Christmas at Grove Park Inn

Hansel and Gretel would not miss this Christmas extravaganza, as it showcases dozens of ginger bread houses and holiday decorations galore! Luckily you don’t have to worry about the waistline, because this is a feast for the eyes, not the stomach… The charming Grove Park Inn in Asheville is a seasonal delight you won’t want to miss this holiday season, and who knows – once inspired, maybe you’ll find yourself building a gingerbread house with the kiddos!

This article can also be found on Kidding Around Greenville.

The Annual Gingerbread Competition at Asheville’s Grove Park Inn

While you may have missed your chance to participate in the famous gingerbread house competition at the Grove Park Inn this year (the deadline to enter the 24^th Annual Competition was November 4^th), you still have plenty of time to plan a visit to this historic Asheville venue; not only will you have the opportunity to view the gingerbread house winners, but the whole family can get into the holiday spirit!

The gingerbread houses are as diverse as they are amazing; on our visit last year we saw everything from clock towers to sleighs to igloos to skate parks. The entries must be constructed entirely of edible materials with the exception of the base, but the ingenuity in construction is simply remarkable. There are four entry categories: adult, teen, youth and child, and entries are judged on overall appearance, originality & creativity, difficulty, precision and consistency of theme. This year judging will take place on November 21^st, and the winning entries in each category (plus the 2^nd and 3^rd place finishers) will be on display starting tomorrow and running until January 5^th, 2017 in both wings of the main floor. You’ll find a map at the information desk in the lobby – yes, the Grove Park Inn is an expansive enough venue that you need a map!

There is no admission charge to view the display, although there is a $10/car parking fee. Half of this fee goes to local non-profits; the list of not-for-profit partners that will benefit from this year's donations can be found here. The Omni Grove Park Inn invites guests not staying at the resort to view the display Sundays after 3pm and Mondays through Thursdays. For more information on hours and the gingerbread competition visit the website, and make sure to keep a lookout for entries from the Upstate; last year an entry from Greer placed second in the teen category, while a Greenville entry in the child category received an honorable mention.

Holiday Decorations

As you walk through the hotel viewing the gingerbread competition winners you’ll see more than a few Christmas trees decorated in all sorts of motifs. My boys’ favorite part of the visit was discovering the elaborate ornaments on these themed trees, deciding on their favorites, and planning which decorations we should have in our home. The giant Christmas tree in the lobby is a perfect place for that family photo, the entire Great Hall filled with the smell of the giant evergreen.

The enormous fire places in the Great Hall are adorned with wreaths, heat radiating out to warm those seated in the area.  Last year there was a gingerbread house in the hall, built by the pastry department. The ingredients included 50 pounds of egg whites, 440 pounds of powdered sugar, 220 pounds of red fondant and 400 pounds of bread flower! Visitors could purchase hot beverages and gingerbread from the gingerbread house, and then settle into the giant rocking chairs near the fireplace with hot chocolate to enjoy the holiday bustle.  Spend a little more time than just a couple of minutes in the rocking chairs – sitting by a roaring fire in a relaxing chair is part of the mystique of the Inn that should not be glossed over.

The grounds

 The original Grove Park Inn was built in 1913 and over the years has grown to encompass a golf course, spa, sports complex, 5 restaurants, 3 bars and a café. To truly appreciate the scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains it is worth stepping out onto the veranda, or even descending down into the gardens and spa area.  This descent via outdoor stone staircases is also a good use of the kids’ extra energy; ask them to take a photo of the Inn from the lowest level...

The view of the front of the hotel is also quite grand, and after imagining the long-ago sound of horse-drawn carriages rattling across the cobblestones you might want to take a short stroll. From the front of the hotel up to Sunset Mountain is a short hiking trail that is appropriate for all skill levels and ages that will let you work off whatever delectable you may have bought at the Inn, but will also let you appreciate the spectacular natural setting of the Grove Park Inn. Then, as you set off on the drive home take a minute to determine whether you should enter next year’s Gingerbread Competition – or once more return as a spectator to this wonderful annual event.

