Incorporate These Outdoor Activities Into Your Christmas Weekend
With the holidays upon us this weekend, there aren’t a whole lot of local events to tell you about today. And with good reason – this is the time to be with family and friends, enjoying meals, opening gifts and making lifetime memories with your loved ones.
But we know there are a lot of people who check us out at theoldfathergroup.com every week around this time for ideas of fun things to do in the region. And we certainly don’t want to disappoint.
So we’re going to pivot a bit this week away from formal events and gatherings to more of a leisurely conversation about things you can do outside over the next few days.
If you feel like walking off some of that Christmas ham or just want to enjoy the crisp early winter air at or near the beaches, these options can certainly help with both of those endeavors.
Let's start with one you've heard of before, at least if you read our weekly events blog, and that's another opportunity for enjoying some of the fabulous light displays that will soon be wrapping up their 2021 runs.
We’ve mentioned these in our “Weekender Blog” before, but there’s no harm in featuring them one more time before the season is over.
For a little last minute Christmas cheer, you can’t go wrong with:
- Winter Wonderfest. This holiday event continues at Hudson Fields near Milton. It's open daily from 5 to 10 p.m., through Sunday, January 2. Admission prices are $20 Mondays through Wednesdays and $25 Thursdays through Sundays.
- Schellville Enchanted Winter Celebration. This event is held behind Tanger Outlets Seaside and is open Thursdays through Sundays, from 5 to 9 p.m., through December 31. Admission is free.
- Winterfest of Lights. This long-standing holiday event is again being held at Northside Park in Ocean City and is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 5:30 until 9:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, with children under 11 admitted for free.
- Lewes Lights. This special holiday event in Lewes runs through the end of the year and features dozens of festive homes throughout town.
Now if you want to get a little holiday exercise during the daylight hours, there are certainly plenty of great places to do so here at the Delaware and Maryland beaches.
Let’s hit on a few of the more popular choices for getting out and enjoying a nice leisurely stroll with your significant other, or even a more invigorating walk or bike ride to get that heart rate up.
Here are a few choices to consider:
Junction & Breakwater Trail
Southern Delaware’s most popular walking and biking trail is often filled with locals and visitors alike. But it is late December, so the chances are pretty good that you’ll have plenty of space to do your thing over the holiday weekend.
The Junction & Breakwater Trail runs along the western edges of Cape Henlopen State Park and winds through hardwood and pine forests, coastal marshes and open fields.
The trail includes an old railroad bridge that dates back more than 100 years and crosses Holland Glade.
The most popular section of the trail runs about six miles, but it also connects to other trails for those who want to continue on to other areas of southern Delaware.
Cape Henlopen State Park
Delaware’s largest and most visited state park has plenty of great spots to enjoy, including walking and biking trails, an extra long fishing pier and even a nice stretch of beach at Herring Point.
Just enter the state park, pick a trail and see where it leads you. There are plenty of signs along the way to guide you or you can just wing it and see where you end up.
Climb the fire control tower and walk through historic Fort Miles while you’re at it.
Can you really have a bad day at Cape Henlopen State Park? We certainly don’t think so!
The Beach and Boardwalk
Whether it’s Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach or Ocean City, the beaches and boardwalks are always good choices when it comes to taking nice strolls and forgetting about the stresses of everyday life.
These are obviously much less crowded this time of year as well so grab the family pooch, as well as a loved one or two, and take a nice walk on the boards. Or if it’s not too cold and you feel so inclined, the sand is just as soft in December as it is in July.
And come on, there’s really nothing quite like the salt air of the Atlantic Ocean, right?
