One of America’s most popular winter vacation destinations, Maui is a spectacular place to spend New Year’s Eve. Golden sand beaches, lush tropical foliage, magnificent sunsets and starry skies that twinkle overhead provide the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration.

Just being on Maui at New Year’s Eve is an exotic treat. From your Napili Shores Oceanfront Studio you can walk out the door and right onto the beach. For a low-key romantic evening, pack a blanket and champagne supper and enjoy a beach picnic while you watch the sun melt into the Pacific. Stay to watch Mother Nature’s encore as the stars come out and light up the night sky. It’s the perfect setting for a romantic New Year’s Eve kiss.

If partying is more your style, Maui offers several exciting ways to usher in the New Year.

• Go native and dance to the beat of island drums at a traditional Hawaiian Luau. The Maui Drums of the Pacific Luau at the Hyatt Regency features a special Polynesian Review with hula dancers and amazing fire countdown as midnight approaches. A delicious buffet dinner with scrumptious dessert bar follows the entertainment.

• Ring in the New Year at sea. The three-hour Pride of Maui cruise always books quickly and is a favorite New Year’s Eve event that features live music, incredible hors d’oeuvres, gourmet desserts and fireworks!

• Immerse yourself in island history at the Kupanaha Magic Show Dinner Theater at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, known as the most Hawaiian hotel in the islands. Over a fabulous three-course dinner you’ll be entertained with a magically theatrical walk through Hawaii’s greatest historical moments. (Make sure to ask for the 8 p.m. show as an early supper matinee is also offered.) After the show, ring in the New Year with dancing and party games.

The most memorable gifts aren’t things found in gift-wrapped boxes. The memories we treasure most are those born of unique, sometimes life-changing, experiences. The pleasure of participation is an enduring gift that has made travel experience gifts popular ways to celebrate special occasions of all kinds. Holidays, special birthdays, graduations, wedding anniversaries, retirement – all life’s milestones are made more memorable by the gift of a special experience.

The wide variety of travel destinations available on iTrip.net makes it easy to find the right experience gift for anyone on your gift list. Consider pairing your gift with a stay in one of iTrip.net’s luxurious vacation rentals. It’s the perfect way to set the stage for your gift and is certain to add to your gift’s value.

Use these suggestions to get your gift-giving juices flowing:

1. • Tickets to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah are the perfect gift for film lovers. Park City vacation rentals are available close to town within walking distance of film and seminar venues. Don’t forget to include a digital camera for recording celebrity sightings!
2. • Make someone’s Olympic dreams come true with ski lessons on the legendary slopes of Whistler, British Columbia, site of the 2010 winter games. For ski-in, ski-out accessibility, book The Marquise condo rental on iTrip.net.
3. • Give a wine lover the opportunity to explore Northern California’s wine country with a stay in an elegant Sonoma County rental estate. Alternate fruitful days spent traveling the Wine Road, sampling prized vintages and discussing the finer points of wine making with vintners with pleasant evenings at the villa tasting new discoveries.
4. • Swim with dolphins, snorkel with sea turtles or kayak with whales during a visit to Maui, Hawaii. Our Lahaina beach house rental is close to the harbor when you can book marine life experiences.

Start planning your surprise. Use iTrip.net to choose the perfect destination for an experience gift.

Wracking your brain for a great holiday gift that will elicit a jaw-dropping “WOW!” when it’s opened? You won’t find it poking through the mall. The most memorable gifts aren’t things, but experiences. Most of the “stuff” we receive as holiday gifts provides only fleeting enjoyment before it breaks, gets shelved or is passed along. But the gift of a unique experience creates lasting, life-long memories that may even be life-changing.

Experience gifts allow us to explore untapped talents or unleash hidden creativity. Special experiences can expose us to activities that become lifelong hobbies. New experiences can open doors to new careers or fulfill life-long dreams. With the gift of a special experience you can turn someone’s “someday” dream into today’s reality.

Weekend getaways and family vacations provide the perfect setting for experience gifts. Away from the pressures of everyday life, people are more relaxed and have the time and energy to fully embrace new experiences. Favorite vacation destinations can even provide the inspiration for experience gifts. Choose a travel destination on iTrip.net and review our “about” destination summary for insight into popular activities and unique attractions that might make exciting experience gifts.

