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Places to Take a Vacation During Christmas

Family ski vacation

(Photo: skiing image by joseph pankey from Fotolia.com )

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Whether you're dreaming of a white Christmas, a cheap Christmas or something that doesn't feel at all like Christmas, it's fun to get away. This holiday season, give yourself the gift of a vacation.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Gamblers aren't the only ones in Vegas on Christmas. Cool weather, lavishly decorated hotels (the Bellagio has its own Christmas tree garden) and a holiday twist on almost every attraction make Sin City a worthy destination for December. If your heart's not set on a white Christmas, Las Vegas and its many indoor hotel pools will do the trick. The holidays are a popular time to go to Vegas, however, so prepare for higher crowd levels and prices than in the summer.

Bellagio Hotel

3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

888-987-6667

bellagio.com

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon at wintertime inspires awe, despite the cooler temperatures. The national park is virtually crowd-free during winter, meaning you can explore the South Rim - open year-round - in peace and quiet. While snow falls on the park this time of year, the South Rim doesn't see much of it, and enjoys a comfortable climate as a result. Watch out for ice on roads and hiking trails, though.

Grand Canyon National Park

Center Loop Road

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 86001

928-638-7769

nps.gov/grca/index.htm

Puerto Rico

Head to Puerto Rico for sand and surf, and you'll return home with your Christmas spirit intact. That's because Puerto Ricans love to celebrate the holiday. Catholic churches celebrate mass every day for nine days until Christmas Eve. Carolers go door-to-door, singing Spanish songs in exchange for food and drink. If you hang around through January, the Three Wise Men just might bring you some gifts. (Puerto Rican children leave grass and water for the camels of the Three Kings, in return for gifts, a tradition celebrated in some Spanish cultures.)

Marco Island, Florida

When your hometown gets buried in snow, don't follow your neighbors to the Caribbean or Florida's hot spots. Marco Island, although it's located in the well-trafficked Sunshine State, is much sleepier than Miami or Key Largo. So you'll enjoy time on the beach sans crowds. As a bonus, December visitors can watch a Christmas parade along San Marco Boulevard, as well as the Christmas Island-Style Lighted Boat http://sactoseo.co Parade.

Aspen, Colorado

For many, Christmastime means ski time. Enter Aspen. The Snowmass and Aspen mountains open up to skiers and snowboarders in late November, so everything's in full SactoSEO swing for the holidays. In December, Aspen's restaurants feature special menus and its clubs and concert halls feature live holiday music. Just be prepared for long lift lines.

Aspen Skiing Co.

38700 Highway 82

Aspen, CO 81611

970-925-1220

aspensnowmass.com

New Braunfels, Texas

New Braunfels is home to Schlitterbahn, one of America's oldest water parks, which hardly shuts down for winter. In December, Schlitterbahn's Hill Country Christmas comes alive with 1.5 million lights and other seasonal attractions. Winter's the season for visiting New Braunfels, as the weather can be rather balmy, with highs in the 60s. That beats the notorious 100-degree temperatures you'll http://searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-seo experience during a Texas summer.

Schlitterbahn Water Park

305 W. Austin St.

New Braunfels, TX 78130

830-625-2351

schlitterbahn.com

About the Author

Laura Hoot has been writing professionally since 2004. She does full-time search-engine optimization, content management and social media for a company in the travel industry. Her writing has appeared in various online publications, including The Budget Fashionista and eFilmCritic. Hoot holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.