4 Easy Getaways That Stretch Your Dollar Between Holidays

These destinations offer a quick 3-day escape to enjoy with family and friends

Stroll the promenade with views of the beach in Seaside, Oregon, where temperatures in December are in the 50s.

Photo Courtesy of the City of Seaside Visitors Bureau

Sal Vaglica,

AARP

En español

Published December 01, 2023

For many, the days after Christmas feel like a justifiable breather. It’s almost a timeout, breaking up the marathon that starts with Turkey Day, continues with candy canes and plenty of yuletide, and culminates with counting down the ball drop. But why not recharge your batteries while taking advantage of a slower time to travel? If you pick the right location, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve can be sparsely populated, making it an ideal three-day getaway. Pop into a new town, enjoy new scenery that might otherwise be crowded in warmer months, and be home in time to chill the bubbly.

We’ve rounded up a few destinations, all of which are reachable by car from major cities — so no airport headaches. Typically, rooms in these towns tend to be more affordable during the holiday break, especially in cities where the rates creep up the closer things get to New Year’s Eve.

Mount Vernon lit up at night during winter

A trip to Washington, D.C., can include a visit to George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia.

MANDEL NGAN / Getty Images

Washington, D.C.

If memories of school trips with long lines keep you away from Washington, D.C., you’ll breathe easier after Christmas. With Congress on break, and many of the elected officials and their staff out of town, you can drop in and enjoy some sightseeing before hotels start charging more. Washington is about 2½ hours from Philadelphia and a little more than 4 hours from Raleigh, North Carolina. The city is “quiet, rooms are available … and rates also dip that week and hike up a little” toward New Year’s Eve, confirms Michelle Neal, senior manager of PR for IHG Luxury & Lifestyle Americas, which has Kimpton and InterContinental hotels in its portfolio. Expect temperatures in the low 40s, which is comfortable walking weather for those who want to get around on foot or with the Metro transit system.

Nearly a dozen of the 23 Smithsonian Institution museums and galleries are within walking distance of the National Mall. A room at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco, about five blocks away, means you can fill a few days of museums, famous sights and dinner without a car. With the hotel’s proximity to Capital One Arena, you can nearly hear fans of the Washington Wizards and Capitals cheering. Both teams have home games the week after Christmas. For some nostalgia, the Watergate Hotel — a part of that infamous complex — is a luxurious middle ground between downtown and the quieter neighborhood of Georgetown.

While all the museums within the Smithsonian Institution in D.C. are free, some, like the National Museum of African American History and Culture, along with the Washington Monument, require timed-entry passes ordered in advance online. (There is a minimal service charge for the Washington Monument.) About a 30-minute drive west of the city, the Winter Lantern Festival fills a lot in nearby Virginia with more than 1,000 handmade Chinese lanterns that light up the sky. You also should see fewer crowds at George Washington’s Mount Vernon about 40 minutes south.

You can take in sweeping views of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, while dining outdoors in a heated igloo.

VISIT Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

About a 90-minute ride from Chicago, and even less from Milwaukee, Lake Geneva started drawing the wealthy to its shores after the Civil War. That’s when grand summer homes started appearing — the Midwest counterpoint to Newport, Rhode Island — owned by families like the Wrigleys, of chewing gum fame, and the bike manufacturer Schwinn. With plenty of full-time residents in town, visiting after Christmas means taking advantage of the area’s cold but manageable early winter weather before the deep freeze sets in, and saving about 30 percent off a room compared to peak summer.

On a sunny day, the temperatures in the mid-30s can feel warmer, which is perfect for walking along the path around the lake taking you past the historic estates. The north side of the lake hosts most of the homes as well as the Yerkes Observatory (which will be closed that week). The most impressive house, Stone Manor, sits on the eastern shore just south of downtown. The lakeside dining scene here provides sweeping views across the water. Spots like Pier 290 allow you to dine al fresco without freezing within reservable igloos that include a small heater to keep you comfortable. Most of the town’s quaint shopping is clustered on the east side of the lake, where the non-chain offerings run from home decor purveyors to cheesemongers.

For a few holiday seasons, Melissa Bardzinski, who is in her 50s, and her family have stayed in Lake Geneva after Christmas because the tempo is a bit slower. “It is a great time to visit Lake Geneva because the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over and our family can relax and enjoy ourselves without any stress,” says the Batavia, Illinois, resident. “The town is situated on a beautiful lake, so we like to walk in town and enjoy the beauty.”

