I spent the weekend in Seattle with my mom, and while we were there, we did all the usual Seattle things.

We walked Pike’s Market.  We took pictures from the Space Needle.  And we saw a giant 26-foot high, 8-ton status of Anubis floating on a barge through Portage Bay.

Wait, what?

Stay with me here…

The annual opening of boating season in Seattle was this weekend, and it’s always celebrated with a number of special events, including a boat parade on Lake Union.

But this year’s parade, titled “Porthole to Paradise”, included one truly unique addition.

This year, a 26-foot, 8-ton statue of Anubis was part of the parade.

The huge Anubis statue was arriving in Seattle as a part of the upcoming Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs exhibit, which opens at the Pacific Science Center on May 24.

It’s the final U.S. showing of the exhibition that has been traveling the country showcasing ancient treasures on loan from Egypt since 2008.

Yeah, that giant sculpture floating through the bay is an ancient treasure on loan from Egypt.

And here’s your mini history lesson of the day: Anubis is the Greek name of the mythical creature from the Book of the Dead, which determines a dead person’s worth by weighing the heart.  Ancient Egyptians also believed he guided souls and oversaw mummy embalming.

It was transported into Seattle aboard a 72-foot long barge.

A 26-foot-high, 8-ton, Egyptian jackal-headed protector of the afterlife floating through the bay: Truly one of the most unique things I’ve seen during my travels.

I had seen it land at Edwards Air Force Base as a kid in the ’80s, so when I heard the Space Shuttle Discovery was going to be doing low-altitude flyovers in Washington, D.C., during my trip, I was elated.

The shuttle is on the way to its permanent new home at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

And it flew in earlier today on top of a modified 747.

Here’s a photo of Discovery as it arrived in our nation’s capital.

Welcome to the latest entry in our “Where To Travel In…” series, where we tell you about the best places to travel each month.

Although March doesn’t have many massive “headline” events, there are so many small, offbeat things going on, you’ll be happy you get 31 days to check them all out instead of 30.

Here’s what’s happening in March…

The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta – St. Maarten

March 1 – 4

This year marks the 32nd edition of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, a unique blend of International sailing, musical talent, and all-night parties.   What began in 1980 with just 12 entries has steadily climbed to over 200 boats, and bands such as the Black Eyed Peas, the Marley Brothers, Maxi Priest and Wyclef Jean just to name a few.  With its official slogan being “Serious Fun” it’s no wonder people come from over 25 countries to attend this one-of-a-kind regatta.

Calle Ocho Festival – Miami

March 2

For one week each March, Little Havana in Miami transforms itself into a traditional Latin street festival.  The Calle Ocho Festival is an opportunity to experience Miami’s large Cuban influence as 23 blocks along SW 8th Street transform into a giant carnival.  Attracting over a million spectators, it’s known as the largest street festival on Earth, though we don’t believe that’s actually been officially Guinness certified.  Although what IS Guinness certified is that in 1998, more than 119,000 people joined in the world’s longest conga line at the festival, setting a new world record.

Adelaide Festival of Arts – Adelaide, South Australia

March 2 – 18

Held every other year in the South Australian capital of Adelaide, the Adelaide Festival of Arts is the most important cultural event in Australia and one of the world’s greatest celebrations of the arts.  Since its launch in 1960, the Adelaide Festival has showcased the most compelling artists, companies and productions from around the globe in the areas of opera, theater, dance, classical and contemporary music, cabaret, new media, literature, and outdoor entertainment.

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race – Alaska

March 3

They do all the work, yet reap none of the rewards. How is that fair?

The Iditarod is a 1,131-mile sled dog race that’s run along a trail from Anchorage to Nome.  Mushers and a team of 12 to 16 dogs compete for a cash prize and a new pickup truck (which I’m sure the dogs really appreciate?).  The current fastest winning time record was set in last year by John Baker with a time of 8 days, 19 hours, 46 minutes, and 39 seconds.

Holi – India, Nepal, Pakistan and other Hindu areas

March 7 – 9

Holi is also known as the Festival of Colors, when Hindus welcome spring’s abundant colors after the winter season.  It’s celebrated on the last full moon day of the lunar month and lasts about two days.  During Holi, participants host bonfires, throw colored powder at each other, and celebrate wildly.  One of the biggest customs is the loosening of strict social structures, including age, sex, status, and caste.