Consider pairing your gift with accommodations in one of many beautiful vacation rentals available on iTrip.net. Staying in a vacation rental allows you to “set the stage” for your gift and can enhance the pleasure of receiving an experience gift. To get your creative juices flowing, consider these examples:

• Pair golf lessons at California’s prestigious Oasis Country Club with a stay in a luxurious Palm Desert vacation rental on the 18th fairway. An owner provided golf cart and discounted member guest golf rates will add value and enjoyment to your gift.

Next time: More experience gift ideas

You don’t have to travel halfway around the world or plunder your nest egg to enjoy an exotic winter vacation. Two of the world’s most popular exotic vacation destinations are located affordably close to home. Costa Rica and Maui, Hawaii offer breathtaking landscapes, fabulous beaches, fascinating tropical flora and fauna and exotic cuisine that draw travelers from around the globe — and both are located right in America’s backyard!

After air fare, lodging is typically the most expensive item on vacation itineraries. Booking affordable Costa Rica vacation rentals or Maui vacation rentals on iTrip.net lets you splurge on luxurious accommodations without straining your budget. An excellent selection of vacation rentals allows you to choose accommodations that fit your budget and suit your lifestyle. Book a romantic Paki Maui luxury condo for two that’s right on the beach with gorgeous ocean views. Or rent a spacious home in Playa Herradura, Costa Rica – with monkey’s cavorting in the trees and its own pool — and treat the whole family to a winter vacation they’ll never forget!

Both Costa Rica and Maui offer their own unique charms. You can swim with sea turtles on Maui or cavort with dolphins in Costa Rica. Marvel at the fiery nighttime fireworks of an erupting volcano on Costa Rica or experience the ethereal beauty of sunrise over an ancient volcano at Maui’s Haleakala National Park. Laugh at the comical antics of monkeys as they flit through the trees in Costa Rica or thrill to the majestic sight of Humpback whales breaching off Maui’s shore.

Despite their differences, both winter vacation destinations offer a full range of land and water activities, including championship golf courses, fabulous restaurants, deep sea fishing, diving and water sports, hiking and horseback riding, great shopping and more – all the things that make a winter vacation fun and enjoyable!

The teams haven’t been selected, but tickets for this season’s Fiesta Bowl are already on sale. Scottsdale, Arizona is gearing up to host an expected 3 million college football fans eager to witness the annual match-up between the 2013 Big 12 champion and a BCS at-large powerhouse. The 43rd Annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl will kick off at 6:30 p.m. MST on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

With a full schedule of pre-game events are planned to entertain fans, all the excitement won’t be on the gridiron. Football fever begins with the annual Spirit of the Southwest Fiesta Bowl Parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2013. Presented by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the parade through historic downtown Phoenix features colorful floats, huge helium balloons, marching bands and precision equestrian units. The parade is free, but preferred bleacher seating and reserved disabled seating is available for a small fee.

After the parade, head for Arizona State University in Tempe where Buffalo Wild Wings will host Tablegate from 4:30-7:30 p.m. in Lot 3 across from Sun Devil Stadium. The ultimate tailgate party, Tablegate combines the rah-rah excitement of a college pep rally with great food and headliner entertainment by Smash Mouth. Admission is $25 and includes a plated meal of tailgate favorites. After the party, cross the street to the stadium and find your seats before the 8:15 p.m. kickoff of the 25th Annual Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, the always exciting annual battle between the Big 10 and Big 12.

If you’re planning to visit Scottsdale and Phoenix for the Fiesta Bowl, plan to spend a few extra days exploring the many pleasures and attractions that have made these neighboring Sonora Desert communities such popular winter vacation destinations. On iTrip.net, you’ll find excellent prices on exceptional Scottsdale vacation rentals in the beautiful Fountain Hills area.

