Celebrate seasonal Christmas cheer in Pennsylvania

Christmas needn’t be a dreaded affair with the current gloom of the UK credit crunch. Pennsylvania (PA) offers some great value travel packages and joyful events, guaranteed to provide some festive cheer and kick start the merry season!

Escape the credit crunch blues with some great savings available with tax free shopping on clothes and shoes in Philadelphia. UK and Ireland tour operators are offering value for money travel packages to the city, which can be found on taxfreephilly.com. Offering great value accommodation, Philadelphia is such an exciting city to discover, with first rate dining options, vibrant nightlife and an extensive wealth of art and culture – and just over an hour from New York by Amtrak rail!

Take advantage of the British pound’s strength against the dollar whilst you hunt for autumn/winter fashion bargains, or that dream Christmas party dress! Philadelphia is the ideal shopping destination offering numerous shopping districts, designer discount retail outlets and also the USA’s largest retail space – the King of Prussia Mall in Valley Forge. Philadelphia CVB offers a range of shopping, attraction and restaurant discounts with its ‘Phil Your Bags Passport’, available through tour operators.

Take part in a truly treasured tradition and listen to Macy’s free Christmas concerts, played on the store’s iconic Wanamaker Grand Court Organ – the largest operational pipe organ in the world. The concerts are extremely popular with families particularly before the city’s Thanksgiving parade.

Nearby, visit the Christmas City of Bethlehem founded by Moravians on Christmas Eve 1741. This charming 267 year old city is renowned for its holiday traditions, and its ‘Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem’ – recognized by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of the best Christmas markets in the world!

The historic city’s boutiques and market provide inspiration for individual creative gifts, whilst music, theatre and artistic events rouse you into the festive spirit. For information on the events and attractions taking place, plus a free admission coupon to the market, visit christmascity.org.

The spectacular Longwood Gardens offers its own magical Christmas winter wonderland, from November 27th 2008 – January 11th 2009. Home to 1050 acres of gardens, woodlands and meadows, Longwood will glitter and sparkle with 500,000 outdoor lights, dancing fountains and ice skating shows under the stars. Open every day during the year, the heated conservatory will house an impressive collection of poinsettias, amaryllis, narcissus, begonias, cyclamen and tulips.

Music concerts, an integral part of the Longwood Gardens experience, take place in the ornate Ballroom, including organ sing-alongs and evening choral and bell choir performances. For ticket admission prices, opening times and more seasonal details visit longwoodgardens.org.

Breathe in the fragrance of the ‘Christmas Tree Capital of The World’. Home to the Christmas Tree Growers Association, Indiana PA was the first county to plant various pines for the purpose of Christmas trees in 1918. Today it is home to seasonal firs, which is certainly worth a visit!

If the following events and attractions still can’t jolly you into the festive spirit, we have the perfect solution! Visit the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana which celebrates the life of the ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ actor. Museum visitors will be taken to a forest location by horse drawn carriages to enjoy a special Christmas tree lighting ceremony – guaranteed to provide a sentimental and poignant start to the season!

For further information log on to visitpa.com/uk.