South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW) – Austin, Texas

March 9 – 18

Thousands of fans of music, film, and technology make the journey to the Texas capital to catch a glimpse of the year’s new trends and breakthroughs at SXSW.  With a reputation built over the last 20-plus years, the event is no longer just the epicenter of indie rock.  What started in 1987 with 700 people has expanded to an event that was 20,000-attendees strong in 2011.

Starkbierzeit (Strong Beer Festival) – Munich, Germany

March 9 – 25

Meet Oktoberfest’s little brother – the tougher, more down-to-earth sibling whose company can be enjoyed without the crowds.  For Bavarians, Starkbierzeit is like opening the fridge door to a new season of beer drinking after winter ends.  It’s got all the beer, dancing, and Lederhosen of Oktoberfest with just a fraction of the crowds.

Las Falles – Valencia, Spain

March 15 – 19

Las Falles is a celebration held in commemoration of Saint Joseph in Valencia, Spain.   The five days and nights of Falles include processions, costumes, food, frolicking in the streets, and fireworks.  The Falles themselves are huge sculptures of papier-mâché on wood, built by teams of local artists.  Throughout the five days, explosions can reportedly be heard all day long and sporadically through the night as everyone from small children to the elderly throw fireworks and noisemakers in the streets.  The final night of Falles is a pyromaniac’s dream: there’s a huge bonfire (known as the cremà, or, the burning) and each falles is laden with fireworks before it’s burned.

Possibly one of the most horrifying images I've ever seen

Winter Music Conference – Miami

March 16 – 25

The Winter Music Conference is an electronic music gathering that features more than 400 events, 1,400 DJs and artists, and 100,000 attendees.  It’s basically nine straight days of music, parties, nightclubs, and dancing.  The headline event is the Ultra Music Festival, a three-day outdoor electronic music festival in Bicentennial Park that was attended by over 100,000 people in 2011.

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY – Worldwide

March 17

Celebrated in countries across the globe, Saint Patrick’s Day commemorates Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.  It’s a public holiday in Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador, and in Montserrat.  And it’s famous for the wearing of green attire (especially shamrocks) and drinking unhealthy amounts of alcohol.  The best festivities take place in Ireland, but there’s some fun stuff in the U.S., like in Chicago where they dye the Chicago River green.  For some Saint Patrick’s Day trivia, check out our list of 17 Bizarre but True Facts About Ireland.

Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) – Japan

March through May

Hanami is the Japanese tradition of enjoying the beauty of flowers, usually referring to cherry blossoms or ume blossoms.  Cherry blossoms can begin to appear in Okinawa as early as January, or as late as May in Hokkaido.  But they bloom in the bulk of the country near the end of March.  In Japan, thousands of people gather to enjoy the trees by feasting at outdoor parties.  And in many places, paper lanterns are hung in the trees for nighttime enjoyment.

National Cherry Blossom Festival – Washington, D.C.

March 20 – April 27

The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the gift of 3,000 Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to Washington, D.C., on March 27, 1912.  This year is the 100th anniversary of the gift, so the usual two-week festival has been expanded to over a month, and well over a million people are expected to visit during that time.

And here’s a look at some of the smaller, weirder, and just plain fun things going on in March…

World Ice Art Championships – Fairbanks, Alaska

Through March 25

Fairbanks doesn’t have a whole lot to offer tourists, so it’s making up for it with the one thing it has an abundance of: ICE.  Over 100 ice artists representing 40 countries take part in the World Ice Art Championships, creating both competition and exhibition pieces.

International Ice Festival – Jerusalem, Israel

March 3 – April 4

An ice festival in Alaska makes sense.  But Israel?  Jerusalem is holding their first International Ice Festival this March.  The month-long event will feature an ice bar, ice skating, live entertainment, storytelling, and a replica of Jerusalem made entirely of ice.  And coats will be handed out at the entrance to keep visitors warm.

