Marc Muench / Alamy A girl on a donkey leads a candle-carrying procession past San Miguel de Allende 's shops festooned with piñatas and poinsettias. When they stop before a Spanish-colonial building and break into song, you realize you're witnessing the reenactment of Joseph and Mary's search for shelter that takes place in the days leading up to Christmas.
With the kids out of school and vacation time saved up, visiting with family is just one travel option for the end of the year. Getaways to warm locales such as Florida and the Caribbean are also popular for those that would rather not have a White Christmas this year.
Many follow a "there is no place like home" sort of Christmas policy when it comes to where they want to be for the holidays. Others find this a great time of the year to travel and see a different part of the country (or even the world).
The long school break from Christmas to New Year's is peak time for travel, and planning ahead is essential for popular spots. Christmas Vacation Packages Twenty ideas for getaways in the U.S., from a New England Inn (where families can decorate a small tree in their room) to a dude ranch in Colorado, to an island in Florida, with plenty of Christmas spirit at all.
