Ashley Lokey, Author at Life with the Lokeys

Ashley Lokey January 7, 2022

The Best Christmas Markets in Alsace: A Magical Fairytale Bucket List

Christmas in the Alsace region of France is like a Christmas fairytale come true. It feels like you just stepped foot into your favorite Christmas storybook. There is nothing more magical than visiting the Christmas markets in Alsace.

Ever since we moved to Germany, I have been looking forward to visiting the Alsace region at Christmas. It is magical any time of the year, but it is even more enchanting at Christmas. With its twinkling lights, smell of hot mulled wine, and wooden chalets, it really is a Christmas fairytale. Set in some of the regions most picturesque towns and villages, visiting the Christmas markets in Alsace is a dream come true.

So settle in, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and read all about the best Christmas markets in Alsace!

What is the Alsace Region of France

Alsace is the Germanic region of France. It shares a border with Germany and Switzerland and the region’s culture is a unique mix of French, Swiss, and German influences. Alsace is well known for its wines, picturesque architecture, and Christmas markets.

It’s a wonderful place to visit anytime of the year. During the winter season, the Alsace is home to France’s largest and most famous Christmas Market. During the summer and fall seasons, tourists flock to the region to road trip along the famous Alsace Wine Route. We visited last summer and had the most magical time.

When to visit the Christmas markets in Alsace

The Alsace Christmas markets begin the last week in November and last until Christmas. The markets are open daily during the advent season. We went the first week they were open in December. I recommend going on a weekday and getting their early to avoid the crowds.

How to get to Alsace

We are lucky and live right across the border in Germany so we visit the Alsace region as much as possible. With its location bordering Germany and Switzerland, you could fly into these countries as well as France. It’s only a few hours from several major airports. I highly recommend renting a car to explore all the markets in the area. You could also take the train but would not have as much flexibility.

Where to stay when visiting the Christmas markets in Alsace

I would recommend staying in either Strasbourg or Colmar to visit all the Christmas markets in Alsace. The other markets are smaller and have less options. Staying overnight will allow you to visit the markets early in the morning without the crowds.

We stayed at the Hilton Strasbourg and it was the perfect location. There is even a tram that will take you directly to and from the market.

If you are looking for a cute boutique hotel, Hotel St. Martin in Colmar is perfect. It’s in the perfect location to visit all the markets.

Strasbourg

Known as “Capitale de Noel“, or the Capital of Christmas, The Strasbourg Christmas market is one of the best Christmas markets in Europe! It’s like stepping into a Christmas market dream! With the Strasbourg cathedral as the backdrop for the Christmas market, it’s like taking a step back in time. You will find yourself surrounded by lights and decorations everywhere you look. Strasbourg is also home to the tallest real decorated Christmas tree in Europe. It towers over 30 feet tall and is absolutely magical lit up at night!

Everywhere you look there are wooden chalets serving up traditional fare like sausages, roasted chestnuts, crepes, and mulled wine. We tried a little bit of everything! We loved the crepes and flammkucken. There are also stalls full of unique handmade crafts and foods for sale.

Strasbourg’s Christmas markets are sprinkled throughout the city and each one has something unique to offer. If you collect mugs, we found the cutest Strasbourg mug at the market in front of the Cathedral!

The Strasbourg Christmas market is open every day from the last week in November to Christmas. You can check their website here for all the market information.

Colmar

The fairytale village of Colmar is the most magical place at Christmas! It feels just like you stepped into a real life Hallmark movie. We visited this cute village last summer and could not wait to come back for Christmas. Just an hour from Strasbourg, you can easily visit both markets. The markets are spread throughout the city and each one has a unique atmosphere. The wooden stalls are filled with delicious food, hot mulled mine, and handmade crafts from local vendors. There is something for everyone. There are even Christmas themed rides for the children.

Little Venice or “La petite Venice” is the most picturesque part of town and a must see. With its gorgeous colorful timbered houses lined along the canal, it’s the most romantic place to take pictures and enjoy the beauty of Colmar at Christmas. It’s called Little Venice because of the canals that run through the town. You can have lunch or dinner at one of the cafes along the canal. There is even outside seating areas that are over the water that would make for a very romantic dinner.

The Colmar Christmas markets open the last week in November and stay open until Christmas. You can check out all the information and dates here.

Riquewhir

Not far from Colmar, is the quaint village of Riquewihr. As you approach the village, there are fields of wine vineyards in every direction. Riquehwhir is a much smaller market but is one of the most beautiful villages in all of France. With its beautiful decorations and twinkling lights, it’s definitely not to be missed. It’s also home to one of the few Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas stores. So grab a cup of hot mulled wine and explore this magical village with its cobble stone streets and beautiful half timbered houses.

The Riquewihr Christmas market opens the last week in November and stays open until Christmas. Find out more information here.

