It is time to get in the mood for the holidays! Our picks for the best holiday destinations on the East and West Coast (and a few in between), will get you into the holiday spirit.
ON THE PODCAST
00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about holiday travel
03:34 - Tamara's tips for the holiday in NYC
05:59 - Christmas festival in Leavenworth WA
07:40 - Wassailing weekend in Woodstock VT
09:27 - Holiday in Hawaii
11:05 - St. Augustine FL
12:26 - Vancouver Island Holiday
15:00 - Airlie Gardens in North Carolina
16:19 - Parade of boats in California
17:42 - Gaylord Opryland Hotel Country Christmas
19:58 - Holiday at Coeur d'alene resort
21:30 - Holiday at Hershey Park
24:11 - Disneyland Holiday
27:29 - Indiana, PA - Christmas tree capital of the world
29:07 - Bellevue WA Snowflake lane
30:40 - Annapolis chocolate binge festival
32:08 - Illuminate SF
33:35 - Philadelphia
35:50 - Denver, Colorado
37:35 - Local holiday events
39:00 - Great Wolf Lodge in the winter
41:14 - Dude ranch and lodge winter packages
46:30 - Give away!!
BEST HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS
- New York City is very crowded for the holidays but it is worth it because it is such an iconic christmas destination. You will want to visit Rockefeller Center to see the big Christmas tree and ice skating rink but it is less crowded in Bryant Park. Be sure to check out the Christmas markets, see a show, and look at the themed department store windows!
- Leavenworth, WA has been themed as a Bavarian village. The whole town has strict design codes so all of the stores all have wood panelling and signage. They do a huge Christmas festival including a Christmas lighting and a nutcracker museum.
- Woodstock, VT is very picturesque and looks like the classic winter scene. They have an annual Wassailing Weekend at the beginning of December with carriage rides and Victorian-dressed riders.
- Christmas in Hawaii is actually a great holiday destination. There are different events that happen on the different islands. If you check with your hotel you may also get a chance to see a surfing Santa!
- St. Augustine Florida is the oldest city in the US. For the holidays they have a Nights of Lights celebration that runs from the end of November to the end of January. They also have trolley and carriage rides, guided walks and the Regatta of Lights, with colorfully decorated boats.
- Butchart Gardens in British Columbia does a 12 days of Christmas installation. So you can walk through beautiful light decorations for all twelve days.
- Hershey Park in Pennsylvania opens up part of the park with decorations and lights. Also, not far from the park they the Hershey Sweet Lights, which is about a two-mile drive thru of lights and decorations display.
- Indiana, PA is the Christmas tree capital of the world and has a 'It's a Wonderful Life' festival that runs from the week of Thanksgiving through the week before christmas. You can take a hayride and visit a christmas tree farm. This is a great small town that does Christmas in a big way!
MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST
Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting
Nutcracker Museum
Wassaling Weekend
Honolulu City Lights
Nights of Lights
Regatta of Lights
12 Days of Christmas Installations
Boat Parade of Lights in California
Coeur d'alene Resort Holiday
It's a Wonderful Life Festival
Chocolate Binge Festival
Illuminate SF Festival of Light
Great Wolf Lodge Podcast
Holiday at Great Wolf Lodge - We3 Travel
Holiday at Great Wolf Lodge - Stuffed Suitcase
Christmas on the East Coast
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