Wyndham Wisdom

Christmas Vacation Destinations

Christmas is a great time of year to spend at home with your family and loved ones; it's just as special for making Christmas travel plans. Here at Women on Their Way, our Christmas vacation destinations ensure that wherever you end up going, you'll find memorable experiences awaiting both young and old. From sunny Orlando to classic metropolises like Washington, D.C. and New York City, Christmas vacations have never been so rewarding. Read on and discover some of our favorite Christmas vacation destinations.

Orlando

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights (Nov. 10 to Jan. 7). Glittering lights synchronized to holiday music - what more do you need this Christmas season? Walt Disney World is bigger than life, so it shouldn't be a surprise that one of its main holiday attractions is made up of over 5 million lights that take 20,000 man-hours to install each year. Adorning the Streets of America at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park, you'll see Santa and his reindeer, carousels, angels - oh, and plenty of hidden Mickeys.

Festival of the Seasons (Nov. 9 to Jan. 8). Held in the Downtown Disney area at Walt Disney World Resort, Festival of the Seasons is chock full of live entertainment in the form of carolers, street performers and musicians. If you have some last-minute shopping to do, there are plenty of specialty shops to help fulfill your needs. The little ones can visit with Santa Claus, who from Nov. 18 to Dec. 24 will be available for photo opportunities before he packs his sleigh and heads off into the Christmas Eve night. 

Washington, D.C.

ZooLights at the National Zoo (Nov. 25 to Jan. 1). Located at the Smithsonian, the National Zoo is free and features plenty of great exhibits and events. ZooLights is one of them, and on most nights you can visit the zoo and see a stunning seasonal display of sparkling animated lights, as well as listen to choral groups and storytellers. ZooLights also offers arts and crafts exhibits, ice sculpting demonstrations and more. Bring the whole family because this is one event they can't miss this holiday season.

National Christmas Tree (Dec. 1 to Jan. 1). Each year on the Ellipse in President's Park, the National Christmas Tree is lit in front of an audience of thousands. Now in its 89th year, the National Christmas Tree was first lit when President Calvin Coolidge was in office in 1923. At the time, the tree was 48 feet tall; today it stands at a surprisingly shorter 42 feet. If you can't catch the Dec. 1 tree lighting ceremony, don't fret - the tree stays lit each night till 11.

New York City

Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting: Since 1931, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has lit up the Manhattan sky with tens of thousands of its beautiful lights and a star atop it that weighs more than 500 pounds.  The tree, which ranges from 69 to 100 feet in height depending on the year, is lit for the first time on Nov. 30. If you can't attend the lighting ceremony, be sure to catch the tree in all its glory throughout December and into the first week of the new year.

The Nutcracker: A long-standing holiday tradition, George Balanchine's The Nutcracker is a classic ballet that's filled with toy soldiers, snowy scenery, adorable children and plenty of holiday magic. The Nutcracker first appeared in NYC in 1954 and has been on stage every year since. The Nutcracker runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 31, so catch it with your loved ones and add another chapter to your family scrapbook.

Are you thinking about traveling before Christmas? Check out our Thanksgiving vacation ideas article for more great destinations.