New Year's ideas 2011? New England or Northwest
 

We are looking for New Year's week vacation suggestions for either of the two regions (especially Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island / or Montana, Washington, Oregon) ending with traditional party. (performing arts events - especially classical - a plus )

Thanks

It's a pretty dreary time of year here in the PNW--gray, rainy, cold. Of course, I don't know that New England will be better in that regard. But if performing arts events are your priority, then in the NW it would be Seattle you would want. And maybe the weather doesn't matter so much if you have a full slate of indoor events like that. You should be able to find out what's on the docket by looking at the websites for the PNW Ballet, Seattle Opera, Benaroya Hall (where the Seattle Symphony plays)...Seattle is an excellent theater town as well.

Where are you from? Jan in New England is cold, cold, and cold. Most of the smaller towns (esp in NH, VT) shut down for the winter.

You may have a better luck if you visit Boston - there's First Night with lots of events: http://www.firstnight.org/
And the Boston Pops have concerts over the holidays - I believe thru the first few days of Jan (schedule is not out yet).

The regular Boston Symphony Orchestra returns for subscription concerts on Jan 6 (Thursday), with Levine (hopefully) conducting Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex and Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle. http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/perf_det...id=prod3720072

There is also NYE & NY's Day concert by the Boston Baroque at the Sanders Theatre. http://www.bostonbaroque.org/concerts.new.php#concert3

You didn't ask, but Los Angeles area is interesting, and the Rose Parade attracts large crowds.

Many of the National Parks including Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone have big galas. They all sound terrific. Check nps.gov.