WINTER
WONDERFAM SUGGESTIONS FOR A HOLIDAY FAMILY CALENDAR THAT’S FUN, NOT FRENZIED
LIKE JUST ABOUT EVERY SEASON of the year, managing winter can be a challenge for families. There’s so much potential: Snow! Family visits! Holiday treats! Presents! But therein lies the trickiness, right? Sometimes you can see your kids actually filling up like balloons with expectation, until inevitably one or more of them pop, sending disappointment flying everywhere. Striking the right balance between a holiday full of wonder and one full of meltdowns takes a little planning. Whether your kids like quiet rituals or full-on festivals, here are some solid bets for holiday fun. Ice skating is always a hilarious way to level the playing field, or rink as it were, between parents and kids. Which is to say, there’s a great chance you’ll all be very bad at it. Thank goodness the Orange County Sportsplex in Hillsborough has a rink with a concession stand and benches, where worn-out parents and kids can rest. For a quieter icy excursion, try a winter hike beside the Haw River. Bundled-up kids can explore the riverbanks and adjacent trails. It’s an easier version of a “snow day” – everyone gets to be outside in the fresh air, but you can still drive to The Eddy Pub or Cup 22 in Saxapahaw afterward.
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chapelhillmagazine.com December 2017
When you’re done with being rugged and need a little pageantry, there’s nothing quite like dressing up and taking in a performance at Memorial Hall. The Carolina Ballet will present “The Nutcracker” December 2 and 3, so buy tickets now!
PHOTO BY HEATHER LAGARDE
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BY VIRGINIA ROBINSON
For an extraordinary holiday affair, look no further than The Carolina Inn. From breakfast with Santa to Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch, this Chapel Hill institution deftly combines holiday magic with Southern hospitality. The brunch on Christmas Day includes a biscuits and gravy station, which would be reason enough to go even if there weren’t plenty of other delicious offerings.
If your kids are more into fun messes than shiny shoes, Southern Season is offering holiday-themed cooking classes for parents and kids. On December 16, you’ll make a Bûche de Noël (or yule log) at the store’s cooking school. On December 22, it’s holiday cookies, including salted caramel macaroons and truffles. For even more memories, bring grandma and grandpa along! If the season makes you feel like singing, VOICES, The Chapel Hill Chorus is holding a family-friendly carol sing-along December 15 and 16 in Moeser Auditorium in UNC’s Hill Hall.