Vieques, Puerto Rico

Vieques, Puerto Rico : Beach Guide -

For more than 60 years, the U.S. Navy owned three-quarters of this island. After years of civilian protests, the Navy moved out in 2003 opening up that land to the island's residents and visitors, too. Vieques was uncharted territory for the tourism industry, and more resorts and hotels are looking to develop on the island. Because of this, Vieques maintains a laid-back island atmosphere that can be hard to find on more developed Caribbean getaways. There is not a single traffic light on the island, and the beaches are quiet and unspoiled by high-rise buildings and over-development.

Although the island is only 21 miles long, there are 40 beaches on the island and it seems that all of them are perfect. Sun Bay beach on the island's south coast might be the best of them all, with its swaying palm trees and pearly-white sands. Blue beach, named for its striking blue waters, is secluded and quiet, while Green Beach, named for its lush surroundings, is popular for snorkeling. Red Beach is framed by tall mountains on one end and large rocks on the other, with a perfect beach dotted with tiny gazebos right in between. Trying to visit all of the beaches can be exhausting, so do some exploring and find your favorite place to settle down and start relaxing.

Getting There
Visitors must fly into Puerto Rico before catching a 20-minute flight to Vieques Island. These flights are available from San Juan International Airport and Isla Grande Airport in San Juan. Travelers can book a charter flight on Cape Air, Vieques Air Link or MN Aviation.

The Puerto Rico Port Authority runs ferries from Fajardo in Puerto Rico to Isabel Segunda on Vieques Island. The ride on a passenger ferry is about one hour and 15 minutes, while the car ferry can take up to 2 hours.

Taxis are available from the airport to get around the island. However, if you hope to explore the more remote beaches, the best idea is to rent a car or jeep for the duration of your island visit.

Timing
The weather averages between 79 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit throughout most of the year, making it a year-round destination. The long hurricane season runs from June through November. The most popular time of year to visit is between December and April, which means the prices are higher and the beaches a little more crowded.

Lodging
Lodging options on Vieques include large upscale resorts and small, homey inns and guesthouses. Martineau Bay Resort and Spa is an elegant, upscale plantation-style resort that pampers guests to the utmost degree. Guests can lounge on the coral-stone sun deck or imbibe at the pool bar before heading down the wooden stairs to the resort's private beaches. The new Bravo Beach Hotel is a luxury hotel on a budget. The rooms are outfitted with Frette linens, satellite TV, wireless Internet and even PlayStation II for gaming. Travelers looking for an intimate inn might prefer the cozy and stylish Inn on the Blue Horizon. Finally, vacationers looking for a true escape should check into the eco-friendly Hix Island House, the award-winning green hotel. This is a true Zen-like escape, with no telephones or Click Here!">televisions in the private lofts and solar power for electricity and hot water.

Cuisine
Expect to find everything from casual burger joints to modern gourmet powerhouses among the restaurant choices in Vieques. There are restaurants dishing up American, Latin American, Spanish and Caribbean cuisines in trendy dining rooms and beach-side bars. One thing that they all have in common: There's an abundance of seafood treats on the menu, from octopus salad to piquant ceviche to steamed lobster. Many menus are often dictated by the local fishermen's catch-of-the-day.

Travel Tips
The tourist office in Vieques is located across from the Plaza Isabel Segunda in the Casa Alcaldia, or town hall. They are open to assist visitors Monday through Friday.

If you're planning on shopping during the afternoon, keep in mind that many business owners close for a lunchtime siesta during the middle of the day.

While You are Here
Visit Mosquito Bay, also called Phosphorescent Bay, at night to see the tiny glowing creatures light up the bay while they skirt around the water leaving a trail of blue phosphorescence. Don't let the name scare you away. It's one of the coolest spots on the island.

Explore wetlands and mangrove forests and see some manatees, sea turtles and native birds at the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge.

Spend a day snorkeling in the clear waters off Esperanza Beach and then grab lunch along the strip. Get ready for some good people watching. This is where the fishermen bring in their boats and the locals cruise the beach mingling with friends.

To Fake That You've Been Here
Curl up in a hammock with a frosty drink and dream about the glowing Phosphorescent Bay.

Linking for a Better Vacation
For more information, visit the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

 

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Wailea, Hawaii

Overview

Maui is the only Hawaiian island to be named after a demigod, and that comes as to no surprise to fans, as this tropical escape is heavenly. As the Hawaiians say, "Maui no ka oi," or "Maui is the best." Visitors seeking a blend of Hawaiian hospitality and culture in an upscale environment will revel in the many fine points of Wailea. The beach is laid out in golden crescents bordering warm, gentle waters perfect for swimming. 

Many resorts in this area are so self-contained in fact that they operate like mini-villages, with a variety of activities, restaurants and shops available just a short walk from your room. Though it is easy to be content simply reclining on the beach all day, nature lovers and thrill seekers can explore the nearby national parks and hike to out-of-the-way waterfalls for the perfect romantic picnic. Even seasoned shoppers will be delighted with the nearby Shops at Wailea.

It's not just humans that find Maui hard to resist - each year pods of Pacific humpback whales travel from Alaska to sun themselves in the warm waters off the coast of Maui. Local companies offer tours, on traditional whale-watching cruises as well as sea kayaks, for those who want to get more close and personal with the colossal sea creatures.

While Wailea may seem, at some turns, like a millionaire's paradise not open to the public, all the beaches are accessible to everyone and offer public restrooms and showers, as well as parking. Beach lovers who would prefer to stay in a more secluded or less developed part of Maui can still enjoy the golden beaches of Wailea and a sunset mai tai at one of its many restaurants, without the hefty price tag.

 

Child-Friendlinessrating:5 of 5more:A wide range of children's and family activities keep kids busySwimmingrating:4 of 5more:The water is clean, warm and generally calm.Sandrating:4 of 5more:The golden sands are perfect for strolling or sandcastle-building.Atmosphererating:5 of 5more:A luxurious, tropical setting where it seems anything is possible.Non-Beach Activitiesrating:5 of 5more:Plenty of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, golf and tennis, as well as small towns to explore and good shopping.

