Camels, Carousels, and Cocoa, Oh My! 13 Awesome Local Christmas Activities
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Seattle
Want a seasonal version of the Sequim Animal Game Farm but don't want to drive all the way over to the peninsula? Make a trip to Swansons Nursery with the kids to see live reindeer. This year they're also including a camel and a donkey named Curly and Moe for good measure. No word on what happened to Larry.
North Sound
Thousands of lights, live music, crafts for kids, a petting farm, and Polar Express train rides all in one place? Make an evening of The Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach Camp. Do not wear your swimsuit to this beach.South Sound
What's better than 10,560 feet of nothing but Christmas lights? OK, technically, probably lots of things, but the Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park are still hard to beat, plus, you can enjoy these two miles of Christmas lights from the warmth of your car as you sip on hot cocoa. Going for the full Bible times reenactment? Take it all in on foot or dromedary and try Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo with camel rides and an antique carousel to boot.Eastside
Hit the ice, figure skate-atively speaking, at Magic Season Ice Arena one of Washingtons' few outdoor sakting rinks located in Downtown Bellevue Park.
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Portland
One of Portland's oldest and most spectacular Christmas traditions, The Christmas Ship Parade, features a fleet over more than 50 lighted boats sailing on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Ride The Polar Express, inspired by the popular movie. Kids are invited to wear their PJs for a special night of Christmas magic including a visit by Santa, sing-alongs, hot chocolate and cookies. For more sensory overload for your kids, head to the Oregon Zoo with almost a million lights and more than 200 animated displays.Albuquerque
The Bugg Lights Display features thousands of lights and handcrafted characters. Refreshments, musical entertainment and Santa in his workshop. That's Bugg as in the Bugg family started this event, not bug, giant grasshoppers covered in eco-friendly Christmas lights.
Millions of lights, live music, crafts, and a model train display are all at Albuquerque Biological Park throughout December. Stop by for an evening of family fun.
Orange County
If you can’t get on the Polar Express to the North Pole, the Irvine Park Train is the way to go. The park is specially lit for Christmas, the train rides through the "tunnel of lights," there are cookies and hot cocoa for sale, and you can take photos with Santa with your own camera, so no need to drop $20 to take a picture of your kid writhing in tears in some poor old man's lap.