Frozen Dead Guy Days – Nederland, Colorado

March 2 – 4

The story behind Frozen Dead Guy Days is so crazy, it’s deserving of its own feature on TheJetpacker.  That’s why I’ve officially marked it down on my 2013 “must-attend” list.  But until then, here’s the gist: the “frozen dead guy” is Grandpa Bredo, who’s been dead since 1989 and resides in a Tuff Shed in the hills above Nederland, Colorado.  His body is frozen with 1,600 pounds of dry ice packed around him in a sarcophagus, surrounded by foam padding, a tarp, and blankets.  A cryonicist keeps Grandpa at a steady -60 degrees Fahrenheit, and gives tours to anybody who’s interested.  The festival part started 11 years ago.  People come from all over the U.S. for wacky events like coffin racing, polar plunging, frozen salmon tossing, and, yes, even to have a beer with Colorado’s best-known corpse.

Smirnoff boxes double as a coffin in a pinch.

Annual National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show – Albuquerque, New Mexico

March 2 – 4

It bills itself as “The Hottest Show on Earth.”  Now in its 24th year, the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show is supposedly the largest and most visited show about spicy foods and barbecue in the world, featuring hundreds of booths and thousands of products.

Honen Matsuri – Japan

March 15

Honen Matsuri is a fertility festival celebrated in Japan.  The best-known (and strangest) event takes place in the town of Komaki, just north of Nagoya City.  The main features of the festival are Shinto priests playing musical instruments, a parade, all-you-can-drink sake, and, oh yeah, a 620-pound, 96-inch-long wooden phallus.  There’s also an array of phallus-shaped food and souvenirs.  At the end of the procession, the giant wooden dong is spun furiously (?) before it’s set down and more prayers are said. Everyone then gathers in the square and the crowd is showered with small rice cakes thrown by officials from raised platforms.  Awesome!

“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

That’s the clever phrase the Las Vegas Visitor Authority coined to encapsulate the sexy naughtiness of their adult playground in the desert.

I go to Vegas, on average, three or four times a year.  Living in Los Angeles, the 275-mile drive can be done in less than four hours, and because the city has been saddled with a glut of hotel rooms ever since the recession started, it’s one of the easiest and cheapest weekend getaway options.

But I’ve never really understood the whole “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” thing.  Usually when I go to Vegas, the only thing that stays there is a couple hundred bucks lost at the blackjack or craps table.

That all changed this past weekend, when I invaded Sin City with five of my closest friends for a bachelorette party.

It was a trip unlike any of the others preceding it.

I’m contractually obligated to not reveal specific details.  C’mon, that would totally defeat the whole “…stays in Vegas” thing.

But I get it now.

Over the span of 36 hours, our experience included, but was not limited to: the Cirque du Soleil show Zumanity, Marquee nightclub, an all-night talk with a random stranger, a lost cell phone, a lost ID, a German stripper, phallus cupcakes, a blowup doll, a ripped and see-through dress, a limousine, exposed body parts, bottle service at Tryst, dancing on the table, making out, and getting naked in the hotel elevator.  And that’s just the stuff I CAN talk about!

Delicious baked goods and dollar bills. Totally wholesome!

For most of those experiences, I was simply a spectator.  But my perception of Vegas, and humanity in general, may never be the same.

It was wild.  It was crazy.  It was exhausting.  It was embarrassing at times.  It was a weekend I will NEVER forget.  But most of all, it was unbelievably fun.

Next month, when I see these girls again, it will be the day of the wedding.  I assume we’ll exchange some knowing glances, some sly smiles, and won’t speak a single word about any of it.

He got his degree in chemistry. I know because I asked.

Today is the most polarizing — and most fake — holiday in the world, Valentine’s Day.

And that means it’s time to give your significant other a box of chocolates.  How typical and uncreative.

She won’t be impressed by that cheap box of chocolate you picked up from the gas station on your way home from work.  And she certainly won’t put out like some cheap hooker that succumbs to any feeble token of adoration.  Your gal is better than that — and so are you.

If you really want to woo her — or woo her back — you’ve got to step it a notch.  Don’t just give her chocolates, give her the entire chocolate experience by taking her to a chocolate museum.

There are 45 chocolate museums in the world, but if you really want to engage in a traditional missionary-style lovemaking session under the contrived conditions of Valentine’s Day, you’ve got to take her to one of the best.