The Polar Express!

This post can also be found on Kidding Around Greenville!

Bryson City is a gateway city to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but is it also home to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot, with scenic rail excursions through the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. Beginning November 11^th a very special train has been departing from the historic Bryson City depot…. The Polar Express.

Based on the popular children’s book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, this magical train ride recreates the journey to the North Pole complete with hot cocoa and a warm cookie.  At the end of the train ride, Santa Claus himself will be waiting at Santa’s Village to board the train and present each child with their very own silver sleigh bell!

What you need to know

You’ll want to arrive in Bryson City at least an hour before your departure time. This will give you time to park, which is not an easy task in this little town that brought 70,000 passengers through for the Polar Express in 2015. There is a parking option that can be added when purchasing tickets, and parking attendants are on hand to direct traffic. Once you’ve walked to the depot you might want to explore the GSMR train museum, and you’ll find a dozen little souvenir and snack shops lining the street to explore while waiting for your train’s boarding time. Hint; the train museum is free with tickets, but you can purchase pictures with Santa if you arrive early!

When it is time to climb onboard, passengers join the queue at their assigned boarding station, which correlates to the train car in which you will be riding. The beautifully restored vintage coaches date from the 1920s to the 1940s, and the interior has been festively decorated in the holiday spirit. Friendly employees are on hand to help the boarding process and get everyone situated, and before you know it, the whistle blows and the Polar Express is off, headed for the North Pole!

While music plays in the background (from the motion picture The Polar Express), the conductor comes through to stamp the ‘golden train tickets.’  These tickets (based on the book) make a cherished souvenir for the children. Hint; make sure to bring your copy of The Polar Express on the trip so that you can read along while enjoying the hot chocolate brought to you by the singing and dancing chef.  Like most parents, we had changed the kids into their pajamas so that they would be cozy and comfortable on the journey.  And, the singing of Christmas carols and antics of the Polar Express characters kept them mesmerized the entire trip.

Tips to make the most of your trip

With three different ticket options (First, Crown and Coach), families have a variety of choices concerning seating, snacks and memorabilia – only reserve your tickets early, as the tickets for the weekends approaching Christmas tend to sell out by early to mid-November. We opted for Coach and were completely satisfied with the seating, the service and the benefits that came with our package.

We purchased tickets on the 5pm train, meaning it would still be light out  for the first 1/2 hour of the journey (and we could watch the gorgeous mountain scenery roll by). The sun had set and darkness descended just before our arrival at the North Pole, and so the Christmas lights adorning ‘Santa’s Village’ twinkled in the darkness, helping convince reluctant believers... On our return trip lights from homes along the route sparkled in the distance, adding a magical dimension to the ride.

When selecting seats, you might want to choose to be on the left side of the train (that would be the opposite side of the train from where you boarded), as the river and the majority of North Pole lights will be on that side. Also, Santa boards on the front of the train, so be prepared for him to come through rather soon after stopping if you’re in Coach; have your copy of The Polar Express ready for him to sign, and the kids ready to tell him what they would like for Christmas.  He even makes some time to ask some disbelieving adults about what they would like under the tree – so make that list and check it twice!

The details

The first Polar Express departure is on November 11^th, and the train operates through January 1, 2017 with the exception of certain weekdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Depending on the date, there are 2-5 departures a day to choose from.

For detailed information on the different seating available, visit the Polar Express website here.

Bryson City is about 2 ½ hours by car from both Greenville and Spartanburg, optimally a weekend destination, but do-able in a day (since the kids will sleep on the way home!).

Tickets start at $28/children 2-12 and $42/adult, and kids under 2 ride free.

For other Great Smoky Mountains Railroad family-friendly adventures, check out their website.

“At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.”    (From The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg)

A Baltic Christmas: currently accepting submissions!

Do you or someone you know have a story, recipe, memory or photo essay they would like to share on 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas?

