EVERYONE has been telling me that I have to go see Bruce Munro's Light installation at the Hermitage Museum and Gardens, and finally, the day after Thanksgiving, we listened and went.

Light is magical -- there's no other word for it. A field of floating colored globes takes up a huge field in front of the Arts and Crafts mansion, spreading out like wildflowers, the lights changing hues slowly from green to orange to purple. A ring of neon towers shine from between the trees like standing stones from another world. Inside the Hermitage, delicate teardrops hang from the intricate ceilings, casting swaying shadows on the paneled wood. Reading about artist Munro's vision for each piece, and how he and his team brought it about, was a treat, a full look inside a concept from beginning to end.

Anouk and her friend T. loved it. Even though they were bundled up in their strollers against the cold with coats and hats and blankets, they took in everything. We all especially enjoyed getting to roam the Hermitage at night -- to see it lit up so dimly was kind of spookily awesome.  The exhibition was tailored specifically for the Hermitage to highlight its spaces and gardens, and the moving, living lights made us notice details that we hadn't really seen before. (We adults were also big fans of the bar set up on the edge of the property -- festive hot toddys FTW!)

Admission was steep -- $15 per adult and $12 per child under 6, but worth it. The Hermitage is a special place at any time of year, but with the ethereal lights everywhere, it was even more so. We highly recommend a visit before Jan. 10 -- the day when Light leaves! It's the perfect way to celebrate a season marked by darkness and experience a new way of seeing an old familiar favorite place.

Last Saturday evening, we went to Hunt Club's Winter Wonderland with our friends and their two boys and had a (wait for it) wonderful time! We'd been to Hunt Club at Halloween, but it looked totally different tricked out for Christmas. Lights were all over everything, and the long barn had been outfitted into a replica of the North Pole, with scenes from Santa's woodshop and little woodland creatures peeping out from under decorated trees. Little J. was enthralled by all of it but Anne seemed to find a lot of the animatronic animals and elves a little creepy. "I don't want that near me, I'm scared of it," she said several times but then again, she wouldn't let us take her out of the barn either.

She perked up when we went back out into the barnyard. We strolled through them to the other side of the farm, stopping to pet a few friendly goats and donkeys and to take a turn through a maze picked out in red and white lights. On the far field, next to the Christmas-tree lot, there were a few bonfires set up (with s'mores kits for purchase) and so we stopped for a while to warm ourselves by them and to watch the nearby light show, with dozens of lighted plastic figures that blinked in time with the Christmas carols playing. It was like the tackiest, most overdone yard in your neighborhood times eleven (which is to say it was awesome).







Overall, despite a few bumps that mostly came from pushing the outing a little too close to bedtime, we had a great experience. Pros: you get a lot of holiday bang for your buck (admission is $7 a person, 2 and under free), there is so much to do and see. Cons: It was extremely muddy (bring your wellies) and thus not very stroller friendly (bring your babywraps). But if you're looking for pure Christmas cheer and don't mind a little cold and wet,
Hunt Club is the spot.