<p>We were planning on a cruise from Miami - but after we looked at final numbers, one of the families feels they cannot do it this year. We’d like to substitute a driving vacation (all flights to any warm weather destinations are ridiculously expensive during the holidays).</p>
<p>We live near Boston and are willing to drive about 6 hours or so. Looking for suggestions on vacation destinations for the week of Christmas with something interesting to do. We are not big on skiing. Currently, Portland ME and New York City are two destinations we are considering.</p>
<p>Montreal is a great idea. Montreal and/or Quebec City would be very nice at Christmas and are within 6 hours. So is Cape May if you want to go south.
Washington DC is about 7 hours but there is lots of free stuff to do once you get there.</p>
<p>Great restaurants. Cliff walk along the sea. </p>
<p>November 23, 2013 - January 1, 2014
Christmas at the Newport Mansions
The Breakers, The Elms & Marble House
Open daily & decorated for the holidays</p>
<p>I also live just north of Portland and it is a delightful little city. Lots of good restaurants, lots of micro brews and brew pubs, good art museum, lots of galleries, nice symphony orchestra, etc. </p>
<p>If you come at Christmas time, be sure to visit the Victoria Mansion, which is decorated for the season. There are horse-drawn carriage rides and a narrow gauge railroad ride with Santa, both of which might appeal to little kids. The Symphony does a special program called The Magic of Christmas, and there is a Victorian Nutcracker and (usually) a theatrical production of A Christmas Carol. The light installations are really outstanding, done by a great lighting designer. Historic First Parish (UU) has a candlelight service on Christmas Eve and a pageant that has been done the same way for 90+ years (The original costumes are still in use. Some of them are made from fabrics brought back from Palestine by the Misses Longfellow, nieces of the poet), and St. Luke’s (Episcopalian) has Christmas at the Cathedral concerts.</p>
<p>If your family is interested in history/architecure, you should try to go to Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, NH. I love that place. They have a holiday event called the Candlelight Stroll, or something like that.</p>
<p>Washington DC is a 7 hour drive. Congress will be on vacation, but all the museums, monuments, and buildings will be open for tourists. There is a lot of history between Boston and DC you can take in to break up the drive.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. We went to Newport a couple of years ago - enjoyed the place. H and I have been to Portland, ME and loved it - but it was in late summer. It sounds like there’s enough to do there for a couple of days in winter too.</p>
<p>I’ll look at Cape May. Most of us have already been to Washington DC - so that doesn’t appeal to us as much and yes, NYC will be expensive at Christmas time.</p>
<p>How about Mystic, CT ? I’ve always wanted to visit - but don’t know if Christmas is a good time to go there…</p>
<p>Look at Twin Farms in Vermont. Don’t have to ski to enjoy it–lots of activities. Great food and a beautiful spot. Haven’t been there in the winter, but it’s a beautiful area and you could drive there.
[Twin</a> Farms - All Inclusive Vermont Resort and Spa | The Experience](<a href=“http://www.twinfarms.com/experience]Twin”>The Experience is Here | Twin Farms)</p>
<p>It really depends what you are looking to do. If you go to Cape May, plan on doing Christmas tours and going to wine-drinking events.</p>
<p>You could also look into Philadelphia and visit places like the Art Museum, Independence Hall, and Christmas Village. You stay at the right place and everything is within a 20 minute walk.</p>
<p>Philadelphia is another good idea. For something different there, there are also things like the Mummers Museum and an American Swedish Historical Museum. But as geo says, it really depends on what kind of vacation you are looking for. Visiting a city vs. visiting a resort, etc.</p>