Dec 24th, 2012 at 8:00AM: Christmas Eve is one of those special days that you look forward to all year long. Visiting friends and family, rushing to get those last minute Christmas gifts and putting the final touches on plans for Christmas Day will keep us busy all day. With all of that hustle and bustle, it is easy to lose track of time but this is a night that you definitely want to be home and fit snugly in your bed on ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
SantaClaus posts
Track Santa's Progress As He Makes His Rounds Tonight
Dec 24th, 2012 at 8:00AM: Christmas Eve is one of those special days that you look forward to all year long. Visiting friends and family, rushing to get those last minute Christmas gifts and putting the final touches on plans for Christmas Day will keep us busy all day. With all of that hustle and bustle, it is easy to lose track of time but this is a night that you definitely want to be home and fit snugly in your bed on ...A Visit To Macy's Santaland
Dec 16th, 2012 at 10:00AM: This week, in between a visit to the Brazilian consulate to apply for tourism visas, and working on the Gadling family travel gift guide, I decided to make a trip to the North Pole. Or rather, the one on 34th Street, where the most famous department store Santa resides at Macy's Santaland. Visions of David Sedaris dancing in my head, I decided if we were going to do this, I might as well do it ...Antarctica's Tallest Peak Captured, North Pole Not So Much
Dec 4th, 2012 at 2:00PM:
Antarctica is our planet's southernmost continent and home to the South Pole, permanent manned research stations, penguins and an occasional adventure cruise ship expedition. This time of year, a lot of attention traditionally goes to Earth's North Pole, home of Santa and the gang. But NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory recently passed over Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, as we see in this ...See Santa Differently With Fun Alternative Events
Nov 30th, 2012 at 4:00PM:
A trip to see Santa is part of the holidays for many families with children. Mixed in with shopping at a local mall or a special trip just to visit with Santa and his elves, reindeer or even Mrs. Claus, it's a required part of holiday tradition. But if standing in a long line has lost a bit of its luster, some alternative events might be worth the trip for a Santa experience like no other.
...NORAD tracking Santa on your iPad and smartphone
Dec 24th, 2011 at 9:00AM: As it has done every year for the past 56 years, NORAD is once again tracking Santa this holiday season. But for Christmas 2011, the military organization that watches the skies above North America, has added the ability to follow St. Nick's progress on your iPhone, iPad, and Android devices as well.
The satellite tracking went live earlier today and has been following Santa's sled as he's made ...Video of the day: Santacon in New York City
Nov 30th, 2011 at 6:30PM:
If you haven't heard of Santacon before, this year's holiday season is as good a time as any to hear of it. Santacon is, in a nutshell, this: It's a mass gathering of people who come together in cities across the world, all dressed in Santa costumes. They parade on streets and drink in bars and have a jolly good time spreading cheer and singing naughty Christmas carols. Widely known as Naughty ...
Winter holiday celebrations in Russia
Dec 31st, 2010 at 4:00PM:
In most of the western world, Christmas and Hanukkah have come and gone, but in Russia, presents are being wrapped in anticipation of tonight, New Year's Eve. In the days of the Soviet Union, religious celebrations were frowned upon, so Russians shifted their winter celebrating to December 31 and combining the traditions of gift-exchanging and New Year's revelry into one night. In the Russian ...¡Feliz Navidad! More Christmas traditions from Spain
Dec 25th, 2010 at 10:30AM: Merry Christmas from Madrid! Last year I covered some of the big Spanish Christmas traditions. This year I'd like to talk on a more personal level about how I and my in-laws celebrate. I'm married to a Spaniard. A Castilian to be precise, as regional identity is important here. Living in Madrid we have a very Castilian Christmas. My five-year-old son is pretty much Castilian too, although he's got ...Christmas with Jesse James
Dec 25th, 2010 at 10:00AM: Christmas can be a stressful time. In fact, statistics show that you're more likely to have a heart attack on Christmas than any other day of the year. Hanging out with family too much can be hazardous to your health.
Some families, of course, are more hazardous than others. Most people don't have the emotional baggage that Jesse James, Jr., did. He was the son of the famous outlaw but didn't ...Photo of the Day (12.24.10)
Dec 24th, 2010 at 6:00PM:
For Santa, Christmas Eve must be a royal pain in the ass. First of all, he obviously has to work at an unreasonable, unfathomable pace. He is also forced to grapple with potentially uncooperative reindeer and salty elves--not to mention children who just won't go to bed. One imagines that by the time Santa hits Apia he's ready to jet back to the tundra and hibernate for a good long month.
