When your inner daredevil isn't quite up to jumping from an airplane, why not try indoor sky diving? Step into a vertical wind tunnel where a powerful fan whooshes air at 160 mph, lifting you off your feet. An instructor hovers (literally) nearby throughout your first flight. Beginner packages range from $40 to $70.
You bet it's kitschy. And what's wrong with that? The faux-Danish village of Solvang, California located 35 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, is a blast to visit, especially at Christmas. The town makes merry with pagents, parades, caroling, and the construction of an 8-by-11-foot gingerbread house - using 250 pounds of cookie dough, which is displayed at the Royal Scandinavian Inn. Don't leave town without breakfasting on aebleskiver, the spherical Nordic answer to pancakes.
