HOLIDAY TRAVEL Decorated For The Season

(NAPSI)-During the holidays, the historic sites, villages, inns and malls in Valley Forge and Montgomery County dress up in their seasonal best. Tours and open houses offer a nostalgic look back at holidays past. Pottsgrove Manor, once the summer home of ironmaster John Potts in Pottstown, showcases the elegance of a traditional 18th century English Christmas from November 21 to January 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for "Twelfth Night Tours." The early Colonial mansion is adorned with greenery, decorations and foods reminiscent of the era and holds a Colonial Candlelight Open House. The former home of Pennsylvania Governor Samuel Pennypacker, Pennypacker Mills in Schwenksville, will be wrapped in grand Victorian holiday style from November 24 to January 3. Swirls of ribbons, candles, wreaths and greens fill this three-story Colonial Revival mansion. During the site's Victorian Christmas Open House on December 12, costumed historians as well as Santa and Mrs. Claus greet guests, who also witness candy making from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hope Lodge, in Ft. Washington, showcases two historic time periods side by side. Some of its rooms are furnished in the Colonial style (1743-1770) and others are shown in the Colonial Revival style (1922-1953). On December 12 and 13, the mansion is trimmed with trees, lights and more to celebrate the winter holidays. Thirty-five themed Christmas trees, including one suspended from the ceiling; a multitude of Santa Clauses of many eras; and an extensive Christmas village decorate the seven-room Shearer Elegance Bed & Breakfast in Linfield. At John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Audubon, the first home of this French-born artist/naturalist, the outdoors is brought inside. On December 6 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a Holiday Open House, the museum's halls will be festooned with natural decorations and whimsical critters made of the teasel plant. Natural materials are also the focus at Morris Arboretum's special Holiday Garden Railway Display, which runs from November 27 to January 3. Bark, twigs, hollow logs, moss, acorns, dried flowers, seeds and stones form a miniature landscape with buildings, loops, tunnels and even rivers. On December 12, downtown Narberth, one of Montgomery County's quaint Main Streets, is transformed into Old London Towne with hot cider, holiday music and "A Christmas Carol" characters for the Dickens Festival. Whether it's wreaths of green or handblown glass ornaments, the array of holiday displays in Valley Forge and Montgomery County are dressed up to dazzle and amaze. For more information, visit www.valleyforge.org. Courtesy of Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau

Valley Forge offers many delights during the holiday season. Word Count: 437 Copy/Paste HTML Article