Santa’s Mailbox Returns To North Carolina City

It's a tradition as old as the modern-day Christmas. I mean growing up, who hasn't written a letter to Santa. Now, the trick of course was making sure you had the right address, postage and got it in the mail in time for Santa to get your message. Well, all that worry is taken away this year by the Statesville City Hall that once again will play host to Santa's Magic Mailbox.

Beginning on November 27, all you have to do, Mom and Dad, is get the kids to the Statesville City Hall lobby at 227 S. Center St. Here's what makes the mailbox magic. It will express your child's letter to Santa-no stamp required! As an added bonus, if your little one's letter includes his/her name and address, a personal response from St. Nicholas will be send to YOUR mailbox.

Santa's Magic Mailbox isn't the only sign of holiday cheer in Statesville. According to the Statesville Record and Landmark, inside and out of City Hall will be decorated to the max for a magical evening on December 8 (6-8pm). It'll be a "wow" kind of holiday experience as you'll be able to take pictures with Santa beside the town's 15-foot Christmas tree (and the nutcrackers guarding the front of City Hall). There will also be food and drinks, arts & crafts for the kiddos and tours of Statesville's City Hall conducted by "Ghosts of Christmas Past."

And here's the best part, like Santa's Magic Mailbox, it's free!

Here's the important part. To make absolutely sure that Santa gets to letters in time, be sure to drop them off at City Hall or mail them to Santa at P.O. Box 1111, Statesville, NC 28687 by Dec. 8. And yes, Santa's Magic Mailbox will work electronically as well. Send your email version of the letter to info@statesvillenc.net. Oh, and this is cool. Why not compose the Christmas letter on special Santa stationary? Also, free. And it's there for the download at statesvillenc.net/santa.

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.