Branson, Missouri is a little bit Vegas, a little bit Nashville and 100% charming. Known as the Las Vegas of the Midwest for its stellar, star-studded shows, Branson has been named a top four finalist in the Best Midwest City for Meetings contest by Midwest Meetings magazine. While Branson’s accessible location in the scenic Ozark Mountains of southwestern Missouri and its legendary shows, attractions, shopping, golf courses, museums and restaurants make it a top meeting choice of American corporations; those same qualities have made a Branson vacation a top choice for family and holiday fun.

Beautiful Branson vacation rentals available on iTrip.net offer vacationing couples and families luxurious accommodations at affordable prices. Several spacious 2- or 3-bedroom, multi-bath condos that offer comfortable sleeping for six are still available for holiday rental. All of iTrip’s Branson vacation rental properties are located in premier resort or gated golf communities and offer stunning Ozark views.

The holiday season is already underway in Branson. Twinkling lights are going up all over town in preparation for the Thanksgiving weekend kickoff of the Christmas season. Thanksgiving Day brunch and show packages are sure to put you in the holiday spirit and a full calendar of Christmas shows and attractions will have you humming “fa-la-la” all month long.

Not-to-be-missed Christmas activities in Branson include:

• The 64th Annual Adoration Parade on Sunday, December 8, begins with the lighting of an impressive nativity scene on the shores of Lake Taneycomo. Celebrating the true meaning of Christmas, the inspiring ceremony is a treasured community event that brings families back to Branson year after year.

• Through December 30, Branson vacationers can enjoy an Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City. Highlights include a holiday light parade, a light and tree show, an amazing 5-story musical Christmas tree, heartwarming shows and more.

• White Flight at the Butterfly Palace mixes butterflies, poinsettias and lights in beautiful Christmas displays.

Whether you have kids or are a kid at heart, an Orlando vacation is the ultimate family treat and a favorite family vacation destination during the December holidays. Many families make an annual pilgrimage to see what’s new at Disney World, Universal, SeaWorld and Legoland. Today, we continue our summary of the exciting new attractions to look for at Orlando’s world-class theme parks. (See our previous post for info on Disney World.)

Universal. Universal puts movie buffs in the picture with its movie-based rides and attractions. Fans of The Simpsons can get cozy with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and the whole dysfunctional gang as they explore the mythical town of Springfield in a fun new virtual roller coaster ride based on the hit TV show. Another new virtual coaster ride gives Despicable Me and its silly minions similar attention.

Super cool is the only way to describe the new, high-octane Transformers attraction. And Hogwarts fans won’t want to miss the new delights to be found in the expanded Wizarding World of Harry Potter on the Islands of Adventure.

SeaWorld. Completely immersing you in the fascinating world of the sea turtle, Turtle Trek is an amazing 3D 360 dome theater experience, a first-of-its-kind technological achievement. Equally awesome is the new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin.

Legoland. Lego World of Chima is the new hit attraction at Legoland. More than two million Lego bricks were used to recreate the mystical world featured on the popular Cartoon Network show. Not to be missed is the Quest for CHI water ride that pits park visitors against each other in an epic water cannon battle. Prepare to get soaked!

Whether you’re looking for luxury or affordability, you’ll find the perfect accommodations for your Orlando family vacation on iTrip.net. From luxury condos to spacious villas, iTrip.net offers nearly 200 fabulous Orlando vacation rentals. Beat the holiday rush and book your Orlando vacation rental on iTrip.net today!

Home to more than 100 attractions and some of the best theme parks in the U.S., Orlando, Florida is one of America’s most popular family vacation destinations. And the Christmas holidays when children are out of school is one of the most popular times to schedule a family Orlando vacation.

Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and nearby Legoland Florida offer so many spectacular attractions, fabulous shows and unique experiences that it’s impossible to fit everything into a single visit. Experienced visitors recommend concentrating your time on one or two theme parks and planning a return visit to enjoy those you missed.

There’s so much to see and do at each of the major theme parks that many families make an annual trek to Orlando during the winter holidays to check out new attractions at their favorite parks. If you’re planning a family vacation to Orlando over the holidays, here’s what’s new at the theme parks:

Disney World. Mickey Mouse has a voice! After four decades of silence and pantomime, the world’s favorite mouse talks to guests at the Backstage with Mickey Mouse attraction in the Magic Kingdom. Don’t expect to strike up a conversation with Mickey. His speech is limited to a few phrases, but it’s still cool.

