| Despite the high cost of fuel and other travel | | | | Grand Ole Opry as well as special holiday programs at |
| expenses, an estimated 63.5 million Americans are | | | | the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Nashville's historic |
| planning to travel at least 50 miles or more from | | | | homes are also dressed up for the holidays, so think |
| home this Christmas and New Year. Hotel rates are | | | | about taking a bus tour of the city to enjoy the |
| up nearly 15% at some popular destinations, yet | | | | spectacular lights and decorations. |
| bookings are full or nearly full. | | | | International Destinations |
| So where do all of these people plan to go? | | | | International travel is always popular around the |
| Domestic Destinations | | | | holidays, and Americans are flocking to destinations all |
| According to AAA of the United States, here are the | | | | over the globe this holiday season. |
| top destinations based on the number of bookings | | | | Australia |
| for each location. | | | | It is icy and cold across much of the northern United |
| Florida | | | | States, but summer in Australia! For cultural |
| Orlando is the top destination for fairly obvious | | | | attractions and urban festivities, tourists stop in |
| reasons but Ft. Lauderdale is also in the top ten. | | | | Melbourne and enjoy some Christmas Carols at the |
| Florida offers a wealth of activities and options for | | | | Myer Music Bowl, or visit the famed Opera House in |
| families, singles, and all types of traveler. Perennial | | | | Sydney. |
| favorite Disney World will attract hundreds of | | | | Since Christmas falls at the beginning of summer in |
| thousands of visitors between Christmas and New | | | | Australia, many holiday visitors spend their vacation |
| Year's Eve, while other Florida attractions like | | | | at a spectacular beach location such as Shark Bay, |
| Gatorland, Kennedy Space Center, and the | | | | where diving enthusiasts can swim with dolphins and |
| Everglades will also be popular. It is also common for | | | | sharks, or along the Queensland Gold Coast, an area |
| the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale to be filled with | | | | with over 30 kilometers of beautiful sandy beaches |
| vacationers during the holiday season, which is | | | | plus great restaurants, shopping, and an ever-present |
| second only to spring break in terms of number of | | | | nightlife. |
| tourists. | | | | If you want a truly amazing holiday experience, go to |
| It is not too late to check out some of the great last | | | | Australia's Christmas Island, a pristine island that is |
| minute deals throughout Florida. With a little research | | | | largely a National Park and home to amazing plants |
| and a willingness to be flexible, you can still enjoy | | | | and animals. You can scuba dive with whale sharks, |
| Florida this holiday season. | | | | enjoy the peace and quiet of a bird watching |
| California | | | | excursion, or seek adventure with a sport fishing trip |
| California has three cities in the top ten travel | | | | in search of sailfish, tuna and wahoo. |
| destinations this holiday season -- Los Angeles, San | | | | Corsica |
| Francisco and San Diego. All three offer a wide range | | | | This is one of the jewels of the Mediterranean, |
| of activities for tourists of all ages, and the generally | | | | offering an amazing array of food, activities, and |
| pleasant December weather in California makes it a | | | | traditional holiday celebrations. Corsica is famous for |
| favorite place for vacationers from colder climates in | | | | its hospitality and beautiful lands, so it definitely |
| need of sunshine. | | | | belongs on your "short list" of exotic holiday |
| The Los Angeles area is the gateway to Disneyland | | | | getaways. |
| and Knott's Berry Farm, two extremely popular | | | | Corsica is home to varied landscapes, ranging from |
| amusement parks. Just a short drive to the south | | | | sparkling beaches and Mediterranean ocean reserves |
| and east is San Diego, a relaxing area that is home to | | | | to towering mountains and nature parks. Traditional |
| a laid-back lifestyle of beaches, surfing, and shopping. | | | | holiday festivals include the renowned Fiera di a |
| If an urban experience is more to your liking, opt for | | | | Castagna, or Chestnut Fair. This annual event attracts |
| San Francisco, where you can enjoy international | | | | tens of thousands of visitors each year, who are |
| culture, a ride on the famous cable cars, a visit to the | | | | treated to arts, crafts, food and entertainment |
| Golden Gate Bridge, and a winding trip down Lombard | | | | related to one of the islands main products, the |
| Street, touted as the "crookedest street" in the | | | | chestnut. It is a holiday tradition for tourists from |
| world. | | | | across the European continent, and well worth |
| Other great holiday escapes | | | | exploring on your holiday vacation. |
| Some of the other most popular holiday escapes in | | | | United Kingdom |
| the United States include New York City, Chicago, | | | | For a unique holiday experience, check out the United |
| Boston, Nashville and Las Vegas. | | | | Kingdom this year. It is a perennially popular spot due |
| The holidays are legendary in New York City, with | | | | to the many places of historical significance as well as |
| ice-skating in Central Park and the elegant | | | | culture and the arts. In London itself, you can see |
| decorations around Rockefeller Center. In Chicago, | | | | Parliament, visit the Tower of London, hear the |
| visitors flock to the Navy Pier Winter Wonderfest as | | | | sounds of Big Ben chiming the time, or ride a famed |
| well as the famous holiday window display at Marshall | | | | double Decker bus all around the city. |
| Field's department store. You can't beat Boston, | | | | Visit Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in |
| though, for a traditional New England holiday vacation. | | | | the world and home to the British Sovereign for 900 |
| Check out the Prudential Center Christmas Tree, | | | | years. You can tour this magnificent structure, |
| walk the Freedom Trail of historic Revolutionary War | | | | getting a taste of the history and tradition of the |
| era sites, or do something entirely different and take | | | | British monarchy. When the Queen is in residence, |
| Boston Duck Tour on a World War II era amphibious | | | | you will see her standard flying high atop the round |
| vehicle. | | | | tower, visible from all directions as you enter the |
| Looking for something a bit different? Consider Las | | | | town. |
| Vegas for the holidays, where the abundance of | | | | If something sweeter is more to your liking, venture |
| holiday lights dwarfs even the normal profusion of | | | | to Birmingham's own Cadbury World, known as the |
| neon and color. Every casino along the strip works to | | | | chocolate paradise. There you can learn all about the |
| outdo the others with lights and decorations, with | | | | famous Cadbury Chocolates, enjoy samples, and |
| some of the most amazing displays located at | | | | watch how the chocolates are made, wrapped and |
| Caesars Palace, the Bellagio and the Monte Carlo. | | | | packed. Father Christmas is on site throughout the |
| One of the most relaxed holiday destinations in the | | | | holidays, greeting children of all ages with a present |
| U.S. is Nashville, home to the "down home country | | | | of their very own. |
| Christmas" festivities at the Opryland Resort and | | | | |