  Join the circus. Cirque du Soleil is coming to town Dec. 15 to Jan. 7. Get your seats now as artists from 16 countries will juggle and jump for “Corteo,” which debuted in Montreal in 2005. The storyline tracks a clown who watches his own funeral unfold in a parade-like procession. Observe carefully as “illusion teases reality.” Balancing on ladders and swinging from giant chandeliers, the performers will stun audiences beneath the blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau at Atlantic Station. Tickets are priced from $40 to $75. To order, call 800-678-5440 or visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/corteo.
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  Pack your bags. It may not be local, but it’s definitely a must. Plan a trip to the Smithsonian of the South — Raleigh, N.C. (see story on page 126) — and pencil in a visit to the “Monet in Normandy” exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Raleigh is one of only three U.S. cities honored with this once-in-a-lifetime retrospective of an artistic icon. On display through Jan. 14, the exhibit highlights many of Monet’s best-known masterpieces and features 50 paintings, including the celebrated water lilies. The city has gone all out, helping visitors turn their trip into a French experience complete with wine tastings, cooking and wine classes, shopping and special hotel offers. Bon Voyage! For more information, visit www.visitraleigh.com/monet.
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  Gobble down the turkey. Load up the car with groceries from the new Whole Foods Market on State Bridge Road in Duluth. This Thanksgiving promises to be a tasty tradition with an all-natural turkey and organic sides from the largest Whole Foods venue in the Southeast. Scott Crawford, prepared foods coordinator, has complete meals in store from the roasted turkey and gravy to the sweet potatoes and pecan pie. The chef-prepared packages are priced from $36.99 to $159.99 and feed anywhere from 2 to 12 people. And of course you can buy things like deviled eggs and cranberry relish separately. The new supermarket incorporates aspects of a restaurant and cooking school, plus features a juice bar, kabob station, seafood bar, chocolate island, tortilla machine and more. For details, call 678-514-2400 or visit www.wholefoods.com.
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  Drive through a wonderland. Lights. Santa. Action. Want to see someone’s face light up this holiday season? Steer through more than 6 miles of twinkling lights at the 14th annual Magical Nights of Lights celebration. This favorite pastime, held at Lake Lanier Islands Resort, is touted to be the world’s largest animated light extravaganza and is certainly a family tradition waiting to happen. Afterward, be sure to visit the Holiday Village where kids can share their wish list with the man himself and then ride a pony or roast a few marshmallows. The lights shine nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 18 through Dec. 30. For more information and ticket prices, visit www.lakelanierislands.com/mnol or call 770-932-7200.
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  Hang out at the High. With a constantly evolving exhibit straight from the royal halls of Paris, you won’t want to miss even one stroke of Louvre Atlanta at the High Museum. Which is why now is the perfect time to finally treat yourself to an annual museum membership. Benefits are plentiful and include unlimited free admission to the museum and Friday Jazz, invitations to members-only previews and events, as well as discounts on film series, lectures, shops and even meals at Table 1280. A wide variety of options are available, including $65 Individual memberships or Dual and Family memberships for $90. This museum pass will have you sitting pretty and hobnobbing with royalty in no time. For more information, please call 404-733-4575 or visit www.high.org.
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