Kiddin' Around: A Brandywine Christmas

The long: Trees, trains and dolls are old-fashioned traditions of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art that linger through the winter break.

The short: This oughta top your vacation week to-do list.

The demo: Christmas fans, nature lovers, train fanatics, doll aficionados, and kids who can't imagine life before screen time.

The trees: The three-story atrium boasts a bevy of lovely firs, each adorned with handmade, nature-derived critter ornaments on a different theme. We love: The sports tree - surfers, snowboarders and skiers.

The trains: O-gauge, 1,000 pieces along 2,000 feet of track, overseen by three friendly train masters.

The dolls: Antique lovelies posed in a sledding party at N.C. Wyeth's home.

When to go: Morning is busier. Late afternoon is quieter. Museum hours are extended to 6 p.m. all this week.

The basics: Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art, 1 Hoffman's Mill Road, Chadds Ford, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. through Jan. 3, 610-388-2700, $15 adults, $10 seniors, $6 students, free under 6, brandywine.org.

Lauren McCutcheon is a writer, parent and lifelong fan of Brandywine's critters.