Best destinations to visit in December in North America
Best destinations to visit in December in North America
December is one of the busiest travel months of the year across North America, driven almost entirely by the holidays.
Christmas travel fills airports and highways in the days surrounding the holiday, with families traveling to see relatives or heading somewhere warm together instead. Ski resorts across the continent move into full season, with snow conditions typically much more reliable than earlier in the winter. The Caribbean and coastal Mexico enter their busiest, driest stretch of the year, popular with travelers escaping the cold further north. National parks stay quiet through most of the month, aside from a handful of destinations built specifically around winter activities. Booking well ahead matters more than usual, given how much of the region travels during this same stretch.
The destinations on our list for North America reflect that same range, from full ski season snow to warm holiday escapes.
Lists by region
City in United States
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
Like a giant snow globe, midtown Manhattan is full of lights in December and the Rockefeller Center tree, lit in late November, stays up into January. Fifth Avenue store windows have moving holiday scenes. Skaters circle the rink below the tree while street carts sell hot roasted nuts to keep hands warm.
City in United States
Chicago
Skyline, Deep-Dish and Jazz Nights
From mid November to Christmas Eve the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza has wooden stalls where shoppers sip hot spiced wine and buy glass ornaments. Skaters circle the rink at Maggie Daley Park while the holiday windows on State Street are busy with crowds on cold nights. Deep dish pizza is nearby for lunch.
City in United States
Washington, D.C.
Capital of History and Culture
Cold air and white lights are part of the scene at the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse each December while skaters glide at the ice rink in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. The Smithsonian museums on the National Mall are free and warm inside. The Lincoln Memorial is lit after dark.
City in United States
Phoenix
Desert sun, art and adventure
Winters in this Sonoran Desert valley are mild with December highs in the mid 60s and clear skies that are ideal for sunrise hikes up Camelback Mountain. At the Desert Botanical Garden thousands of candlelit paper bags are set along the paths during an event called Las Noches de las Luminarias.
City in United States
New Orleans
Jazz, Creole Flavors and Mardi Gras Vibes
Many restaurants serve reveillon dinners in December, a Creole custom that began as a long feast after midnight mass on Christmas Eve and is now a multicourse menu. In City Park old oak trees are covered in lights during Celebration in the Oaks. Live jazz plays most nights in the clubs on Frenchmen Street.
City in Mexico
Mexico City
Vibrant Culture, History and Street Food
The city is more than 7,000 feet up in a high valley so December days are sunny and nights are cool. From 16 to 24 December neighbourhoods hold posadas, parties that act out Mary and Joseph's search for a room. The Zocalo plaza has a giant tree and an ice rink.
City in Canada
Montreal
A city of festivals, food and culture
By early December the stone streets of Old Montreal are dusted with snow and candlelit Christmas concerts are held in Notre-Dame Basilica. Skaters circle the open air rink at the Old Port while shoppers walk the underground tunnels when the wind is sharp. Late at night a plate of poutine is good for cold hands.
City in United States
Scottsdale (Arizona)
Desert luxury meets Western charm
Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school, was built in 1937 with local stone and stands on the desert floor. Tours go through its rooms while December air is mild and dry. Golfers tee off on desert courses and Old Town has galleries and tasting rooms close together.
Outer Territory in United States
Puerto Rico
Caribbean rhythms, rainforests and beaches
From late November to mid January the island is in full holiday mode with friends holding parrandas, groups that surprise neighbours at the door with guitars and drums. Old San Juan has bluish cobbled streets and lit balconies. Roast pork turns on spits at roadside stands in Guavate.
Island in United States
Oahu
Hawaii’s Vibrant Island Adventure
The Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore has huge waves in winter and pro surfers gather there each December for the Pipeline Masters contest. On the south shore Waikiki has gentle waves and warm water. From the top of the Diamond Head hike there are views of the city and the sea.
City in Canada
Quebec City
Old World Charm in North America
Families here gather for reveillon, a late Christmas Eve feast with tourtiere, a spiced meat pie, while snow lies on the walls of the old town. Riders race down the Dufferin Terrace toboggan slide beside the river. Petit Champlain Street has lit shop windows and cafes with thick hot chocolate.
City in United States
Park City (Utah)
Where Olympic dreams meet culture
Dry powder squeaks underfoot on Main Street in December where old silver mining buildings are now shops and restaurants. Two big ski resorts, Park City Mountain and Deer Valley, open by early December and free buses run from town to the lifts. After skiing, crowds gather around outdoor fire pits.
