Tucked in the wooded hills of western Massachusetts, a bit more than 2 1/2 hours from New York City or about an hour and a half from Boston, lies the flagship store and headquarters of the Yankee Candle Company. Nestled in South Deerfield, MA, this is far more than a candle outlet. Upon driving up to the building, the first thing you'll notice is the friendly parking lot attendants helping you find a free parking space. I'll bet you're saying 'A free parking space?' Yes, the parking lot is a vast area that accommodates the hundreds (thousands?) of visitors, as well as tourist bus tours. Yes, there's that much to see at Yankee Candle. Two and a half million yearly visitors can't be wrong, can they? They make this one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of New England. And, while there may be a throng of visitors at any given time, there's plenty of room for everyone to comfortably occupy their own space.

Use any of the many entrances around the building and you'll be walking into a distinctly different setting, as each entrance brings you into a different 'world'. Grab a map as you walk through the entry way, because you won't want to miss anything. Each large showroom is indeed a separate world from the others. Sure, each hosts numerous displays featuring what made Yankee Candle famous- candles, of course. But each showroom is decorated- rather, built, created- to represent a look and feel to bring you out of the real world and into a candle scented fantasy land. For example, there's Santa's toyshop, where the elves' toy factory operates year round and, if you're lucky, you can catch 'the boss' at work. Or continue on to the Bavarian Village where quaint house facades face you as you stroll down the candle scented village street. Enter The Black Forest and you're not in a showroom in a candle outlet, you're in a wooded snowy wonderland with a model train running through the snowy darkness. The Nutcracker Castle features a waterfall and wishing well outside of the draw-bridged entrance. Once inside you'll feel like you're in a medieval banquet room that is adorned with armor and stone. At the center of and connecting all of these attractions is the Kringle Market. This long, expansive area offers more candles, Christmas ornaments, and other items of home decor while making shoppers feel like they're strolling along through a wintry alpine village. While candles are displayed and offered all along the way, there is a room with the more traditional feel of an outlet shop that features aisles and aisles of bins containing every scent and flavor of Yankee candle available. Your olfactory system will be overloaded by the time you sample every scent. And chances are your wallet will be a bit lighter too. On top of it all, there's a spot to make your own candles. There's enough of interest at Yankee Candle to keep a couple busy for an afternoon, and if you don't get some Christmas spirit while visiting near the approaching holidays, than you're a Scrooge. If there's not enough to fill your afternoon in the candle outlets, there are other attractions on site as well. There is the Yankee Candle Car Museum, which features over fifty rare and classic automobiles from across the world. There are gardens to stroll through outside with benches placed along scenic walkways with a large gazebo placed as the focal point.

Once the candle stores close in the late afternoon, head on over to Chandler's Restaurant. While the prices approach $20 per entree, the meals are expertly prepared and far exceed the ordinary. The wine list is impressive and the servers are eager to recommend their finest bottles. The surroundings are perfect for a couple winding down the day; a rustic post and beam building lit fittingly by a candle on every table, by others placed in wall sconces, and by still others suspended above the dining area in rustic chandeliers. While the final tab may be a bit north of what you'd pay at the local steakhouse, the experience is much like you'll have in the candle factory itself, allowing you to put your worries on hold and settle into the surroundings. It's a trip you won't regret or forget.