Western Caribbean

Ok, If you're anything like me you are a bit sick of the cold weather. So, i figure we can take some time and cover beaches in my next segment. I'm going to do a series on some of my favorite beaches and I hope you all enjoy. Hopefully this will warm everybody up. Also if you're looking at things that are more winnter oriented, look at my blog archive for best New Years parties and so forth. Hope everybody enjoys, thanks...


Western Caribbean : Caribbean
A cruise through the western Caribbean offers something for everyone. History buffs will enjoy a walk through Key West and a visit to one of Mexico's Mayan ruins. Grand Cayman and Jamaica offer plenty of opportunities for watersports enthusiasts. Shopping pros will enjoy bargaining in Jamaica. The kids won't pass up an opportunity to swim with dolphins in Mexico. If your family or traveling companions are hard to please or have divergent interests, plan a cruise through this region.
Destinations
Key West, FL; Grand Cayman; Montego Bay and Ochos Rios, Jamaica; Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Progreso, Mexico.
Embarkation points
Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville and Tampa, FL; New Orleans, LA; Baltimore, MD; Galveston and Houston, TX.
Cruise lines
Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal, Costa, Disney, Holland America, Mediterranean, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Royal Olympia and Silversea (almost all of these lines offer cruises year-round).
Key WestSee Key West on your own. You can walk to most of the sites or take the Conch Tour Train. Among the sites: the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum; the Ernest Hemingway House; Bahama Village.
Grand Caymen
On Grand Cayman book the shore excursion to Stingray City, a gathering place for stingrays on a sandbar off the island. You get the chance to feed, pet and swim with these huge sea creatures. Not an experience you will soon forget!
Jamaica
You can generally visit the same sites whether your ship docks in Montego Bay or Ochos Rios, Jamaica (about 2 hours apart by road). Dunn's River Falls, which you can actually climb, is Jamaica's most famous cascading waterfall. For shopping, Montego Bay has duty-free shops right at the port. Near Ochos Rios visit Ocean Village Shopping Centre. Be prepared to deal with aggressive salespeople!
MexicoMayan ruins are a fixture of any trip to Mexico. From either Cozumel or Playa del Carmen, you can visit Tulum, site of the only Mayan city built on the coast. Cruisers also rave about the shore excursion to Xcaret, an ecological theme park where you can swim with dolphins. If you land in Cozumel and want to visit Playa del Carmen or vice versa, there's a 45-minute ferry between the ports.
Progreso is one of Mexico's newest ports of call with a new cruise terminal. Chich??n-Itz?? and Uxmal, 2 major Mayan sites, can be reached from here.

Yosemite in Winter

It's a trip you won't soon forget. With spectacular waterfalls, sky-high sequoias, scenic overlooks and enough hiking trails to sate the most avid of outdoorsmen, Yosemite National Park is one of the shining gems of the national park service.  

Established in 1864 as a state park (it became a national park in 1890), this 1,189-square-mile park about the size of Rhode Island includes 263 miles of roads, 800 miles of hiking trails and nearly 240 species of birds, 80 species of mammals and 1,400 species of flowering plants.

The park attracts nearly 3.5 million visitors each year, but the best time of year to see its beauty unfold is during winter. Winter is Yosemite's "secret season," boasting mild temperatures, smaller crowds and lots of snow-filled fun. Lodging is more readily available, and wildlife -- like coyotes, mule deer, raccoons and even the occasional bear -- are easier to spot when the leaves are off the trees.

Here are 10 reasons to love Yosemite in the winter.

1. Photography Walks
Experience the beauty of Yosemite in the company of a professional photographer and guide provided by the Ansel Adams Gallery. Walks range from 90 minutes to two hours and take snap-happy participants along a flat or slightly elevated one-mile route. 

2. Skiing at Badger Pass Ski Area
With 5 lifts, well-groomed runs and quick access to the slopes, Badger Pass has been a family favorite ski destination since opening 1935. Eighty-five percent of Badger's slopes are beginner and intermediate level, including several runs perfect for first-time skiers. Kids age 4 to 6 can get a crash course in downhill skiing with the Badger Pups Program. 

3. Chefs' Holidays
This annual culinary series is a favorite of foodies far and wide. Enjoy 1 of 8 savory weekend-long sessions with Click Here!">Click Here!">cooking demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours, chef receptions, and a 5-course gala dinner served by tapered candlelight and paired with complementing wines in The Ahwahnee's majestic dining room. 

4. Theater at Valley Visitor Center Auditorium
Get a glimpse of Yosemite's history with live theater in the evenings by resident actors, Lee and Connie Stetson. Performances rotate approximately every other month. Tickets are available at any Tour and Activity Desk. 

5. Snowshoeing
National Park Service naturalists lead snowshoe walks several days a week from the Badger Pass ranger station. There is no rental fee for these walks, but there is a small maintenance fee. For those interested in exploring on their own, snowshoes may be rented from the Yosemite Cross-Country Ski School Center or from the Yosemite Mountaineering Center at Curry Village when conditions permit.

6. Cross-country Skiing
Beginning cross-country skiers find the 25 miles of machine-set track at Badger Pass a great way to start, while 90 additional miles of marked trails leave plenty of room for exploration for advanced skiers. Skiers may rent striding, skating and Telemark equipment at the Yosemite Cross-Country Ski School Center. 

7. Ice Skating
Curry Village's outdoor skating rink offers guests the pleasure of ice-skating under the shadow of 2 of Yosemite's most dramatic sites -- Half Dome and Glacier Point. Rental skates are available, as well as a warming hut, cubbies for shoe storage and hot drinks and snacks. For non-skaters, there's a large area right near the rink with a warm fire pit where guests can gather, watch the aspiring Kristi Yamaguchis and sip hot chocolate. 

8. Indian Cultural Program
Demonstrators interpret the customs of Yosemite American Indians at the Cultural Exhibit located at the Yosemite Museum (next to the Visitors Center), where visitors are educated about Miwok traditions, such as food preparation, obsidian-knapping and basket-weaving. 

9. Ahwahnee Historic Tours
Take a step back in time through the magnificent halls, great rooms and grounds of The Ahwahnee Hotel. Learn the story behind the architecture, design and the people who influenced the building. 