Here’s a list of the top 10 chocolate museums in the world, in alphabetical order…

Cadbury World – Birmingham, United Kingdom

Cadbury is probably best known in the States for their chocolate eggs hawked by a clucking bunny.  Even though it’s an Easter treat, it’s guaranteed to get her into the mood, which is why it’s imperative that you immediately whisk her away to Cadbury World in Birmingham, England.  If things don’t go well, at least you have three tours and 14 attractions to fall back on.

Candy Americana Museum – Lititz, Pennsylvania

Nothing says romance more than you and your loved one admiring a collection of over 1,000 antique molds, tins, boxes of chocolate and hand-painted porcelain chocolate pots at the Candy Americana Museum.  Best of all, it’s free, and that makes you a thoughtful cheapskate.

Chocolate Museum – Jeju Island, South Korea

Not only does chocolate have the uncanny ability to rapidly turn women on, so too does a building that is phallic in shape.  That’s why the Chocolate Museum on Jeju Island in South Korea is certain to lead to a sweaty mating session on Valentine’s Day.  If walking through an entrance of a brick phallus doesn’t do it for her, maybe the Bean to Bar showroom, which showcases the process of transforming a cacao bean into chocolate, will get her excited.  And if all else fails, there’s a park nearby called Love Land that displays 140 sculptures of people having sex.

Chocolate Museum – St. Stephen, Canada

Blame the Canadian chocolate company Ganong Brothers for those tacky heart-shaped boxes that we’re obligated to buy on Valentine’s Day — they introduced them to North America.  It started as a Christmas tradition, but we’re guessing that it transferred over to Valentine’s Day when some forgetful-yet-crafty boyfriend parlayed an unopened heart-shaped box of chocolates into a Valentine’s Day gift.  It’s one of the few times in history re-gifting actually worked.

Choco-Story – Bruges, Belgium

Choco-Story is a fantastic chocolate museum because it clarifies a burning question among men: why should I buy my woman chocolate if it’s only going to make her fat?  The answer can be found in a section of this museum that extols the health benefits of chocolate: it’s rich in antioxidants, which removes harmful free radicals, it extends one’s lifespan, and promotes good health.  So at least if she gets fatter, she’ll be a somewhat healthy heifer.

Cologne Chocolate Museum – Cologne, Germany

When discussing something as luxurious as fine chocolate, it’s mandatory to use pretentious phrases.  We’ll oblige and remark that the Pièce de résistance at the Cologne Chocolate Museum is a gaudy 10-foot tall chocolate fountain that visitors may dip wafers into at the end of the tour.  Unfortunately, no chocolate-covered Airborne tablets are available to ward off whatever microorganisms are lingering in that cesspool.

Halloren Chocolate Museum – Halle, Germany

Germany may very well be the chocolate capital of the world.  And since Halloren is the oldest chocolate factory in Germany, their chocolate museum is kind of like a holy grail.  Take your lady here and watch her clothes melt off when you get home.

Hershey’s Chocolate World – Hershey, Pennsylvania

Hershey’s Chocolate World is more than a standard chocolate museum, it’s a theme park that features 3-D shows, walking tours and a ride that takes visitors through the chocolate-making process (Hmm, somebody should make a movie about this!).

Museo del Chocolate – Villajoyosa, Spain

Villajoyosa is known as “The City of Chocolate” — which is really a misleading title since it doesn’t match Homer Simpson’s version where everything is edible, including the street lamps and animals — and it’s also home to a chocolate museum sponsored by Spain’s most famous chocolate company, Valor.  The museum, which is located inside a 19th-century house, features exhibits on the history of production of chocolate, in case you need something educational to do in between stuffing your face full of chocolate.

Nestle Chocolate Museum – Mexico City, Mexico

Since Nestle chocolate isn’t particularly good, they had to make up for it by designing a really cool looking chocolate museum.  The origami-like structure, which was built in a record time of only 2 1/2 months, symbolizes the process of opening of a candy bar wrapper.  We’re sure Freud would have a theory on this, but take your lady there anyway.

I’ve just logged the first entry to my 2012 Christmas Wish List.

Hammacher Schlemmer, the company that’s known for making expensive toys for adults, has come out with a suitcase that turns into a SCOOTER.

It’s called the Scootercase, and it’s basically a carry-on suitcase with a footboard that folds out and inline skate wheels built into it.  You hold onto the usual pull-out handle out as your handlebars.

