Where to travel in December?
April 22, 2013 3:20 AM Subscribe
I need suggestions for destinations within the US during the month of December.
I have two non-consecutive weeks of home leave during the month of December (1st and 3rd weeks) and I would like to go somewhere nice and warm. I need two destinations, for one each week.
Difficulty: I must remain on US soil, including commonwealths, possessions, and territories.
I will be flying in and out of Hartford, CT, if that matters.
Some ideas I have had: USVI, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Vegas, California.
I have ruled out Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and American Samoa because of distance, cost, and the fact that December seems to be the rainy season in all of those locations.
I would love to hear your suggestions. Where should I go?
I have two non-consecutive weeks of home leave during the month of December (1st and 3rd weeks) and I would like to go somewhere nice and warm. I need two destinations, for one each week.
Difficulty: I must remain on US soil, including commonwealths, possessions, and territories.
I will be flying in and out of Hartford, CT, if that matters.
Some ideas I have had: USVI, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Vegas, California.
I have ruled out Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and American Samoa because of distance, cost, and the fact that December seems to be the rainy season in all of those locations.
I would love to hear your suggestions. Where should I go?
Hire a car and do a road trip: LA, Vegas, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley. Others who know the area better than me can give you a more detailed itinerary.
From memory, the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley were very quiet when I went in early December. When I went we got some lovely clear, sunny days but on the final day it tipped with snow just outside Flagstaff, which made driving pretty treacherous.
posted by MuffinMan at 4:45 AM on April 22, 2013
From memory, the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley were very quiet when I went in early December. When I went we got some lovely clear, sunny days but on the final day it tipped with snow just outside Flagstaff, which made driving pretty treacherous.
posted by MuffinMan at 4:45 AM on April 22, 2013
Best answer: You don't say what you like to do on vacation, but I'd suggest Puerto Rico. It's warm enough for hanging out on the beach (not true of TX or northern FL), but there's also lots else to do if you so choose. See this previous question for ideas.
posted by Runes at 4:51 AM on April 22, 2013
posted by Runes at 4:51 AM on April 22, 2013
Best answer: Yeah, Puerto Rico. Visit Vieques if you can; it's an amazing place. Casa de Amistad is one of the least expensive places to stay and it's very nice and friendly. Rent bikes and a car for at least a few days so you can explore the more remote beaches. Go snorkeling. If you want to see more remote areas of the island, get a tour through Abe's. I recommend one of the kayak tours that takes you to accessible-only-by-boat snorkeling reefs. I could have stayed on Vieques indefinitely; I never get tired of the pristine, nearly-abandoned beaches and the amazing reefs just a few feet from the edge of the water.
(It's true that the Vieques ferry isn't all that reliable... when we were there it was said to be "way better than it had been recently" but it was still canceled about half the time due to very high wind/high seas. Not that canceling was a bad decision - we happened to be on it right BEFORE they cancelled due to high wind and I can tell you it was quite a ride!)
El Yunque (bring a sweater). Wander through Old San Juan. Walk the beach in Luquillo. I went to Arecibo to visit the observatory and it was super awesome, but it would probably not be exciting if you weren't in to radioastronomy.
posted by Cygnet at 5:19 AM on April 22, 2013
(It's true that the Vieques ferry isn't all that reliable... when we were there it was said to be "way better than it had been recently" but it was still canceled about half the time due to very high wind/high seas. Not that canceling was a bad decision - we happened to be on it right BEFORE they cancelled due to high wind and I can tell you it was quite a ride!)
El Yunque (bring a sweater). Wander through Old San Juan. Walk the beach in Luquillo. I went to Arecibo to visit the observatory and it was super awesome, but it would probably not be exciting if you weren't in to radioastronomy.
posted by Cygnet at 5:19 AM on April 22, 2013
Best answer: I'm all about Puerto Rico for one of those trips. Great food, beautiful scenery and a bunch of places to pick from.
The distance to HI is too great for me to want to go on a 10 hour flight (or a 13 hour day of flights) Yuk!
South Florida/Miami might be fun for the third week in Dec. It's high season, so if you decide, decide early.
