Recently, it dawned on me my Christmas miracle clock came alive helping raise our kids. Helping us get off to school on time, reminding us of lunch times, supper times and, most annoyingly, bedtimes.

A play kitchen, a late Christmas Eve night, and a seemingly magical development played out a quarter-century ago, writes Dane Pelfrey.

This North Carolina city turns back the clocks for a retro Christmas spirit every winter. Here's what it's like to visit.