Kansas City knows how to do the holiday season! Just in a brief drive through the Country Club Plaza lights and down Ward Parkway through the neighborhoods between 51st and 75th Streets, there is so much magic.
Everyone who celebrates the holidays here does it a little differently. Each family has their own traditions they maintain year after year, and as families grown and change through adult children getting married and having their own kids, traditions evolve, and new ones begin.
We want to hear how your family spends your holidays! DM @citylifestyle on Instagram and share your stories with us. And if you're looking for some new traditions to start, here are some of my favorites that my family does.
Driving Through the Christmas Lights
You have to go see the lights every year! When I was a kid, my family always piled in the car with snacks and hot chocolate and went from one neighborhood to the next, finding the best houses and trying to guess how long it took them to decorate. It's a great way to get the whole family talking to each other. Leave the technology at home and enjoy and old-fashioned drive just looking out the window. Kansas City is so beautiful this time of year!
Family Fitness Classes
I know, I know. The holidays are for eating a ton of delicious food, watching movies and hibernating. Who wants to get up and go work out on your days off? But, here me out. Working out as a family can be so fun, especially if you try something new for everyone and give yourselves permission to laugh and not worry about being great at it.
I love taking my family to classes at Power Life. They offer a free week to all new students, so you can try as many different classes as you'd like within the seven days. A great place to start for someone new to yoga is a Power 1 class. You'll get an overview of all of the basics, and it's low heat. You get a free mat rental at your first class too.
If you have a super active family like I do, you can challenge them with a class like Power Sculpt, F.I.T. or Power Barre. Those use basic yoga postures and add in weights and cardio with high-energy music.
Make sure you check the schedule online as some classes are cancelled during the holidays. There are four studio locations—South Plaza, Corinth Square (Prairie Village), Town Center Plaza (Overland Park) and Two Light (Downtown Kansas City). You don't have to register in advance; just give yourself a few minutes before class starts to sign up when you get there.
You'll find me on the schedule as Hayley H. I'm teaching Power Barre the mornings of Dec. 28 and 29. I'd love to see you there with your family!
Cinnamon Roll Breakfast
OK, now back to food and hibernating. My family has cinnamon rolls every Christmas morning, whether we buy them from a bakery or make them at home. My absolute favorite cinnamon rolls are from Rye, but if you prefer homemade and want to make your own, this recipe by Kate Riffe is incredible.
Movies + PJs
After we eat our cinnamon rolls and open presents, we curl up on the couch in Christmas pajamas and watch movies. My favorites are Christmas with the Kranks, White Christmas, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Four Christmases, and Jingle all the Way.
For matching pajamas that are only $10-$15 each, check out Target while they're still in stock. And make sure you tag us in your Instagram pictures and tell us which Christmas movies are on your must-watch list each year!
Follow Hayley Hyer @hayhyer