...Holiday World offers exclusive roller coaster photos online
Dec 13th, 2010 at 12:30PM: Holiday World is known for its roller coasters, including The Voyage, which has been named the world's top wooden roller coaster for the past four years.
The holiday-themed park plays host to thousands of coaster enthusiasts each year, and many of them like to capture photos of the coasters from different angles. In fact, park officials say, some coaster enthusiasts beg for a behind-the-scenes ...Holiday World owner Will Koch dies suddenly
Jun 15th, 2010 at 8:30AM: Theme park fans and the attractions industry are mourning the death of Holiday World owner and president Will Koch.
Koch died suddenly at his home Sunday night. He was 48.
"Will was not only our leader, he was our dear friend," park spokeswoman Paula Werne said in a statement. "Our park family is in mourning for this sweet man who worked tirelessly to bring fun and happiness to so many ...Holiday World 'auctions' staff members for charity
May 10th, 2010 at 11:00AM: You can learn what it takes to maintain a roller coaster or make perfect cotton candy if you place the winning bid in one of 15 auctions to benefit flood relief efforts in Nashville. Holiday World and Splashin' Safari theme park in Southern Indiana has launched the auction packages, with bids open through Monday, May 17.
Each of the packages gets you four (and in some cases, more) tickets to ...Santa Claus to seals: 5 California sights worth visiting
Apr 26th, 2010 at 3:30PM:
You already know the Southern California's top tourist attractions by heart. Disneyland. Hollywood. Hearst Castle. Ever wonder what else is out there? Here are five great lesser-known attractions to check out on your next visit to the Golden State.
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
Wildlife is often entertaining, and you will get more than your money's worth (it's free) by making a ...8 new thrill rides opening in 2010
Apr 23rd, 2010 at 2:00PM:
Whether you're an avid thrill seeker or just looking to have a little fun, thrill rides and roller coasters offer riders endless good times and plenty of excitement. With the economy on the forefront of most American's minds, many amusement parks have scaled back or delayed production of new rides. Luckily, not every park is afraid of the economic downturn, and these eight new rides opening ...Turkey wants Santa's bones back
Dec 30th, 2009 at 1:30PM: A Turkish archaeologist is campaigning to have the bones of St. Nicholas, the model for the legend of Santa Claus, returned to the saint's hometown in Turkey. Saint Nicholas was the bishop of the Roman town of Myra, modern Demre in what is now Turkey, in the 4th century. He came from a rich family and was famous for giving money to the poor. People would leave their shoes out for him to put money ...Track Santa's Ride Tonight!
Dec 24th, 2009 at 8:00AM: Tonight's the night that every kid, big or small, has been waiting for since this time last year. It's the night that Santa takes to the skies and delivers toys to the world, and this being the 21st Century, it is now easier than ever to track the jolly man in the red suit. A host of high tech gadgets will be employed to make sure you know exactly when he'll be paying a visit to your neighborhood. ...Photo of the Day (12/23/09)
Dec 23rd, 2009 at 6:30PM:
When I saw this photo last week while looking for Santas from around the world, I knew I'd found today's Photo of the Day. Although this fellow appears among the other Santas, here he is again-- center stage.
The cultural mix of this Santa shot is superb. Taken by Carpetblogger in Azerbaijan, this is an excellent look at how elements of culture travel. As Carpetblogger explains, although the ...Santa crawl around the world: Ho! Ho! Ho! from Gadling to you
Dec 18th, 2009 at 4:00PM:
Last Saturday night, Times Square was literally a Santa free for all. I first noticed the Santa madness as I approached from the direction of the Empire State Building while walking along Broadway. Along the way, a group of five Santas passed me. Then another group of Santas strolled by. Then there was a lone Santa and a Santa with Mrs. Claus. There were also elves.
By the time I reached 42nd ...How honest and trusting are New Yorkers?: The unattended fruit stand test
Dec 2nd, 2009 at 2:30PM: How honest are people in New York City? What happens when a vendor leaves his fruit stand unattended for at least thirty minutes after the Macy's Thanksgiving parade? Gadling knows because Gadling was there.
Not long after watching the last gigantic helium balloon and Santa Claus travel on down 7th Avenue with his hearty "Ho! Ho! Hos from our vantage point on 57th Street across from Carnegie ...