10. Fireside Scrabble at The Ahwahnee Hotel
Few things are more relaxing that sitting with a glass of wine and a game of Scrabble near the giant stone fireplace at The Ahwahnee Hotel. After a day of exploring the Valley, there is no better way to take off the winter chill than to socialize with new friends and soak up the historical charm of the hotel's high timbered, great public spaces. 

Ski Chalets

For downhill enthusiasts with bundles of cash to burn, over-the-top private chalet experiences are de rigueur.

It's a snow-white world where anything goes, and no luxury is too indulgent. From the French Alps to the Grand Tetons, slopeside settings have become prime playgrounds for taking the concept of the good life to the umpteenth degree.

Wondering what comes standard with a week in an anything-goes winter wonderland? Think live-in professional chefs, in-house masseuses, chauffeurs, nannies, housekeepers and personal ski instructors. And the perks go far beyond those 5-star services.

Whether you fancy a lobster bake in a serene setting accessed by snowmobile, a private sled-dog safari with your entourage or some fireside aromatherapy to wind down at the end of the day, the private chalet experience is about decadence from every direction.

Here's a peek at a few of the extravagant chalet experiences on offer to those with serious purchasing power.

Chalet Septième Ciel
Verbier, Switzerland
Few chalets seduce like Chalet Septième Ciel, and no wonder -- the property's French name translates to Seventh Heaven. Nestled high on the Savoleyres side of Verbier -- 1 of Switzerland's prime ski resorts -- the home is flashy enough to have attracted the attention of none other than David and Victoria Beckham (the couple tried in vain to buy the chalet for a cool 10 million pounds in 2004). The chalet's ultra-private domain promises total escape. Amenities include a private chef, in-house Click Here!">cinema, fully stocked wine cellar, massage room, steam and sauna rooms, and a game room. A private chauffeur stands constantly at the ready, and you can be in town or at the main ski lift in a matter of minutes.

SKI Dream Home
Deer Valley, Utah
If Versailles were reincarnated in modern times and given a contemporary ski slant, chances are it would look a lot like this most extravagant private home, perched high atop Little Baldy Peak in Utah's most exclusive ski resort. The 14,000-square-foot SKI Dream Home was dreamed up by some of the ski world's top minds in search of the most fabulous mountain property imaginable. In addition to the home's 6 bedrooms, 10 baths and 15 fireplaces, there's a 550-gallon aquarium teeming with river trout, a golf simulator and a dedicated après-ski lounge complete with a DJ booth, wet bar and plasma screens.

North Colter Lodge
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The Wild West experience doesn't get any more refined than within the cushy confines of this premiere Jackson Hole hideaway. The North Colter Lodge, a 6,300-square-foot home built in 2001, is clad in upscale Wild West décor -- huge log trusses, Native American artwork and antler chandeliers abound. And rest assured that the modern bells and whistles are standard, too -- a gourmet kitchen, bathrooms the size of bedrooms and jetted tubs. If privacy is paramount, you'll relish the 5-bedroom home's discreet locale, abutting a mountainside at the end of an exclusive street. Don't be surprised if you spot a moose off the deck while luxuriating in the outdoor hot tub. And access to Jackson Hole's legendary powder via the Union Pass lift is just a short stroll away.

Tyrolean Chalet
Vail, Colorado
What was once the famed Tyrolean Restaurant has been reincarnated as 1 of Vail's most over-the-top private properties. Book your stay and enter the echelon of Middle Eastern royalty and A-list starlets who make the Tyrolean Chalet's sublime ski scene their own. Situated in a private locale skirting Vail Village, the home looks onto Gore Creek and Vail Mountain. You'll feel blissfully removed from the bustle of Vail Village, even though its restaurants, spas and nightlife are just a short stroll out the front door. The price of the chalet also includes a personal concierge service which will handles tasks such as picking up lift tickets, arranging ski rentals and even personal shopping.

World's Best New Year's Eve Parties

World's Best New Year's Eve Parties : Holiday Getaways - Travel Channel Catch It The Travel Channel Home Shows Featured Ghost Adventures Man v. Food Mysteries at the Museum The Wild Within Shows A-ZBert the ConquerorBizarre FoodsDhani JonesFood WarsGhost AdventuresMan v. FoodMysteries at the MuseumNo ReservationsSamantha BrownThe Wild WithinWhen Vacations Attack View Full TV Schedule » ScheduleVideoPlaces & TripsSweepstakes Places & Trips  >    >    >    >   World's Best New Year's Eve Parties World's Best New Year's Eve PartiesFind the Wildest Places to Ring in the New Yearby Kristin Luna Link to This Travel IdeaClose Copy to ClipboardShare This Travel IdeaCloseYour emailRecipient's emailSeparate multiple emails by commas or semi-colonsSubjectMessageCancelPost to:

The first of January is a time to start over, to forget the old and relish the new, an opportunity to resolve to change (even if you never quite get there). Whether you're hoping to shed excess pounds or kick a bad habit, before going cold turkey why not have one last fling? Travel Channel can help you plan your last hurrah in style, at one of the world's most impressive New Year's Eve celebrations.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana Beach, sprawling along the southern outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, plays host each New Year's Eve to Reveillon. It's the world's largest and wildest New Year's celebration, a free-for-all of seaside dancing and partying that continues well into the next day. More than 2 million cariocas (Rio natives) congregate on the beach wearing stark white attire and filling a 2 1/2-mile stretch of sand, making this party a true visual extravaganza.

Blending African rituals and local culture, Brazilians use their New Year's party to pay homage to Iemanja, the goddess of the sea. Decked-out boats sport her image, and locals throw white flowers into the sea and lay ">gifts on the beach in her honor. In addition to the customary white garb worn at this ongoing festival, red (symbolizing romance), green (for good health), and yellow and gold (for prosperity) accessories highlight the landscape. Just be sure to leave your black attire at home: A superstitious people, Brazilians consider it an evil omen. Some added party bonuses? Fifty-cent beers, free concerts, balmy weather and midnight fireworks reflecting off the Atlantic Ocean.

