With the holidays in full swing, many families find themselves with a little bit of extra vacation time during the winter. While some may spend that time planning large family gatherings or trying to relax after the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, a number of families use this time as a way to enjoy a vacation away from home before the kids have to be back in school and everyone has to go back to work. If you are thinking of a winter getaway, here are 10 of the most popular vacation destinations during the winter months.

Mont Tremblant, Quebec

Located in the Laurentian Mountains, Mont Tremblant is a popular venue for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. With over 600 acres of useable snow, Mont Tremblant is renowned as one of the best destinations for wintertime fun. Skiers from all over the world travel to Quebec in order to take advantage of Tremblant’s pristine slopes.

Hershey, Pennsylvania

Home to Hershey’s candy, this Pennsylvania town can be a wonderful place to visit if you are travelling just before Christmas. Each year, Hershey Park is completely transformed into a Christmas candy land that absolutely must be seen in order to be believed. This can be an especially rewarding trip if travelling with children, as it can give them amazing stories to tell when they get back to school.

Sundance Ski Resort

Sundance, Utah, is home not only to the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival but also to a ski resort beyond compare. In addition to being able to enjoy well-manicured slopes for skiing and snowboarding, the resort is located within an hour of three major Utah cities so that you can enjoy some shopping and fine dining after a fun time in the snow.

Yellowstone National Park

Mostly known as a summertime destination, Yellowstone features a number of winter programs as well as those, which encourage visitors to learn more about the natural world around them. While not everyone thinks that a learning vacation sounds like fun, few sights can compare to being able to see and learn about Yellowstone in wintertime.

New England

A number of destinations in the New England area are transformed into a portrait of years gone by when winter comes. The New England that was captured in the beloved paintings of Norman Rockwell comes to life as the historical towns and cities put on their best winter decorations, while the Sugarloaf ski resort opens for business to accommodate those interested in winter sports.

Lake Tahoe

A popular winter destination for years, Lake Tahoe provides visitors with access to ski resorts as well as the nearby excitement of Carson City, Nevada. Those looking for a beautiful vacation destination should not be disappointed by the amazing view of the Rocky Mountains that can be seen from the slopes of Lake Tahoe.

Caribbean

For a completely different type of vacation, consider taking a cruise of the Caribbean. Not only can this help you to get away from the cold weather, but it can also give you a taste of what the holidays are like for those who do not live in an area that traditionally receives a lot of snow. Once you experience a Caribbean Christmas, you may never be able to look at a traditional Christmas the same way again.

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen is one of the most famous ski destinations in the world and a winter spent in Aspen is a winter that can always be remembered. In addition to having some of the most beautiful ski slopes that can be found anywhere, the town surrounding the ski areas has a rich culture and history that simply is not to be missed. From a day on the slopes to a night enjoying the amazing artistic community that exists in and around Aspen, you should never regret your choice to spend a vacation in Aspen.

Rockefeller Center, New York

Nothing says Christmas quite like the image of Rockefeller Center decked out in all of its holiday glory. Used as an icon of the holidays in films, stories, and photographs, a winter vacation to New York simply is not complete without taking the time to visit Rockefeller Center and see exactly how much effort is put in to transforming it into a symbol of peace and Christmas joy.

Orlando, Florida

If you just want to get away from the cold of the holidays but are not interested in travelling too far from home, Orlando can be the perfect winter destination. With a multitude of theme parks (and the holiday programs offered by each), there is plenty for the whole family to do. You can also set aside some time to simply enjoy the Florida weather, ignoring the fact that it is much colder at home.

The Bahamas

The Bahamas make up a group of islands just south of Miami. This lush, tropical locale draws visitors from around the world with its beautiful climate and year-round sunshine. In addition to the near perfect weather, the Bahamas offer distinctive and unique ports of call that appeal to almost every type of traveller. And no matter which island you visit, you are sure to find some of the best diving sites in the world.

When visiting the Bahamas, it is important to remember that with tropical weather, comes heavy rain and thunderstorms at certain times of the year. While these storms typically last for under an hour, most visitors are advised against booking their trip during the rainy season.

The Bahamas offer rich international culture that is accessible and welcoming to English speakers. The atmosphere, though exotic, is familiar and comfortable. Many visitors flock to the Grand Bahamas Island port of call, which offers tourists fabulous shopping in Newport and opulent resorts and casinos in Nassau.

One only needs to take an aerial view of the Bahamas to get a picture of palm fringed beaches and crystal clear azure waters that make these islands an ideal tropical escape.

Bermuda

Bermuda makes up an archipelago of about 150 islands. The year round climate is consistently tropical and mild, and the gently lapping waves and sandy pink shores make this destination ideal for romantic getaways.

