also include film screenings, wine tastings and cooking demonstrations. Participants will receive discounts on treatments at RockResorts Spas at The Lodge at Vail and The Arrabelle at Vail Square.
Details at http://www.vail.com/events/skadi.aspx . Other Vail events geared to women include monthly workshops and a Women and Wine Friday Afternoon Club.
JACKSON HOLE 50th
The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming's Grand Teton mountain range marks its 50th anniversary this year.
Also this season, the resort is debuting a new lift and a new eatery, the Piste Mountain Bistro, both scheduled to open on Dec. 19.
Jackson Hole hosts its annual WinterFest Jan. 29-Feb. 15. This year's events begin with a sled dog race through the streets of Jackson to Snow King Mountain.
Two other WinterFest races use horses: the North American Ski Joring Championships, Feb. 6-7, where skiers are pulled through snow by horses, and the Cutter Races at nearby Melody Ranch, Feb. 13 and 14, in which horse-drawn chariots known as "cutters" are pulled through snow. Both equine events benefit the Salt Lake City Shriners Hospital for Children.
Other WinterFest activities include ski races, ice skating on Town Square and gallery walks. Details at http://www.jacksonholechamber.com/events/winterfest.php .