The idea is for travelers to use it to get to their gate faster than walking.

As for the suitcase part, it’s got 1 cubic foot of storage space and comes with a padded laptop compartment.

It’s TSA-approved and will fit in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you.

The Scootercase isn’t cheap though.  It retails for $299.95 at Hammacher.com.

Super Bowl XLVI will go down in Indianapolis in just over a week.  And with the New York Giants facing the New England Patriots, we’ve got a matchup of two of the most prominent cities in America.

So in the spirit of good competition, I’ve broken down some statistics for New York, Boston, and the host city, Indianapolis.  Which city will… go… all… the… way…?!

Claim to fame:

New York:  Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square

Boston:  The Freedom Trail, MIT and Harvard, Sam Adams

Indianapolis:  Peyton Manning

Where they rank on the list of America’s most populous cities:

New York:  1st

Boston:  22nd

Indianapolis:  12th

Price of a 16-ounce beer at the stadium:

New York:  $8.75

Boston:  $6.00

Indianapolis:  $9.25

Most attractive cheerleaders (according to BleacherReport.com):

New York:  Doesn’t have cheerleaders

Boston:  27th out of 32

Indianapolis:  24th out of 32

Most attractive quarterback (according to me):

New York Giants:  Eli Manning – 18th out of 32

Boston:  Tom Brady – 1st out of 32

Indianapolis:  Dan Orlovsky – 24th out of 32

Famous TV shows set in the city:

New York:  Saturday Night Live, I Love Lucy, The Jeffersons, The Cosby Show, NYPD Blue, Friends, Sex and the City, Law & Order, 30 Rock, Gossip Girl

Boston:  Cheers, Boston Legal and/or Public, Ally McBeal, The Practice

Indianapolis:  One Day at a Time

Largest Airport:

New York:  JFK International Airport with over 46 million passengers a year

Boston:  Logan International Airport with over 27 million passengers a year

Indianapolis:  Indianapolis International Airport with over 7 million passengers a year

Price of a gallon of gas:

New York:  $3.73

Boston:  $3.45

Indianapolis:  $3.15

Median household income:

New York:  $48,743

Boston:  $49,893

Indianapolis:  $38,502

National Average:  $50,046

Median home value:

New York:  $504,500

Boston:  $369,600

Indianapolis:  $118,100

National Average:  $179,900

Percentage of residents 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2010:

New York:  33.4%

Boston:  44.3%

Indianapolis:  26.7%

National Average:  28.2%

Average amount of time it takes residents to get to work:

New York:  38.7 minutes

Boston:  28.4 minutes

Indianapolis:  22.2 minutes

National Average:  25.3 minutes

Percentage of residents age 5 and older who speak a language other than English at home:

New York:  49.2%

Boston:  35.5%

Indianapolis:  12.7%

National Average:  20%

So, now that you’ve got all the facts, who will YOU be rooting for on February 5th?

When I got the chance to spend a week in South Africa’s “mother city” I was extremely excited at the prospect of all the amazing animals and bird life I’d see.

My first port of call was to see those elegant little birds in tuxedos.  Who doesn’t love penguins?

And Cape Town’s Boulders Beach is one of the best places to find them.

Slightly nervous that these cute little water birds would be shy, I was assured that my concerns were unnecessary and I would certainly see some on my day out.

I shouldn’t have worried at all.

There I was, lounging on the beach beneath the warm African sun and looking out at the glittering Indian Ocean when two short shadows fell across my legs. When I looked over, expecting to see perhaps a couple of small children playing near my towel, I found a pair of penguins just meandering towards the ocean for a dip.

While there are some 27 locations where these little guys live along the cape coast, they are still endangered. But don’t let that stop you from popping along to swim alongside them in the ocean at Boulders Bay.

Next was a day with the Big 5.

I headed out with a friend with a car through the stunning wine lands to Sanbona Wildlife Reserve.  The drive is some 3.5 hours so an overnight stay is certainly worth the effort.

This park has everything, and the afternoon game drive we caught after our arrival was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I’ve always loved photography and thank goodness for the invention of the digital camera, because there wouldn’t have been enough film in an entire suitcase to cover the amount of pictures I took while riding in the back of that Jeep.

Lions, giraffes, elephants, springboks, steenboks, even a white rhino, to name a few, graced us with their presence.

