Downtown Seattle Sheraton gingerbread displays
In the lobby you’ll find some seriously stunning gingerbread structures, on view 24/7 through Jan. 3. Star Wars is the theme this year — fingers crossed for an edible Ewok Village!
gingerbreadvillage.myevent.com
Go look at lit-up houses
Need a bedtime-cooperation carrot to dangle? Hop in the car and roll by the adorable homes on Candy Cane Lane (NE Park Road at 21st Avenue NE in Ravenna). The Olympic Manor neighborhood near Ballard is another great choice. Start at NW 85th Street and 23rd Avenue NW.
Winterfest at Seattle Center
Seattle Center's monthlong winter-centric holiday event features amazing ice sculpting, incredible music performances and, perhaps coolest of all, ice skating! Skates will run you $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 – 12, $2 children ages 5 and under.
Two awesome train layouts
Swansons Nursery near Ballard has a cool new layout each year, plus a live camel and reindeer to visit. And the layout at Seattle Center’s Armory takes up roughly a quarter of the floor space!
swansonsnursery.com, seattlecenter.com
Christmas Ships
The Argosy Christmas Ship and its flotilla of festively lit boats drops anchor at area beaches almost nightly to serenade the shore with carols. Bring cocoa and bundle up for a merry, maritime holiday experience.