Where Would YOU Go After Christmas???

Sorry, I would never book a trip to Europe in the Winter. Not fond of cold weather and short days.

Rome! I loved Rome at the holidays and December is far more pleasant there than in CT. You will need warm coats but you won’t encounter bitterly cold.

So many sights for everyone: Colosseum, The Forum, Baths of Caracalla, the zoo in Villa Borghese, the Pantheon, possibly even renting bikes or a peddle-driven carriage for 4 in the park. You can day trip to Castel Gandolfo and Ostia Antica. Let them peruse a guidebook and pick something out. Take a private guided tour to have a family experience tailored to you. We did this with visitors when we lived there and it was always a highlight for them. LMK if you need a tour guide name.

A big plus: still Christmassy until after Epiphany.

Perhaps Lisbon, Portugal? A quick flight from the east coast and with small interesting museums (the coach museum is fun and the maritime museum details the history of the Portuguese sea exploration (for the boys if they like ships). Great food and pastries.
A day trip to Sintra and lots more.
I don't know about the weather in December/January. My visits were in September and October.

Probably doesn't meet your criteria but we did a post-Christmas trip several years ago (pre-covid) ... 2 days after Christmas flew to Zurich for a day, then took Bernina Express through Switzerland (with a lunch stop in St Moritz) ... down to Lake Como / Bellagio, then on to Milan for a few days (New Year's in Milan ... our hotel room was high up and we had a cool view of the sky lanterns floating around the city) ... back home Jan 2.

Argentina, Australia, South Africa.

For Europe, from about mid-October to Mid-February, I would focus on urban settings. Outdoor activities, unless your into winter sports, are limited; bucolic country settings are a bit dreary; and high tourist areas are either shut down or limited in services. Cities retain a vibrancy, and even well touristed cities do not feel that way.

Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Porto/Lisbon, London, Amsterdam; all fit the bill for me, at least of cities I have visited.

London fits a lot of what you are asking for. Lots of things to see, museums (most free) that you could days or weeks seeing. You could hop down to Portsmouth and fill a couple days with Naval museums and ships. Of course castles, perhaps some walking if the weather turns nice for a day or two.

Brazil! Its summer, wonderful beaches, delicious food, natural wonders, historic towns, etc. etc.

What about Dublin? Should be good non stops from Boston, too...

I have done XMAS several times, pre and post, in Paris, and loved it. Some of the finer restaurants have limited operations and days through that stretch, but there are plenty of bistros and cafes where you are more likely to spend your meal money with kids, anyway.

Maybe Ireland for castles, ships, etc.? My understanding is that it doesn't get horribly cold in winter, because of the gulf stream.

Portugal is another thought. A short trip from Lisbon is Sintra, with lots of castles of various descriptions.

Andalusia has very nice weather at that time of year! There's the Alhambra for a "castle" fix and I'm pretty sure there's hiking. Madrid has a science museum, so you could fly in there for a few days, then move to Seville, Cordoba, etc. and do day trips from there.

If the flight to London is so inexpensive, go to London. There is much there to interest your kids per the interests you describe. I have spent many Decembers in London and one in York. If you have adjusted to CT weather from Florida, then you won’t find it terribly cold. It always feels much warmer than home to me. I wear layers so have never needed my winter coat….tee, wool layer, and unlined leather jacket was one of my typical London wear. There was an alleged snow storm when I was there one year, an exception, but it still wasn’t cold and certainly not a snow storm by my standards…more like a dusting.

My sister, nephew (who was same age as your youngest) did a trip with the exact same time parameters in 2018 and 2019. Left day after Christmas for London, spent one night there before catching a morning train down to Cornwall. Picked up a rental car in Bodmin and stayed in a National Trust cottage outside the tiny village of Polruan. Cornwall in winter may not be everyone's idea of fun, but it worked out really well for us both years. Never were rained out entirely and weather was very similar to our own PNW winter weather (sometimes windy, sometimes sunny, sometimes a bit of a rain). Never been to Cornwall in summer, but understand crowds are bad, in winter, no such thing to worry about and the beaches are still great for kite flying and exploring. Shops were open for holiday visitors, but many were planning on closing up once the winter holidays were over. As for activities, there were lots of easy walks/hikes to explore in the area around our cottage. With the car we did day trips to places like Eden Project, Tintagel (a longer day trip), Charlestown (there was a small museum there that had Titanic artifacts and my nephew was big into the Titanic at that point), Fossil hunting at Lyme (a very long day trip, but was a lot of fun), closer by we did horseback riding, afternoon tea at the nice big hotel in Fowey (just across the river), Botallack mines, and the Lanhydrock estate had a lot going on for the holidays to entertain young and old. And it was nice to have our cozy cottage to come back to in the evenings with a fire and laundry available to clean any wet/muddy clothes. We headed back to London a day before our flight, via the train, spending one night in London and then flying out the next day.

London, hands down. Everything your boys like to do is there. If you want to go to Harry Potter, reserve this summer. We went to London one year for Christmas and my daughter prefers it to NY at Christmas.

Australia

She has less than a week. By the time they got there it would be just about time to start heading back!

Southern Spain. But if the flight to London is so cheap, I'd go to London.

London and then Edinburgh, Scotland , which Is supposed to have a New Year's Eve celebration that's fun for all. It's on my bucket list.
OR
Vienna, where the xmas markets and lights are up at least until NYE, and of course NYE there is also supposed to be fantastic.
In any caed, you'll have a trip to remember. Safe travels!