The biggest change at Disney World is the expansion of Fantasyland. The new Enchanted Forest addition has doubled the size of Fantasyland and introduced exciting new attractions – and two new castles — built around Disney’s popular films The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. The colorful new Under the Sea ride is spectacular. Gaston’s Tavern and the Be Our Guest Restaurant combine food with kid-pleasing entertainment that adults will also enjoy.

With nearly 200 fabulous Orlando vacation rentals to choose from, iTrip.net is your premier source for budget-friendly Orlando accommodations. Beat the holiday rush and book your Orlando vacation rental on iTrip.net today!

To be continued

You don’t need snow to enjoy Christmas. If you visit San Diego in warm and sunny Southern California over the December holidays, you’ll find that sand makes a delightful substitute – no shoveling required! Southern Californians have put their own unique stamp on the Christmas holidays. In San Diego, Santa arrives by surfboard, not sleigh. Surfin’ Santa comes ashore at Seaport Village at 1 p.m. on November 30 to get the holidays off to a festive start.

Unless you’re visiting Disneyland, don’t expect to see Christmas parades marching down Main Street. Lighted boat parades are the holiday tradition along the scenic Southern California coast. The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights on December 8 and 15 is a stunning spectacle you won’t want to miss. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., more than 80 lavishly decorated boats will parade across the bay from Shelter Island past Harbor Island, the Embarcadero and Seaport Village to Ferry Landing in Coronado.

Holiday light displays are a universal Christmas delight and San Diego goes all out. The Garden of Lights at the San Diego Botanic Garden is breathtaking with more than 100,000 sparkling lights illuminating the garden. The event is open from 5-9 p.m. from December 7-30, but will be closed December 24-25. Santa will be on hand to greet children of all ages and live music will fill the air. Visitors can take a ride in a wagon pulled by blonde Belgian draft horses, admire a special display of more than 50 nutcrackers, roast marshmallows over a burning campfire, sip mulled wine or hot cocoa, snack on Christmas goodies and more. You can even bring a sled and go sledding on a special snow hill. Some activities are only offered on select dates, so check Botanic Garden the website for daily schedules.

A Christmas vacation in San Diego is a memorable experience. Book your San Diego vacation rentals on iTrip.net today!

With 28,791 acres dedicated to skiing, 219 lifts, 1,747 trails and 45 terrain parks, Colorado is one of America’s top ski and snowboard vacation destinations. Know matter what kind of skiing or boarding you enjoy — downhill, cross-country, bowl, powder cat, halfpipe or heli – Colorado has what you’re looking for. If you’re new to the sport or want to upgrade your skills, you’ll find excellent group and individual lessons available at Colorado’s many ski resorts. If you want to try some of Colorado’s other favorite ski areas, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain and Loveland are all within a scenic 30-minute drive of Vail and Breckenridge.

Traveling with family members who don’t ski? Colorado ski resorts in Breckenridge and Vail offer plenty of off-the-slope activities the whole gang can enjoy together. Tubing and toboggan runs, ice skating, dog sled rides, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are just a few of the popular winter sports you can enjoy during a Colorado winter vacation.

When you’re ready to get off the mountain and warm up, you’ll find plenty of cute shops to poke through and many wonderful restaurants. Hard-core shoppers will enjoy spending a day cruising for bargains at the massive Outlets at Silverthorne. Or just sit back with a warm mug of cocoa and admire the magnificent scenery! Luxurious Vail townhome rentals and cozy Breckenridge cabin rentals with gorgeous mountain views are available on iTrip.net.

More than four feet of snow have already fallen on the ski slopes in Breckenridge, Colorado, just in time for the November 8 opening of the ski season. A Breckenridge ski vacation offers plenty of affordable fun on and off the slope and is a favorite ski destination for families. Ski slopes in Vail open November 22 in time for to enjoy Thanksgiving in Vail. Think snow and book your Colorado ski vacation rentals on iTrip.net today.