Christmas New Years Eve Holiday Travel. Family Vacations!

Time to celebrate the Christmas season of reverence, family and friends, and the observance of the progression from the Old . . . to the eve of the New Year. Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day herald a prime travel season. Whether you opt to spend your holiday basking in the warmth of family and fire, taking in the history of this religious observance, or navigating the snowy slopes, there are many avenues to explore. Here's the Top 2010 gathering of Christmas and New Year's fun, festivals and events including both cheap and extravagent holiday vacation adventures.

Christmas on the Farm -- Billings Farm and Museum

Woodstock, Vermont

Celebrate Christmas in rural Vermont as you take in one of the best operating dairy farms and museum dedicated to Vermont history. The interactive tour, where you can view the calf nursery and herd milking, includes a visit to the authentically decorated farmhouse. December 2010 (weekends). Guests can take a horse-drawn sleigh ride, sample delicious holiday baked goods and make a Christmas ornament.

The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National HIstorical Park flanks this Farm and museum,

38th Annual Noel Night

Detroit, Michigan

This free event brings together over 45 institutions including the Detroit Historical Museum, the Detroit Public Library, and the Detroit Science Center. Planned events include family craft activities, theatrical, dance and musical performances and horse-drawn carriage rides. The evening ends as the community joins together for a Noel night song.

Detroit also hosts the North American International Auto show the first week of January 2013 where new auto models and prototypes are showcased. While in Detroit, visit the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

Candlelight Christmas at the Biltmore House & Gardens

Asheville, North Carolina

The french chateau Biltmore House was built by George Vanderbilt and was finished in 1895. This 250-room mansion is one of the largest and most visited homes in America. Christmas finds this beautiful house and gardens decorated with candles, firelight and holiday xmas lights. The evening candlelight tour can be purchased with a daytime tour and a visit to the Antler Hill Village and Winery. Prices start at $59.00 for adults and $29.50 for youth.

Bronner's Christmas Wonderland

Mackinaw Island, Michigan

In 1898, cars were banned on this Island so you can only travel via horse, buggy, bike or other non-motorized vehicle. A ferry shuttles tourists and locals from the mainland.

The Island is beautifully decorated for the holiday season with numerous planned events. Visit Bronner's, reportedly the world's largest Christmas store, while you are there.

Breckenridge, Colorado

Want to get a Rocky Mountain High this holiday season? How about an alpine adventure on one of the four mountains bordering the former mining town of Breckenridge. Breckenridge, has delightful snow, fast paced nightlife and high-end shopping. The entire town shimmers and glitters throughout the holiday season. If you are not into skiing and kickers and half-pipes (three, in fact), there's ice skating, snow mobiling and sledding. Or how about taking a tour via dog sled or sleigh. And, when you have had your fill of the white stuff, you can wind down in luxury at one of the many spas. This 150-year old town, 90 minutes west of Denver, was the site of one of the largest gold nuggets unearthed, 13.5 pounds.

Rome, Italy

Over 2,500 years of history support Rome as an ideal locale to spend the Christmas holiday. The city, homes and churches are beautifully decorated and there are numerous Christmas celebrations. The Church of Saints Cosmo and Damiano (in the Forum) has a nativity scene that was started in the 16th century and expanded each year. The first nativity scene was carved in the 13th century and is housed in Santa Maria Maggiore.

While in Rome, do and walk as the Romans walked. Visit the Forum where Mark Anthony and Caesar spoke. The Borghese Gardens, Sistine Chapel and the Roman Ruins are must stops in addition to any of the famous museums to view the works of Leonardo DaVinci and other artist genuises.

2nd Annual Jam for Tots UTICA

Utica, New York

If you want to party and give something back this year. Join the Marines Corps for this benefit event. If you can't make it to Utica, there may be a charitable event in a city near you.

Downtown Rockin New Year's Eve

Yakima, Washington

Journey to Yakima, Washington and partake of some of the beautiful wilderness and wildlife. Yakima is known to produce delicious wines from its lush, fertile land. This regions celebrates the New Year with a countdown and fireworks. Children and adults will enjoy entertainment and food. The festival is an alcohol-free event. Admission and parking are free.

A side trip to majestic Mount St. Helens is a worthwhile adventure four hours from Yakima.

New Year's BlueGrass Festival

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Ready for some good bluegrass music and hearty food. This 35th annual festival will celebrate the New Year with numerous musical acts including the Wilson Family Band, Doyle Lawson & QuickSilver, Carolina Sonshine, Ralph Standly & The Clinch Mountain Boys and Bobby Osborne & Rocky Top X-press. Admission is $35.00 or $45.00 daily or $95.00/$85.00 for a 3-day pass. Children under 6 are free older. There is a reduced fee for children over 6.

Holiday Cruise

Don't like snow. Enjoy cruising. Anticipating some extra Christmas cash? How about spending your holiday cruising, Australia, New Zealand the Hawaiian South Pacific where you can trade the fur coat for shorts. Holland America offers a cruise that incorporates Samoa, Vanuatu and Fiji, Sydney, Auckland and Burnie, Tasmania. This cruise starts at $1,399.00 per person.

Wanna party for a cause. Join dozens of artists on the Jam Cruise 2013. The cruise departs from Fort Launderdale, Florida and stops in Roatan, Honduras and Costa, Mexico. Planned activities include cultural tours, snokeling and Positive Legacy excursions where guests have an opportunity to contributed to the local community via hands on projects. Musical artists are selected based on personality and sounds and include Bob Weir, the Rhythm Devils, Taylor Hicks, Easystar All Stars, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Fred Wesley and Nathan Moore. If you want to join in on the MSC Poesia, hurry and sign up now as the ship is almost full. Prices start at $999.

New Years Eve

New York City

Want a chance to mouth "Happy New Year, Mom" on TV? Are you ready for the ultimate PARTY. If so, join millions (yes, really millions) in Times Square or Central Park in New York City to watch the famous dropping of the glittering ball while partying to top musical acts. Fireworks, tons of confetti, singing and toasts will dominate this event watched worldwide. Remember to dress warmly and bring some earplugs!

The holidays can be a lonely time for many. Maybe you're coping with estrangement or don't have family or friends to celebrate. But this is no time to mope. This season is celebrated worldwide with the common theme of expanding, reaching out and expressing love and as a time to prepare for a successful New Year.

If you are alone, instead of mulling over your circumstances, you can volunteer time at a homeless shelter, or offer to delivery gifts to a domestic shelter, bake some cookies and take them to a retirement home or adopt one of the residents who is facing Christmas alone. Or you can throw a holiday party for two or more and invite others in similar circumstances. If you enjoy traveling, plan a trip to a new place to celebrate and rejuvenate or help build a home for a needy family.

And, If you have been blessed this year with a job and family, reach out to someone who is in need. Your holidays will be all the brighter!