Help Us Choose A Place to Spend Christmas....
 

My family suffered a tradegy right after Christmas a few yrs ago so I have been striving to make that time a better time each year since then. We have spent one Christmas in Maine, one in Texas and one along the coast of Georgia.Then Christmas 2003 in Rome, Italy. Christmas 2004 in Venice, Italy.

Now it's not therapy any more; it's tradition. We laugh, see some new place(s), eat good food, etc.

As for Christmas 2005...none of us can take enough time off to leave the country. Where shall we meet this year?

I do know how to spell tragedy...just can't type!

Great idea!
Phoenix area?
Santa Fe?
Hawaii? Too far?
Baja? Ditto?

Couldn't EVEN imagine a Christmas in ROME!!!:-x

How about London? There's so much to do any time of year and London is loaded with great indoor activities if the weather isn't nice. The same is true of Paris.

Christmas in Colorado sounds perfect to me! Or maybe Sun Valley, Idaho!

Israel. I am told that the vibe is really cool in Israel that time of year. Check it. Ask Henry Rollins.

Do you like to travel to cold weather? Perhaps a ski trip to Steamboat Springs or Jackson Hole. (At Jackson, you could even snowmobile into Yellowstone one day!)

Do you like warmer weather? Perhaps a beach destination - although December may have rain in many beach areas - there's SoCal or Destin, FL.

How about Disneyworld? True, it will be packed, but the decorations and parades around the holidays are really wonderful.

Or maybe our nation's capital - Washington, D.C. - with a couple nights in the Williamsburg area (again, a beautiful place at the holidays).

Just some thoughts.

If you could possibly get reservations, consider Longfellow's Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts. It's a charming place to stay, and the restaurant turns out marvelous traditional American food. I still remember the corn muffins at breakfast--and the stillness at night, as the rooms don't have television sets. There's good sightseeing in nearby Concord, and a lovely thing to do is just drive around at night and look at all the houses decked out with candles for the holidays.

Sallyjane-
This post could have been made by me! Traveling at Christmas has become a tradition for me too. How was the weather/activities in Maine at Christmas? Where did you spend your Christmas in Texas and Georgia? I am trying to make my selection for this year, but don't have enough time off for Italy.

Great suggestions so far. Would love to pay attention to the out-of-country ideas but 2 family members have new jobs (limited time off).Don't want to risk getting snowed in anywhere b/c of that....

We love a wide variety of weather/activities. So fire away with more suggestions.

Shae, I live in GA so that Christmas was spent having the most spectacular meal at Nikolai's Roof in Atlanta, a few days at the King and Prince in St. Simon's, a few more on the River Walk in Savannah.

My baby daughter lived in Maine at the time. Snow-tubing was the most fun I think any of us have ever had. I sat next to a pot-bellied stove and watched them fly down the slides, laughing their heads off! Skiing was fun. As was the 8 inches of snow on Christmas Eve. (She's in FL now...very different.)

My other daughter lives in Texas so that year was spent soaking up all the wonder that is Austin, with a steam-engine train ride to a village in Hill Country, shopping in quaint Fredicksburg and a visit to the Armadillo Christmas Festival. I remember standing before art work, the least expensive of which was $6000. As I looked around at everyone dressed just like me, in denim and boots, I whispered, "Just where are the people who could afford these prices?"

My DD whispered back, "All around you, sweetie, all around you."

sallyjane, I'm so glad you enjoyed Christmas in my home city of Austin!! :-) Have you been to San Antonio? There's a lot to do in SA, and the Riverwalk is magical at that time of year. We have a lot of great Fodorites from SA who can help you plan a trip. And you will NOT get snowed in if you visit SA.

Sally, you brought a tear to my eye, but bless you and celebrate you for this new family tradition!

San Francisco/Carmel/Big Sur???

And for years when you can take a slight risk on weather, try Quebec City -- a charming taste of another country/culture without crossing an ocean and if you want to ski, there are the Laurentians.

We did a Montreal/Quebec City Christmas in 1999. Ended with a dogsled trip in the Charlevoix region East of QC. It was stunning (and stunningly COLD!!!!)

What about Hot Springs, Arkansas? Or Taos, New Mexico?

I have been to Sante Fe and Taos a Christmas and that is really beautiful and different with great food, museums, outdoor activities. I really prefer it over Phoenix at Christmas time.

Also, how about the Homestead or Greenbrier.

Another year we went to Brekenridge, Colorado...also fun and pretty.

This year we can't go far, so we're going to Williamsburg. I've always heard that it is beautiful at Christmas with lots to do.

I vote for Santa Fe/Taos.

I spent a Christmas in NYC and LOVED it!! It is very pretty with all of the decorations up, and of course they have great food. P_M suggested San Antonio, I have never been, but I have heard that the Riverwalk is also gorgeous during the holidays. You mentioned your tradition has now become one so you can laugh, see new places and enjoy good food...well how about coming my way and have fun in Vegas? Anyway, those are my suggestions...NYC, San Antonio & Las Vegas. Let us know what you decide.

NYC is a top choice. There is so much to do!

For Christmas atmosphere, our favorite is Crested Butte, Colorado. Even if you don't downhill ski, it's a beautiful spot. The original town is Victorian, and there are horse-drawn sleighs going up and down the streets. With a soft snow falling, what could be more Christmas-y? We went there several years. Others like it in Colorado would be Telluride, even Aspen. Personally, I don't like the Summit County spots because they get so crowded. Even Breckenridge, although it's my favorite of them in that area, it loses some of its charm, as you drive by all the fast-food and chain joints on your way there.

topping

I spent Thanksgiving during a transitional year in Santa Fe and really enjoyed it.

Durango Colorado or a ski town in Colorado would be nice.

But, I think I'd do Asheville NC or somewhere around Boone. Renting out a B&B in Asheville (depending on how many of you), the historic section of the Grove Park or the Inn at Biltmore would be lovely.