As holidays wrap up, take a minute to reflect, plan for next year

        Phew! We made it through another holiday season. Hope it was a great one for you and yours.
        As the holidays wrap up, it’s a good time to reflect and take note of what worked and what might have been; maybe there’s something really special that you could include in next holiday celebrations.
        Think about things you would have loved to have done if only you’d planned for them sooner. Much sooner. Like weeks or even months in advance. Maybe there are milestones that happen over the holidays that tend to get lost in the hustle and bustle.
        Birthdays are like that in our family. We have nearly a dozen family birthdays that scream for at least some attention. Sometimes last-minute planning works, sometimes it takes some attention well in advance.
        Many venues accept reservations well in advance so it’s not too early to make basic plans for next November and December. Ohio State Park Resorts and Conference Centers, for example, are already welcoming reservations.           Then again, why wait? Right now it seems very inviting to take a deep breath, kick back and enjoy a no-pressure stay in a lodge or cabin at a beautiful state park. Ohio has 10 resort lodges, all nice getaways and all offering cabins as well as lodge rooms. You need to look no further than Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon for a close-to-home getaway, or pack the car and head for the newest Ohio state park lodge in Hocking Hills. Many other state parks that don’t have lodges still offer cabins. Lake Hope State Park, for example, has wonderful ridge-top cabins complete with massive stone woodburning fireplaces.
        But that’s beside the point.
        If there’s something special you’d like to do over the holidays, remember many other people are thinking the same thing. Wait until the last minute and there’s a good chance you’ll be shut out or be forced to settle for less than ideal.                Looking for a romantic getaway at a bed and breakfast? B&BS are great venues for many reasons and attract couples looking for the good company of others over the holidays. A great target would be the Welsh Hills Inn, a wonderful mid-Ohio inn that’s even more delightful when it’s decorated for the holidays. Located in the Welsh Hills near Granville, east of Columbus, hosts Jeff and Bobbi Noe and their beautiful venue combine to make Welsh Hills Inn Trip Advisor’s top-rated B&B in the nation.
        Consider that top rating and the fact that the cozy inn has three guest rooms and two suites and imagine the competition for those overnight accommodations over the holidays. Plan ahead if you want to be rewarded with a room.
        And then there are very popular holiday events with limited availability.
        Take the North Pole Express out of Owosso Michigan, for example. This Polar Express-themed venue features two-and-a-half hours of time on a train pulled by a steam locomotive, and two hours in a destination Christmas village. It’s not just any steam locomotive, it’s the very engine that inspired the enormously popular “Polar Express” children’s book and movie. Even though there are a number of excursions offered, those who don’t call for tickets early will be left out of the cold.
        Ticket availability for 2024 hasn’t been announced yet, but for 2023 the first sale date was July 25. Yep, it’s early in the year, but they go fast.