I'm due to be in the Outer Banks myself for Christmas week, but I'm afraid I can't speak to the December experience there yet, as it's our first time in the winter.

But your list of likes sounds like Philadelphia would be a perfect fit--plus there are a lot of cool Christmas things! For science there's the Franklin Institute, Mutter Museum, and Chemical Heritage Foundation; museums include the U of P Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Art Museum, Barnes Foundation, Rodin, Philadelphia History Museum, Museum of American Jewish History, and the Constitution Center, just for a start.

For the outdoors component, it's a very walkable city, but you could also go to Fairmount Park and visit the colonial houses decorated for Christmas. http://www.phillytour.com/products-detail.php?id=29

Restaurants (and wonderful casual food) are multiple, so we'd be glad to help you sort out some that would best fit your likes.

Priceline may help with good value hotels, and there are b&b's as well. (I've not stayed in any, as I'm a resident.)

Oh, and for a bit of Christmas-in-Philadelphia reading, here's a trip my family did a few years ago: http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/two-chilly-days-in-philadelphiawith-a-lot-of-kids.cfm

Colonial Williamsburg or Philly.

I'd be miserable in New Orleans or Key West pregnant. While there are lots of things to do in both cities, to me, they are more party towns with a lot of drunk people.

The Outerbanks will be very empty at Christmas.

Since you've been to NYC (for the holidays??), what about Chicago? Great city and will be fun during the holdiays.

Is it warm weather you are after? What about Charleston, SC?

Newport RI...see the mansions decorated for the holidays. You could do a few nights in NYC on the way up or back.

You don't say "how pregnant" you are, and obviously this is between you and your doctor, but really, flying is no big deal, even fairly late in pregnancy (certainly through 6 months...I know someone who went to Italy when she was 7 months pregnant, with her doctor's permission, I myself went to Paris when I was 5 months pregnant).

I like the Charleston idea, but I also like the New Orleans idea (I don't drink that much, so it wasn't a big deal to me not to drink when I was pregnant, and I don't care much what other people are doing!). Or how about Charleston/Hilton Head (I don't know what it's like in December)/Savannah -- that would be perfect for 5 days.

If you're a city person, then you can't go wrong with Chicago (ever)!

Where to go if you're pregnant at Christmas? My temptation is to say Bethlehem. But in seriousness, I've read a lot about Savannah, Georgia (as a Girl Scout leader, that's where it was founded) and would love to see it someday; also Charleston sounds really cool, but again haven't been to either myself.

I do know from personal experience that San Diego would meet your outdoors and museum criteria (please don't forget the missions when you think Museums). I don't see it as that expensive especially if your tickets covered it. There is some possibility of rain.

Another vote for Newport, RI. It is even more beautiful over Christmas, IMO.

thanks for all the suggestions. Philly is definitely a trip we will take soon, so please post any recommendations; but since its only 2 hours from us we will probably do it as a weekend trip or trips. We've spent 2 holidays in NYC at christmas and one in Chicago, loved them all but we would like to do something different this time. I'm only 4 months pregnant now, but I've had two miscarriages this year, the last one on a plane. I know ordinarily its safe, but given my history I will probably try to avoid flying unnecessarily. It doesn't really bother me to be around drinking, so I think we would still enjoy New Orleans, LA and Key West. Those are both place my husband and I haven't been to together before, so that is appealing and I love the restaurants and music in New Orleans. I've never been to Newport, RI so I'll check that out for sure. We will be spending a couple days in NC celebrating the hols with my family, so the SE US is looking appealing. Right now I'm leaning towards going to Charleston, SC for a couple of days then to the Outer Banks for a couple days on the way back to Baltimore. Any restaurant/ accommodation/ activity recommendations would be great! Has anyone ever stayed at the Hampton Inn at Corolla, NC before?
Thanks!

Last January we were planning to go to Mexico with out daughter and spouse, but they said no because she was pregnant. We went to Miami instead and had a good time. You might want to take a look at my trip report; click on my name to find it.

Given that you'll already be in the southeast, Charleston etc makes total sense!

Here's hoping for a successful pregnancy!

I would run whatever place you choose past your doctor.
Closer to a good hospital is better than Ocracoke Island.

Kelly, just a heads up that the Outber Banks are not on the way to anything. The Outber Banks are about ten hours from Charleston. Charleston is only about seven hours or so from Baltimore.

The OBs are just kind of out there all by themselves and not easy to get there.

LOL @ "Bethlehem" !!!