Last-Minute Christmas Vacations
Most memorable stories behind Christmas celebrations with family and friends can be attributed to where and how they happen. Adding an extra element to Christmas --- by going to some unforgettable Christmas destination --- can enhance the holidays for the entire family. Even if you come up with the idea just a little bit on the late side, there are several destinations that make great last-minute Christmas vacations. Does this Spark an idea?
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New York City
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For many people, New York City can be a wonderful place to visit during holiday season. Shopping in the Big Apple's Fifth Avenue stores gives a festive feel with all the majestic Christmas decorations. Skate at the Rockefeller Center outdoor ice rink with the enormous Christmas tree as a picturesque backdrop or ride around Central Park in a carriage with a blanket over your lap and a cup of hot chocolate to sip. Christmas can be a great time to be in New York and tickets are fairly easy to afford.
Santa Claus, Indiana
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For a kid-friendly Christmas vacation, Santa Claus, Indiana offers entertaining attractions---such as Frosty's Fun Center, the Santa Claus Post Office and Santa's Candy Castle. A Christmas themed arcade and miniature golf course, Frosty's Fun Center highlights a nine-foot Frosty melting into a running water system. Admission to Santa's Candy Castle, America's first themed attraction, is free. The park opened on December 22, 1935, five years earlier than Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Town. Kids can speak to one of Santa's very own Elves through an exclusive "North Pole Network." They can also get the famous Santa Claus postmark at the Santa Claus Post Office.
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Lapland, Finland
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Lapland, Finland is a place where you can enjoy the wonders of Christmas often seen only in books, including sleigh rides, reindeer and Santa's helpers. Lapland boasts three of Santa's Bases: Santa Claus Village, Joulukka -- a holiday hideaway deep in the woods -- and SantaPark. These places have bustling Elf villages with features like Christmas exhibitions, sleigh rides, Santa Factory tours and even a Santa Claus Top Secret Command Center.
Vienna, Austria
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Vacationers can find Christmas markets on almost every corner in Vienna and buy Christmas gifts and food, as well as hot punch. Ride a horse-drawn carriage wrapped in warm rugs, drink a hot beverage or have a baked potato and listen to high-class street musicians in Vienna.
There are also ski slopes. One of the best slopes you can visit is the Hohe Wand-Wiese, located on the outskirts of Vienna and accessible via a 30-minute ride from the central part of the city. Located in Wienerwald, this slope has a 25 percent maximum incline and a ski lift 400 meters long.
Hohe Wand-Wiese has a top-of-the-line ski facility that has hosted major competitions. It also offers ski rentals and a ski school so you won't need to worry about equipment and training. Although the ticket might prove pricey, if you can afford it a trip to Vienna serves as a great last-minute Christmas vacation idea.
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- Photo Credit Christmas tree branch with blue Christmas ball image by emka from Fotolia.com