Town in Canada
Banff
Rocky Mountain Majesty, Endless Adventure
Railway workers found hot springs here in 1883 and a national park was created around them soon after. In December skiers go to Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay and then soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs while snow falls on the steaming water. Elk wander through town at dusk.
Lake in Canada
Lake Louise
Turquoise Gem of the Canadian Rockies
Princess Louise, a daughter of Queen Victoria, gave this lake its name in 1884. By December the water is under thick ice so skaters glide on a cleared rink below Victoria Glacier while cross country skiers follow groomed trails along the shore. The ski area across the valley opens in early November.
City in United States
Palm Springs
Desert Modernism and Mountain Views
In the 1930s movie stars slipped away to this desert town for weekends because Hollywood was only a two hour drive away. December days reach the low 70s under blue skies. A rotating tram car goes up Mount San Jacinto in about ten minutes to cold air and snow at the top.
Outer Territory in United States
U.S. Virgin Islands
Caribbean Paradise with U.S. Convenience
Denmark sold these islands to the United States in 1917 and Danish forts and old yellow buildings still stand in Christiansted on St. Croix. December has warm water and steady trade winds for snorkellers who swim over reefs at Trunk Bay on St. John. Much of that island is a national park with quiet beaches.
Country
Costa Rica
Lush rainforests, stunning beaches, pure adventure
Many homes set up a portal, a small nativity scene, during December as the dry season begins and the Pacific coast turns sunny. Surfers ride the breaks at Santa Teresa while howler monkeys call from the trees in Manuel Antonio National Park. The cloud forest trails near Monteverde are cool and misty.
City in Mexico
Cabo San Lucas
Arches, Beaches, Nightlife and Adventure
At the tip of the Baja peninsula the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez come together near El Arco, a stone arch that boats visit on morning tours. Humpback whales start to arrive by late December and the days are sunny and mild. Evenings are cool enough for a light jacket on Medano Beach.
City in Canada
Whistler
Alpine Adventure, Epic Views, Year-Round Fun
Two mountains stand across the valley from each other and a gondola runs between their peaks. Snow is usually deep by mid December for skiers who have more than 8,000 acres of terrain. The pedestrian village has lights at night and Vancouver is about two hours south on the Sea to Sky Highway.
Island in United States
Maui
Island of Sun, Surf and Serenity
The air at Kaanapali Beach is warm and smells of plumeria flowers while humpback whales return from Alaska in December and breach offshore. Before dawn drivers go up to the summit of Haleakala to watch the sunrise above the clouds. Mornings are for snorkelling at Molokini, a crescent islet.
Country
Guatemala
Land of diverse climates, volcanoes
Like a postcard, Antigua has cobbled streets and colonial arches under three volcanoes. On 7 December families burn devil figures and old junk in a ritual called Quema del Diablo. Hikers climb Acatenango in cool dry air hoping to see the nearby Fuego volcano glow at night from camp.
City in United States
Key West
Tropical charm at the end of the road
A painted concrete buoy at the Southernmost Point is 90 miles from Cuba and the December days are warm and dry. Duval Street is full of holiday lights while lighted boats parade around the harbour. At sunset crowds gather at Mallory Square to watch street acts as the sun sets over the Gulf.
City in United States
Aspen
Rocky Mountain Glam Meets Outdoor Thrills
The Silver Queen Gondola is a short walk from the shops in town and the lifts open in the week of Thanksgiving. Snow is often deep by mid December at the four nearby ski areas, which have runs for every skill level. The Hyman Avenue pedestrian mall has lit storefronts and fireplaces for cosy evenings.
Country
Belize
Tropical paradise with diverse ecosystems
Warm breezes and the smell of grilled fish are part of life on the cayes, the small islands off the coast, where December has less rain and calm seas. Snorkellers swim with nurse sharks and rays at Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Inland there are jungle trails to the Maya temple of Xunantunich.
Country
Saint Lucia
Tropical paradise with volcanic mountains
Like two green pyramids the Pitons rise straight from the sea while December has dry weather and calm water for boat tours along the coast. Sulphur Springs has steaming vents and bubbling mud pools where swimmers dip into warm mineral baths. Nearby cocoa farms have tours and chocolate tastings.
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