It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I love Christmas in Sacramento! The weather is just chilly enough to feel like winter but you won't freeze your tush off at any of the outdoor celebrations. You'll have lots of options of things to do so get out your mittens and get ready to celebrate. Here are just a few upcoming ideas:

*Fairytale Town Winter Wonderland Saturday, December 1st. Visit with Santa and his elves, do some art projects and listen to music all while enjoying Fairytale Town.

*Old Sacramento Heritage Holidays November 21st thru December 23rd. An assortment of activities including a holiday train ride, Christmas puppet show, Discovery Museum projects, historical reenactment and the Capitol City Yacht Club's lighted boat parade

*Ice Skate Downtown Plaza November thru January 21st. Your chance to pretend you are a kid again, or take the kids and show them how great you really are!

*Holiday Magic at the Zoo Saturday, December 8th. You had no idea an orangutan can open a present did you! All the animals at the zoo receive special gifts.

And that's just for the next week!

Day trips from Sacramento to celebrate the holidays

The scent of the holidays should be in air right now, but we've been stuck in this bizarre late summer weather. Even Halloween seemed a little off- just a few times did I smell the scent of burning jack-o-lanterns or hear the crunch of leaves on the sidewalk. It looks like you're going to have to leave town to get the holiday celebration underway!

Mark your calendar for the Grass Valley Cornish Christmas celebration, Friday nights from November 23rd thru December 21st. Businesses in downtown Grass Valley decorate their windows in celebration and there will be live music, carriage rides, food and drink, entertainment and much more. The downtown is closed to vehicle traffic and you can stroll along in peace with your family.

If that weren't enough celebration, you'll love the Nevada City Victorian Christmas just a few weeks later. Chestnuts will really be roasting on an open fire, strolling minstrels and carolers fill the streets and Santa will make a visit. You can check out the Victorian Christmas 3 Wednesday nights December 5, 12 and 19, from 6-9 p.m and 2 Sunday afternoons, December 9th and 16th from 1:30 to 6pm.

If you're really up for an adventure, make a weekend of it and spend the night in one of Nevada City's beautiful bed and breakfasts. If you're lucky, you just might get a sprinkle of snow to kick off your holiday season.