8 Best Places to Travel in December for the Holidays

This post is about the best places to travel in December.

Looking for somewhere festive for the holidays? Or are you trying to escape the winter chill? Here I created a compact list of the best places to travel in December! Whether you’re looking for some snow or sunshine, it’s on the list. Having spent time in these destinations, I can definitely say I’d be happy to find myself there in December again.

Without further ado, let’s get into the list of best places to travel in December!

Outdoor Activities – Good Places to Visit in December USA

Looking to immerse yourself in a winter wonderland? Skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, ice skating and more! Here are my two favorite wintery places to travel in December.

Lake Tahoe

If you’ve been around my blog for a while, you’ll have heard me rave about my time in Lake Tahoe. If you want to read more about my two-month stay in this beautiful place, you can read it here!

The main draw to visit Lake Tahoe in the winter is the outdoor snow activities. This is a very popular skiing spot with tons of mountain trails ranging from easy to black diamond. They have a popular ski lift as well for those who prefer not to race down a mountain. This is a great way to still admire the view.

If outdoor sports and sipping hot chocolate aren’t your thing, try taking a four-wheel drive vehicle for a spin. There are tons of overlooks and state parks to explore. Try a hike or two! Or enjoy the two-hour drive around the entire lake to see all of the views.

New York City – Best Places to Travel in December for Holidays

Ah, the city that never sleeps. That doesn’t change when December comes around! One of the most spectacular and festive cities in the US would have to be New York City. Not only is the Christmas tree in Times Square HUGE, but the activities attract people from all over the world.

During the holiday season, the city is taken over by parades, ice skating rinks, decorations, and the magical chance of snowfall in December. The largest outdoor activity of course is New Years Eve. Where millions of people flood the streets of Times Square to ring in the new year with the ball drop. The heavily televised event is a whole production which many people have on their bucket lists, so if you love celebrating in big parties, why not join the largest one?

UK Christmas Markets

If you haven’t checked out my post on Ranking the UK Christmas Markets, then you totally should go read all of the details of which ones I loved and which ones to miss. But here are a few highlights!

Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Just a short train ride from London, Newcastle upon Tyne is the perfect place to visit if you’re part of the younger crowd. Being a university city, Newcastle has tons of fun things to do even outside of the Christmas Markets that litter the main square.

Newcastle’s Christmas market was small yet stunning. As my first ever Christmas market, I would say it did a fair job at exposing me to the staples of what I would find for the next ones to come. All of the UK Christmas markets I visited included mulled wine, Cadbury hot chocolate with Bailey’s, and a plethora of food (my favorite being the crepes).

I have an entire blog post about my time in Newcastle upon Tyne, so don’t forget to check that one out right here! There is so much to do in this little city that I would hate for you to miss.

Edinburgh, Scotland

One of my favorite cities I have ever visited, Edinburgh was one of the most anticipated Christmas Markets on my list. Not only was I reuniting with my best friend, but this was the true beginning to my month-long adventure abroad.

The market felt very repetitive. So, although it was the largest market I visited, many of the booths were selling the same food and same souvenirs. On top of that, the market was always crowded making the lines extremely long. If I had known this before going, I think I would’ve been better prepared mentally, but having just come from a smaller market in Newcastle, this was a very different experience.

But they had tons of rides! Overall, it was still one of the best experiences I have ever had. And of course, it was made even more special with my best friend by my side.

I have written tons about Edinburgh on this blog, so don’t forget to check those out right here!

Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow was absolutely incredible in December. Honestly, I think the best time to visit this beautiful city would have to be in December because of all the holiday fun there is to be had. My biggest recommendation is to visit the ice-skating rink they set up every year. What an amazing memory!

This market was an absolute game changer. It may not have had amusement rides like Edinburgh but the food! Guys the food here was unbelievable! As a vegetarian, I had plenty of booths to choose from. So many in fact, that I didn’t even get to try them all before we had to leave.

Don’t miss out on everything else Glasgow has to offer! I have an entire blog post telling you all about my adventures there and the things you simply cannot miss!

Belfast, Northern Ireland

And of course, there’s Belfast! Having visited my family tons of times, Belfast is almost a second home. So anytime I get to visit is already a fantastic time, but load on Christmas? It’s a magical experience! This city along with its market was one of my favorites especially because I got to spend it with family.

Although Belfast’s market didn’t have anything new to bring to what I had seen, it perfectly incorporated everything I loved from the other Christmas markets and put them into one! The market had the small, personal atmosphere of Newcastle, the souvenir shopping from Edinburgh, and the wide range of food from Glasgow.

Escape the Cold – Warm Places to Visit in December in USA

Looking to escape the snow and find shelter under the warm sun? Here are my favorite hide aways in the US.

Los Angeles

There are tons of things for you to explore in the city of stars. I luckily lived in this colorful city for a few months, so I figured I could share a few of my favorites with you here.

Of course, if you are trying to escape the snow, you must try out the beaches of LA. Venice, Santa Monica, and the dozens in Malibu, you will have trouble choosing just one to visit. Here’s a post I wrote all about my favorite beach in LA.

And don’t forget about the hiking culture that Angelina’s rave about! Test your limits and try one of the hikes to the Hollywood sign. The views are totally worth it.

There is plenty more to discover in Los Angeles like Hollywood and DTLA! Read a few of my posts here!

Florida

Welcome to the Sunshine State! Full of beaches, Disney magic, and swamps. Having spent two years going to college here and dozens of childhood visits, Florida is a state you simply cannot miss.

December is one of the perfect times to visit this state for some sunshine. The biggest question is where to start? There’re the Atlantic beaches, the Guld beaches, the everglades, the many freshwater springs. Then there’s the decision between Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and so many others.

My personal recommendation is to base yourself in Orlando, so you can experience the Disney magic on steroids as it transforms into a Christmas extravaganza. And then you are in the prime location to relax on Cocoa Beach, a much quieter version of Daytona Beach.

Best Places to Travel in December

There are so many other amazing cities that could make this list. Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam. I just haven’t made it there yet. But don’t worry they’re on the list!

December is one of my favorite months of the year, so I understand the stress of deciding how you are going to spend that magical month. While anytime of the year is a great time to travel, December just has that extra sprinkle of magic in the air to make it even more special.

I hope you enjoyed the best places to travel in December! And please let me know if you decide to explore any of these places! They are some of my favorite places in the whole world.

This post is all about the best places to travel in December.

8 Best Places to Travel in December for the Holidays