Ribeauville

Ribeauville is a true medieval Christmas market. This fairytale village comes to life with street entertainers, jugglers, stilt walkers, and more. It’s truly a magical experience. It’s only open 2 weekends during the advent season so be sure to check the dates before you arrive. It can get crowded with it only being open a few days during the holiday season so get there early. At night when the lights come on, the streets of Ribeauville turn into your very own fairytale.

The Ribeauville Christmas market in usually open the first 2 weekends in December. Check here for more information.

Thank you for joining me on this magical Christmas market journey through the Alsace region of France! I hope that one day you are able to see it all for yourself. Merry Christmas!!

Ashley Lokey July 27, 2020

The Ultimate Guide to the Fairytale Village of Colmar, France

When I first read about the fairytale village of Colmar, I knew I had to visit. As soon as the borders opened back up, we headed straight to Colmar. Located in the Alsace region along the border between France and Germany, Colmar is known for its colorful houses and the cutest Christmas market. Wandering the streets of Colmar is like stepping into a fairytale. It is said that it was the inspiration for Beauty and the Beast, and there is even a fountain that looks like the one in the movie. We only spent a day in Colmar, but we plan to spend more time at Christmas when the market is open. Colmar can become very touristy so I recommend getting there as early as possible or staying the night so you can enjoy the village without the crowds. We were lucky and it was not crowded the day we went.

Explore Old Town

Wandering around Old Town is my favorite thing to do. This gorgeous timbered house is one of the most famous spots in Colmar to take pictures. It is decorated for every season. During Christmas, this area of Colmar turns into a holiday wonderland. I can’t wait to come back and see all the beautiful decorations. Old Town is the most charming part of Colmar with its colorful buildings, flowers on every window, and cute cafes.

Where to Eat

There are so many cafes to choose from, but we decided to eat at Brasserie des Tanneurs. We had the most delicious lunch sitting outside this cute little cafe. We tried our first Flammkuchen. It’s a thin pizza with cream sauce instead of tomato sauce. It was so good! You can also try some of the famous wines from the Alsace region.

Explore Little Venice

Little Venice or “La petite Venice” is the most picturesque part of town. With its gorgeous colorful timbered houses lined along the canal, it is the most romantic place to take pictures and enjoy the beauty of Colmar. It is called Little Venice because of the canals that run through the town. You can have lunch or dinner at one of the cafes along the canal. There is even outside seating areas that are over the water that would make for a very romantic dinner. You can also take a boat ride through the canals and take in the best views of the village from the water.

Take a Picture in Front of Colmar’s Fountain:

It is believed that Colmar was one of the cute French villages that inspired the movie “Beauty and the Beast.” This fountain surrounded by all the colorful timbered houses looks a lot like the one in the movie. So I just had to stop and take a few pictures in front of it.

Where to Stay in Colmar

There are so many cute places to stay in Colmar. We did not stay the night, but we were looking for the perfect place to stay when we come back for Christmas. We decided to book our stay at the Hotel Saint-Martin. It is situated in the heart of Old Town and makes for the perfect place to explore the village during the Christmas market. It’s a historic mansion house that dates back to 1361, which has conserved its authentic charm and character.

Another great place to stay is Hotel Le Colombier. It’s located in the historic centre of Colmar, in the ‘Little Venice’ district. It also makes for the perfect place to explore the village of Colmar.

La Maison des Têtes is the only 5 star hotel in Colmar. It embodies the simple elegance of stately mansion homes that over the centuries refined the art of hosting. It showcases its cultural heritage through its gorgeous hotel and delicious restaurant.

Visit The Audie Murphy Memorial

So this is not directly in Colmar, but it is about 15 minutes outside the city. This was another place that was at the top of our list to visit once we moved to Germany. Brandon’s grandfather was married to Nadine, Audie Murphy’s sister, so we have heard lots of stories about him growing up. Nadine always loved it when Brandon would join in the celebration on Audie Murphy Day in Farmersville, Texas. Audie Murphy was one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War II. We visited the exact spot where he at the age of 19 single-handedly held off an entire company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in January 1945. He then lead a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery.

Colmar truly is a magical fairytale village not to be missed. If you want to feel like you just stepped foot into a Disney movie, I highly recommend this cute village. We can’t wait to go back this winter for the Christmas market!

Ashley Lokey December 29, 2019

Cheers to New Beginnings: Happy New Year from Okinawa!

Happy New Year! I can’t believe 2019 has already come and gone. I hope each of you had a great year filled with sweet memories, wonderful days, and memorable nights, and I hope that 2020 is your best year yet!

The new year brings lots of new beginnings for us! Brandon has been deployed and finally got home a few days ago! We are so excited and thankful that he is home! We have missed him so much, but we are so thankful my Dad was able to come and visit us while he was gone.

We also have some more exciting news! We finally have PCS orders to move! I know everyone was waiting to hear last year where we would be going next, but we decided to stay one more year in Okinawa! We were surprised with orders to Germany! We are so excited about all the new adventures that are ahead of us this year! We leave in February so I have been keeping it a little bit of a secret.

This has been such a great year for us! We loved going to Korea to see all the beautiful cherry blossoms, and finally making it back home to Texas after being gone for three years! We hope to be home again this summer after we are all settled in Germany!

