Smart Design Tricks For Every Room of the House

SAN FRANCISCO

The Palace Hotel’s Annual Gingerbread Brunch

Every December, this storied hotel brings together the Bay Area’s finest bakers and tasks each with creating an impressive ode to a San Francisco landmark (think the Golden Gate Bridge or an iconic cable car)--all made out of gingerbread. Start the day at the Garden Court with a holiday brunch of Dungeness crab Benedict, then sip on spiced-rum cocktails while oohing and ahhing at the gingerbread sights (and smells). Then keep the festivities going well into the evening: From there, it’s just a short walk to Union Square’s ice-skating rink, where you can twirl around palm trees strung in twinkle lights.

Los Angeles

Holiday Ice-Skating... Outdoors

Angelenos love their outdoor activities (honestly, how many Runyon Canyon Instagrams can one possibly take?). Lucky for them they can add outdoor ice-skating to that list. Now that technology can keep rinks frozen despite 70-degree weather (thanks to a large refrigerator system below deck), skating in L.A. has officially become a widespread winter tradition. Smack dab in the middle of downtown Santa Monica, the ICE holiday rink offers the most picturesque scene (it’s flanked by decorated palm trees and the ocean). Plus, at $15--including skate rental--it’s the best deal in town.

Window-Shopping with a Luxurious Twist

New York during the holidays is undeniably romantic and, in our opinion, the best way to experience it is with a walk down Fifth Avenue. Grab a hot cocoa from Bottega del Vino to go (the bar at the front serves up some of the thickest we’ve ever had) and wander in and out of the luxury shops that line the bustling avenue, starting at the Cartier 59th Street Boutique--illuminated this time of year with twinkling lights and an elaborate red ribbon--and heading down towards the giant snowflake on 57th Street. Should you pick up a gift at the boutique, be sure to admire Cartier’s immaculate holiday gift wrap: The pretty packaging is folded into delicate pleats (sans tape) and closed with a wax seal.

Miami

It’s 5 o’Clock Somewhere

Everything is a little bit spicier down in Miami, including the eggnog. Pubbelly--an eclectic gastropub in South Beach--serves up a festive holiday version, called the coquito. A Puerto Rican cream cocktail spiked with coconut rum, condensed milk and warm baking spices, it’s the perfect end to an afternoon spent watching the waves (and the perfect Instagram moment to share with your friends up North, trapped in all that snow).

New Orleans

A Roaring Fire With a Side of Fireworks

You didn’t expect the Big Easy to just string up a few lights each year, did you? Stretching along the levees of the Mississippi River, a series of 30-foot bonfires is a must-see. Local lore has it that the pyramid-shaped fires light the way for Père Noël (Santa Claus). For the young, and the young at heart, the Great River Road leads to a festival at Lutcher Park, where revelers mingle and enjoy live local bands and the great gumbo cook-off.

Washington D.C.

A Festive Alternative to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Sure, you could visit the ol’ White House, but if you’re looking for something a tad more historical, head to Mount Vernon on the Potomac. Here you can take a behind-the-scenes candlelight tour of the mansion (did you know that George Washington built Martha her very own floor?), watch a dazzling fireworks display set to Christmas music and even meet Aladdin the Christmas camel. Yep, you read that right: In 1787, Washington paid 18 shillings to bring a camel to his home over the holidays. The tradition lives on.

Boston

Christmas Carols You Can’t Help But Love

Don’t shoot the messenger, but in lieu of another year sleeping through seeing the Nutcracker ballet (again), opt for a different citywide tradition: a night with the Boston Pops at their home in Symphony Hall. Start the evening with a dozen oysters and a (bartender’s choice) cocktail at Island Creek Oyster Bar to prepare for the holiday performance ahead. We dare you not to hum along.

Chicago

A Reason to Go to the Lincoln Park Zoo (in 20-Degree Weather)

When the winter sun sets, the lights dazzle at the ZooLights Festival in the heart of the Windy City. Merrymakers who come to celebrate this colorful tradition are treated to luminous displays and musical light shows, as well as warm spiced wine and frosty craft beers.

Dallas

A Peek Into the Lives of the Rich... and Maybe Famous

There’s a special kind of voyeurism that happens in Dallas around Christmastime. And by that we mean the urge to glance into the homes of Highland Park’s elite. From now until December 31, make a reservation for a horse-drawn carriage ride through this elaborately decorated neighborhood and feast your eyes on some holiday lights that put Times Square to shame. Ps: BYOBB--As in, bring your own blanket and boozy beverage.

Seattle

Where the Holiday Lights are Found at Sea

From the day after Thanksgiving to December 23, catch a glimpse of the Christmas Ships Festival--a nightly parade of boats which routes through more than 45 waterfront communities in Puget Sound. Spectacularly decorated in lights, the Spirit of Seattle (the parade’s leading lady) allows passengers on board to take in the sights from its heated deck, where they can enjoy seafood chowder and a Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Should you not have your sea legs, cozy up at restaurant like Ivar’s Salmon House to feast your eyes on the panorama of glowing boats.

One Holiday Season

Countless Traditions