Best of all for me were the cheetahs, which brings me to my last stop.

Statuesque when still and so elegant and sleek as they athletically run over the plains, and I defy anyone not to melt when they look at a cheetah’s warm sad face with their black tear stripes running down from the eyes.

Not satisfied with seeing them from a distance, I wanted to get up close.

As we drove back towards Cape Town we took a minor detour to the Spier Wine Farm near Stellenbosch, home to an outreach Cheetah Sanctuary. Not only did we enjoy the most incredible meal at the winery, but I actually got to play with a 6-month old cub – definitely the highlight of an utterly animaltasic week.

You can see more photos from Cape Town on this page.

Liah S Thorley is a travel writer for MyDestination.com/CapeTown and novelist from the UK. She has travelled extensively and particularly enjoys history and the arts.

The website Travel-Ticker.com just released the results of their 2012 Traveler Intentions Survey, where they asked people about their dream vacation destination.

And, with 43% of the vote, Italy was the clear favorite.

The full top five dream travel destinations are…

1. Italy

2. Australia

3. England

4. Bahamas

5. France

But even though travelers have a dream destination in mind, most are willing to compromise and go somewhere more affordable.

70% of respondents said they are open to other destinations for their next trip, and would let deals and discounts drive their final travel decision.

It’s the final installment of 2011 for our “Where To Travel In…” series, where we tell you about the best places to travel each month.

Fortunately, the last month of the year is arguably the best for travel.

The world is your oyster in December. It really doesn’t matter where you go; you’re bound to see spectacular Christmas displays and enjoy extravagant New Year’s Eve celebrations. Some of the best are in…

Scotland

Things get crazy in Scotland during their New Year’s Eve celebration called Hogmanay. In the town of Stonehaven, people who are drunk, brave, or possibly both, swing fireballs over their heads, while in Edinburgh, over 100,000 watch the burning of a Viking ship. When the clock strikes midnight, towns all across Scotland sing a traditional poem called “Auld Lang Syne,” which often leads to a kiss-a-thon. So make sure to pack Chapstick and Abreva.

Rio De Janerio

Over 2 million people dressed in white flock to Copacabana Beach to drink and party the night away on New Year’s Eve. But we use the term “dressed” loosely. This is summer in Brazil after all.

Reykjavik

Iceland doesn’t have any laws restricting fireworks, so those brave enough to endure the cold huddle around giant bonfires and launch fireworks before making their way to the bars.

Prague

Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world… but it’s also one of the most dangerous on New Year’s Eve. We’re not sure if Prague has similar fireworks laws to Iceland, but it doesn’t matter because no one can stop the streets from turning into a free-for-all of fireworks.

New York

The ball drop in Times Square is one of the most famous New Year’s celebrations in the world.

Sydney

Thanks to its timezone location, Sydney is one of the first cities to herald the new year.  And they do so with one of the most spectacular fireworks displays, which is seen by a crowd of 1.5 million people eager to wish the world “G’day.”

Berlin

Over a million people cram into a 1.2 mile stretch of road in front of Bradenburg Gate called the “Party Mile” to watch live bands, drink hot wine and dance in tents. We were there in 2009, and while the celebration was cool, the walk there was frightening.

London

A couple years ago, we joined over a million people to watch the New Year’s fireworks show at the London Eye. It remains the coolest fireworks show we’ve ever witnessed.

Las Vegas

When we went, Vegas was a let down in the fireworks department, but awesome in the debauchery department. Some people choose to listen to crappy cover bands at the Fremont Street Experience, but the real party is on The Strip, where a huge stretch of this famous boulevard is closed for a few hours so people can party hard before making their way to the clubs.

Barcelona

The streets of Barcelona look like most other cities on New Year’s Eve, but they celebrate an unusual tradition that is unique to the Spain: for every chime of the clock after midnight, everyone must eat one grape. That’s a nice segue into drinking gallons of fermented grape juice at a bar after the fireworks show ends.

You won’t find the same wild parties on Christmas. This is when cities become quiet as families gather together. But in the weeks leading up to Christmas, many European cities have giant Christmas markets packed with small stalls selling food and gifts. The most famous are:

Christkindlesmarkt

Nuremburg, Germany

This is regarded as the most famous Christmas markets in the world. Over 2 million people show up to listen to Christmas carols, buy crafts and drink mulled wine.

