Knowing exactly when to purchase tickets for airfare often feels like a job suited for a clairvoyant. What’s buyer demand like at the moment? Are there any holidays or events that coincide with my travel plans? Is there a better deal with a different airline? Should I plan in advance and have piece of mind or risk a cheaper, last minute bargain?
These are all valid questions you might ask yourself—especially when other hopeful travelers are contemplating the same exact ones. Understandably, this can make for a headache-inducing experience (and at this point, you haven’t even stepped foot in an airport).
And while we can’t make any guarantees, this should come as a relief if you haven’t paid for your tickets yet: It is prime time to start making travel arrangements for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is it folks, the most optimal window for coming across bargain flights, according to a study that analyzed almost a billion airfares is open now. With half of the equation solved, all that’s left now is to figure out where to go. Here are some of our premier picks:
Long Island, NY
Long Island, NY, is another happening place with ample opportunity to make the most of the holiday season. It’s a great little stretch of land—just far enough from the hustle and bustle of NYC to have some peace and quiet—but close enough to feel the energy reverberating off the city.
The best way to explore this destination is to understand its history. Learn about the lighthouses decorating the shores that provide a glance of what life was like for early inhabitants or hit the Long Island Maritime Museum to take your adventure to the high seas by riding on the oyster sloop Priscilla. Either way, you’re in for gorgeous views of the gem of New York.
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Saint Paul, MN
Visit Saint Paul’s pitch is, “Nobody does winter like Saint Paul” and, well, we concur. Celebrate the holiday season in Saint Paul, Minnesota with two months full of indoor and outdoor ways to get in the holiday spirit! Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift, hope to see a heart-warming show or want to be outside with the twinkling lights and ice, there is something for you to enjoy in Minnesota’s capital city.
Bundle up and enjoy the great outdoors with the twinkling lights in Rice Park, the European Christmas Market at Union Depot, check out the Hip Hop Nutcracker, or dust off those skates on the Wells Fargo WinterSkate rink. We’re sure you’ll be having way too much fun to be bothered by the cold—let alone notice it. If indoors is more your style, warm up at the Landmark Center Old Fashioned Holiday Bazaar, It’s a Wonderful Life at The Saint Paul Hotel or the Holiday Market at Schmidt Brewery.
If winter is your favorite season (by far) and your winter closet is begging to make its debut, we have to ask, what are you waiting for? Enjoy the holiday season in Saint Paul!
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Jackson, NC
Last but not least on our list is Jackson, North Carolina. What this area lacks in size and stature is its small-town charm— craft fairs, afternoon teas, and church bazaars are what makes this town a heartwarming homage to the past. If you’re looking to get away from the noise and lights of the city, consider a change of pace with Jackson and their annual Christmas Tree Lighting or Festival of Lights and Luminaries.
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Cache Valley/Logan, UT
This one’s for the kids, as Utah is home to some of America’s best wildlife. Catch a ride on sleds pulled by horses at Hardware Ranch as you witness wild elk, deer, bulls, and turkeys in their natural habitat. And if you haven’t gotten your fill of animals at that point, take a stroll over to Zootah, the Willow Park Zoo’s largest collection of birds in the region. Finish the day by chowing down on a hearty meal at the iconic Maddox-Drive Inn in Brigham City.
If you’re needing a change of pace, do as the old chant suggests and take them out to the (foot)ball game at Maverik stadium and cheer on the Utah State University Aggies.
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Did we leave out an amazing holiday destination that you like to go? If so, then let us know in the comments.