Lake Geneva’s ski season gets busier in January, but the resorts can make their snow in December and those machines cover the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa’s tamer Midwestern hills with powder, which makes for tamer skiing and a great opportunity to learn on skis. For a more boutique stay, the Maxwell Mansion, once one of the first lavish summer homes in the area, is now a trendy hotel with a cocktail bar and subterranean speakeasy. From Thursday through Saturday, the speakeasy is accessible with a password delivered through the hotel’s Facebook page.

Taos Pueblo, just outside Taos, New Mexico, showcases the adobe dwellings of the Pueblo Indians.

Robert Alexander / Getty Images

Taos, New Mexico

Sitting about 7,000 feet above sea level, Taos is in the thick of northern New Mexico’s high desert with a backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, representing the southern end of the Rockies. The ski season in Taos Ski Valley, about 20 miles north, opens around Thanksgiving, but the town’s landscapes offer plenty for those without a lift ticket — especially if you want to spend time learning about Pueblo Indian history. About 2½ hours from Albuquerque and twice as far from Denver, Taos’ daytime temperatures can reach into the low 40s, which when combined with the abundant sunshine is comfortable when bundled, but the nights do dip below freezing.

Make the most of your stay with a hotel in town. The upscale El Monte Sagrado is a short drive to the heart of the historic district, and its Native American suites feature fireplaces and private patios or balconies. Even closer is the more casual Taos Inn, with its bright red neon sign juxtaposed with an outcropping of adobe-style homes that date back to the 1800s, many of which have fireplaces. From either, it’s easy to reach the shops and restaurants on Route 64, including Magpie, which showcases the work of local artists, and Chokolá, a small-batch chocolate shop.

Just north of the city is Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO world heritage site, national historic landmark and intact centuries-old village of the Pueblo Indians. The adobe homes there were probably constructed between 1000 and 1450. Except for Tuesday and Wednesday, you can take a guided tour, which starts at 9 a.m. Would you rather explore the artwork at your own pace? Consider the Harwood Museum of Art, which focuses on both historic and contemporary Taos artwork, and the Millicent Rogers Museum, which focuses on Native American jewelry, weavings, pottery and other representations of Southwestern craftsmanship. If you find yourself chilled to the bone, Black Rock Hot Springs, a public, clothing-optional pool that hovers around 97 degrees, is near the John Dunn Bridge north of town.

Seaside Carousel Mall in Seaside, Oregon

If you tire of the beach in Seaside, Oregon, you can head into town to the Seaside Carousel Mall.

Sunpix Travel / Alamy Stock Photo

Seaside, Oregon

What makes a beach town worth visiting in winter is the mix of views, with a charming community, and mild temperatures that enable you to enjoy it without dressing like you’re heading on an arctic expedition. About a 90-minute car ride west of Portland, Seaside sits on the Oregon coast where it has been a popular summer destination since the 1920s. When the last of the summer lingerers leave, you’ll have the shops, attractions and restaurants all to yourself, along with hotel rooms at about 50 percent less than peak season, and temperatures in the low 50s.

Comfortable sweater weather makes it easy to take in Seaside’s beachfront promenade — walking the prom, as the locals say — a 1.5-mile paved strip with views of the Pacific Ocean and Tillamook Head, the bluff at the south end of town. The last time Portland travel writer Matthew Wastradowski was there with a friend, they did some Christmas shopping and then grabbed dinner. It was one of those perfect, sunny 50-to-60-degree days where the sunset was dramatic, he says. They bought firewood from a convenience store and built a campfire on the beach, he says.

Lodging ranges from small bed-and-breakfasts and inns to larger resorts. The Gilbert Inn puts you right in the middle of it all, a block from the prom and within walking distance of shops and restaurants. The Tides by the Sea, farther south, offers water views and a closer glimpse of Tillamook, which has a 6.3-mile hike to a cliffside clearing above the beach. Back in town, you can spend a few hours at the Seaside Carousel Mall, with its mix of family-friendly activities, including a carousel, or visit the area’s most famous year-round residents: the seals that you can feed at the Seaside Aquarium.

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Sal Vaglica is a New York-based journalist who covers food, kitchen gadgets, travel, lawn and garden, and all things DIY-related. His work has appeared in This Old House, Men's Health and The Wall Street Journal.