The holiday scene is captured on November 30, 2010, at Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey, Calif.
Thankfully, there are destinations where the holidays are more than 10-foot candy canes, a tsunami of twinkle lights and an animatronic statue of Santa bringing a gift to the Baby Jesus.
Monterey has long been one of those places, where the holiday traditions are a rich blend of community, culture and local history - with a refreshingly subdued dollop of seasonal commercialism thrown in.
In California's first capital, visitors can augment annual traditions with events that aren't easy to find back home. Mix art and history with a seaside weekend, sprinkle with sea otter sightings, and you've created a new holiday custom for the entire family.
The best-known traditions of the area revolve around the adobes in Old Monterey that date from the time the town was the regional capital under Spanish, Mexican and, eventually, U.S. rule.
The original adobes and colorful gardens from the Spanish and Mexican eras are scattered amid more modern buildings in Monterey's historic district. It's often easy to miss them on the 2-mile "Path of History" walk, marked by yellow tiles set into the sidewalk. But two nights of the year, these buildings come alive with luminarias and period-attired characters during the annual Christmas in the Adobes celebration.
This year marks the event's 26th anniversary, and includes 22 buildings dating from 1770 to 1876. Among them are two structures that figure prominently in California's history: The Custom House is the oldest government building in the state, and Colton Hall was the site of California's Constitutional Convention in 1849.
One of the most popular adobes, Casa Soberanes, features holiday traditions of Mexican-era California, with harp music and Mexican aguas frescas. As you walk up the candlelit mosaic-tiled steps from the blue gate at street level and pass through the garden lined with abalone shells, the sounds of traffic from the street below quickly fade away. Inside, the thick adobe walls help keep the room warm, and scents of fresh greenery and spicy hot chocolate make you want to linger.
But more adobes beckon, notably the House of Four Winds, which showcases dances from early California, and the Cooper-Molera Adobe, with its lavish Victorian Christmas decor. Entertainment for kids and interactive displays are featured throughout the adobes. The proceeds from "Christmas in the Adobes" fund year-round children's educational programs presented by the Monterey Historical State Park.
Another way to celebrate the season of giving (or getting, as the case may be) is to stop by the Monterey Museum of Art for its 41st annual "Miniatures" exhibition. More than 300 tiny works of art by California artists are included - from paintings to photography to sculpture. You can try for a chance to win a small masterpiece by purchasing raffle tickets and stuffing the voting box of your favorite piece. The miniatures exhibition runs through Jan. 2, so there's plenty of time to win that holiday gift and tour the museum's permanent collection as well.
New Year's Eve celebrations in Monterey aren't limited to the 21-and-older crowd. The Monterey Bay Aquarium hosts a sleepover on Dec. 31 for adults and children 5 and older. The event offers a great opportunity to explore the aquarium without the usual crowds. Sleepover guests are promised some peeks behind the scenes, and there's a nature film screening for night owls in the group.
All ages are welcome at another seasonal celebration, First Night Monterey on New Year's Eve. A colossal celebration of the arts, the family-friendly event in historic Monterey features more than 20 performance sites. First Night kicks off in the afternoon with kids' activities, including games, drumming and face painting.
Later in the evening, live music, ranging from classical to salsa to hip-hop, gets added to the kaleidoscope of activities. Music lovers should take time out to wander the grand open spaces of Colton Lawn and the Custom House Plaza, watching the party from a distance. Even if you've snacked at the countless food booths, you might want to walk the few steps to Fisherman's Wharf, get a soft-serve ice cream and listen to the barking sea lions before returning to the concert scene to check out the dance band in the Serra Ballroom.
The grand finale takes place at the Golden State Theatre, a historic building dating from 1926. Once the largest theater between San Francisco and Los Angeles, its Moorish opulence and Wurlitzer pipe organ have been restored, making it an impressive performing arts space once again.
Hotel Pacific: 300 Pacific St.; (831) 373-5700; www.hotelpacific.com. Boutique hotel with luxury all-suite accommodations. Conveniently located steps from Monterey's historic adobes and Fisherman's Wharf. Rooms start at $127.
Casa Munras: 700 Munras Ave.; (831) 375-2411; www.hotelcasamunras.com. This hacienda-inspired hotel in the heart of old-town Monterey includes a spa and Spanish restaurant. Rooms start at $133.
Stokes Restaurant & Bar: 500 Hartnell St.; (831) 373-1110; www.stokesrestaurant.com. In a historic adobe building, this restaurant features rustic Mediterranean cuisine using regional produce. It's the perfect spot for a hearty winter dinner after touring the adobes.
Turtle Bay Taqueria: 431 Tyler St.; (831) 333-1500; www.turtlebay.tv. Savory taco bar with coastal cuisine from Mexico and Belize. Tacos are made fresh while you watch.
Christmas in the Adobes: 5 to 9 p.m. Thurs. and Sat.; www.parks.ca.gov/mshp. Tour Monterey's historic buildings and gardens illuminated by candlelight, featuring period decorations, costumed volunteers and tasty treats. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $2 for children 6 to 17, free for children under 6. Call (831) 649-7120 for tickets.
Miniatures Exhibition at the Monterey Museum of Art: 559 Pacific St.; (831) 372-5477; www.montereyart.org. Through Jan. 3. More than 300 miniature works by California artists are on display. Admission is $5 for adults, $2.50 for students and military, free for children 12 and under. Purchase raffle tickets for $5 each, or $30 for a book of seven, for a chance to win a small masterpiece.
First Night Monterey: 3 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31; (831) 373-4778; www.firstnightmonterey.org. This family-friendly community celebration of the arts features more than 20 performance sites and a grand New Year finale on the Custom House Plaza. Admission button prices are $10 to $25 (youth and adults, depending on date purchased); children under 6 free.
Monterey Bay Aquarium: 886 Cannery Row (831) 648-4800; www.montereybayaquarium.org. At the New Year's Eve Family Event & Sleepover, 7 p.m.-8:30 a.m. Dec. 31. Adults and children 5 and older are invited to celebrate the new year with behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, an apple cider toast to the East Coast at 9 p.m. and a late-night nature movie. Admission $95 general, $75 for museum members. 886 Cannery Row (831) 648-4800; www.montereybayaquarium.org.