Orlando, Florida
The various theme parks sprinkled around Orlando offer many opportunities to celebrate the coming year. A trip to the Magical Kingdom lets visitors jive alongside their favorite mouse and his pals in Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade, after which tourists can park-hop to Epcot, where the impressive light and laser show, 'Illuminations: Reflections of Earth,' presents spouting fountains and dancing flames just before midnight strikes.

Meanwhile, MGM Studios offers a winter wonderland of its own. In the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, a stroll down the specially designed New York Street isn't to be passed up. Through this "symphony of the senses" holiday music plays, as artificial snow begins to fall and thousands of lights twinkle amidst a backdrop of heavenly angels and spinning carousels.

If roller coasters, fireworks and big-scale productions aren't your bag, hightail it out to Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney for adult-friendly happenings. Forget Bourbon Street: New Orleans has nothing on Pleasure Island's ultimate street party featuring dancing, music and gourmet food galore. Live bands and DJs help continue the party at the island's many clubs. Only those 21 and over will be admitted, and tickets must be purchased in advance.

London, England
London's rich nightlife at anytime of the year is a cheerful mecca for party lovers. New Year's Eve is no different. As if the city's overflow of traditional English pubs serving up cheap champagne and local atmosphere weren't enough, an abundance of activity centered around the Thames River is at visitors' disposal. Currently revelers' attention has shifted to the towering London Eye, a gigantic pseudo-Ferris Wheel that draws thousands of visitors who fork over exorbitant admission fees to take a spin in one of the ride's entirely transparent and bubble-shaped cars.

Since 2005, the midnight fireworks show has been launched from the actual London Eye. People from around the world congregate on Tower, Westminster, London and Blackfriars bridges to witness the spectacle together. If you can't snag a spot near the water, watch the event on one of the big screens in Trafalgar and Parliament squares - you'll still be able to view the fireworks overhead from either of these points. Stick around the next afternoon to partake in the magnificent New Year's Day parade - a long-standing charity event -- that departs from Westminster, weaves in and out of the capital's downtown, and finishes at Green Park.

Sydney, Australia
The world's second-largest New Year's celebration (and first place in the world to ring in the new year, time-wise) happens to boast the world's largest fireworks display: In years past, Sydney has spent more than $4 million in pyrotechnics expenses for the one night alone. The display typically involves 6 barges along a 3 1/2-mile expanse of water, uses 30,000 effects and continues for a lengthy 12 minutes. Attracting a crowd upward of 1 million, the famed harbor refracts light beams off the bay, as well as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, midnight rolls around.

Throughout the day visitors won't be disappointed with the schedule of events Sydney has cooked up. Every hour on the hour a cannon is fired from Fort Denison, and attendees are awed by a different event from mini-light shows to indigenous smoking ceremonies to aerial flyovers that leave messages in the sky. Following a family fireworks display, illuminated boats glide along the waterfront for the late-night Harbour of Light Parade, spanning a 9-mile route.

If you need a rest from the urban center, check out Bondi Beach's ultimate dance party. Kiddie events like New Year's Eve at the Taronga Zoo are also on offer.

New York, New York
Times Square's inaugural New Year's hullabaloo debuted in 1904 in commemoration of the opening of the New York Times central headquarters; today hundreds of thousands of people descend upon the city's bustling axis each Dec. 31 to hold a party unlike any other in New York City. Hoards of attendees begin claiming spots early in the day, and once in the vicinity, visitors are advised not to leave again. Since food and drink vendors are not permitted, pack a picnic to last you the day. Area restaurants are open, but the wait time can often be hours.

As the sun sets, the famed New Year's Eve Ball is hoisted to the top of One Times Square's 77-foot flagpole, and makes its 60-second drop just before the stroke of midnight. Leading up to the climax, scores of Click Here!">musical acts take the stage - past performers have included Christina Aguilera, My Chemical Romance, Panic! At the Disco, Daughtry and the cast of Broadway's Jersey Boys. The spectacle is broadcast on TV, with the majority of viewers tuning in to the classic Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve. At midnight, 2 tons of confetti are released on Times Square's lucky crowd as fireworks light up the skies above Manhattan.

Edinburgh, Scotland
Thousands of jubilant and, er, drunk, Scots -- as well as scores of foreign visitors -- crowd the streets of downtown Edinburgh for the annual Hogmanay (meaning "last day of the year") celebration. World-renowned Click Here!">musical acts take stage all throughout the city center, as traditional ceilidh dancing brightens up the atmosphere of Princes Street Gardens (tickets to the ceilidhs are required).

While the masses populate Princes Street -- a $10 wrist band bought in advance serves as ticket -- visitors in the know slip on up to Carlton Hill, downtown Edinburgh's highest point, just before midnight and steal the best seat in the house to watch the fireworks. From here, the spectacle seems to fall right before your fingertips.

As the night wears on, the party continues well into the next day. The athletic can jog off their hangovers by joining the One O'clock Run down the Royal Mile, opt to freeze their behinds off by diving into the River Forth at the conclusion of the Loony Dook parade (a charity event), or take part in a dog-sledding competition.

Paris, France
When it comes to New Year's, Parisians get it right: for a solid month, they celebrate the turn of the calendar, by exchanging bises  (small, platonic kisses), greeting each other with Bonne Annee! (Happy New Year!), and sending cards and ">gifts via mail up through the first of February. That's our kind of celebration. On New Year's Eve, and any other time for that matter, the city's epicenter is the thriving Champs-Elysees, where visitors can glimpse the Eiffel Tower, as well as the bursts of light it emits, as midnight creeps over France. If you need more breathing room, trek up to the more relaxed Montmartre, a popular New Year's spot for apartment soirees, or venture into nearby Pigalle, the red-light district and catch a cabaret at the racy Moulin Rouge. Or for a quiet evening, consider booking a table on a bateau-mouche (riverboat) dinner cruise along the Seine and enjoy a laid-back end to a long year.

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The Most Christmasy Places in America

Branson Area Festival of Lights
Branson, Missouri
The city of Branson is nestled in the Ozark Mountains about 250 miles from the gateway to the West, St. Louis, MO. Once a dying lumber town, Branson is now the country's live entertainment capital. It is home to scores of theaters and resort hotels that appeal to tourists year-round. And during that most wonderful time of the year, the hotels, theaters and townspeople all come together to produce the Branson Area Festival of Lights.

