Any suggestions for the holidays 2016
 

My family is going to be spread throughout the US during this holiday season of 2016. I was wondering if you had any suggestions for a destination for a solo traveler. My goals are photographic and budget around 5000 USD for a week.

Santa Fe? Southwestern Christmas with visits to Indian pueblos?

I might opt for Germany and its Christmas traditions.

Caribbean

Look at the Monterey Bay area in California. The weather should be okay in December, and plenty of great things for photographers:

- The old Spanish mission in Carmel, lovely.
- Big Basin and/or Henry Cowell redwoods near Santa Cruz.
- Santa Cruz's old-fashioned boardwalk amusement park.
- Migrating Monarch butterflies in Santa Cruz and Pacific Grove.
- The Monterey aquarium.
- Point Lobos State Park, just south of Carmel - scenery, wildlife.
- Stunning scenery along the Big Sur coast.
- The elephant seal breeding colony just north of Hearst Castle.
- Hearst Castle itself.

Fly into Vegas, rent a car and head to Grand Canyon. See sunset spend the night and see sunrise for great photos.

Then head back to Vegas, on the way visit Hoover Dam and Valley of Fire. Night near Vegas.

Next head for Death Valley for a couple of nights.

Back to vegas, drop the car, fly home.

Thank you all. The locations are very diverse. I will peruse the costs and logistics. Gretchen, I think that Santa Fe is on the list for Spring 2018. Germany will have to be for next year. Possibly the holidays, but I will still look at it this weekend. Thank you.

Sassafras - A strong possibility. Any particular island? Thank you.

Gardyloo, I was planning on visiting this past Labor Day week, however, another location popped up. Did the fires affect the area much? At least photography wise? Thank you.

emalloy - I think that is on the list for 2018. Thank you.

None of the areas I'm suggesting have been impacted by the fires. There are still some closures of state parks in the Big Sur area but not Point Lobos.

Thank you, Gardyloo. That is a relief. Any suggestions on where I should set up a base? or should I just move from town to town?

Days will be pretty short in December so I suppose it depends where you fly in/out. I would probably fly into SFO or San Jose (SJC) and visit one of the redwood parks on the way to Santa Cruz, then spend a couple of days around Monterey/Carmel/Pacific Grove (all next to each other) with a day trip to Point Lobos somewhere in the mix.

Then I'd head south through Big Sur to San Simeon, stopping for some views along the way, including the seal rookery. Maybe spend one night in San Simeon or Cambria, then the choice would be either to return to the SF Bay area, or, if a one-way car rental is affordable, just keep heading south to LA. Stop in Santa Barbara for a look at the lovely SB Mission, then LA is only a couple of hours not counting any traffic delays. You could fly out of LAX.

You have some sort of "list for 2018" is that correct? If so, how about telling us every place that is on it so we can stop recommending places you're already considering?

Mexico is lovely at Christmas-time.

Thank you, Gardyloo for taking the time to assist me with some ideas.

Thank you, Suze on your recommendation on Mexico.

Dukey1: I am sorry that you had to take an hour out of your day to read and to compose your post. Thank you for your suggestion.


Safe Travels to you.

Hawaii or Yellowstone

It depends on what activities you enjoy (diving, kyacking, etc.) and what kind of photography. I simply love being someplace with beautiful weather and warm water when it is cold at home. I have taken several cruises, so had only a day on some. They were great for a day, but not sure about more than that. My longer trips have been to St Kitts to visit family. I really like Puerto Rico and St Martin. Also enjoyed Cozumel, St Lucia and Barbados, but you would need to research more to see what suits you. I just think the Caribbean in winter is heaven.

For nature photography, the ones I hear are best (St John and Dominica come to mind) are not the ones I have visited.

Some places, like St Kitts, have festivals during that time, so could be really great for photographs if you are there during then.

Post a question about the possibility of the Caribbean for your holiday on the Caribbean forum. There are some regular posters on there who are real experts. RoamsAround lives in the Caribbean and is familiar with just about every island.

There will be a greater potential for mudslides in Big Sur if we get any rain by December. That shouldn't affect being based on the Monterey Peninsula or in Cambria but you may have to play the Hwy 1 drive in between by ear. You can always go around via the inland route if necessary.

I meant this winter due to the burnt hillsides from the Soberanes fire in case that wasn't clear.

Just an FYI - Santa Fe and the surrounds aren't at their best in Spring, in fact, its our worst season. Autumn is our best, and then a tie for winter and summer.

Thank you, Midwest for the suggestion of Hawaii or Yellowstone. I will take those into consideration.

Thank you, Sassafrass. The only island that I have visited on your list of suggestions was Puerto Rico. Lots of fun. I will explore the other ones on the list.

Thank you, Patty. I was concerned about that and was not sure if the fire damaged the beauty of the area. I was planning on going down the coast when I was originally going to go down that way.

Thank you for the heads up DebitNM.