Here are some of my life lessons from 2019!

Life with kids goes by so fast! Enjoy every minute! I have really noticed that this year as my boys are becoming less dependent on me. I still have Colt and I find myself holding on to every bit of the child in him.
Be prepared to modify your plans! Last year, we couldn’t wait to find out where we would move to next. We even began to prepare for the move and sold one of our cars. However, we found out we were staying and decided to make the most of our last year here and move off base. That has been an amazing experience…we will miss waking up to the Pacific ocean every morning! And then being surprised with early orders to Germany while Brandon was deployed! It’s been quite a year for a change of plans!
Be Kind…for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about! My grandmother used to tell me to never judge someone unless you have walked a day in their shoes. You just never know what someone is going through. If you choose to be kind that is the greatest gift you can give someone!
Sometimes you can’t do it all…Ask for help! This is a big one for me. I think a lot of military spouses feel this way. We have been through so many deployments and get used to doing everything ourselves. I have learned this year that sometimes you just need to ask for help and thats ok!
Experiences are so much greater than things! We have definitely learned that from living overseas and taking so many adventures. we are making so many memories with our boys that mean so much more to them than something we buy for them. You don’t have to take a big fancy vacation…just find something to explore near you and go!
Be kind to yourself and give yourself grace! Take time for yourself. If the kids watch a little too much Tv thats ok. Don’t be so hard on yourself for trying to be the perfect mother. No one is perfect!
Option B: If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend it. If your option A does not work out as planned…you have to make the most out of Option B. Because we can’t control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to it! I also highly recommend the book The Knock at the Door. Everyone at some point in their lives gets a knock at the door they were not expecting. It’s a great book on overcoming grief and how to get through things that happen in life that we were not expecting.
Life is precious: Be sure to tell your friends and family how much they mean to you every chance you get!

Finally, I want to leave you with the same quote I do every year because its my all time favorite. It’s from the movie Hope Floats! “Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s the middle that counts the most…try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up…and it will.”

So as we welcome 2020…make the middle count! I love y’all and I am so thankful for you! XOXO

Ashley Lokey October 8, 2019

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: The Fleet Gift Shop Holiday Opening

Last night I had the most amazing opportunity to meet with fellow blogger friends and get a sneak peek at The Fleet Gift Shop’s holiday opening! Shopping at the gift shops on Okinawa are one of my most favorite things to do. If you are new to the island, grab a friend and head to the holiday opening today from 10:00-6:00 on Camp Shields. The gift shop buyers go to Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, the Philippines, India, and Japan and bring back beautiful pieces to decorate your home with. This opening has some of the most beautiful pieces for your home this holiday. One of my favorite memories of living in Okinawa is going to a holiday opening with one of my best friends and next door neighbor here in Okinawa. Erica and I came home with lots of new stuff to decorate our homes for Christmas. Just as we pulled in, our husbands had come home for lunch. They just watched as we both carried in all our bags and shook their heads. It was such a fun day!

The Fleet Gift Shop holiday store is the perfect place to find decorations for your home and cute holiday gifts. So grab your best friend and head to the Fleet Gift Shop and then go have lunch at one of the cute cafes here on Okinawa! Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!!

Ashley Lokey September 1, 2019

My New Favorite Swimsuits for your next vacation

After living on a tropical island for the last three years, I am always looking for cute new swimsuits. I’m a mother of four boys so they have to hide everything and still look cute and be comfortable. So this post is dedicated to all my fellow mama’s who are rockin’ one-piece swimsuits along with me this summer! I am SO thankful that the one-piece swimsuit and high waisted two piece suits are in style and there are so many stylish, fun, and flattering versions out this summer! I also don’t like to spend a ton of money on a swimsuit because they will be in the sun and salty water a lot.

A few years ago, I came across the cutest pink swimsuit. I just had to have it, but when I found out it was almost $500 I just couldn’t spend that kind of money on a swimsuit. About a month ago, I found almost the exact same suit on amazon. I couldn’t believe it! Although this one is still a little more than I would like to spend I knew from the designer’s name that it would be a high quality suit that I could wear for a long time. After I received it in the mail, I was absolutely right. The material is amazing and very high quality. The little details on the suit are so cute like the ruffle on the sleeve. This suit also comes in black, which I might also have to get!

I also found the cutest high waisted two piece swimsuit that would be perfect for your next vacation. It is so cute and comfortable and comes in lots of different colors and patterns. The best part is that it is only $25 on amazon. I decided on the white because I thought it would be perfect against the turquoise water in Okinawa. I love the cute tassel detail on the front, and the material is very high quality.

I also love Albion Fit swimsuits. They are a little more expensive, but the fit and quality are worth it. My red swimsuit with the bow back is sold out from a few years ago, but I still wear it all the time. Their suits are so comfortable and perfect for every body type.

I have been asked a lot where I find all my cute swimsuits so I hope this helps the next time you are looking for your next swimsuit!