The festival starts November 1, and lasts 6 weeks, drawing about a million and a half visitors. The star of the festival is the Annual Adoration Parade -- a big, old-fashioned Christmas parade with over 50 bands and floats passing through historic downtown Branson. Something you won't see in any other Christmas parade is the Christmas cattle drive, where the cowboys of Branson's Great American Wild West show deck out their longhorns in the spirit of the season.

In addition to the parade and Christmas Click Here!">musicals put on by local theaters, the whole town is literally aglow with the Christmas spirit. The centerpiece of Branson's more than 8 million Christmas lights is the Winter Wonder Landing, featuring the world's only fountain that shoots fire as well as water. The fountain's display is choreographed to Christmas music and goes off every half hour.

Perhaps the most beautiful way to take in the spirit of Branson a horse and buggy ride through snow-covered hills. The ride ends with a breathtaking Christmas vista of the town below. You can even climb the 200-foot inspiration tower and enhance your view of this spectacular Christmas Wonderland.

National Christmas Center
Paradise, Pennsylvania
The National Christmas Center is the only Christmas museum in the entire world. Owner Jim Morrison unwrapped the museum in 1998 with just 3 exhibits. Today the museum overflows with hundreds of thousands of Christmas items, some more than 200 years old.

The center features 14 yuletide fantasy worlds, where visitors can meander through a life-size retelling of the The Christmas Story, followed by Tudor Towne, a whimsical village full of cuddly Christmas creatures. Make sure to stop at the North Pole for a dazzling display of Santa's workshop filled with animatronics.

Christmas season is also shopping season, and the National Christmas Center pays homage to the ghost of Christmas-shopping past with a Woolworth exhibit. Step back in time and see what it was like when Christmas shopping happened offline at the local 5 and dime.

With all these Christmas memories, it's no wonder more than 40,000 people visit this museum every year. Put a smile on your family's face, and make a stop at the country's most Christmasy museum during this year's 12 days of Christmas.

Las Vegas, Nevada
No American city parties harder than Las Vegas, and every December more than 3 million people flock here to celebrate the holidays. As proof that Christmas in Vegas is high-speed and high-octane, there's an annual holiday road race -- exclusively for Santa impersonators!

Witness a Christmas miracle Vegas-style by ice-skating in the Nevada desert. At Lake Las Vegas, you can lace up and hit the ice in the world's only floating rink.

Each year, Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall creates a winter wonderland spectacular. The experience boasts over half a million Christmas lights, a futuristic Christmas laser show and culminates in a magical Christmas snow shower. If you find yourself in the Nevada desert, dreaming of a white Christmas, then Sam's is the place for you!

If you want to witness Christmas done right on the Vegas Strip, there's only 1 place to be -- the world-famous Bellagio. The fountains at the Bellagio are already a must-see on any Vegas tour guide, but come December, the fountains dance only to Christmas carols. The botanical gardens at the Bellagio are home to a breathtaking display featuring a 49-foot-tall Christmas tree topped with an 8-foot star. 

Mall of America
 Minneapolis, Minnesota
At the Mall of America, bigger is better. It holds more than 520 stores, houses its own amusement park and stands at a staggering 4.2 million-square-feet. During the holiday season, 2-dozen wreaths are hung throughout the mall -- all of them 10 feet in diameter. Giant red ornament bulbs hang from the ceiling, each weighing in at 300 pounds.

Big gets even bigger upon visiting the mall's rotunda to see the Christmas trees. There are 2 massively decorated Christmas trees -- each of which is taller than a 4-story building! One of the Mall of America's main attractions is their Santa. Santa Sid is the most popular Santa in the country. In fact, you can book an appointment with his lap online, and with more than 700,000 mall visitors a week, that's a convenience we highly recommend.

Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth, WA is an American town with a Bavarian feel. Built against the backdrop of the Cascade Mountains, this picturesque town prides itself on its Old-World Christmas spirit. The first 3 weekends in December, this small town with just over 2,000 residents throws a Christmas lighting festival, drawing people from around the globe. Each morning the town's residents and visitors are awoken by the sound of the alpine horn, signaling a new day in Leavenworth full of the Christmas spirit.

During your stay, visit The Hat Shop, a local favorite; the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, boasting thousands of the Christmas chompers; and, of course, enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the white and drifted snow.

Saturdays and Sundays here end like a Dr. Seuss tale, with the townsfolk joining hands at 4:30 around the gazebo for the lighting of the tree and some good old-fashioned caroling.

FAO Schwartz
New York, New York
This yuletide institution is the biggest and oldest toy store in New York and features over 12,000 individual items sure to put a smile on anyone's face.

Each morning FAO opens with a ceremony. Three toy soldiers play a morning fanfare, and a red carpet is rolled out to welcome the shoppers who have patiently waited for the doors to open. If you're in New York City during the holidays, FAO should be second on your list only to the tree at Rockefeller Center.

Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus, IN is a whole town dedicated to the Christmas spirit. What started as a name has become a way of life for this small Indiana town. Here, all the streets have Christmas-themed names, like Prancer Dr., Chestnuts Roasting by the Open Fire St., and Jingle Bell and Candy Cane lanes. Likewise, all the shops and businesses have Christmas-themed names.

Perhaps the most notable place in this small town is the Post Office, which has a unique picture postmark only found here. Some lost letters to Santa even get directed to this Saint Nick namesake -- and the very diligent town residents take the time to answer this lost mail, preserving the name of the town and the jolly old man.

