Hocking Hills Offers Holiday Light Displays, Winter Ice Skating and Christmas Shopping This Holiday Season

    LOGAN, OH, December 10, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Majestic scenery, delicious dinners and memorable holiday activities make Hocking Hills, Ohio, the perfect place to visit this holiday season. Throughout December, the stunning Hocking Hills region will host the Nelsonville Christmas Parade, a Holiday Trail of Lights at Lake Hope State Park, "mallternative" shopping events and more. Hocking Hills captures the spirit of the season with a long list of holiday activities.

"Nothing is more memorable than stepping away from the hectic holiday season for a lighted stroll into the majestic Ash Cave on Saturday, Dec. 12," Karen Raymore, executive director of the Hocking Hills Tourism Association said. "Once visitors arrive, they'll enjoy a cozy fire and refreshments as they listen to carolers' songs reverberate in the cave. A visit with an old-fashioned Santa and helping decorate a Christmas tree with treats for wildlife make the experience unforgettable."

Hocking Hills visitors can also enjoy one-of-a-kind shopping with "Christmas on Main Street" in historic downtown Logan. A Holiday Treasure Hunt runs through Wednesday, Dec. 16. Guests who visit six of 21 participating merchants are entered to win one of more than 20 prizes. Logan Town Center offers several other holiday activites for visitors this season, including the Hocking County Children's Chorus, performing "It's a Wonderful Life," Dec. 11-13.

The flea market at Hocking Hills Market, in Rockbridge, offers unique gifts, antiques and much more. The market runs every Friday to Sunday this holiday season from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hocking Market's many independent shops, a bookstore cafe' and an old-fashioned silver diner serving fine Italian cuisine, offer a wonderful stop for Hocking Hills visitors.

The Lake Hope State Park's Holiday Trail of Lights runs nightly from until Dec. 31 and features a hike through the forest, illuminated by more than 100,000 lights. Both the Hocking Hills State Park and Lake Hope State Park have special weekend events to celebrate the season.

North Pole Nelsonville occurs when downtown Nelsonville transforms itself into a winter wonderland, featuring Hocking Valley Scenic Railway's North Pole Express and Santa Trains, every Saturday and Sunday through Sunday, Dec. 20. Ice skating is every weekend until Sunday, Jan. 3. The last Friday of every month, from 6-10 p.m., "Final Fridays" incorporate fine dining, fine arts and uncommon gifts with fun activities surrounding Santa's Village.

A delicious way to celebrate the Holidays is with the "Taste of Dickens" at Glenlaurel Inn. Every Sunday and Wednesday in December, Glenlaurel hosts a traditional Dickens five-course dinner with exquisite culinary creations and readings from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" between courses. Decked out in the finest trimmings and festive, old-time decor, Glenlaurel creates a truly remarkable holiday experience.

Hocking Hills visitors will get in the spirit at the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls with a holiday cookie-making class Friday, Dec. 11.

For a special holiday meal, a month-long dining celebration at Shaw's Inn & Restaurant in Lancaster features weekly Christmas dinners throughout December. A Southern Christmas Dinner, until Thursday, Dec.10; a traditional English Dinner, Dec. 11-17; a Williamsburg Christmas Dinner, Dec. 18-23; and a French Holiday Dinner, Dec. 26-30. Reservations are encouraged.

For more information about Hocking Hills' holiday events, visit www.1800hocking.com.

About Hocking Hills
Located 40 miles southeast of Columbus, Ohio, Hocking Hills offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences that make every day feel like Saturday, with plenty of admission-free activities. The region boasts a wide variety of affordable lodging options, from camping, cabins and cottages to hotels and country inns. In addition to numerous hiking trails, parks and forests, the Hocking Hills area offers unique gift and antique shops, canoeing, horseback riding, golf and more. Complete traveler information on accommodations, festivals and the many sites in the Hocking Hills region is available at www.1800Hocking.com or toll-free at 1-800-Hocking (800-462-5464).

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