Christmas is right around the corner and the holidays are always a merry time when spent with your loved ones. While it would be a nice, traditional celebration to spend Christmas at home and decorate your own Christmas tree, it is also a great idea to spend it in a non-conventional way and go on a family vacation this winter. That way, you will all have a memorable experience of celebrating Christmas differently, but together, and you can snag a well-deserved break as well.
1. Lapland, Finland: The true magic of Christmas comes alive when spent close to Santa Claus. Your kids will love the warm feeling of the polar twilight and the tranquil snowfall of this virgin winterland. The whole family can have a marvellous time on the safaris, which can be on husky dogs, reindeers, or snowmobiles. A whole other host of Christmas activities include crossing the landscape of snow-drenched pines, gentle reindeers, and log cabins on snow shoes, living in a loghouse yourself, visiting the Ranua Wildlife Park, and enjoying a satisfying, traditional buffet meal on Christmas Eve.
2. Paris, France, Europe: How about a very Disney Christmas at the Disneyland Resort in Paris? Visit the park at its dazzling and spirited best and take in the holiday mood while ice-skating and watching the Disney parade. The highlights are definitely the merry singing and dancing during the Enchanted Candlebration, and the chance to meet Santa Claus and send a letter to North Pole in Belle’s Christmas Village. Outside of Disneyland, the City of Lights has much to offer during the holiday season – gourmet treats at wooden booths in its traditional Christmas market, Christmas bells at the Notre Dame Cathedral, and sightseeing the city on foot will leave you with a lifetime of great memories.
3. Orlando, Florida, USA: Another place to live the Disney magic of Christmas is to watch it come to life at the Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando. While it can warm enough for half-sleeved tees and jeans during the day, watch out for the rain and the cold, silent and holy nights. Make plans and reservations at local steakhouses early, because it is the busiest time of the year, and the bustle is at its peak on Christmas Day. At Disney’s Hollywood Studio, you could have a fantastic time watching the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights, among other things. Also, make it a point to drop by the Candlelight Processional at Epcot with its warm Christmas narrative and more.
4. New York City, USA: The ‘City of the World’ sure knows how to enjoy its holidays! Replete with legendary shows and performances, including the Nutcracker ballet production, Rockefeller Centre Christmas Tree lighting and ice-skating, the Rockettes at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and many shows with free entry at the Central Park. There is also the Kwanzaa – a winter commemoration of the African-American culture that occurs on the day after Christmas. Shopaholics will also love the shopping menagerie at Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and more.
5. Egypt: If you live someplace cold, then a great Christmas getaway idea is to hit Egypt where the temperature does not go lower than 20 degree Celsius. Though the deserts get pleasantly chilly at night, you could have an exotic vacation and explore the traditional bazaars and cuisine, while ticking the Great Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings, and the Nile off your bucket list.
6. Bangkok, Thailand: Yet another destination for a Christmas vacation, the holidays are a gala celebration here despite the largely Buddhist population. While the experience could be dominated by shopping till you drop at the malls and shopping centres of the city, there are several other sites where the decorations go up – the Lumpini Park, Four Seasons, the Peninsula Plaza, and several others. You could also slightly deviate from tradition and sample the local curry and cuisine instead of the customary Christmas dinner of turkey and pudding.
7. Sydney, Australia: Welcome to a place where Christmas means surf and summer. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia celebrates Christmas during the beginning of summer, where it would be silly to wistfully sing ‘Let it snow’. Christmas fare here includes seafood on the beaches of Bondi or Manly, which can be washed down with bottles of chilled beer. An Australian Christmas is a great getaway idea for newlyweds and young couples.
8. Aspen, Colorado, USA: If you are not one to take the hoi polloi route, make a modish Christmas statement and spend the holidays partying with the who’s who of the glamour world at the resorts of Aspen. Again a getaway for the young couples, skiing is the star feature along with wild parties at nightclubs and more.
9. Anchorage, Alaska, USA: The snowy, wintry affair at Anchorage to celebrate Christmas, is a popular tourist attraction. With the many shows at the new Anchorage Christmas Village, the shopping experience at the Arts and Crafts Emporium, and the merry ambience at the Food and Gift Festival, you could have a nice, quiet Christmas with your family in this ‘home-away-from-home’ environment. Visit a neighboring reindeer farm and feed these gentle creatures to complete this lazy getaway experience.
10. The Holy Land of Bethlehem: Be right on venue of the birth of Jesus’- the cause of celebrating Christmas, at the Church of Nativity. If you are a pious and devoted Christian family, then you are sure to love this Palestinian City – a hotspot for Christmas travelers. Discover this ancient city, named World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, and learn the original ways of the joy of family and giving.
