Top places to visit for Christmas 2014
While many people associate the holiday season with heading home to gather with loved ones in order to enjoy each other's company, great food, and interesting gifts in beautifully decorated surroundings, even these traditions can get tiring for some folks on occasion.
When this occurs, why not hit the road for Christmas and see how another part of the globe celebrates this revered season? The weather might be more to your liking, the intensity of the holiday may be on an entirely different level than in the place where you live presently, and the traditions might differ completely from what you are used to in your upbringing.
If nothing else, the lack of work getting done during this period makes it a great time to see a part of the world that you have been longing to see for a very long time. In that spirit, here are some of the top places to visit during the 2014 holiday season...
New York City, USA
Those looking for an unforgettable Christmas on the road will certainly find it in New York City. It all starts in Rockefeller Plaza, where a gigantic Norway Spruce tree (usually 70-100 feet tall) is the centerpiece that sets the tone for the holiday season in the midst of Manhattan. Go skating beneath this behemoth, as joining New York locals in a lap around this iconic rink is a seasonal activity that is treasured by many here.
Following this, be sure to check out a holiday show, particularly Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular, as it features The Rockettes, a group of entertainers that are a perennial holiday favourite in this city. Finally, go shopping for gifts at FAO Schwartz, which is NYC's (and the world's) most famous toy store … just be sure that one of you is keeping the kid's occupied with something like a walk through Central Park before getting this important task done.
Sydney, Australia
Love the idea of Christmas, but don't like the snow, cold, and darkness that come along with it? Then flip hemispheres and head to Sydney, the cosmopolitan capital of Australia. Here, you will be landing smack dab in the midst of the Southern summer, with daily temperatures easily exceeding thirty degrees Celsius every day Down Under during late December.
Bondi Beach is packed with foreign tourists on Christmas Day, waving the flags of their nation as they enjoy the Christmas spirit, sans knitted hat or winter jacket. Instead of a turkey, grill up some steak and open gifts as the warm waves of the South Pacific lap upon the sands before you, thinking briefly on all the snow you left behind at home before returning to the present moment so you can enjoy one of the most unique holidays of your life.
Barbados, Caribbean
There’s nothing quite like Christmas in the Caribbean, so swap the powdery white snow for sugary-white sands and spend your Christmas drinking rum punch on the beach. The people of Barbados love Christmas and many of the businesses and homes are decorated for the holidays. The capital city of Bridgetown is lit up in red and green, while the roundabouts have different Christmas themes! On Christmas Day Barbadians put on their finest outfits and head to Queen’s Park in Bridgetown, where they meet up with friends and loved ones- a tradition that existed for many years.
The island also boasts some incredible restaurants and gastronomic gems, including The Tides, Cin Cin by the Sea and Champers. But without a doubt the most dramatic restaurant venue is The Cliff, which is as its name suggests, is perched on the edge of a cliff with a romantic view of the ocean.
Barbados is a popular vacation spot for many celebrities, with Rihanna and X-Factor boss Simon Cowell often spotted at One Sandy Lane over Christmas.