We got an amazing deal at the Hyatt House Blue Lagoon for the summer. We got a 1 bedroom apartment for $110 a night. This is mostly a cruise hotel, so if you're staying longer than overnight, the rates are pretty great.
Rent a car and explore South Florida. Go to Miami Beach, check out Bill Baggs State Park, eat Cuban food.
Rest and do nothing, hang out on Ft. Lauderdale beach. Drive up A1A.
It's not the most cultural vacation, but it's very relaxing.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:03 AM on April 22, 2013
The distance to HI is too great for me to want to go on a 10 hour flight (or a 13 hour day of flights) Yuk!
South Florida/Miami might be fun for the third week in Dec. It's high season, so if you decide, decide early.
We got an amazing deal at the Hyatt House Blue Lagoon for the summer. We got a 1 bedroom apartment for $110 a night. This is mostly a cruise hotel, so if you're staying longer than overnight, the rates are pretty great.
Rent a car and explore South Florida. Go to Miami Beach, check out Bill Baggs State Park, eat Cuban food.
Rest and do nothing, hang out on Ft. Lauderdale beach. Drive up A1A.
It's not the most cultural vacation, but it's very relaxing.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:03 AM on April 22, 2013
Best answer: I've wanted to go to the Florida Keys for a long time. Puerto Rico also sounds good.
posted by kat518 at 6:04 AM on April 22, 2013
posted by kat518 at 6:04 AM on April 22, 2013
I also spent a week in the Everglades a few years ago, and it was an amazing place to visit. It wasn't hot there in March (except for a few hours in the afternoon, if it was sunny), and I'm sure it wouldn't be hot in December, but actually December is a great time to visit because there won't be mosquitoes. It will be warm during the day. The Everglades are a national treasure and worthy exploring.
posted by Cygnet at 6:16 AM on April 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Cygnet at 6:16 AM on April 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
My recollection is that the first week of December is the slowest time of year at Disneyworld in Florida, because people have just been for Thanksgiving or are going for Christmas. I'd head to Disney for a week.
posted by booksherpa at 6:37 AM on April 22, 2013
posted by booksherpa at 6:37 AM on April 22, 2013
My recollection is that the first week of December is the slowest time of year at Disneyworld in Florida, because people have just been for Thanksgiving or are going for Christmas. I'd head to Disney for a week.
It's funny you should say that. I've heard it too. For my 35th birthday (Dec 4) my friends and I went to Disney World to celebrate. It was SO crowded and cold as hell!
It was so unexpected, the frosty weather and the bazillions of people. We bailed early. (Florida residents, so ticket prices were no big deal.)
I think it may have been some massive group travel thing because there were a LOT of Brazillian folks there. I remember some aggressive stroller handling (Like right up my leg).
But, if you like Disney, it can be a great time to go. Just an FYI, the weather can be really changeable. So warm and wooly or light and breezy.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:56 AM on April 22, 2013
It's funny you should say that. I've heard it too. For my 35th birthday (Dec 4) my friends and I went to Disney World to celebrate. It was SO crowded and cold as hell!
It was so unexpected, the frosty weather and the bazillions of people. We bailed early. (Florida residents, so ticket prices were no big deal.)
I think it may have been some massive group travel thing because there were a LOT of Brazillian folks there. I remember some aggressive stroller handling (Like right up my leg).
But, if you like Disney, it can be a great time to go. Just an FYI, the weather can be really changeable. So warm and wooly or light and breezy.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:56 AM on April 22, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks all. Puerto Rico looks very good.
posted by Gringos Without Borders at 9:52 PM on April 22, 2013
posted by Gringos Without Borders at 9:52 PM on April 22, 2013
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Closer places would be Florida and more specifically the southern Florida if you want warmer weather. Make sure to check the normal weather for December because up near the pan-handle will be cooler and might be too cold for swimming in the beach.
I have not really traveled to the other places on your list so I can not comment on how awesome they may be. I lived in Hawaii for 5 years so I am biased towards loving Hawaii.
posted by Jaelma24 at 4:12 AM on April 22, 2013