December Vacation Ideas

Picture the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop for your ice skating fun at The Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, CA as this stunning hotel offers guests outdoor ice skating fun in December on the sparkling beachfront, decked out in festive holiday decor. Call 800-HotelDel for exact dates and times.

It's that time of year again to get out the skis and have some fun. Check out our Skiing page for new lodges, hotels, restaurants, and pubs opening this season, as well as improvements at some of your favorite skiing spots.

With the holiday season approaching, many towns, cities and areas are decked out. New York comes quickly to mind if you can stand the cold. Catch the New York football Giants, the New York Knicks and a Broadway show while you are getting shopping done. Make the holidays special with a trip to the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, complete with the Rockettes, located on 6th. Avenue between 50th. and 51st. Streets. More New York City Vacation Ideas!

You may be tempted to stay in New York for New Year's Eve. Our choice though is Las Vegas. Warmer weather and an all out party on the Vegas Strip are too good to pass up. Try getting to Vegas a few days earlier, closer to Christmas and you'll find it considerably more quiet and more affordable and look to upgrade to those top suites before the prices skyrocket with the fireworks. More Las Vegas Vacation Ideas.

Participate in the holiday fun at The Great Christmas Fair with costumed characters re-creating the beloved Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol at the Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., San Francisco. For 4 weekends after Thanksgiving, you can experience the true Christmas spirit with this classic Christmas story. Live music, entertainment, food, and family-oriented fun. For more information, call 415-404-4111. See more San Francisco Vacation Ideas

Check out our New Year's Eve Parties page for some suggestions for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day celebrations around the country.

A favorite tradition celebrated on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers in Portland, Oregon for over 50 years is the Christmas Ship Parade, featuring approximately 60 boats. Boats are gaily decorated with holiday lights and streamers, out on the water every night for two weeks starting December 10 through December 21. An attraction that draws thousands of people to the area, the local hotels and restaurants are prepared for this festive event, booking well in advance. Come out and feel the holiday spirit. See more Portland Vacation Ideas

Zoolights Festival. The Oregon Zoo comes alive every year between November 24 and December 31 with over a half million festive lights in celebration of the holidays. Ride the train, meet Rudolph, and enjoy the animals at 4001 SW Canyon Road, Portland. See more Portland Vacation Ideas

Enjoy the beauty of Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA, a short drive from Philadelphia (about 30 miles), but well worth the trip. Open all year, but one of the favorite times to visit is in December to see a winter wonderland of beautifully lit trees, indoor gardens, and hear the Christmas carols. In the spring and summer, catch the colorful shows, the radiant flowers and plants, water gardens and illuminated fountains. Over 800,000 visitors come yearly to enjoy the breathtaking beauty at this 1,050 acre estate. Call (610) 388-1000 for year round events including concerts and plays at this spectacular horticultural showcase. See more Philadelphia Vacation Ideas

For a unique experience, visit Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village, fashioned after a Mexican village, located at 336 Highway 179 in Sedona, AZ. Here you'll find art galleries and specialty shops, fantastic dining, and colorful courtyards surrounding the quaint Chapel where weddings are performed year round depicting area customs. December is a special time of year when the Festival of Lights takes place. Six thousand luminarias brighten the festive courtyards where musicians, dancers, carolers, and other performers stroll the streets. The Living Nativity with live animals reminds us of the importance of the season. For easy travel, enjoy the scenery as you sit back and take a relaxing trip on the Sedona RoadRunner, a free shuttle from the uptown area to Tlaquepaque. Call for information at (928) 282-0938. More Northern Arizona Vacation Ideas and more Sedona Vacation Things To Do

Over 100,000 visitors enjoy the holiday spirit in Prescott, AZ as they visit the Valley of Lights. Drive through their holiday light display featuring millions of lights and animated displays, presented to you for your holiday enjoyment during the entire month of December. For directions and information, call (928) 772-8857. More Prescott, AZ Vacation Things To Do

New Orleans, LA. Celebrate Christmas New Orleans Style. A month-long celebration in December that you'll never forget. Tour the historic houses, exquisitely decorated for the holidays. Weekly free Christmas concerts performed at St. Louis Cathedral. Enjoy New Orleans traditional Creole food, jazz concerts and special holiday events. And don't forget the fabulous shopping, you'll find something for everyone on your Christmas List. Don't miss the City Park in the heart of New Orleans with its grand display of nearly 2 million lights. Take a romantic horse-drawn carriage through the park. Mingle with the historical characters as they stroll the streets. Enjoy caroling in Jackson Square, an open-air artist colony, all there to make your holidays memorable. More New Orleans Vacation Ideas and New Orleans New Year's Eve happenings.

Wherever your travels take you this month, chances are you'll be able to catch a "light show" in December, a perfect holiday celebration that the whole family can enjoy. Check with the local zoos as many of them across the country have adopted the magical tradition of Zoo Lights, usually trying to outdo themselves each year with fantastic displays. Also, check with the local botanical gardens as many of them participate in a yearly festival of light tradition. Near the water? Lighted boat festivals are popular across the country. (See some suggestions above in Portland, Prescott, and New Orleans). Many areas offer tours of the more spectacularly lit neighborhoods. A popular attraction in Richmond, VA is their annual Tacky Lights Tour. Richmond also presents their yearly 100 Miles of Lights from Richmond to Virginia Beach, a dazzling show of lights with holiday events along the route. For information on this event, call 888-493-7386 X100. So, wherever you are in December, check with the locals. They'll be sure to lead you to the best holiday sites in town.