My wife and I have the chance to get away for a few days at the end of December, for both our third anniversary on 12/30 and for New Year’s Eve. As much as we’d love to go back to New Orleans, where we used to spend NYE and where we got married, I don’t think it’s quite ready for us this year.
The whole cruise/all-inclusive resort thing doesn’t really appeal to us; we’re explorers more than loungers, and we prefer genuine local flavor (even tourism-infused) over more structured environments.
Here are a couple of ideas we’ve kicked around so far:
–The Keys/Key West. We’ve been to Key West, and we loved it. We’d probably fly to Miami and rent a car. The only downside is that staying in Key West proper over NYE appears to be hella expensive.
–San Francisco. I’ve been there, and I didn’t get to see as much of it. Downside: still not cheap, not very warm (not that the Keys would be hot).
Any thoughts on these destinations, or suggestions of others, are greatly appreciated.
Huh, I was going to say Key West but I see you’ve already thought of that.
For some odd reason, for the past several years we have planned on spending NYE in St. Louis with my in-laws, only something happens and we end up postponing. So I have never in fact been to St. Louis for NYE, although I have collected a fair number of vacation brochures. They seem to have quite a bit going on in the city, with a lot of First Night type activities. In the past (according to my brochures), there has been NYE themed stuff going on at musuems and cultural attractions, and many of them for free.
So, I think you and Mrs. J should go, and tell me if it’s worth it.
S.F. has a big fireworks show on the waterfront, from boats, and it is visible from many of the rooftop restaruants. Partying at street level can be a drag in a small group, waiting for other people to start the fun for you.
Key West has to be one of the more sedate places to be, because it has so few people and many come for daytime stuff like camping and fishing. So that’s not a place that comes to mind for evening parties.
