Christmas time is one of my favorite seasons of the year, and I love to savor the season by enjoying special activities and holiday fun with friends. I edited down D Magazine's 100 Things to do for Christmas in Dallas list to create this more manageable list of 10 items that I'm sure you'll enjoy this December!
1. ICE! I visited the Gaylord Texan to see ICE for the first time this year and I was so impressed! Everything was build out of... (you guessed it!) ICE!! Be sure to schedule time to walk around the Gaylord to admire their Christmas decorations and sip hot chocolate after viewing the exhibit.
2. Horse carriage ride through Highland Park to look at Christmas lights! I have been wanting to do this for over 6 years and was surprised last night by my boyfriend and friends with a carriage ride- it was just as magical as I had imagined it would be!
3. 12 Days of Christmas at the Arboretum features beautiful Christmas displays surrounded by the Arboretum's lush landscape! Be sure to visit before the event ends on December 29th.
4. If you don't want to drive to Ft. Worth to see the Texas Ballet Theater's Nutcracker, check out ALL Nutcracker performances to find one that's right for you (some are even budget friendly!) - there is even a hip-hop version if you're tired of the original.
5. Walk through Vitruvian Park and enjoy the Christmas Lights, with hot chocolate, of course. (counts as cardio!)
6. What's Christmas without Christmas music?! Enjoy the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Christmas Pops Show with special matinee performances by the Dallas Children's Chorus.
7. Ice Skating at the Dallas Galleria with special skating performances on December 10th, 2016, 6:00pm: Richard Dornbush and December 17th, 2016, 6:00pm: Ryan Bradley. While you're there, finish up your Christmas shopping and check out the tallest indoor Christmas tree!
8. Christmas in Frisco Square is worth the drive north! There are plenty of scheduled activities, but driving through their light display synched to your favorite Christmas carols is my favorite- every night from 6-10pm through January 1st!
9. Be sure to catch one of two shows by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Dallas at the AAC on December 22nd, especially if you have never seen them before!
10. Last, but not least, my favorite (free!) Christmas activity of all time is grabbing a cup of hot chocolate and driving around the prettiest neighborhoods in town late at night with a car full of friends. Sing Christmas carols together and celebrate a great year before ringing in 2017!