+ HER TRAVEL
Ring in the
New Year
Style BY PEGGY HATTENDORF
Any of the wonderful destinations and cities previously mentioned reset for the grand-finale of the year. With that said, let’s spotlight a handful of places deemed the beloved, the raucous, and the “once in a lifetime” experiences. The Beloved: Three major cosmopolitan cities top the beloved list. Paris, France, with the Eiffel Tower as its centerpiece, fashions a spectacular light show and fireworks display while the Champs-Elysees becomes a massive street party. London England’s magnificent lightshow and fireworks display have the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster as the backdrop. Big Ben announces the 64
New Year at the strike of midnight. Of course, there’s New York. From its marching bands, torchlight processions, and fireworks extravaganza, it works its way to the pinnacle with the Ball Drop in Times Square. The Raucous: The raucous list has three notables. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, uses Copacabana Beach to host the celebration. A fairground
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is set up on the beach and boats set off fireworks over the Ocean. New Orleans, Louisiana, calls it the Fleur de Les Drop instead of the Times Square Ball Drop. The partying in the French Quarter is legendary. Not to be outdone, Las Vegas, Nevada, lives up to its name as the “Party Capital of the World.” There is non-stop action on the Strip as well as downtown with partygoers dressed in “almost anything imaginable.” Fireworks and unbelievable pyrotechnic displays light up the sky accompanied by live music venues. Once in a Life Time: For that “once in a life time experience,” Disney World in Orlando, Florida, kicks up the party. The live bands and fireworks displays evoke a Hollywood creation. In Hong Kong, China, the festivities start in the Times Square Shopping Mall complete with a Ball Drop. The spectacular fireworks display is on the waterfront overlooking Victoria Harbour. Edinburgh, Scotland, celebrates with a festival called “Hogmanay,” meaning the last day of the year. It features torchlight processions, a traditional Celtic party, and fireworks. Lastly, from down-under, Sydney, Australia, shines as one of the first cities to ring in the New Year. Celebration centers around Sydney Harbour with the fireworks displays set off from barges on the water lighting up the iconic Sydney Opera House. Wherever your travel plans take you, we wish you a Happy Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year. After embarking on a 25-year career in the travel industry, Peggy Hattendorf has owned several travel companies and co-founded a marketing consortium with 5,000 members. She negotiated supplier contracts and wrote news briefs and a biweekly e-news column. While maintaining an ambitious travel schedule, she continues some consultation. Her background in upscale/luxury travel and products provided the inspiration for her first novel, Son of My Father: A Family Dynasty. Visit her at: www.peggyhattendorf.com.
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