Three places I’d like to visit in December
What can be better than the month of December? Christmas cheer and music fill the air, twinkling lights and colorful decorations are everywhere, delish food is guaranteed, and there’s a jolly old man in a red suit; what more could you ask for to get into the holiday spirit!
Travel in December can be busy and hectic with so many people trying to get home to their loved ones for the holidays. But, what about traveling for fun in December? So many tourist attractions get into the holiday spirit, so why not travel around to visit some of the best places that exude holiday cheer. When I think of the places I’d love to travel to in the month of December to see the best the holidays have to offer, three places come to mind: Walt Disney World in Orlando, Universal Studios Orlando, and New York City.
1. Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida: Now I know what you’re thinking, Orlando in December? But there will be no snow covered trees or rooftops. It’s kind of hard to sip a hot chocolate and walk through decorated shops with snow gently falling when you’re in a climate that doesn’t have snow. Don’t worry; Disney knows how to do Christmas. They create snow you’d swear is the real thing! And they have Christmas shows like you wouldn’t believe. Every resort hotel is decorated in its holiday best, as is every park. At the Magic Kingdom, you can experience Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party featuring a Christmas parade, fireworks show, and special holiday shows. At Hollywood Studios, the characters from Disney’s Prep and Landing are on the search for Santa Claus in Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam! A holiday show filled with music, projections, and fireworks. You can experience Christmas around the world at World Showcase in Epcot and fun decorations at the Animal Kingdom. Don’t forget to check out the Christmas tree trail at Disney Springs to experience some out of this world Christmas trees. Christmas fun can be experienced here starting in November and it’s fun for all ages. You can also visit with the big guy in red. Having your picture taken with Santa Claus in the most magical place on earth, yes please!
2. Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida: Universal Studios Orlando offers up completely different Christmas festivities from Walt Disney World. Any Harry Potter fans out there? This is where you need to be! You can experience Christmas at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, not to mention an amazing Christmas light show projected onto the castle at night. Not a Harry Potter fan? No problem! Head on over to Grinchmas and enter the world of Dr.Seuss and the holiday classic, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. You can count me in to spend Christmas in Whoville any day! Also, you bet those pesky Minions will be there to get into some Christmas mischief not to mention make an appearance in the holiday parade featuring balloons from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York. Christmas at Universal Studios also starts in November and you can bet it’s the place to be to get into the holiday spirit! Instead of walking around the shops next Christmas, spend December walking around the Universal Studios Orlando theme parks and take in the beautiful, colorful, out of this world decorations. Emerge yourself into the world of Dr.Seuss or spend Christmas at Hogwarts. The choice is yours!
3. New York City, New York: Skating on the outdoor ice rink at Rockefeller Centre or looking at the giant Christmas tree. Watching the world famous Rockettes dance in the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Walking around Times Squares and seeing the dressed up characters. Taking in a Christmas Lights Tour of the city or checking out the decorated windows at Macy’s, and Bloomingdales. These are just some of the Christmas activities that are sure to put you in the holiday spirit in New York City! The festivities officially kick up on Thanksgiving Day in November with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and in true New York style, everything gets bigger and better right from there. There’s a reason so many made for TV Christmas movies are set in New York City, the places exudes Christmas! As a kid, we all dreamed of being Kevin from Home Alone and having the run of the city at Christmas time. Why not do it now as an adult!
Special mention:
Toronto, Canada: Looking for Christmas merriment closer to home? Look no further than Toronto! Enjoy the Christmas Market in the Distillery District, sample delicious food from vendors at St. Lawrence Market, or visit Yonge-Dundas Square to see great decorations and pop up shops. While there, head into the Eaton Shopping Centre to see some of the largest reindeer and Christmas tree decorations you’ll ever see! Just walking around that mall will put you into the holiday spirit. You can also skate on to the outdoor rink at Nathan Phillips Square and check out the Christmas window displays the Hudson Bay store.
Next year, instead of worry what to buy the special people in your lives for Christmas, why not take a December trip with them instead! Then when the big day arrives, you can enjoy it with your family and friends, reliving the special Christmas moments you made on your trip, and basking in the holiday glow.
Here are some links so you can see what makes these places so special at Christmastime:
Walt Disney World:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG24KlgS39Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjjuR9SBC4o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoMYaKtZcVk
Universal Studios Orlando:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwvu-3s7QSA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaM14l8PsvM
New York:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT_ug0mFdoo
Toronto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_ARipemU50