Ski Europe

Mention you're going skiing in Switzerland, and people are bound to place you in mega mountain resorts like Davos and St. Moritz.
Say you're headed to France to snowboard, and package tourist destinations such as Chamonix and Val d'Isere come to mind. Europe's big ski resorts certainly have their appeal in the way of tons of terrain and uber-modern mountain technology. But you're not crossing the Atlantic to land in mega lift lines and a concrete jungle of a homogenized ski resort, now are you? We've sussed out some lesser-known spots in the French and Swiss Alps where charm rules. And rest assured - that doesn't make the mountain any more merciful.
La Grave
France



The name alone intimidates at this Haute-Savoie hideaway in the French Alps, located roughly two hours by car from Lyon's Saint-Exupery Airport. At La Grave, a glaciated peek looms over a 12th-century village of rambling stone cottages. The mountain has long lured adventure addicts for no-limits skiing in spectacular surrounds (on a clear day, you can see Mont Blanc from the top). There is no ski patrol here, not a single groomed run, not even a trail map -- it's all off-piste (read: utter backcountry), and adrenaline fiends wouldn't have it any other way. Avalanche transponders and ice picks are standard accessories. In addition, hiring a mountain guide is highly recommended; most of the terrain is accessed by a single telepherique (cable car) line, but if you take the pull lift to the very top of the mountain, you'll find yourself in a sweeping bowl blitzed with crevasses. If the terrain intimidates you, take the 40-minute ride to the top sans skis. The ascent of 10,500 feet affords a view that looks like the roof of the Alps, and there is a great restaurant with oven-fired pizzas and simmering homemade pasta sauces to reward your courage.
Hotel-Restaurant L'Edelweiss, perched above La Grave's main drag, offers sweeping views of the glacier. The clientele -- mostly European daredevil types -- tends to go au naturel in the sauna.
Au Vieux Guide, a classic alpine eatery on a small ruelle below La Grave's main street, serves 3-cheese fondue and French standards such as foie gras and duck breast.
Berguen
Switzerland
Think Norman Rockwell meets the Swiss Alps. In a country known for postcard-perfect scenery down every strasse, Berguen, 2 hours by car from Zurich, still manages to steal the show when it comes to alpine perfection. Those heading to posh St. Moritz by train from Zurich chug right past this sled-happy hamlet, whose cheerfully stenciled houses are home to some 550 people. The village is sidled up to the Albula Pass, a mountain road closed to vehicle traffic during the winter but open to sleds. Downhill racing on wooden toboggans under historic stone viaducts is the pastime of choice, and the sled runs are open at night, too, for romantic moonlit runs fueled by mulled wine. Here you'll find a small, steep ski mountain called Darlux, and a 45-minute train ride will take you to the world-class resorts of Davos or St. Moritz if you're looking for more challenging downhill terrain.
Hotel Garni Bellaval, a short walk from the Darlux lift, offers spotless rooms with plush down duvets and a breakfast buffet with homemade muesli and cured local meats.
The 230-year-old restored parlor at Hotel Weisses Kreuz is an elegant space for tucking into hearty local specialties such as pizokel (dumplings filled with spinach or meat) and fondue.



Les Gets
France
With hundreds of miles of skiable terrain and more than a dozen resorts stretching from Switzerland's Lake Geneva region to France's Mont Blanc, Les Portes du Soleil is Europe's biggest ski resort. And Les Gets is 1 of more than a dozen fabulous villages lost in a valley here. For family appeal, few spots can compete with Les Gets. The former farming village has morphed into an all-out ski town, but building regulations have kept development tasteful, and you'll still sense the area's rural roots. For something novel, do a border crossing on skis - spend a day skiing from Les Gets to the tiny hamlet of Champiry in Switzerland (don't forget to bring your passport). When you're not skiing, you can tour a local chevre (goat cheese) farm or go snowshoeing through the pines.
The Labrador Hotel has plush rooms with painted cabinetry and private terraces. Common areas with open fireplaces are great for reading, and there's a pool, too.
Settle in for a tres French 4-course feast at the Ferme de Montagne, a beautiful old farmhouse turned chalet. Menu ingredients, sourced from the region, might include goat cheese tart and cassoulet of local sausage.
Sainte-Foy Tarentaise
France
The sprawling resort of Val d'Isere is just down the valley. But you'll want for nothing in terms of powder and hospitality if you make the tiny village of Sainte-Foy Tarentaise your base in the French Alps. The reward in skiing at Sainte-Foy Station comes in the form of shorter lift lines and longer-lasting powder -- not to mention the small-town vibe and Mont Blanc views. A newcomer to the Alps, the resort opened in 1990 and there is no poured concrete here; the mountainside chalets are built from local timber, stone and slate. On powder days, valley locals (including ski instructors and lifties from the big resorts) pass up first tracks at nearby Tignes and Val d'Isere for a shot at Sainte-Foy, where you rarely have to wait more than a few minutes in the lift lines. The powder gets its staying power from the mountain's northwest-facing slopes and sheltered location, which shield it from direct sunlight most of the day.
Splurge on a catered chalet or apartment with Premiere Neige.
Hotel Le Monal hosts a lively après ski scene around an open hearth and serves regional Savoyard specialties.

Les Diablerets
Switzerland
Situated between Lake Geneva and Gstaad in Switzerland's French-speaking Alps, Les Diablerets is a typically tidy Swiss village of wooden chalets and waving red-and-white flags. There are more than 77 miles of groomed runs, and you'll still find fresh powder on the pistes during the late spring months (skiing through May is typical) and even into summer at Glacier 3000. The latter is a wild area of yawning bowls and downhill screamers, including 1 run that's nearly 9 miles long. Even during a bad snow season in Europe, you're guaranteed to find pockets of powder on high at Glacier 3000. Popular with families, a long toboggan run descends from the main mountain to the village of Les Diablerets. Families also like that kids ages 9 and under ride the Glacier 3000 gondola for free.
Hotel des Diablerets has basic rooms with kitchenettes and balconies. The location - smack dab town center and near the bus stop for the free Glacier 3000 shuttle - is prime.
Locals like Auberge de la Poste -- a restaurant inside an authentic chalet that dates to 1789. If you've overdosed on fondue, opt for raclette, another cheesy Swiss specialty.


Hope everybody enjoyed the scenery, I felt like these are some incredible pictures

Winter Wonderland, New Hampshire

Not every winter-weather lover can be a pro on powder, and non-skiers in search of wintry pursuits will happily find a whole lot to love on the right coast, in New Hampshire.

