No Santa, No Elves, No Twinkling Lights

Need some time away from reminders of Christmas? Try one of these non-holiday activities this December

During the month of December, Christmas and the holidays are everywhere. From the lights and decorations to Christmas music and Santa, it can feel like there is no escape. But that’s not true! Even during December, there are many ways to enjoy yourself that aren’t related to the season. Here are three ways to get some time away from the holidays.

Take a Hike

It may be cold outside, but our region’s parks are still open and ready for visitors. Most trails are still open for hikers, and many parks are hosting events and activities for those who want to spend time in nature. Cincinnati Parks offers a StoryWalk at California Woods each day, during which participants read a story together as they traverse a self-guided trail. Dec. 11 at Avon Woods Nature Preserve, families can enjoy a scavenger hunt on a Winter Animal Story Hike. There are also Nature Encounters at the Trailside Nature Center in Burnet Woods each weekend and a Full Moon Walk at French Park on Dec. 18. Great Parks of Hamilton County are also still open, along with Big Bone Lick State Historic Site in Boone County, Kentucky.

See a Show

While holiday plays and musicals can be found throughout the Tristate, theater lovers can also enjoy several shows without a holiday theme. Through Dec. 12, Playhouse in Park is hosting performances of Need Your Love, a musical docudrama on the life and times of Little Willie John. Also through Dec. 12, you can see the Know Theatre’s GlassHeart, a play that brings fairy tales into the modern world. The show is being performed live at the Know and is also available as video-on-demand. And, throughout the month of December, the Ensemble Theatre is presenting its take on Cinderella.

Visit a Museum

Cincinnati Museum Center’s Ice Age Gallery in the Museum of Natural Science and History

Museums are another great way to get away from the holidays. At the Cincinnati Art Museum, visitors can view the museum’s collection as well as visit exhibitions featuring paintings from the ’80s, the art of Kara Walker and the work of artist-jewelers during the ’60s and ’70s. The Taft Museum of Art is currently in the midst of a massive infrastructure project that will update and preserve the historic building, but visitors can still see the museum’s collection as part of the “In a New Light” exhibition. And while the Cincinnati Museum Center may be the home of the Duke Energy Holiday Trains, families can explore the recently reopened Ice Age Gallery in the Museum of Natural Science and History.