It’s no secret that Christmas is an incredibly popular season for travel, both in the U.S. and beyond. After all, kids are on a break from school and most people get time off from work; even the Scroogiest of bosses understands the value of a good holiday.

While there’s something to be said for remote vacation destinations – places where we can unplug, unwind and take a break from our workaday lives – the popular Christmas travel destinations in the U.S. are popular for good reasons. When considering where to go for your Christmas holiday vacation, consider the fun winter activities these popular destinations have to offer.

New York City, New York

Christmas in New York City – the phrase alone conjures up classic urban Americana images, doesn’t it? Santa in Macy’s Herald Square, the Rockettes, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and snow in Central Park are all iconic to the season in NYC. Families choosing to spend Christmas in New York City can experience all these and more.

Sure, it’s cold, but not every winter vacation need be to a tropical destination. I’d recommend that children stay away from Times Square on New Year’s Eve, but young adults on a larger family vacation could have a blast. New York City is a travel destination that provides classic memories of Christmas experiences unchanged and unchanging for generations.

Larger families that enjoy traveling together would be hard-pressed to find affordable lodging in Manhattan. The Homewood Suites across the river in Edgewater, New Jersey provides free shuttle service to the NY Waterway Ferry and to NJ Lightrail. (New York City is easy to get to from here.) Family groups can spread out comfortably in their suites and enjoy views of the NYC skyline after a day of festivities in the city.

Courtesy: UtahVacations.org

Park City, Utah

The powdery snow in the western states of the U.S. makes for the best ski conditions in our country. It’s hard to pick the best ski vacation destination since so many are top quality. That being said, Park City and nearby sister resorts like Canyons and Deer Valley have a fantastic diversity of slopes and family friendly alternate winter sports activities amid a friendly, mellow atmosphere.  The whole area is a definite recommendation, really. Historic downtown Park City is so much fun, with kid-appropriate shops like Sugar Buzz and adult hangouts like the High West Distillery.

A Christmas family ski trip can be very, very pricey, but families can budget it more easily with reservations at the nearby Homewood Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City-Midvale/Sandy and Homewood Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City-Downtown. Salt Lake City is around 20 miles from downtown Park City, but lager family groups may find that the distance is worth being able to have full working kitchens. They are also near Alta, Snowbird and Brighton ski resorts.

Orlando, Florida

It almost goes without saying that the name of the game here is theme parks. Christmas vacations are incredibly popular at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando. Naturally, the big Orlando theme parks are crawling with young kids in late December; come mentally prepared for long lines and tired, wailing children. Families can schedule their theme park vacations smartly by using Disney Fastpass tickets at the Disney theme parks, and those with older kids and teens will find that Universal Studios rides are more thrilling.

The big Universal Studios draw is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. While the queue itself is interesting, it is insanely long during peak hours at the theme park. Either take turns standing in line, or come late and make Wizarding World one of the last things you do before retiring for the evening.

The Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios resorts make the theme parks easily accessible. However, some larger families and groups may find themselves priced out of them – and the comfort of Homewood Suites’ large rooms and full kitchens can’t be ignored. Homewood Suites by Hilton International Drive/Convention Center offers complimentary transportation to Universal Studios, SeaWorld Orlando and the Walt Disney World parks. Homewood Suites by Hilton Orlando-Nearest to Universal Studios is, as the name implies, closest to Universal Studios. And the Homewood Suites by Hilton Lake Buena Vista-Orlando is just a mile from the Disney parks.

Three destinations, three very different types of Christmas vacations. Whether it is cosmopolitan and urban, bucolic in Burl Ives winter wonderland fashion, or full of child-centered family time, Homewood Suites hopes your Christmas vacation is perfect for you.