December is often associated with family, shopping for last-minute gifts and celebrating the holiday season. Whether you live in Atlanta, Ga., or are visiting the area, there are many activities to do during December, some of which relate to the holidays. Other activities provide a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of crowded shopping malls.
The Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker performance at the Fox Theatre has represented the holiday classic for 50 years. Hear the familiar tunes of Tchaikovsky played by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra as you are transported back in time to Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Christmas Eve. The Atlanta Ballet offers several packages in collaboration with area hotels and restaurants so you can opt to stay the night downtown or have a pre-show dinner. The show only runs for three weeks each December.
Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree Street Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30308
404-881-2100
foxtheatre.org
Visit the St. Regis Hotel in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta to take part in one of their many holiday activities in December. As you enter the lobby, view the large tree with hand-blown glass ornaments. Enjoy the distinctive experience of skating in the hotel plaza at the only hotel ice rink in the state. The rink is located in the Grand Terrace above the pool piazza. An outdoor fire burns, where visitors can relax with a cup of hot chocolate or s'mores. Attend holiday tea with Santa, who personally delivers cookies to all the children in attendance and then reads a classic Christmas tale.
St. Regis Hotel
88 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
404-563-7900
starwoodhotels.com
For a respite from the busy city full of holiday shoppers, spend the day at Stone Mountain Park. Due to Atlanta's southern location, the area usually has fairly mild winters, so some winter days at the theme park could be all but balmy. The park is located only 16 miles from the center of downtown and is open every day of the year. Take a tour of the Antebellum Plantation, a collection of buildings from the 1800s that house decorations and furnishings of the time period. An Historic Christmas is hosted in this section of the park each December. The park is also home to 15 miles of wooded hiking trails.
Stone Mountain Park
U.S. Highway 78 East, Exit 8
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
770-498-5690
stonemountainpark.com
