I'm planning a 'girl trip:' my mother, my daughter and myself starting Dec 27 for the weekend while husband and son are 'male bonding' with a duck hunting trip. We will start with a stop in Lancaster, PA to see the theatre production "Miracle of Christmas" at the Sight and Sound Theatre. We have been to Lancaster before so we know about the shopping and Amish sites. I am seeking recommendations for lodging there for one night and suggestions for other 'girl' things to do in that area of the country on a three day trip around Christmas time.

Questions:

Is there anything touristy in Bethlehem, PA that time of the year? Please (if you know) make lodging recommendations.

What about Cape May, including lodging (reasonably priced please)?

What can you suggest to make this a fun Christmassy weekend for the three of us? My daughter particularly needs a break from work stresses and my mother and I just need to get out of the house!

(Almost forgot...whatever we do cannot include a lot of walking as my mother is slightly handicapped.)

ttt

Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA (in the Brandywine Valley near Wimington, Delaware)

Polly, Bethlehem is known as the Christmas City! There will be many Christmas oriented things to do in Bethlehem at that time of year, and what's more, they are actually related to the religious holiday of CHRISTMAS and not just consumerism. The Putz is one of the most elaborate manger seasons in the world. There should be classical music concerts about that time, too (mostly chamber music).
Please go to
http://www.lehighvalleypa.org/about/press/120800.html
for a history of the Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem and a detailed list of things to do, places to stay, etc.

Longwood Gardens is a Christmas delight both outdoors and in the glass house (conservatory).

http://www.longwoodgardens.org/SeasonalFestivals/2002Christmas.htm

Their main page (www.longwood gardens.org) provides links to other info, including the availability of wheelchairs for use on the grounds.

Longwood is a very popular site during the holidays. We try to arrive as early in the day as possible in hopes of avoiding some of the crowds. The drawback with that planning, of course, is that we miss the hundreds of thousands of lights on the trees outdoors.

Two other Brandywine Valley places of interest that have special Christmas displays are Winterthur and the Brandywine River Museum.

(BTilke, it seems we ought to make plans for Bethlehem PA in December in addition to our 'usuals.' Thanks for the suggestion!)