The Granite State is as close as you'll get to the Wild West, back East. Moose munch grass by the side of the road, and the streams teem with trout. And come winter, the state turns into an all-out snow-white wonderland, with smoke curling from nearly every chimney and snowmobiles criss-crossing abandoned country roads like ice-bound water bugs.

Herewith, our 10 favorite ways for diving into winter in New Hampshire: lift tickets largely optional.

Snowmobiling
Thousands of miles of snowmobiling trails navigate New Hampshire's backcountry. The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation Trails Bureau has a great Web site for planning your route, with countless cabins and bed-and-breakfasts located along the state's main snowmobiling corridors so visitors can literally do a snowmobiling road trip of the region. The Great North Woods region offers the most pristine terrain, and snowmobilers can even cross the international border into Canada from Pittsburg, NH (don't forget your passport).

Ice Harvesting Demonstrations
During the 1800s in New England, the harvesting of natural ice from lakes and ponds was big business -- ice was shipped and sold to hospitals, dairies, meatpacking factories and other establishments, primarily as a means for keeping food cold (it wasn't usually consumed). And while the natural ice business has largely died out in the age of subzero freezers, it still lives on in a few small New Hampshire towns. To try your own hand using historic ice-cutting tools to harvest a block from a frozen pond, visit the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm in Tamworth during the February Winter Carnival and Ice Harvesting Festival.

Snowshoeing
If you can walk, they say, you can snowshoe (take it from someone who's utterly uncoordinated -- this sport really is a cinch). Most of New Hampshire's alpine resorts and cross-country skiing areas allow snowshoeing and offer equipment rentals and guided tours. On a clear winter day, it's hard to think of a more fun way to burn a few calories than traipsing through a silent forest full of pine trees hanging heavy with snow. For an otherworldly experience, bundle up and bring a loved one along for a full moon or stargazing snowshoe tour.

Sleighing
Dashing through the snow in a 1-horse open sleigh is as romantic as it sounds -- especially when you can dash back to a beautiful hotel with an open fireplace and schnapps or hot chocolate at the ready. The Mount Washington Hotel, dating to 1902, is the most historic and beautiful place to base yourself in the White Mountains. Let the concierge arrange your sleigh ride; that way all you have to do is show up when you hear those bells jingle.

Ice Fishing
New Hampshire's summertime fly-fishing frenzy takes a turn for the arctic come winter, when ice fishing takes over as the state's reel pastime. In the Great North Woods, bitterly cold temperatures in the dead of winter leave most lakes and ponds topped with a foot or more of ice. And while most bodies of water are fair game for ice fishing, certain spots designated as trout ponds or dedicated fly-fishing areas are off-limits. For a crash course in the sport, consider the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's 'Let's Go Fishing' Program, which offers ice fishing classes in January and February.

Dog Sledding
Iditarod on the brain, but a trip to Alaska not exactly on the radar? No worries. You can get your mush on -- and get eye level with Alaskan huskies out in the snow -- during a New Hampshire dog-sledding tour There are tours in the White Mountains near the border with Maine. And the Sunny Grange Bed-and-Breakfast offers a package where you can learn the practicalities of harnessing and anchoring the dogs before heading out into the woods for a 5.5-mile run.

Snow Tubing
Most of New Hampshire's alpine ski resorts offer snow tubing for those who want the thrill of a downhill descent -- sans the skis or snowboard. At Loon Mountain you can do your tube runs under the moonlight. And Great Glen Trails, just off the Mount Washington Auto Road, is a good place to go with the whole family; there's no lift to ride, and it's an easy walk up the very user-friendly tubing hill.

The Mount Washington Cog Railway
Skis aren't necessary for a near-peak experience on New Hampshire's highest mountain, Mount Washington. The Mount Washington Cog Railway uses a coal-fired steam locomotive to take riders up New Hampshire's highest peak; imagine climbing a ladder aboard a train, and you've got an idea of how the ride feels. While the train doesn't run to the absolute summit during the winter months, you'll reach Kroflite Camp at 4,100 feet, just below the tree line. Be sure to bring a camera and dress for the elements -- there's an observation deck on high, with panoramic views.

Winter Festivals
Talk about higher education -- Dartmouth University kicked off what would turn into a statewide winter tradition when it held New Hampshire's first Winter Carnival in 1911. The university stills holds its bash every February, with bonfires, human dog--sled races, polar bear swims and lots of co--ed revelry. Other winter carnivals take place across the state in January and February in towns such as Franconia, Laconia, Keene and Somersworth, as well as in the Mount Washington Valley.

On New Hampshire's Foodie Trail
Fireside with a filling feed is a good place to find oneself after a hard day on the hill. And New Hampshire, with its rural roots and affinity for farmers markets, wants not when it comes to gastronomical highlights. Join in the Click Here!">Click Here!">cooking classes at the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm in Tamworth, where your oven is an open hearth and the menu is harvested from ingredients grown on-site (baked acorn squash and bread pudding with maple syrup are a few of the tasty preparations you might whip up). For New Hampshire-style comfort food, start your day with blueberry buckwheat flapjacks at the legendary Polly's Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill. And for oenophiles, the Seacoast Winter Wine Festival in New Castle is one of New England's top wine gatherings, with Click Here!">Click Here!">cooking demonstrations and indulgent vintner dinners -- warms you up just thinking about it.

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park Utah

With more than 2.5 million visitors a year, Zion National Park is easily Utah's most visited natural landmark. Yet the park's 229 square miles encompass such a rugged, twisting and cavernous terrain that there is always someplace new to explore, a cave or a trail barely touched by human hands.

The colorful canyons and rock formations that have made Zion so attractive to tourists were shaped over time by the Virgin River, which can appear deceptively tranquil at times. As one of the last mostly free-flowing river systems on the Colorado Plateau, the Virgin, with its explosive, erosive power, shaped these looming sandstone walls, scarring them with waterlines and carbon deposits. The majesty of the landscape is truly awesome, and was once home to the ancestral Puebloans, known as the Anasazi, who appeared in the area some 2,000 years ago, long before Mormon settlers arrived in the 1860s.

