January Holiday Guide
Best Holidays in January 2012 for a Vacation
New Year's Day, January 1 From Miami Beach to New York City, and London to Greece, New Year's Eve through New Year's Day is done in a big way. Whether you watch the ball drop in Times Square, fireworks light up the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or ring in 2012 with the family at Disney World, you'll want a comfy vacation rental to recover in the next day. Want something to do on New Year's Day? Choices range from the London New Year's Day Parade to Davos, Switzerland's ice hockey tournament, the Spengler Cup.
Martin Luther King Jr Day, January 16
If you live in the US, there's a pretty good chance you have Martin Luther King Jr Day off. The leader of the US civil rights movement was born on this day, and parades and events are held in his honor. Unsurprisingly, Washington DC vacation rentals give you easy access to the very best of them.
Chinese New Year, January 23
As the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar, there are all sorts of Chinese New Year celebrations worth attending. And it's not just in China that you'll find them - Canada, Australia, and the US, in particular, are home to many. Get in on the action at the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, the Los Angeles Golden Dragon Parade, and Honolulu's Chinatown, or head to Asia for the most mesmerizing and authentic experience of them all.
Australia Day, January 26
Australia Day honors the day the first fleet of ships reached the continent's shores in 1788. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this date, as there is with Columbus Day in the US. The activities, though, are more like the US' Independence Day, with barbecue-style get-togethers, fireworks, concerts, and more. Top events include Summadayze and the Big Day Out, two music festivals held in Melbourne, and other cities in Australia and New Zealand, and the Perth Skyworks fireworks show in Western Australia.
Burns Night, January 25 Are you a fan of the Scottish poet Robert Burns? Or simply a fan of Scotland? Then plan your visit to the UK in January. Scotland and Northern Ireland pay homage to the beloved lyricist with Burns Night, or Burns Supper, which features a dinner of haggis, whiskey, and of course plenty of poetry reading. Burns Night can be experienced at many UK events, like Glasgow's Celebration of Robert Burns. But the rest of the world joins in on the celebrations, too: check out the St Andrew's Society of San Franciso Burns Supper, St Andrew Society of Sarasota Burns Supper, New York Caledonian Club Burns Supper, or the Southern Ontario Kilt Society Burns Supper.
Auckland Anniversary, January 30
If you ever wanted to book an Auckland, New Zealand vacation rental, this is a great time to do it! On this day, celebrate Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson’s 1840 arrival with the Auckland Anniversary Half Marathon, and the Oceanbridge Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta.
Don't forget: many Christmas and New Year's Eve festivities are still in full swing this time of year.