Looking for a special keepsake idea for yourself or to give as a gift? Consider making a Christmas tree ornament. Since the year my husband and I were married, I have done my best to have a new ornament every year to put on the tree that represents something special we did that year. The first few years, I mostly purchased unique ornaments while on a family vacation. However, the year we found out I was pregnant, I opted to order an ornament on Shutterfly with my son’s ultrasound picture. Most recently, I have made ornaments for family as keepsake wedding gifts.
Keepsake Ornaments
Using a clear glass ball or clear plastic ornament that opens into two halves, collect some items that have significant meaning and put them inside. Close the ornament and finish it off by looping a ribbon through the top hole to hang it on the Christmas tree. Decorative paint or glitter are other options to dress up the ornament.
Shutterfly is another great option if you’re looking to strictly use photos. When I ordered one with my son’s ultrasound picture, I choose the metal ornament and it came in a keepsake bag.
Whether you want a special keepsake for your tree or you are looking for a personal gift idea for family, friends, or to use as a hostess gift, holiday ornaments are a great option for this time of year.
This light show at James Island County Park in the Charleston, SC area has been named by USA Today as one of the “10 Best Holiday Light Shows in America”. Visitors can enjoy millions of multicolored lights during a three mile drive that features more than 700 magical light displays. After parking the car, visitors can also enjoy a 50 ton sand sculpture, holiday train experience, Santa’s Sweet Shoppe, handmade gingerbread houses and more! This light show takes place from mid-November to the first few days of January.
Take in the sight of nearly one million lights and countless animated images at the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, SC. There’s also a Jingle Bell Bonfire, hot cocoa and other food, along with nightly visits with Santa. Most of the animals will be off-exhibit to sleep, but visitors may sight a few night owls. This Christmas event starts in late November and continues through December.
Take a 1 ¼ hour round-trip train ride from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad's Bryson City depot to the North Pole. Guests will receive warm cocoa as they follow along a magical story. Santa boards the train upon reaching the North Pole and gives each child a special gift (a silver sleigh bell). Guests will enjoy Christmas carols during the ride back to Bryson City, NC. The Polar Express runs during November and December.
The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC not only offers a Live Nativity that depicts the birth of Jesus, but many other activities that are family-friendly. Free activities include: Live Nativity, Story Time, and Christmas Carolers. Other activities include: Horse-drawn Carriage Rides and Christmas Dinner. It’s encouraged that visitors come earlier in the month of December to avoid crowds.
In spite of the drought our region has experienced this summer, I’m happy to say our family was able to still pick muscadines this year.
Muscadines are a type of seeded grape with a thick skin. They taste amazing and are rich in antioxidants.
In Shelby, NC at 1757 Newhouse Road, the Crotts family has several rows of vines where people can pick their own muscadines for just $5 a gallon. Visitors come from around the region to pick these grapes to eat and use for jam. Gallon containers are supplied to visitors for picking and they are emptied into bags when visitors are done. Plan for about 20-30 minutes of picking to fill a gallon bucket.
At this particular location, there are black, green and pink varieties of muscadines that also vary in size. All are good in my opinion, but I do pick more of the pink variety when they are available.
My husband and I took our young son this year and he had a ball running around the vines picking his own muscadines off the bottom of the vines (which was as high as he could reach). It’s a fun experience for the whole family.
If you are interested in muscadines, here are some good resources:
My husband and I recently celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. We had tickets to visit The Gorge in Saluda, NC, so we celebrated by taking a 3.5 hour Zip Line Canopy Tour. My husband is somewhat afraid of heights, but he agreed to go, and I was nervous to the point of literally shaking until about the third zipline on the course. It was something new, adventurous, and an experience we will never forget.
Upon arriving at Honey Bee Lane, we approached a metal building overlooking the Green River Gorge. The building, which appeared simple on the outside, was very impressive with its inside architecture. It was new and clean, with an awesome deck for people to check out the amazing view over the gorge. After checking in and weighing in (no worries – it’s confidential), we had a few moments to take in the place before suiting up. We met our guides and the rest of the group we would be ziplining with while putting on our harnesses. Our guides were completely relaxed and put everyone at ease before heading out. Their enjoyment of being part of The Gorge Canopy Tours made the trip that much more fun.
After reviewing safety procedures and how-tos, we had a short practice run on a line about 15 feet long with a platform underneath. I was impressed by the redundancy of their safety practices. While I still held on to a rope or a tree practically the entire time, it did ease my mind to know that I was never actually unhooked from the ropes unless I was on the ground. I was also thankful for the hands-free breaking system that helped us stop at each platform.
Standing on the edge of the first platform made me nervous, because it’s one of the longest ziplines on the course and the platform we were landing on could not be seen. I stepped off and was immediately captivated by a moment of awe as I zipped through treetops.
The course takes visitors on a 1,100 foot decent through 11 zip lines, 3 rappels, and a sky bridge. All this is done while taking in views of over 10,000 acres of protected forest, including views of the Green River.
After finishing the course, my husband and I visited downtown Saluda for lunch. We agreed that even though the thought of speeding through the treetops while hanging from a cord was scary at first, the trip was well worth the thrill.
The cost for a Canopy Tour is $95 per adult (a USB with your trip pictures is about $20 extra). While it’s possible to hike around Western North Carolina and enjoy the beauty of the mountains for free, this experience gives people a breathtaking trip into the Green River Gorge. You will not experience the beauty of WNC in the same way with your feet on the ground. If you’re looking for an exciting way to travel on a path that’s not walked, but still safely charted…try The Gorge Canopy Tours.
Quick tips: Canopy Tours run rain or shine, so check the weather before booking your trip. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and don’t wear shorts that ride up easily as you’re hooked into a harness for several hours. If vising during the summer months, the temperature is cooler in the morning hours and many trips are completed by lunchtime (Downtown Saluda is a great place to find a tasty restaurant for lunch after your trip).
For more information about The Gorge, visit thegorgezipline.com. Also, watch the video below, which was taken by one of our guides during our trip.
Video and pictures were taken during our trip courtesy of the The Gorge staff.
The longer I live in the Carolinas, the more I love the area. While North Carolina has always been my home, both North and South Carolina have so much to offer residents and visitors. From the mountains to the beaches, there is history, culture, and beauty to be found throughout the states.
Charm of Carolina exists to highlight special events and places to visit in the Carolinas. There is also a strong community of crafters and artisans throughout the Carolinas, and many of the special events in this area feature craft fairs. This site has a special interest to feature local vendors who work hard to create unique goods to support themselves or the causes in which they believe. The stores that support this creative community will also receive special features on this site.
