This New England Destination Is A Great December Vacation

December is often a month of heavy travel to take holiday trips, to visit a festive landmark, friends or family. However, Fifty Grande recently published the best places to go in December for a relaxing vacation, and a New England location made the list.

"There are more than enough climate zones and far-flung destinations to accommodate every Scrooge, snow bunny and family dinner flight risk," Fifty Grande states.

At this point, most travelers have already made December plans and have tickets in hand for any major trips. Nonetheless, the spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment escape is still increasingly popular. What do you look for when the thrill of a quick getaway calls? Ideally, you are heading to a place of ultimate relaxation. In fact, often, the climate of the place you seek is the opposite of what you are experiencing at home. Therefore, you need a place that offers that variety but is still close enough that you don't have to spend two of the days wrapped up in traveling.

This Fifty Grande report showcases how America has many outstanding options of places like New England that will do that trick for those looking for a quick December vacation. There are snow-covered places (like Colorado) for those who want a jump on the ski season. Then, there are sunny beaches where you can sip frozen island drinks to completely unwind before you turn the calendar to a new year.

This region of northern Vermont is obviously well-known for its tremendous skiing. However, resorts like the Lodge at Spruce Peak also offer a wide range of amenities, like a state-of-the-art spa with a pool. In addition to some of the best downhill skiing on the East Coast, Stowe offers cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and tubing options. Of course, the ski conditions rely on the winter weather you get in December. That's if you prefer to leave your resort of choice.

The food options in Stowe are also great. There's maple-covered everything, steakhouses, pizzerias, and hometown bakeries. If you need another reason to make Stowe your New England December vacation spot, there are also great breweries in town. For example, Idletyme Brewing, von Trapp Brewing, and the Alchemist are all in close proximity to each other.

As a father of four, my mornings are always a bit hectic. I enjoy being an early bird; however, I rarely have the time to prep a good breakfast. Therefore, I was quite thrilled to see that Tasting Table recognized three New England restaurants for having the best breakfast sandwiches in the country. I'm always looking for a good quick breakfast.

A morning in my world usually consists of a sunrise workout, followed by a scramble to get myself and the kids out of the house. Then I embark on an hour-long drive to the office. On the weekends, it's taking one of my kids to their sports game. Let's focus on the latter for a moment.

While I am more lenient on my breakfast choice (a banana or shake will do), I insist upon a healthy start for the little guys. Driving them all around New England on weekends requires a few drive-thru meals that you eat in the car. My preference is for the kids to have something substantial, with a protein they enjoy. A breakfast sandwich is often the choice.

The perfect breakfast sandwich should follow three simple rules. It's quick, both to order and make. It's fresh (not a microwaved egg slab pulled out of plastic). Finally, it's a balanced hand-held item that is not too heavy, processed or sugar-filled.

When trekking through interstates and unfamiliar towns at sunrise, it's easy to settle upon the quickest Dunkin' Donuts. Now, there are some other options that you (and I) should know about. These three New England restaurants ranking among the best breakfast sandwiches in the country.

Before we get into the list, it is necessary to give one other shout-out. The Portland, Oregon establishment named by Tasting Table has both the best restaurant and sandwich name. The "Yolko Ono" by Fried Egg I'm In Love.

Sofra Bakery and Café in Cambridge, MA, is the first stop. Tasting Table calls out "Geno's Egg Sandwich." This is a brioche bun filled with egg topped with halloumi cheese, feta butter, tomato concasse, and spicy green cilantro.

Next, we hop on 95 North and pull into the Elephantine Bakery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Here the selected breakfast sandwich is called the "Egg Simit." It's the healthiest of the three choices based on pure ingredients. This sandwich consists of egg, hummus, beat pistachio spread, feta, and spinach on a sesame simit.

I actually had a very hard time securing a quick bacon, egg, and cheese this past spring while in Maine for a lacrosse tournament. Now I know I need to go to a coffee shop next time. Tandem Coffee has something so good, it doesn't even need a clever name. "The Breakfast Sandwich" is simply egg, American cheese, and smoked paprika. However, when you rest it upon a homemade buttermilk biscuit, you reach a new level.