December 20, 2010

The cities of Boston, New York and San Juan were recently identified as three of the preferred locations around the globe to spend the Christmas holidays by CNN's travel platform - CNNGo.

Boston was noted for its New England charm including snow-dusted cobblestone roads while local Bostonians feast on roasted lobster instead of Christmas turkey. Candlelight carols at the city's Trinity Church were also described as a key attraction for the visitor to Boston during the holidays. In addition, for Christmas shoppers, the SoWa Holiday Market in the city's arts and media district features the work of New England artisans ranging from the fashionably chic to cutting edge. New York's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was noted as one of the most famous Christmas tree's in the world. The iconic tree is lit by five miles of lights. The world-famous Ice Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center is also a superb opportunity for the "quintessential" Christmas in New York photo for visitors to the Big Apple.

The length of the Christmas season in San Juan was cited as a key reason to spend the holidays there. Christmas festivities stretch into January in San Juan with the season ending on Three Kings Day; El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos in Spanish, on January 6. "San Juan… where Christmas celebrations run longer than anybody else's — sing carols, or aguinaldos, from November through mid-January," the CNNGo website says. San Juan's range of holiday season traditions, including the Christmas Eve Misa de Gallo, midnight mass, where attendees are treated to a re-enactment of the nativity scene, all add to the city's attraction. "On New Year's Eve locals might make you eat 12 grapes for luck, and the government hosts a free-for-all party," CNNGo said.

Other top cities around the globe in which to spend Christmas included: Reykjavik, Iceland; Nuremberg, Germany; Pogost, Belarus; Salzburg, Austria; Sydney, Australia; Hong Kong, and London.