topic Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas in Travel

Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

VaBelle35 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 17:32:18 GMT

I'm looking for ideas for a convenient location for my family to meet and celebrate Christmas.

I was looking at Cape May as an option and wondering if there are other options in the NJ/NY/PA area as we would all be driving from Virginia or Long Island.

ETA: Ages are 19-85

Thanks.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

VaBelle35 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 15:40:46 GMT

We did Williamsburg a few years ago and everyone had a great time, but that's a little too far to drive for the Long Island wing of the family, so we want to stay above the Mason/Dixon line this time ;o)

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

meem120 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 15:55:10 GMT

Kalahari Resort in the Poconos or Great Wolf Lodge

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 16:03:53 GMT

My daughter spent Christmas on a ship one year. Her mother-in-law cruises year around (been around the world 3 times).

So my daughter, her husband and their 4 children, his brother and sister and their families (a total of 22 people) went on a week long cruise over Christmas.

The cruise line was very accommodating as far as transferring the gifts (some have young children). The kids had so much fun they want to do it every year.

It's something to think about. I thought the logistics (i.e. gifts, etc) would be a nightmare, but it wasn't because, like I said, people do it all of the time and the cruise ship was (according to my daughter) wonderful about making it all easy!

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

VaBelle35 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 17:18:40 GMT

A cruise is interesting. We're all adults now, so no gift exchanges to worry about. This is why we tend to go for experiences and fun vs gift giving.

I'll have to see where ships sail out of. I know Nova Scotia has cruises.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

VaBelle35 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 17:31:39 GMT

@meem120 wrote:
Kalahari Resort in the Poconos or Great Wolf Lodge

Kalahari looks good. We're all adults, the youngest will be 19.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

SandPiper — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 18:04:55 GMT

@VaBelle35 New York City has a cruise port and so does Bayonne, NJ.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

lulu1 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 18:54:31 GMT

@VaBelle35

How many days are we talking? If it's just Christmas, unless it's a city, hotel or resort, it isn't always easy to find a place open on Christmas Day.

Philadelphia is kind of in the middle geographically for everyone. Of course I think there is no place like NYC for the holidays.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

VaBelle35 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 20:46:32 GMT

Just the 2 days, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for the majority, some of us will stay longer.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

proudlyfromNJ — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 20:58:45 GMT

We did Cape May NJ one Christmas. Arrived Christmas Eve and stayed a couple days. Stayed at a huge old Victorian house. Angel of the Sea.

Not all restaurants and stores were open but it was not crowded and very relaxing.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

VaBelle35 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 21:37:21 GMT

@proudlyfromNJ wrote:
We did Cape May NJ one Christmas. Arrived Christmas Eve and stayed a couple days. Stayed at a huge old Victorian house. Angel of the Sea.
Not all restaurants and stores were open but it was not crowded and very relaxing.

Thanks! We all love Cape May, so I think that would be the easy sell.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

riley1 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 21:37:46 GMT

I love NYC for the holidays

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

jlkz — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 23:58:47 GMT

@VaBelle35

If you have never visited Cape May at Christmas, you are in for a treat !

The shops on the Pavilion Promenade are open, decorated for the season and welcome customers/ browsers with a beverage and trays of cookies. Restaurants are dressed in holiday finery.

The homes are decorated with greens and sparkling white lights ( every now and again you may find traditional holiday color ones ). The horse carriage rides with blankets will take you comfortably through the small streets.

Check on line for the great selection of cuisines. See if reservations are needed.

Happy Gathering !

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

VaBelle35 — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 00:47:30 GMT

Thanks. I will make some calls tomorrow to Cape May.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

sunshine45 — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 05:15:44 GMT

there is a beautiful christmas display at longwood gardens, which is just outside of philadelphia. you could spend one day in the city seeing sites and one day at longwood gardens.

Poinsettias, magnificent trees, and fragrant flowers transform our Conservatory into a holiday wonderland. Outside, colorful fountains dance to festive music, strolling carolers herald the season with song, and a half-million twinkling lights await.

https://longwoodgardens.org/events-and-performances/events/longwood-christmas

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

VaBelle35 — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 21:06:35 GMT

Thanks.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

reiki604 — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:09:00 GMT

Mohonk Mountain House in NY between New Paltz and Kerhonkson is absolutely beautiful.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

Nuttmeg — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 19:33:03 GMT

@VaBelle35 wrote:
A cruise is interesting. We're all adults now, so no gift exchanges to worry about. This is why we tend to go for experiences and fun vs gift giving.

I'll have to see where ships sail out of. I know Nova Scotia has cruises.

The Queen Mary 2 cruise ship out of Brooklyn New York. The company runs cruise to the Caribbean..

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

VaBelle35 — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 22:48:37 GMT

@reiki604 wrote:
Mohonk Mountain House in NY between New Paltz and Kerhonkson is absolutely beautiful.

Their Christmas weekend sounds like a Hallmark Movie. If I can't get my family to go away, I am doing this by myself.

Re: Suggestions: NY/NJ/PA Location to Celebrate Christmas

riley1 — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 16:07:22 GMT

My friend has spent many a holiday time at Mohonk - it is right out of a Hallmark movie.