There’s a year-round holiday shop in Michigan that’s 1.5 times the size of a football field. If you’re even braver you can do the run in Chicago or Boston, where the event originated.
You’re brave right? If so, don some gay apparel (a red Speedo is preferable) and hit the streets for the Santa Speedo Run, a one-mile dash through metro Atlanta. Get your advance tickets here and earn Orbucks travel dollars to boot. Talk about holiday spirit: A Country Christmas (Nov 12–Jan 2) at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort in Nashville offers 3 million festive lights, carriage rides, carolers, pics with Santa, wintry activities at Pinetop Village, and an Oak Ridge Boys holiday show.Ĭan Disney’s Magic Kingdom get even more magical? Yeah, it can thanks to festive good times (beginning Nov 12) at the Orlando park including seasonal decor, limited-time treats, light projections, and a new event featuring character sightings and fireworks. The city of North Pole, Alaska (near Fairbanks) is most famous for… wait for it… Christmas! Head to the Santa Claus House where visitors can shop Santa’s Workshop, snap a photo with Santa in his sleigh, and visit the Antler Academy-where the reindeer live.
Also check out the Chinatown Winter Walk and 37th Annual Honolulu City Lights.
The best place to ice skate in the country is… Honolulu, of course! Lace up at Winter Wishes (Dec 1–24) at the Hawaii Convention Center which gets the full holiday makeover. This resort dazzles with its over-the-top lobby, snow tubing, a gingerbread decorating corner, and its multi-sensory experience Mission: Save Christmas Featuring Elf.ĪLSO: Sign up for Orbitz Rewards and earn toward hotel stays on every trip! Skip skiing and instead head to Christmas at Gaylord Rockies (Nov 19–Jan 2) in Aurora, Colorado. Instead of a holly jolly Christmas, how about a Holly Folly (Dec 3–5) one in Provincetown, Massachusetts, featuring the Holly Folly Shop, Hop and Stroll, the Jingle Bell Run and Champagne Brunch, and a holiday performance from the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus?Īll aboard! Sunny Tampa, Florida goes all in this season thanks to its Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park (Nov 19–Jan 2) where visitors can order a festive beverage from Icicle Craft Kitchen, lace up for ice skating with views of the Tampa Riverwalk, snag gifts from the Winter Village Shops, or ride the Curtis Hixon Choo Choo. Holly Folly’s Jingle Bell Run | Photo: Provincetown Business Guild Bonus: The annual Walla Walla Parade of Lights happens the same weekend! Think three days of wine, art, food, and music. If you’re wine-swilling moves are boss, head to charming Walla Walla, Washington for Holiday Barrel Tasting Weekend (Dec 3–5).
Lights of the Ozarks (Nov 20–Jan 1) features more than 400,00 downtown lights, plus holiday music and winter treats for all. If you thought the Griswolds went overboard lighting up their home for the holidays, wait until you stroll the streets of Fayetteville, Arkansas. The eight nights of Hanukkah (Nov 28–Dec 5) begin early this year and once again San Francisco celebrates the beloved Jewish holiday with its annual Bill Graham Menorah Project, a daily lighting of its giant menorah in Union Square (presented virtually, as well). RELATED: 15 holiday things you can only do in Las Vegas Note: All travel is subject to frequently-changing governmental restrictions-please check federal, state, and local advisories before scheduling trips.ĭoes it make you mad when department stores flood their shelves with holiday merch the day after Halloween? Not us! We believe that the sooner the holiday season kicks off the better, and that’s because from coast to coast, the US becomes awash in festive activities-from glittering boat parades to drag queen spectaculars! So much so that we’ve created an advent calendar of holiday activities for travelers-one for each day in December leading up to Christmas.