St. Patrick’s Cathedral Exterior
Tony Pleavin, Dublin Regional Tours
Christmas is widely considered one of the worst travel times of the year, with flight prices jumping up and delays regularly occurring due to winter weather.
If you’re going to brave the airports this year, why not use those two extra days to your advantage and venture off to a new and exciting destination? With a variety
of travelers in mind, VirtualTourist members and editors compiled this list.
1. Cartagena, Colombia
If you want to truly escape the daily grind, how about traveling to a historical spot in a tropical climate? Cartagena, located on the Caribbean Sea, is an ideal escape, with its romantic Spanish colonial buildings lining brick streets. The city is also filled with amazing history — its Old Town boasts the most extensive
fortifications in all of South America and they are recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Exercisers can stroll the 400-year-old stone walls that surround the city, and military history buffs will greatly enjoy the Castillo de San Felipe, a fort built by the Spanish to defend the port.
Left: Architecture in Charleston.
Charleston Area CVB
2. Charleston, South Carolina
A great quick jaunt out of town, while staying within the United States, is picturesque Charleston, S.C. With its historical buildings and Southern charm, it is the perfect locale for a weekend getaway. The city is increasingly wellknown for its culinary scene, so check out The Ordinary for oysters and Husk for Southern fare. Charleston has some of the best preserved architecture in America, so stroll Lower Meeting Street and the Battery to get an eyeful of traditional Southern mansions and original ironwork. For those who enjoy outdoor athletics, nearby Kiawah Island and Hilton Head Island have some of the United States’ best golf courses and are equally picturesque. As if the town needed any more draws, the average temperature around Thanksgiving is approximately 66 degrees.
3. Dublin, Ireland
If you’re looking for a quick European jaunt, few Western Europe cities lend themselves to a brief but fulfilling trip like Dublin, Ireland. The city is incredibly walkable with bridges over the River Liffey and many available walking
tours. For historians, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the few buildings left from the medieval city of Dublin, in addition to being Ireland’s largest cathedral. The Book of Kells, the famous manuscript containing the Latin texts of the Four Gospels, can be found in Dublin’s Trinity College Library. For beer enthusiasts, the Guinness Storehouse is sure to please, and for those who would enjoy an athletic
spectacle while abroad, the Leinster Rugby team has a match on Nov. 30.
4. Montreal, Quebec, Canada
An easy way to get an international trip from the East Coast is to hop over the Canadian border to the largest city in Quebec, Montreal. The city will be decked out in its holiday finest, including fantastic Christmas decor in the Old Town and the Nutcracker Market. From mid-November thru the first week of
December, the city also hosts the Montreal Bach Festival, with first-class artists performing at various locations throughout town. Lastly, with its focus on contemporary arts and crafts, Montreal is a fantastic spot to get started on your holiday shopping.
Left: M&T Bank Stadium
Visit Baltimore
5. Baltimore, Maryland
While some college football fans might be focused on the showdowns happening
in Austin or Ann Arbor on Thanksgiving weekend, a great tailgate experience and sports event to travel for will be the Baltimore Ravens versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, taking place in Baltimore that weekend. The Ravens, current defending Super Bowl champs, will take on the Steelers, who beat them last month at home.
In addition to being a sure bet for a great game, a Baltimore tailgate is the stuff of legends. Stroll the Ravens’ Walk, the walkway leading from the city’s baseball stadium, Oriole Park, to M-and-T Bank Stadium, the Ravens’ home field, which opens three hours before kickoff and features food stations, a live band, a DJ and lots of hometown pride. For those visiting Baltimore for the weekend, the city’s compact Inner Harbor has plenty of activities for everyone, from the National Aquarium to ferry rides from the Inner Harbor to nearby Fell’s Point or Fort McHenry.
Whether your goal is to tailgate or explore a colonial city, we hope you have an amazing Thanksgiving break! For tips, reviews and feedback about where to go and what to see, head to VirtualTourist.com. (c) 2013 Virtualtourist.com, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
This was printed in the December 15, 2013 – December 28, 2013 Edition