Bermuda appeals to those who are looking for idyllic sandy beaches and quaint seaside cottages. Land vacations are notoriously expensive in this part of the world, which makes cruising a perfect alternative.

Anchoring at St. George allows day visitors a chance to enjoy a round of golf, or an opportunity to view the breathtakingly beautiful sea life in a glass bottomed boat. For the more adventurous, scuba diving excursions can be arranged. And for travellers looking for ultimate relaxation, a long laze on one of Bermuda’s stunning, sun drenched beaches makes an ideal vacation memory.

Caribbean Cruise Ships

It is usual for cruises to depart from the United States. Along the way, ships often dock at ports along the eastern seaboard including New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Some of the most convenient ports of calls for Caribbean cruises are Hamilton, St. George and the Dockyard.

Caribbean cruises are a perfect choice for those who want to spend time with their friends or loved ones. While on board, you will have plenty of opportunities to connect with your travel mates, like midnight deck parties, or for the romantically inclined, candlelight dinners under the stars. Onboard entertainment appeals to travellers of all ages.

Onboard Cruise Ship Amenities

Not all cruises include island ports of call. If you do opt for a cruise that lands at port, you’ll have a variety of activities and excursions to choose from. Wind surfing or jet skiing, scuba diving and shopping or simply lying on pristine beaches are among some of the exciting options. But for many, being treated to spectacular calm ocean views, poolside relaxation and plentiful onboard activities is enough for an ideal vacation

Many Caribbean cruise ships have onboard beauty salons and spas to indulge and rejuvenate guests. For those who want to get their heart rates up, lots of cruises offer fun, on ship sporting activities, like golf lessons or aerobic classes.

The luxurious cabin accommodations onboard most Caribbean cruise lines make guests feel pampered and relaxed. Cruise travellers will also enjoy decadent meals in picturesque dining rooms.

While some cruises are casual and relaxed, others offer travellers the opportunity to dress up for upscale dinners and entertainment events. There may also be formal evenings when travellers are required to wear gowns and tuxedos.

There are countless Caribbean cruise lines to choose from. Many offer privacy for couples, while others offer special packages tailored to families or groups travelling together. The great thing about family orientated cruise vacations is that children will be treated to almost endless fun activities, allowing parents much needed adult time. With the kids busy at play, mom and dad can enjoy a romantic walk on the deck, or a romantic, quiet dinner.

Whether you are a romantic couple, a family or fun loving group, there’s a Bermuda and Bahamas cruise vacation that’s perfect for you.

Among the many pioneering elements that Norwegian Cruise Line has introduced to the industry, is free-style dining. Breaking tradition with the stuffy practice of a rigid dining schedule with pre-assigned seats, dress code and limited menus, NCL has brought the convenience of open dining to the sea. Not only do passengers have a range of anywhere between 6 to a dozen dining facilities from which to choose at any given time but each dining facility has a different genre of menu to offer. From pre-prepared cafeteria-style to be chosen and loaded onto your tray, to the main dining halls where menus are served around a theme and dress is casual, to the upscale dining experience that so many have come to expect and enjoy on a luxury cruise line. Of course, for an additional fee, passengers with a taste for the more exotic delicacies and the more discerning pallet can choose from a number of small, ethnically themed restaurants such as Ethiopian, French-Vietnamese and Italian to name a few.

For most of us, good food is always an attraction, and for the 7 pounds that the average passenger gains each week they’re on board the cruise, there are also a number of on-board activities and pursuits from which passengers may choose. An Olympic-sized pool is always a major attraction in the hot-summer months. And a fully-equipped gym allows the health-minded to mind their physique while vacationing. A number of lounges, dancehalls, bars and stages provide venues for theater, stand-up and musical performance which are also all included in the price of the vacation. So this leaves you with additional money with which you may choose to gamble away in international waters.

Norwegian Cruise Lines has ten large ships in it’s fleet, the most luxurious of the 10 being the Norwegian Star which alternately runs the Alaskan cruise in the Summer months and a Mexican cruise in the Winter months. The Norwegian Spirit also cruises out to Alaska but in the Summer it crosses down into the Caribbean. The Norwegian Wind will sail to many major areas through out the year. The Pride of Aloha, as one might think, focuses on cruises in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The New York to Florida and Caribbean routes are covered by the Norwegian Dawn. The Norwegian Sea sails from Houston to the Caribbean and the Norwegian Majesty sails through Mexico, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

No matter where your tastes will take you, the Norwegian Cruise Line has your destination covered. From innovative techniques in boarding passengers and troubleshooting, to time-honored customs that involve full frills customer service and opulent productions, Norwegian Cruise Lines sets the bar for high-end quality and affordable luxury cruise at all price points. And they continue to improve on the old adage “Getting there is half the fun”.