Zero wanderlust ... especially this time of year.

I'd rather be home than anywhere else right now, but earlier this week a coworker did pique my interest in the Azores. I would love to see these amazing islands someday.

Christmas in a big rustic private ski lodge somewhere in Colorado or Montana sounds nice. Not practical b/c I won't leave the pups and it would be a very long drive to get them there from FL- but still sounds nice!

It does not feel like Christmas to me in FL ever. I'm very glad to not be in PA for the cold of winter, and I like taking the dogs to the doggy beach on Christmas, but it never feels like Christmas!

I always wanted to travel to.Portland Or to spend a Christmas Eve at my cousins big family gathering. I have so many of my cousins kids I never got to know since we were so far away. My aunt's and uncle have passed, kids grown and moved all over and the cousin I am closest too is moving cross country. Sigh.

I'd love to go to the Swiss Alps or a castle in Scotland.

Our whole family is really excited to be home for Christmas, for a change. We will go skiing for New Years but Christmas will be at home!

We all love to travel, and with kids in school, that means that they either miss school or you have to go in the summer or spring break. Or ... travel over the holidays.

We have done the latter to visit places in their prime season. So we have spent a Christmas in Tasmania (as part of a Austr/NZ) trip, Christmas in Antarctica and SA (you can't really go any other time but our winter), and even Christmas in, of all places, Saigon (as part of a Asia trip). We have also been to Jackson Hole for the holidays.

I have never been, but I know people who have loved the ranch-type places with lots of outdoor activities like Paws Up. I also,IIRC, think that Iceland would be cool for the Northern Lights. Years ago before I was married we went to Montreal and Quebec, lovely cities and good skiiing of course.

I do agree with you that the memories last a lot longer than most things under a tree, but it also means you miss out on the typical family rounds, too. And now that my kids have more demanding academics, I think they really enjoy a break.

I'd like to rent a condo in Mexico and have the kids join us. They are all adults and have to fly to get to our house, so it wouldn't be a larger expense for them.

One of my favorite Christmases growing up was in Copenhagen so I often think I would like to do that again. Otherwise i do not have a yen to be somewhere else on Christmas.

We travel to visit family on Christmas and although it has its challenges, my kids still look forward to seeing their extended families every year. Our friends take a holiday over the Christmas break and use it as an excuse not to put up a tree ("oh, we won't even be here..."). I get that logic, but my own kids would start a riot if we didn't put up a tree. We're not here on Christmas either but our holiday season is more than just the day.

Zermatt, Switzerland. ;)

I like to be home for Christmas.

I agree. Lisad. Even when we weren't home for Christmas, we would put up a tree too and do a "Christmas" morning, typically with small presents related to the trip.

I love Christmas where we are, in northern New Mexico. This Christmas has us scattered all over, though, as the big trip back east that DH and I planned fell apart for various reasons. Christmas day will see DH on the road from Alabama headed back to NM, mom and I in NM, Dad in Florida, and my brother in Texas.

I'd like to have us all gather in one place next year, and if not possible, DH and I go somewhere fun on our own. Maybe New York City, London or Paris.

The mountains. Snow, skating, sledding, fires...

or Provincetown, in the snow, sound of the harbor lapping the shore as snow falls, fog horn, walking an empty beach in the freezing cold, and walking down Commercial St. at night, again with snow falling, and looking at al the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations. I love the simplicity of it, and since it's off-season, the quietness and no crowds.

Annie <3

I prefer to be in my own home on Christmas morning. We spent a few Christmas holidays on the west coast with dh's family prior to having kids and a couple when the first two kids were very young, but now I prefer to be home. If I were to travel, I'd want to do so after Christmas, probably someplace cold and snowy where the kids could ski and I could curl up by a roaring fire with a good book. I'll save the beach vacation for the dead of winter (February) when I'm sick of the cold and dreary weather here. A couple of years ago, we went to Charleston, SC for five days b/w Christmas and NY Eve - had never been there and loved it. I like charming places decorated for the holidays at this time of year.

4kids - Charleston is great this time of year!

I have never been away from home for Christmas in my entire life! Brother and his wife live about 2 hours from here, but my sister and BIL are near and my dad. Hubby only has his mom now and she lives close by. So, they all will be here in our home with us for Christmas. I wouldn't have it any other way! We have traveled between Christmas and New Years, but not in recent years. Really, I love the quiet (after Christmas LOL) time here at home.