Exploration of Zion National Park will unearth the richest diversity of plant life in Utah - nearly 800 species are fostered by "microenvironments" created by variances in elevations, water, temperature and sunlight. Also calling the park home are 400-plus species of mammals, reptiles, fish and birds, including the endangered peregrine falcon and the Mexican spotted owl.

Extraordinarily visitor-friendly, the park offers a shuttle system stopping at various trail heads, including the Temple of Sinawava at the edge of the infamous Narrows - a looming cavernous stretch along the Virgin River, narrowing to widths of less than 30 feet and heights of more than 2,000 feet. Leaving any of the park's 30 miles of paved trails, hikers will be greeted by grottos, natural springs and sandstone walls striped with pinks and oranges. Zion's backcountry is a perfect venue for climbing, canyoneering or bouldering.

Geological History
For hundreds of millions of years, the enormous power of water, wind and the freeze-thaw cycle has worn down the beds of sedimentary rock in Zion National Park. Zion is located along the edge of a region called the Colorado Plateau. Over time, the rock layers in this area have been uplifted, tilted and eroded, creating canyons, hoodoos, towers and domes.

Park Activities
Visitors should begin their explorations at either Zion Canyon or Kolob Canyons visitor centers, both of which offer orientation videos, books, maps and backcountry permits. Zion Canyon is also the starting point for the park loop of the Zion Canyon Shuttle, which stops at eight main trail heads. Scenic drives include Zion Canyon, Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and Kolob Terrace Road. Popular day hikes include Zion Narrows, Emerald Pools, Weeping Rock, Angels Landing and Hidden Canyon. Other popular activities include climbing, canyoneering and bouldering, which require permits available through the visitor centers.

Where to Stay
Unique, homey lodging near a national park is often a rarity, but O'Toole's Under the Eaves B&B sets the standard. Built in the 1930s, the main house is intimate in size, and with its pointed eaves could have been transported from a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. Partially constructed of sandstone blocks from the walls of nearby canyons, landscaped with terraced gardens and decorated with the owner's personally handcrafted Adirondack furniture, this inn is the perfect place to unwind and soak in views of the park's looming canyons.

Side Trips
Gain an unforgettable perspective of southern Utah's carved and rugged landscape with a chartered aerial tour from Aero West. Located just 45 miles from the park in St. George, Utah, Aero West allows patrons to charter flights at almost any time and, if intrigued by the land viewed from above, stop at certain locations to hike. The sprawling vistas of the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion are all within an hour's flight.
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Urban Parks

We love cities for their verticality, the man-made grandeur of skyscrapers and the utilitarian nature of concrete. We love the energy, the hubbub, the noise.
That said, humans also need a healthy dose of nature and solitude every once in a while, and for the city-dwellers and vacationers among us, urban parks provide the perfect respite. Parks offer green in an otherwise drab existence, room to think and some fresh air to breathe. Here are 5 of our favorites across North America.

Millennium Park
Chicago, IllinoisAt less than 25 acres, this is the smallest park on our list, but President Obama put it on the map the night he was elected to the Oval Office; he delivered his acceptance speech from here. The public space is a subsection of Grant Park. Completed in 2004, it sits on a section of the city previously occupied by Illinois Central rail yards and parking lots. The centerpieces: The Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Great Lawn, a fantastic spot to experience outdoor concerts, and “Cloud Gate,” a sculpture that resembles a giant stainless steel jelly bean. The rest of Millennium Park boasts buildings and sites that have attracted corporate sponsors over the years. Without naming specific names, some of these include an ice rink, a fountain, a bike rental center and a suspended walkway.

Central Park
New York, New YorkPark lovers call this Frederick Law Olmstead masterpiece the granddaddy of all parks, and they should. The 843-acre park was opened in 1859, completed in 1872 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963. Since then, it has welcomed heads of state, religious leaders, thousands of marathoners and about 25 million ordinary visitors each year. Most lists of recommended attractions include the Central Park Zoo, Wollman Skating Rink and Strawberry Fields, a section of the park dedicated to the memory of Beatles legend John Lennon. Our favorite parts of the park are more subtle: the gorgeously hand-carved Bow Bridge, the Medieval-looking Belvedere Castle, the 1.61-mile loop around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, and, of course, the Carousel. Put simply, city parks don’t get better than this. 

Stanley Park
Vancouver, British ColumbiaPine trees and waterfront dominate this 1,001-acre park situated smack in the middle of downtown Vancouver, making it perfectly representative of the region itself. One undisputed highlight is the 5.5-mile seawall path that circles the park along the water’s edge; another is the old-growth forest in the middle of the city, with some trees topping 250 feet. Marine mammal lovers will swoon over the Vancouver Aquarium, a state-of-the-art facility with ample space for dolphins, walruses and whales (one of the resident belugas recently gave birth). Visitors to the park will also find miniature railroads, tennis courts, an 18-hole mini-golf course and an oval for track and field sports. Of course, the best way to spend a day at Stanley Park is looking for eagles. Go in summer, you’re bound to see a few. 

Forest Park
Portland, OregonCovering more than 5,100 acres, this urban park is one of the country’s largest urban forest reserves. Much of the park’s flora has been here a while -- most of it is second growth, but a decent-sized portion is old growth. This means that within mere steps from park trailheads, visitors forget quickly that they’re so close to a major metropolitan area. The longest trail in the park is Wildwood Trail, which begins near the Oregon Zoo and winds its way roughly 30 miles through hemlock, fir and cedar. Shorter trails intersect Wildwood throughout the park. The best day spent in Forest Park includes hours of hiking, followed by a picnic lunch.





Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CaliforniaWhile this park has oodles of open space (1,017 acres), it has become known more for its noteworthy structures. The California Academy of Sciences (and its living roof) and the deYoung Museum (with its collections of American art) have grabbed headlines largely for their architectural grandeur. Elsewhere in the park, the circa-1879 Conservatory of Flowers is a stately Victorian greenhouse built from wood and glass, and the circa-1903 North Windmill sits as if it were teleported straight out of the Netherlands (windmills were once used to pump water through the park). Visitors can hit all 4 structures in 1 long day. Just be sure to bring good sneakers. And unless you’re going in the early fall, when the fog seems to dissipate a bit, bring a jacket, too.