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It is time to get in the mood for the holidays! Our picks for the best holiday destinations on the East and West Coast (and a few in between), will get you into the holiday spirit.

ON THE PODCAST

00:32 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about holiday travel

03:34 - Tamara’s tips for the holiday in NYC

05:59 - Christmas festival in Leavenworth WA

07:40 - Wassailing weekend in Woodstock VT

09:27 - Holiday in Hawaii

11:05 - St. Augustine FL

12:26 - Vancouver Island Holiday

15:00 - Airlie Gardens in North Carolina

16:19 - Parade of boats in California

17:42 - Gaylord Opryland Hotel Country Christmas

19:58 - Holiday at Coeur d'alene resort

21:30 - Holiday at Hershey Park

24:11 - Disneyland Holiday

27:29 - Indiana, PA - Christmas tree capital of the world

29:07 - Bellevue WA Snowflake lane

30:40 - Annapolis chocolate binge festival

32:08 - Illuminate SF

33:35 - Philadelphia

35:50 - Denver, Colorado

37:35 - Local holiday events

39:00 - Great Wolf Lodge in the winter

41:14 - Dude ranch and lodge winter packages

46:30 - Give away!!

BEST HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS New York City is very crowded for the holidays but it is worth it because it is such an iconic christmas destination. You will want to visit Rockefeller Center to see the big Christmas tree and ice skating rink but it is less crowded in Bryant Park. Be sure to check out the Christmas markets, see a show, and look at the themed department store windows! Leavenworth, WA has been themed as a Bavarian village. The whole town has strict design codes so all of the stores all have wood panelling and signage. They do a huge Christmas festival including a Christmas lighting and a nutcracker museum. Woodstock, VT is very picturesque and looks like the classic winter scene. They have an annual Wassailing Weekend at the beginning of December with carriage rides and Victorian-dressed riders. Christmas in Hawaii is actually a great holiday destination. There are different events that happen on the different islands. If you check with your hotel you may also get a chance to see a surfing Santa! St. Augustine Florida is the oldest city in the US. For the holidays they have a Nights of Lights celebration that runs from the end of November to the end of January. They also have trolley and carriage rides, guided walks and the Regatta of Lights, with colorfully decorated boats. Butchart Gardens in British Columbia does a 12 days of Christmas installation. So you can walk through beautiful light decorations for all twelve days. Hershey Park in Pennsylvania opens up part of the park with decorations and lights. Also, not far from the park they the Hershey Sweet Lights, which is about a two-mile drive thru of lights and decorations display. Indiana, PA is the Christmas tree capital of the world and has a ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ festival that runs from the week of Thanksgiving through the week before christmas. You can take a hayride and visit a christmas tree farm. This is a great small town that does Christmas in a big way! MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST

Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting

Nutcracker Museum

Wassaling Weekend

Honolulu City Lights

Nights of Lights

Regatta of Lights

12 Days of Christmas Installations

Boat Parade of Lights in California

Coeur d’alene Resort Holiday

It’s a Wonderful Life Festival

Chocolate Binge Festival

Illuminate SF Festival of Light

Great Wolf Lodge Podcast

Holiday at Great Wolf Lodge - We3 Travel

Holiday at Great Wolf Lodge - Stuffed Suitcase

Christmas on the East Coast

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