Here at home. We have traveled a few times over Christmas and missed not being home. It never felt 'right'.

I have traveled every Christmas for the last 40 years - planes, trains and cars.

I would love to stay home for just one Christmas...to experience what it is like to wake up in my own bed, plan for and prepare a breakfast and then dinner later, generally just enjoy the day and then say goodbye to visitors that night.

Airport - see you soon.

We like to be home for Christmas. It is tempting to go somewhere, but this year I am having cataract surgery on the 29th. Our oldest son and family went to Disneyworld last year, youngest son and his family are leaving today for SF and Yosemite, and DD is thinking about Disney for next year, and it is highly possible we will go too.

I'm answering in fantasy mode, because in reality, I'd rather stay home. But if everyone in my entire extended family could go, then I'd choose a castle in the UK. England, Ireland, Wales, or Scotland--any of those locations.

For Christmas Day, I'd rather be home. As someone who grew up in FL, it never feels right in cold, snowy places--not like Christmas at all, but someday I would like to go to Germany and Austria before Christmas for the christkindlesmarkts.

Switzerland. Or really any place in Europe. When the kids are bigger.

My brother and SIL are heading out to Belgium on Monday. I'm very jealous.

I don't know if this is even possible, but I've always wanted to take a real sleigh ride in New England, preferably all bundled up with snow falling.

joanie, me thinks not this winter...it's supposed to be up in the 60s on xmas eve day!

I'm with writers block - I've always wanted to spend some time in Germany or Austria for an old-fashioned Christmas and visit the traditional christkindlesmrkts. I'm not that far from Bethlehem, PA and they have a huge one - but for some reason I've never been there. I guess I'm holding out for the real thing.

My extended family and I rented this place in Pagosa Springs, Colorado for Christmas a number of years ago and it was wonderful. Snow fell, the fire roared inside while we all sat around and played Cranium, and on Christmas Eve we attended a sweet carol service in the barn.

Jen, that picture is exactly what I was dreaming of. Perfection! And yes, at night, snuggled in front of a big stone fireplace. Ahhhhh. :)

We came so close to being in Vienna, Austria for Christmas ('88), but moved to Canada from there, that November. I got the snow I wanted .... a bit too much.

So, my answer would be what Jen posted. My other fantasy is Italy. I was looking on VRBO last night, and found this. I can't believe the great price:

https://www.vrbo.com/899715ha

I've recently found myself reminiscing about the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) in Bonn, Germany, from when I studied abroad in college. I wouldn't do Bonn, necessarily, but maybe Munich, or Berlin. I don't know that I would necessarily want to be in Germany for Christmas itself (Germany kind of shuts down for a week), but December, definitely.

I'm in Switzerland this week for Xmas. I arrived too late in the month to see the Xmas market in the small town I'm visiting, I was in Lucerne yesterday and they had a market but I didn't spend much time there, we spent more time walking along the lake.

Today we drove a little over an hour to Colmar, France to see their Xmas market. it was crowded, very, very crowded, but it was a beautiful, mild day so we expected that.

It was quaint little wooden huts selling all the usual stuff you can buy in the shops, very few unique or handcrafted items. There was a majority of food stalls - chocolate, wine, bakery items. It was a wonderful day even if I'm not a shopper.

eta: Obviously, I don't have any problem not being home for Xmas. I am spending time with family on this trip but not my everyday family. I don't stick to many traditions, I like to mix things up and have new experiences.

Oooh, jealous of hhireno. Sounds incredible.

Jealous here too! The only Christmas I've spent away from family was a few years ago. DH and I went to Chincoteague Island. Talk about quiet. We were the only ones in the place we stayed. Anticipating (correctly) that there wouldn't be any place open for Christmas dinner I brought "dinner" with us. Cheeses and sausages, crostini, pickles, that sort of thing. Things that needed only refrigeration. Packed real silverware, plates, glasses, and napkins. Add a bottle of wine and what more do you need? It was wonderful.

I mentioned to dh how much I liked last Crhistmas traveling. He suggested we consider Hawaii in the future. It's the only place in the world I have been that he has not and the kids haven't been either. It's a good suggestion I think.