If you’ve ever wondered what kind of kitchen magic one could make with 70 pounds of gingerbread, hundreds of pounds of sugar, 60 pounds of flour, more candy than you could possibly carry and, oh, somewhere around 400 hours of work, an answer comes in the form of the 12-foot holiday sugar castle now being constructed at the Westin St. Francis by the San Francisco hotel’s pastry chef Jean-Francois Houdre.

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If you’re going to be in or around Washington, DC on Dec. 3, you’ll be in our nation’s capital for one of the most longstanding free, public holiday events out there: the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. To attend the event, during which President Obama will speak, you’ll need a ticket. Here’s how to get one.

First, you’ll need a little luck on your side, as tickets are available to the general public only through a lottery system. But there are, thankfully, quite a few to be had. The National Park Service and National Park Foundation will award 2,800 seated tickets and 7,000 standing-room-only tickets to those who enter the lottery by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 6. Read more »

The saying ''skis, boots, polls, hats, goggles, gloves'' helps skiers assure they have packed everything needed for a day on the mountain. We are here to remind you that pre-season planning can save you bundles on lift tickets, flights, and hotel reservations (view ski deals). Start planning your vacation to that winter wonderland now, as top ski resorts are starting to open at the end of November.

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