Georgia Magazine - December 2024 - 32

Around GEORGIA
LaGrange
Family-friendly holiday magic happens in this small-town
Thousands of white lights twinkle to the timeless tune of " Walking
in a Winter Wonderland " in Snowfl ake Valley at Fantasy in Lights
at Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain.
* Insider holiday tip: " Our downtown shops and restaurants
have extended hours on Sundays during the month of
December, which is the perfect time to shop and dine when
the stores aren't as crowded, " says Christy Owens, director of
marketing for the city of Thomasville.
Pine Mountain
This postcard-pretty town an hour southwest of Atlanta is
known as the " gateway to Callaway Gardens " and is all about the
lights-lots of them. Ten million lights twinkle, sparkle and set
the tone for a truly magical holiday.
* Signature holiday event: Fantasy in Lights at Callaway
Resort & Gardens (Nov. 15-Jan. 4) dazzles with 2,500 acres of
full-throttle Christmas cheer. The newest addition, the towering
Tree of Traditions (a 40-foot electronic tree alight in brilliant
colors and twinkling in time to holiday tunes), joins 17 themed
vignettes, 10 million lights along a 7-mile driving experience,
the walk-through Winter Wonderland, a forest of decorated
trees, shopping in the Christmas Village, the Jolly Trolley and
other activities. Learn more at callawaygardens.com.
* More can't-miss events: Get wowed at Robin Lake Beach,
where two Fantasy in Lights Christmas scenes animate one of
America's largest inland white-sand beaches; have lunch in
downtown Pine Mountain, which is beautifully decorated for
the holidays, and shop in its collection of unique boutiques;
and visit F.D. Roosevelt State Park for a hike along the Pine
Mountain Trail, with its waterfalls and sweeping views.
* Insider holiday tip: " Fantasy in Lights admission includes
day admission to Callaway Gardens on either the day of your
visit or another day during the Fantasy in Lights season, " says
Julia Keating, executive director of the Pine Mountain Tourism
Association. Visiting the rest of the Callaway Gardens offers the
opportunity to see the hundreds of butterflies in the Cecil B.
Day Butterfly Center, enjoy the free-flight Birds of Prey show or
explore miles of bicycle and walking trails and other attractions.
Those with tickets to Fantasy in Lights just present their tickets
for entry on another day or for re-entry on the same day.
32 Georgia Magazine December 2024
charmer less than 70 miles southwest of Atlanta. Photo-ready
for its holiday close-up with a decorated tree on Lafayette
Square, an illuminated fountain and storefronts showing off
jolly displays, LaGrange knows how to set the stage for a
Christmas to remember.
* Signature holiday event: Walkable from historic downtown
LaGrange, Sweetland Amphitheatre transforms into a winter
wonderland for Sweetland on Ice (Nov. 15-Feb. 8), offering ice
skating on a covered, outdoor rink beautifully decorated for the
holidays. Gather around the fire pits, sip hot cocoa or gourmet
coffee and enjoy s'mores; take in a holiday movie (Dec. 6 and
20) on the big screen at Sweetland Amphitheatre; and decorate
cookies at Crave Cookie's Christmas Cookie Workshop (Dec. 7).
Learn more at visitlagrange.com. (Click on " Things to Do, " then
" See All Things to Do. " Use the drop-down menu to sort by
season for " Winter. " )
* More can't-miss events: The Holiday Tours at Hills & Dales
Estate (Dec. 7-28) present a 1940s-era Christmas tree, fresh
plants and greenery adorning the estate inside and out amid the
scent of real Fraser fir and the sounds of classic Christmas
carols; in Lafayette Square, the Tinsel Trail (Nov. 22-Dec. 31) is a
forest of live trees trimmed to the holiday nines; and the
evening Starry Nights experience at the Biblical History Center
(Dec. 20-21) features candlelight, live animals and holiday
singing.
* Insider holiday tip: Before or after tying up your skates at
Sweetland on Ice, head to downtown LaGrange to stroll among
the holiday decorations, browse the boutiques and pop into a
restaurant, brewery or winery.
Kathy Witt is a freelance writer based in Kentucky.
Friends gather around the fi re pit during the Sweetland on Ice event
in LaGrange. The Sweetland Amphitheatre transforms into an ice rink
through Feb. 8.
Two Georgia towns have year-round Christmas spirit baked right
into their names: Bethlehem and Santa Claus. Read more about
them in our December 2019 issue at bit.ly/gm1219towns.
COURTESY CALLAWAY RESORT & GARDENS
VISIT LAGRANGE
http://www.visitlagrange.com http://www.callawaygardens.com http://bit.ly/gm1219towns
Georgia Magazine - December 2024

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