2011 Christmas Vacation, Day 2 (afternoon/evening): Centre Market, Good Zoo and Light Show

Our afternoon started with lunch at Wheeling's Centre Market. To get to the restaurant area, we passed through an exhibit of paintings, pottery and other artwork created by local artists. We decided to keep lunch simple, knowing that we were having another buffet supper.

Pictured: entrance to the Centre Market

Pictured: Wisconsin cheese soup, egg salad sandwich
After our bus tour of the city of Wheeling, we stopped at the Festival of Lights Christmas Shop, for yet another chance to buy holiday themed souvenirs. I had to resist the temptation to load up on new ornaments for my Christmas tree.

We also visited Good Zoo, a small zoo created by the Good family in honor of their son who died from leukemia. We were supposed to see a laser light show in the afternoon, but we had to come back later for it because it wasn't working. Instead, we saw the zoo's train display and visited with the zoo animals.

Pictured: Good Zoo photograph booth

Pictured: railroad display's steel mill
After finishing up at the zoo, we went back to the lodge for our supper. Once again, the food was very good, but there was way too much of it. The only regret I had after supper was having two desserts. One would have been enough.

Pictured: beef stew, squash, rice, pasta salad, vegetable lasagne

Pictured: pumpkin cake, key lime pie
Our evening ended with a trip back to Good Zoo to see the laser light show, followed by the famous Wheeling Winter Festival of Lights. The displays were very impressive. My personal favorite was the dinosaurs.

Pictured: dinosaur light display
It was a long day, but it was a lot of fun. Definitely worth the trip from eastern Pennsylvania to West Virginia to see the lights.