‘Winterland Express’ Gets Bigger For North Carolina Holiday Attraction

Of the many tremendous memories I have of Christmases with our son as a little boy, maybe none make me smile more than a ride we took one night on "The Polar Express."  The animated movie was in theaters and a local train in Birmingham (where we lived at the time) was offering winter rides through light displays, etc., complete with hot chocolate and great family Christmas cheer.

I was reminded of this today as I read about the "Winterland Express" at Kannapolis' Village Park.  If you've never been to 'A Kannapolis Christmas,' it's well worth the trip.  A highlight?  The Winterland Express Ride through 'The Twelve Days of Christmas.'  And this year, a Christmas gift has been delivered early.  A second  train has been added allowing twice the number of holiday revelers during this season and throughout the year.

Kannapolis Parks and Recreation Director, Gary Mills tells WBTV, “Our Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express Event draws over 25,000 people to our city each year. Having the new engine allows us to handle twice the number of riders and accommodate all the visitors to our holiday event.”

The fun of A Kannapolis Christmas begins at Village Park with the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony & Celebration of Lights at 6 p.m., Saturday, November 18. Then, The Kannapolis Christmas Parade happens December 9, and the Celebration of Lights runs thru December 30.

Reserve your seat on the Winterland Express, Sunday thru Thursday, by purchasing tickets online at www.kannapolisnc.gov/Christmas. Walkup onsite tickets will also be available Sunday thru Thursday.

Christmas is a time to visit family and friends and get away from the daily grind. The holidays can be a wonderful time, but they can also be very expensive. From buying lots of Christmas gifts for family and friends to having to pay for plane tickets and travel, holiday expenses can really add up. But, the good news is that there are some affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S. that are available for a good deal. Also, North Carolina has one of the cheapest Christmas vacations in America.

One good thing about traveling during the winter months is that it's often the off-season for popular vacation destinations. Of course, the holidays are a busy travel time. That makes late December a difficult time to find a deal for travel. But, if you don't mind the cold and snow, some northern areas of the U.S. offer very good deals. That's true even during the Christmas season.

Some tips for finding a good deal for holiday vacationing include searching a lot of booking websites, comparing different hotel dates to find the most reasonable ones and finding bundle deals. Also, keep your eyes open for special deals on resorts and hotels that are just opening. That's because sometimes, during those opening months, new vacation spots try to attract a loyal clientele by offering special deals. One more tip is to search for airfare rates individually even if you are traveling as a couple or a group. If you put in a search for a group of tickets, the algorithms will often leave out information on one or two cheaper tickets being available. They'll just send you a group of tickets, sitting together, all at the same price. So, you might get a deal if you search for one ticket, instead.

So, what are the best affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S.? Here are some popular spots that won't break the bank. One is in North Carolina.

Frankenmuth, Michigan, is the self-proclaimed Christmas capital city of the world. Okay, so many argue that Strasbourg, France, takes that honor, but Frankenmuth is close, and it's a lot cheaper to get there. No passport needed. The villiage's Franconian-style architecture has given it the loving name "Little Bavaria." Frankenmuth is also home to the world's biggest Christmas store.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and it offers a beautiful view of snowy hills and Amish country. It's a very old-fashioned type of town, making it a charming winter getaway. There are plenty of fun, holiday-type things to do in Lancaster that won't break the bank.

You might never guess, but Las Vegas, Nevada, is a great spot for an affordable holiday trip. Think about it. Most people wouldn't think to go to "Sin City" for Christmas. Of course, it's much less the "sin" part these days, as Las Vegas offers fun activities for the whole family.

Fort Myers, Florida, is a popular destination for snow birds. But, that's doesn't mean to skip it during the holidays. If you want to get away from the snow and ice, Fort Myers offers a great escape over Christmas and for prices that are more reasonable than in many other areas of Florida.

Charlotte, North Carolina, is a great spot to visit in the holiday season, because it's not as crowded as other times during the year. It's also less expensive to visit during the holidays and offers beautiful decorations during Christmas. Don't forget the many holiday markets.

Boston, Massachusetts, gets cold in the winter, but it also has that classic Christmas charm. It's a big city with a smaller city feel during the holidays. What's more, it's a more affordable winter vacation destination than many other areas, and you won't have the fight the crowds.