Julia Booher

It's no secret that Spanish wine is my absolute favorite, so it only makes sense that driving through the Rioja region of Spain (twice!) was a dream come true. You can easily spend two to three days in the region, and it is perfectly situated between other must-see cities such as Barcelona, San Sebastián, Bilbao, and Madrid. The landscape is stunning, the people are charismatic, and, of course, the wine is spectacular.

When friends told us about the magical wine country just outside San Diego called Temecula, we couldn’t wait to plan a trip. As it turns out, the holidays presented the best time for us to get away, and a 6-night adventure was exactly what we needed. We departed on Christmas Day, which worked out perfectly in terms of fewer crowds and less hassle, and we returned home on New Year’s Eve Day, which was just as easy. Our itinerary included picking up a rental car at the SAN airport and spending 2 nights in Temecula. Followed by a car drop-off and 4 nights in San Diego. We were admittedly nervous that everything would be closed on Christmas Day — and quite a few stores and restaurants were, in fact, closed — but we did plenty of research in advance so as not to be left without food (or wine!) on our first day. Once we arrived in Temecula, the weather was delightful, and there was a bit of holiday cheer around every corner. With the right planning and expectations, a holiday trip to SoCal is an excellent idea!

Málaga is a must-see city in Spain’s stunning Andalusian region. It truly checks all the boxes if you are looking for fascinating culture, delicious food, innumerable activities and, of course, sunshine and ocean air. You could easily spend all of your time in the city, wandering through the old town or hanging out at the beach. Or you can split your time and embark on day trips to several incredible towns within driving distance. Either way, you are guaranteed to love Málaga and all it has to offer.

After I graduated from college, I moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina with no friends and all of my worldly possessions, which fit into my small Honda Accord. During my eight years there, I learned a lot about island life and made lifelong friends, including my husband — now married for over 20 years. While many people think of Hilton Head as primarily a family vacation or a golf trip destination, I would like to take the time to showcase all of the island’s kid- and golf-free activities.

It’s no secret that Portugal is an incredible place to visit any time of year, however should you visit in the winter? The answer is a resounding “yes.” While the winter months can be a bit rainy, the weather during our most recent trip to Lisbon and the Algarve in mid-December could not have been more perfect. We would do it again in a heartbeat. We had nothing but sunny skies and temps in the high 50's during the day and 40 degrees at night. Think cozy layers and Christmas markets. If this sounds amazing to you, then read on for things to do and places to see during a December visit to Portugal.