New England Holiday Quick Links: Cookie Recipes | Tree Farms | Skiing | Gift Tags

Are you dreaming of sleigh rides, deer tracks in the snow, ice skating on a frozen pond, cuddling in front of a crackling fire with someone you love, and all of the magical merriment of old-fashioned seasonal celebrations? There's no place quite like New England for the holidays.

As the weather turns cold and New England begins to deck itself out in greenery and glimmering lights, I've assembled this one-stop guide to Christmas and holiday events and travel possibilities. And even if you'll be far from New England this holiday season, you'll find recipes, made-in-New England gifts and ideas for adding a touch of New England to your own holiday festivities, plus photo tours that will whisk you away to this land of winter wonder.

Bookmark this page, and check back often for updates throughout the holiday season!

In the Spotlight

Ho Ho Ho! The Place to Go
If you can hardly wait for Christmas, head to New Hampshire. Santa's Village, an enchanting family amusement park, is open for special weekend dates of magical (if chilly!) fun leading up to Christmas Eve. (Photo © Kim Knox Beckius)

20 New England Gifts Under $20
Here in New England, we're known for our ingenuity... and our frugality. The two collide in this gift guide! Here are 20 ingenious gifts perfect for teachers, friends, colleagues, family members--anyone who loves New England--and they're all priced under $20.

Dreaming of a White Christmas?
Here are the 10 places where you're most likely to celebrate a White Christmas in New England, based on snow statistics from the National Climatic Data Center.

Hartford Holiday Light Fantasia is Back!
After a three-year hiatus, one of New England's largest drive-through light displays shines once again in 2011 in Hartford, Connecticut.

10 New England Holiday Happenings
Finished with your holiday shopping, wrapping and baking? Relax and enjoy the spirit of the season at one of these festive events taking place in New England this month.

Newport Mansions Aglow
See Newport, Rhode Island's splendid Gilded Age mansions dressed in holiday finery. Or, consider a trip to see the Hudson River Valley mansions in New York State decorated for the Christmas season.

Strawbery Banke Candlelight Stroll Brings Holiday Traditions to Life
Explore holiday traditions from the 1790s through the 1950s on a Candlelight Stroll through New Hampshire's oldest neighborhood: Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth.

An Easy Gingerbread House for Kids to Make
Heidi Jewett, director of recreation at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York, shares this fun, easy and quick way for kids to create gingerbread houses with graham crackers and royal icing.

Virtual Tour: Christmas at Old Sturbridge Village
At Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, holiday season visitors have an opportunity to learn about mid-19th-century holiday traditions in New England. I was at the Village in 2004 for the first of six evenings of "Christmas Traditions by Candlelight," and I'll take you there to experience the charm of an old-fashioned holiday celebration on this photo tour.

New England Artists Offer One-of-a-Kind Holiday Gifts
Shopping for someone who's hard to buy for this holiday season? Meet New England artists, who offer one-of-a-kind original works that will delight your gift recipient.

More from New England Travel

Looking for more New England travel information? Start with the New England Travel home page, where you'll find current features and links to the best of the Net for all of your travel planning needs.

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Photographs copyright Kim Knox Beckius, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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