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Home for the Holidays
Looking
to do something different this winter? From boat cruises to
big-city tours, here are a few out-of-the-ordinary ways to
ring in the New Year.
By
Diane Bair and
Pamela Wright
You could
sit on the couch and watch the ball drop on TV, but is that
any way to begin the New Year? Nah! Kick up your heels and
make this New Year's Eve a real event at the'se great locales.
Even Dick Clark would approve!
Festive
in Philly
Yes, it's New Year's Eve, but the always-fun city
of Philadelphia has another reason to celebrate this year:
It's Ben Franklin's 300th birthday on January 17, and the
birthday bash has already begun. Catch the citywide festivities,
including the Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World
exhibition at the National Constitution Center, with never-before-seen
artifacts and family-friendly, hands-on exhibits. Bundle up
and take a horse-drawn carriage ride down historic streets
decked in holiday finery as you pass by some of Franklin's
famous haunts, or follow in his footsteps on a special walking
tour. Don't leave town without a visit to Shane Handcrafted
Candies on Market Street, the oldest candy store in America,
where you'll find cases filled with holiday caramels and chocolate
medallions embossed with Franklin's visage.
Light
Up the Night in Branson
Branson, the down-home
country town known for its wholesome G-rated entertainment,
really knows how to dress up for the holidays -- this Ozark
Mountains city sparkles with more than 10 million holiday
lights. Take a drive on the two-mile Festival of Lights Parkway
to see nearly every rooftop, steeple, bridge and building
decorated with larger-than-life holiday displays. At the popular
Silver Dollar City theme park, a towering five-story tree,
adorned with more than 250,000 lights, flickers to the beat
of holiday songs. The park also features an evening light
parade with musical floats. Of course, you'll also want to
take in a show or two. Branson boasts 49 live-performance
theaters, many offering special holiday productions. It's
no surprise that USA Today and the A&E Network named Branson
one of the top 10 places in the country to spend the holidays.
Cool
Cruising
How's this for a New Year's Day to-do list? Swim in a warm
aqua sea, pet a dolphin, relax in the sun. A hit of toasty
weather on a three- or four-day quickie cruise may be just
the thing to get you and yours through the long winter. For
tropical climes, crystal waters and gala New Year's Eve bashes
under the stars, consider cruises such as Carnival
Cruise's Fascination, sailing out of Miami to the Bahamas,
and Royal Caribbean's
Monarch of the Seas, sailing from Los Angeles to Baja, Mexico.
Both sail from December 30 to January 2.
Park
City's Winter Wonderland
If your idea of the perfect getaway includes sweeping vistas
of snow-capped mountains, cozy dinners by a roaring fireplace
and oodles of outdoor fun, head to Park
City, Utah. This historic silver-mining town, nestled
at the foot of the towering Wasatch Mountains, exudes holiday
charm. Snow-flecked wreaths and twinkling lights decorate
the Victorian-era shops, galleries and eateries lining Main
Street. Yes, there's world-class skiing at your doorstep --
free shuttles run from the Park City Mountain Resort, Deer
Valley and The Canyons. But you'll also find moonlit snowshoe
walks, sleigh rides through the backcountry woods, wildlife-watching
excursions and much, much more. Elaborate holiday fireworks
displays light up the surrounding mountain peaks, and there's
always the popular New Year's Eve torchlight parade at nearby
Deer Valley Resort.
Get
the Advantage with MetLife Auto & Home
MetLife Auto & Home customer Richard Mills of Coeur d'Alene,
Idaho, asked us, "Is there a way an insured can make himself
or herself aware of the credits MetLife Auto & Home may allow?"
Good news, Richard! MetLife Auto & Home's "Home Insurance
Discount Guide" outlines insurance discounts for certain safety
and security equipment in your home, such as a monitored alarm
system. Request your free copy online.
With our Auto Policy Plus program, you also may qualify for
discounts on life insurance policies when you also purchase
an auto policy. Call your agent or representative for details.
Bye-bye,
Burglars
Make your house less inviting to thieves while you're away
by having your mail and newspaper delivery stopped temporarily
and hooking up an automatic timer to a radio, so the sound
of voices can be heard outside. Also, don't change the outgoing
message on your answering machine to announce that you've
left town. For more great safety ideas, read "About
Keeping Your Home Safe." It's part of MetLife's award-winning
Life Advice series.
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