Those looking for anything to decorate or put under a Christmas tree, including the tree itself, should visit the newly renovated Holiday House at the Shell Factory & Nature Park in North Fort Myers.
It is a huge space of everything holiday, and Mrs. Claus is there many days to greet visitors and help with holiday selections.
There is a new main room in the spacious space, with thousands of twinkling holiday lights above and a working train that runs around the ceiling.
North Fort Myers resident and grandmother Angie Dalessandro said she and “Grandpa George” never miss a visit there, and recently brought grandchildren Victoria, 4, and George, 2, to pose at a picture spot with a Santa and Rudolf figure, next to a fireplace.
“We have been coming here for years,” Dalessandro said. “We always bring our guests here. It is beautiful.”
The shop features a wide range of traditional and Florida-oriented ornaments, and some unusual decorating ideas. There is the “Upside-down Tree,” a shell tree, pink and purple mixed-theme trees and more.
“It is one of the largest year-round holiday houses in the area, if not the state,” said senior retail buyer Kathy VanderJaqt. “We’ve also expanded our collections of Dept. 56, Fontanini, Charming Tales and Jim Shore Collectables.”
“All of our trees are theme-oriented there,” said marketing manager Donna Ellis. “Some have sea life, some have shells, some are traditional.”
She pointed out a Santa ride for children and the train that runs around the track of the ceiling.
“There are thousands of ornaments. They appeal to people of all ages,” Ellis said.
She also noted a special DVD area in the shop that looks like a 3-D peek into Santa’s workshop.
“That’s very popular, along with the picture spot in front of the fireplace with Santa and Rudolf,” Ellis said.
There are racks and racks of ornaments, collectibles, angel figures and more.
The shop also sells wrappings of all kinds, gingerbread houses, gift cards, stained glass, holiday napkins and table whatnots, wreaths and crystal.
“The Dept. 56 items have been very popular this year,” she said.
The Holiday House is located at the far north corner of the Shell Factory Shoppes, which are located at 2787 North Tamiami Trail.
For information, call 995-2141.