Last-minute getaway ideas for Christmas - Help Please!
 

I am looking for any ideas for a festive place to go over the Christmas holidays where there is good weather, beautiful scenery, and places to walk and hike. Cool weather is okay, but not snow. <BR><BR>This is sort of a last-minute decision - we are good friends who both have a need to escape from the "family" thing this year for various reasons. But, we don't want to go somewhere lonely and deserted and be the only ones in the dining room on Christmas Day either! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Most any place in the U.S is okay except Las Vegas :-)<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR><BR>Jenny <BR><BR>

Jenny, where are you traveling from? Anyway, how about Bear Mountain in New York...they have an inn and private cabins...on Christmas Day there's a lavish buffet at the restaurant in the inn...there are loads of hiking trails and an outdoor ice skating rink...they have a Santa's village, too...nearby is West Point. The only thing I can't be sure of is the lack of snow.

I am in NC, and my friend is in Wisconsin, and we would meet wherever we decided to go. I'd rather stick to the eastern half of the country if possible. NYC would be my pick but he likes less crowds and a more outdoorsy locale, which is okay with me.<BR><BR>Your idea sounds great, but without the snow. (Only because that would limit any outside activities other than skiing, which neither of us do.)<BR><BR>Thanks for the info!<BR>

Jenny, just want you to know that unless there's a major snowstorm you can still access the hiking trails and ice skate...or you can stay warm and cozy at the inn in front of the fireplace...the views of the Hudson are beautiful from here and West Point...at West Point Military Academy you can visit the Cadet Chapel, the historic cemetery, and many other sites.

Have you considered someplace like Sanibel on the Gulf Coast? I'm not sure whether they do anything special for Christmas, but it might be worth checking. <BR><BR>I've also heard lots of nice things about Biltmore Estates in the mountains of NC being very pretty and festive at Christmas time.<BR>

Jenny, New Orleans is a great destination during Christmas time. The weather ranges from cool to perfect and the French Quarter is delightfully quiet.<BR><BR>San Antonio would also fit this description, although I personally found 3-4 days more than enough.