Page 24 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – December 2020/January 2021

Holiday Attractions
Price Chopper/Market 32 Capital Holiday Lights and must be purchased separately from regular passport
Nov. 27, 2020-Jan. 3, 2021 Albany
Helping to literally make the season bright, this annual holiday tradition starts after Thanksgiving and runs through the New Year. Run by the Albany Police Athletic League, Holiday Lights in the Park has become a family tradition for many in the Capital Region but brings in spectators from all over. If you’ve yet to visit, this is a must-do with grand drive-through light displays open every night of the season. Enjoy scenes of festive yesteryear from the comfort of your own vehicle.
Tip: AAA Members save $3 on admission Mondays through Wednesdays.
admission, so reservations come highly recommended.
Christmas Land – Nov. 28-Dec. 20, 2020
Altamont (Approx. 30 minutes from Albany)
Just hear those sleigh bells jing-a-ling. You don’t have to go to the real North Pole to be immersed in the holiday spirit. Just outside of Albany lies Christmas Land, an old- fashioned Christmas experience. Guests of this family- friendly attraction can go for a miniature train ride, meet Santa Claus and enjoy delicious food and beverages. On Sundays, families can even take sleigh rides on authentic horse-drawn carriages. These tickets are extremely limited
North Pole New York – Nov. 21-Dec. 30, 2020
North Pole (Approx. 1.5 hours from Albany)
But if you do want to go to the “North Pole,” you can, because there is one in New York. North Pole, New York, home of Santa’s Workshop, is located just a couple
hours north of Albany and minutes from Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain. You heard it here, Santa’s Workshop has all sorts of merriment which is fun for both children and adults. Winter weekends are Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 20. Start your day off right with Breakfast with Santa before you visit his home at Santa’s Workshop or have Dinner with Santa and enjoy the nighttime spectacular Village of Lights, select days through Dec. 30.
Outdoor Adventures
West Mountain Cliffside Coaster at Queensbury (Approx. 1 hour from Albany) Mount Van Hoevenberg
Once the snow falls, ski season officially starts. The mountains become a winter dreamland for cold weather and outdoor sports enthusiasts. Established in 1961, West Mountain has operated as a family-owned business since opening day. In the winter season, guests can not only go skiing, but they can go tubing daytime and night. Tickets are sold for the tubing park in two-hour segments. If you haven’t skied before, or maybe are just feeling a bit rusty, there are lessons available for both youth and adults.
Belleayre Mountain
Highmount (Approx. 1.5 hours from Albany)
The home of the only gondola in the Catskills, Belleayre also boasts the best snow in the region. This popular skiing destination officially opened in the 1940s, hosting everyone from families and extreme skiers. Its chairlift was the first in New York State. Now, the mountain hosts guests not only for downhill skiing and snowboarding but for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and scenic gondola rides. Season passes can be purchased and can be upgraded to include Whiteface and Gore Mountain attractions, as well.
Lake Placid (Approx. 2.5 hours from Albany)
If you’ve missed out on your theme park vacation, you can try your luck at this year’s new outdoor attraction open all year long. The Cliffside Coaster is a state-of-the-art combined skeleton and bobsled track that follows the alignment of the bobsled track from the 1932 and 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. It is now North America’s longest mountain coaster. The attraction is open on weekends year-round for advance ticket purchase, however, will close in inclement weather. While you’re out at Mount Van Hoevenberg, you can check out the 50 kilometers of cross country skiing and grab a drink at the new Mountain Pass Lodge.
Belleayre Mountain
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