We are currently accepting submissions for the 2016 edition, and would love to have you participate!

Each 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas post is receiving up to 1,000 hits during the month of December, as well as additional traffic throughout the rest of the year. Your submission can include a personal blog address, etsy store and/or twitter handle, bringing you exposure to a new audience or client base.

The fine print: Your entry must somehow be tied in to the holidays in Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania to be considered. Words and pictures must be your own. For more information, or if you have questions, please send me an email - LLucane (at) yahoo (dot) com.

24 Days of a Baltic Christmas 2015 here.

24 Days of a Baltic Christmas 2014 here.

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Latvian company Printful comes to the Carolinas

Latvian company Printful held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning for their new location just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. CEO Dāvis Siksnāns was on hand, as well as the Latvian Ambassador Andris Teikmanis, and after the official program guests were offered a tour of the facilities before an informal presentation and celebratory glass of champagne.

Printful CEO with Latvian Ambassador

Printful was launched in 2013 as a print-on-demand dropshipping company that prints and ships print products for ecommerce retailers. They expect to hire 200 new employees in Charlotte by the end of 2018, and over the next five years plan to expand to other countries, like the UK and Australia. The Charlotte plant is the second in the US, with programming, design and project management still headquartered in Latvia.

I was honored to be present for this occasion, and am looking forward to seeing Printful grow in the Carolinas! It is exciting to see Latvian companies do well on the American market, and it is nice to be reminded of the innovation and start-up culture present in Latvia. For more information on Printful, please visit their website, http://www.theprintful.com/

From left to right: Mr. Egils Leimanis, Second Secretary/Economic issues; yours truly; H.E. Mr. Andris Teikmanis, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the USA; Dāvis Siksnāns, Printful CEO

The super-smoky Beaver Moon

Tuesday afternoon we headed north towards the Blue Ridge Escarpment to Bald Rock Heritage Preserve. As the days grow shorter it’s harder to find the time after school to get outdoors, but it wasn't an issue on this particular trip as we planned to watch the sun set – and hoped to see the moon rise.

I call this shot "partial solar yo-yo eclipse"

We arrived with less than an hour of daylight to explore the granite outcrop, but as the boys had just recently explored all the way down to the base (on the day I hiked the Rim of the Gap) they were content to stay close. We spread the picnic blanket and had a snack, watching the sun sink lower into the haze.

The 2,312-acre (as of Tuesday morning) Pinnacle Mountain Fire is still growing; however the fire is considered 25% contained as burnout operations continue. The smoke is lingering due to lack of wind and night-time inversions, and I was hoping to get an interesting view of the smoky Upstate from this vantage point up near Caesars Head. As we had approached Highway 11 on the way up the smoke had increased and visibility decreased, and upon reaching Bald Rock we were rewarded with an intensely hazy view and a red sun. As we finished up our picnic that sun suddenly disappeared, not behind the mountains but into the smoke.

The moon was set to rise at 5:50pm, and so we lingered on the rock, examining the graffiti and testing out our headlamps. I had guessed that we wouldn’t be able to see the moon rise, but figured sooner or later it would rise above the smoke and be visible. However, an hour later there was still no sign of it. Knowing when to call it smoked-out, we headed down the mountain.

Wouldn’t you know it, that supermoon decided to show itself as soon as we reached Highway 11! The enormous orange moon is at its perigee, or closest point to Earth during the lunar orbit, and is the biggest and brightest supermoon to rise in almost 69 years. The full moon won't come this close to Earth again until November 25, 2034. The Farmer’s Almanac says this ‘Beaver Moon’ signifies the best time to set beaver traps before rivers, lakes and streams freeze over.

As we returned to Greenville the orange moon was our constant companion. We came home to hot chocolate before turning in for the night, and as the boys turned off the lights I asked if it was worth the drive, despite not seeing the moon rise. A consensus was immediately reached – of course it was worth it, if even for no other reason than being allowed to stay up a little late…