Christkindelsmärik

Strasbourg, France

This Christmas market has been held in front of the Strasbourg Catherdal since 1570, and attracts around 1.5 million visitors a year.

Striezelmarkt

Dresden, Germany

This is the oldest Christmas market in Germany, dating back to 1434. It’s famous for having the biggest nutcracker in the world and a 45-foot tall pyramid decorated with wooden nativity scenes.

Old Town Square Christmas Market

Prague, Czech Republic

We’d go back to this Christmas market again just for the trdlo, a delicious pastry that’s made by wrapping dough around a stick, heating it over an open fire, then dusting it with cinnamon and sugar.

Budapest Christmas Fair

Budapest, Hungry

The Christmas Market in Vörösmarty Square is said to be the brightest in all of Europe. It also boasts one of the largest performance line-ups of any Christmas market, with over 150 shows.

Christmas isn’t complete without a Christmas tree, and here are some of the most notable:

The largest floating Christmas tree in the world is in Rio de Janeiro. It’s 280 feet tall and illuminated by 2.9 million bulbs.

Mexico City hosts the tallest artificial Christmas tree in the world, even though it looks more like a 295-foot tall pyramid.

At 145 feet tall, the largest artificial foliage Christmas tree in the world is in Guatemala City. The coolest thing about it is that it performs shows, with 1.5 million lights synchronized to music.

Every year, the slopes of Monte Ingino in Gubbio, Italy present the largest Christmas tree display in the world.

Wilmington, North Carolina claims to have the world’s largest living Christmas tree. It’s a 75-foot tall Oak tree that is over 400 years old.

Here are some other great festivals and celebrations in December, some related to the holidays, some not…

National Samba Day – Rio de Janiero

December 2nd

Brazil’s largest city will turn into one of the biggest (and sexiest) dance celebrations in the world.

Chichibu Yomatsuri – Chichibu, Japan

December 2 – 3

This is one of the three biggest float festivals in Japan, where hundreds of young men pull 30-foot tall, 10-ton illuminated floats through the streets. The six floats represent the six protective deities in Japan, and on top of each float, children perform kabuki and folk dances.

Great Santa Run – Las Vegas

December 3rd

Last year, over 9,000 people ran a 5k dressed as Santa Claus, and this year they’re expecting more in order to break a world record (we can’t believe they actually have a record for that either).

Krampus – Austria

December 5th

Everybody needs a nemesis. And in Austria, the enemy to Saint Nicholas is Krampus. On December 5th, people dress up as this horned devil and roam the streets to warn children not to be naughty before Christmas. But in some parts of Austria, older men dressed in Krampus costumes stalk the streets, looking for someone to beat with a stick.

Klausjagen – Kussnacht, Switzerland

December 5th

20,000 people descend upon this small town annually to watch a procession where men dressed as bishops, wearing 7-foot tall white hats lit internally by candles (does this really seem like a good idea?), march through the streets to chase away wild spirits.

Burning Devil Festival – Antigua, Guatemala

December 7th

Giant effigies of devils are burned in the streets at sundown to rid the country of evil spirits during Quema del Diablo. Afterward, people celebrate with music and fireworks.

Whirling Dervishes Festival – Konya, Turkey

December 10 – 17

Chances are, you’ve seen a whirling Dervish. They are Sufi Muslim followers who dress in white cloaks and spin around for hours in an effort to reach religious ecstasy. It’s become such a popular performance that over 1 million will show up to this festival.

Christmas Boat Parade – Newport Beach, California

December 14 – 18

This year marks the 103rd annual Christmas Boat Parade, where boats adorned in lights and decorations sail through Newport Beach and entertain over a million spectators. We check this out every year because it’s close by and it’s way easier than driving around neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights.

Oaxaca Radish Festival – Oaxaca, Mexico

December 23rd

Judging by the name, you’d think this would be a festival about eating radishes… but it’s actually about sculpting radishes. Every year, thousands of people gather in the center of town to show off their radish sculptures of Jesus and other religious and folklore figures. Is there a better way to celebrate Christmas than with a Jesus radish sculpture?

Know of any cool places to travel in December? Let us know and we’ll include it on our next list!