Let the Festivities Begin!

By Lani West

Holiday hustle-bustle can take its toll but there are healthier ways to keep your spirit merry and bright. With festivities all around Michigan’s winter mitten, there’s something to make everyone’s holidays the happiest ever. Experience the joy. Try less stress and more fun. It’s the best gift you can give everyone… including yourself!

Feast for the Senses

“City sidewalks dressed in holiday style” beckon in historic downtown Petoskey at the annual Christmas Open House on December 3 (6–9 p.m.). Each gaslight is decked out in garland and white lights for a festive ambiance to make Charles Dickens himself envious.

The event kicks off with a tree lighting in Pennsylvania Park by a Victorian-style Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Nearby, witness a live nativity, with the sounds of the season in the background, including choirs, sing-a-longs, the Petoskey Steel Drum Band, and other roaming performers.

Savor the flavor of fresh-roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate, and steamy bean soup… a 30-year-old traditional treat cooked up in old-fashioned pots by the Petoskey Snowmobile Club (while quantities last).

For details on this special starry night and the new light parade the following evening, call 231-347-4150. Free admission.

Garden of Delights

Rekindle your sense of wonder and whimsy with Christmas Around the World and Holiday Traditions at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. Delight in the decorating of 40 trees and displays from around the world on November 15-18. Then, with the exhibit’s official opening on November 19, begin the celebration of 12 special nights that will take place through January 2.

Check out the Victorian Tree with 1,000 priceless ornaments from the 1880s to 1920s, new this year. Experience all the enchantment with carolers, choirs, and carriage rides. The Gardens also hosts the Polar Express, a lifelike miniature version of the book (authored by Grand Rapids native Chris Van Allsburg) and coincides with the November 10 launch of the movie. This magical, miniature railway winds its way through gardens, forests and towns on 7 foot high trestles, all the way to the North Pole. Call 616-957-1580 or visit meijergardens.org for details.

Staying in Grand Rapids a few days? Check out the Fountain Hill Bed & Breakfast, a distinctive Italianette home in the historic Heritage Hill district. Grace, elegance, and Jacuzzis!

To smooth out holiday stress, drop by From the Heart or Expressions of Grace for yoga classes. Or, get a healthy holiday snack at the casual yet scrumptious vegetarian restaurant, Gaia.

Giving Something Back

Nothing says “goodwill on earth” like Habitat for Humanity (HFH). And nothing shows the spirit of giving like the HFH Festival of Trees on November 20, in Cadillac.

Looking for a night on the town? This black-tie optional event has it all—dinner, dancing, and silent and live auctions of large and small trees and hundreds of holiday items.

Come a day early and kick off “Christmas in the Park” on Cadillac’s lakefront—celebrating Santa’s arrival, Christmas carols, the lighting of 100 trees, angels, and snowflakes along the Keith McKellop Walkway. Or, stay ‘til Sunday for the Cadillac Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert.

Join the HFH effort, with more than 125,000 homes built worldwide to its credit, and experience the real reason for the season.

For more about the HFH event, contact Joy VanDrie at 231-775-7755. Or, for lodging, call the Cadillac Visitor’s Bureau at 800-225-2537.

Lighten Your Spirit

This year, get that holiday glow at the Fantasy of Lights Parade in Howell, November 26. Each year 30,000 spectators line Grand River Avenue, ready to be dazzled by illuminated floats, marching bands, and over 50 other unique entries that sparkle up the city.

Just a stone’s throw away… get a heart and hand-warming cup of tea, coffee or cocoa at the Blue Willow Tea Room, before or during the parade (not open late). Sample the scones or all-homemade lighter fare. Call 517-540-1589, or click onto bluewillowtearoom.com.

For a healthy spin on the festivities, join the Fantasy 5K Run, voted one of the Top 10 Runs in Michigan by Runner’s Magazine. Proceeds benefit local charities. Call the Howell Chamber at 517-546-3920 for details of this event.

Or, need a little holiday R & R? Visit European Skin Care & Massage by Liza, a one-on-one treatment facility dedicated to complete relaxation. Ask about her “Oh, My Aching Feet” massage (ideal after shopping), private-label skin-nurturing products, and aromatherapy candles. Great gifts! Always call ahead for completely personalized pampering (517-546-4429).

A Long, Warm Soak

The ultimate gift is the one you’d like to receive. When it comes to Oasis Hot Tubs, with three locations around Michigan, indulgence is key to a happy, healthful holiday.

Individually appointed Oasis gardens include the Borneo Rain Forest with its 12-foot natural stone waterfall in a lush tropical setting. Or, travel to Greece without leaving the state with a visit to the Santorini Greek Garden, featuring Classical Greek architecture… painted wall murals, columns, and statuary, even a burning Olympic torch. The Aleutian Garden is a winter favorite with its peel-post walls, working tub-side fireplace, and Alaskan scenery for that “far-north feeling.”

Winter is the best time for tubbing. Outdoor tubs are kept at 102 degrees Fahrenheit, while inspiring indoor gardens boast vaulted cedar ceilings, skylights, and a 180-gallon aquarium.

Gift cards are available by phone or by clicking onto oasishottubs.com. Ask about holiday discounts! Or, personalize a gift basket brimming with items like spa fragrances, sparkling juices, and specialty candies.

“Take a romantic escape for two or just to soak away the winter blues,” owner Beth Heckman says. “Some say the Oasis waters are magic—they have done their fair share of healing physical pain as well as emotional.”

You’ll find Oasis Hot Tubs locations “to soothe you” in Ann Arbor (734-663-9001), Grand Rapids (616-784-2020), and Kalamazoo (269-372-2020).

Mind, body, and spirit… be good to yourself this holiday season. Sip peppermint tea from a china cup. Enjoy a well-deserved, stress-releasing massage. Fill your heart with inspirational sights and sounds. And let the feel-good memories begin!