We just did this…. Flew to Spain December 26, 2021. It was fantastic. We had 2 weeks and spent it mostly in Andalucia, but even with the shorter time you have, you could enjoy warm weather, castles, hikes, and walks on the beach, along with fantastic food and a very relaxing pace. Plus, Christmas in Spain is really through January 6, so you can still have Christmas markets, nativities, and festivities (Andalucia loves a celebration).

Granada reportedly has an excellent science museum, although in my many trips there, I haven’t been myself (just too many other things to do). There is a wonderful park above the Alhambra; we spent New Year’s Day there.

Spend a few days n Granada, a few days in either Cadiz or Malaga to get some city time mixed with beach town time.

Science museums all day? I would recommend London. Interesting museums with the advantage that the bigger ones probably have contend geared towards children in a language that your kids can understand.

Well, I wouldn't trade one dreary winter destination for another. There's a reason why airfares then are so cheap after all.
For something completely different consider the town of San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico. With winter temps in the 80's, sunny skies, friendly locals, and a myriad of things to do it's a terrific short-stay destination for a family. With the dollar especially strong against the peso it'll be pretty cheap as well.
There are direct flights to Mexico City from JFK.
One particular tour that the whole family might love would be to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary - the wintering over destination for billions of migrating butterflies. Located at an altitude of 10,000 ft., you can save yourself some huffing and puffing by renting a donkey for a few pesos to traverse the 1.5 hike up to where the colonies are.

Please don't assume that all of these places will have good weather. I normally do what you are planning - though I generally fly out on 12/25. The year we went to Italy, Venice and Florence were bitterly cold with heavy snow in Florence and definitely not enjoyable no matter how cold it is back home or what you were used to. Be prepared that while you may luck out, you may also be miserable after spending considerable amounts of money on a vacation. That was my lesson learned and I've steered to warmer climes every since.

Thanks for putting this into the e-universe, Allison; it's a fabulous consideration and welcome diversion. Hope for you and sons you're able to make any travel happen, anywhere your hearts' desire. If I were picking: with limited nights available, which in this case could be 6 max should you abide by school district schedule dictates, picking a quick-to-get there destination with bonus points for being less pricey than other options, is a savvy way to go. If/should you and kiddos can/do align with 'there's no bad weather, just improper clothing choices', winter travel most certainly can be fun out of doors as well as in. Whew, London has tons of fascinating points of interest I imagine would thrill youngsters. Tower of London with suits of armor on display both your boys would fit in; Natural History Museum and mighty T Rex on the main floor among the fascinations; The Eye, which you explain is a Ferris Wheel on steroids though much, much, much slower and way, way, WAY higher; Westminster Abbey where they've been crowning royalty since 1066 and The British Museum with The Rosetta Stone and ancient Egyptian mummies; all could be fun, enlightening inside excursions from which to choose during a London sojourn. Hyde Park, Green Park, St James's Park, along the Thames; these are more than enough brilliant choices for outside experiences inside the city. You could introduce theatre to your boys, go to the London Zoo or just visit train stations all day; the list can definitely be made but must equally be trimmed to manageable proportions. Only so many hours in not quite 8 yo legs, right? Happy planning.

Weather would be a concern. I wouldn’t want anything too cold or snowy or cold-rain. So that rules out much of the north. South will be warmer but not warm and seaside resort towns will be too deserted. So cities in the south.

In Europe with your interest, maybe Lisbon or Barcelona?
Or if better weather is a priority - Mexico City.

We went to the London Zoo when we were there for Christmas and really enjoyed it. Your boys would probably be intrigued by the fact that people are buried in the floor at Westminster Abbey. The mummies at the British Museum would be a hit. I haven't been, but the Cutty Sark clipper ship at Greenwich might interest them.

Or go north for a winter adventure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_8fvJKi1Pk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as6foAVe4-I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd19cGu4Qns

We had a great time the week after Xmas in Prague and Berlin! Some markets still open, so much to see! Yes it was cold, but just dress right and you are fine. :). You can train in between.

Here is my blog when we went - we did Germany/Austria the week before Xmas first... our boys were just turning 12 and 13 when we went!

https://onatangentweb.wordpress.com/category/christmas-markets-2016/

I agree with Laurel, Rome at Christmas is magical and usually not bitterly cold. We were there this past Christmas week and it was delightful. Every restaurant had outdoor seating with heat lamps (due to Covid, but I hope they keep it.) Many streets were decorated with lights and other decorations, just wandering was a delight.

However, do you and your kids enjoy winter sports? The Dolomites have so many fun things to do. Skiing of course (both nordic, with over 1000 km groomed trails, and the ride up/slide down kind). Horse-drawn wagon rides. Toboggan rides (my grown-up daughter's favourite, a 5 km of sledding trail that you take a lift up to slide down. Ice skating, indoor climbing walls, snowshoeing or hiking depending on the weather. And we did not find it cold enough, the snow we wanted kept melting away in the sunshine.

London.

Christmas at Kew Gardens will run through January 3.

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is on till January 2nd. Kids will throughly enjoy.

Ice skating rinks will be available.

Free Museums

Boxing Day and after Christmas sales will be in full swing.

There are the Emirates Gondolas by the O2 arena.

Check the dates for illuminature at the London Wetlands Center and book tickets.

Watch the Royal Horseguards changing of the guard at 11am

Visit Hamley’s toy store

Visit Mudchute Farm

Visit the Science Museum, the Transport Museum, the Water and Steam Museum, the Natural History Museum

Walk across Tower Bridge.

Walk across Millennium Bridge

Visit the Cutty Sark

Ride upstairs in the very front of a double decker bus.

Ride the London Underground

Walk through Richmond Park looking for the herd of red fallow deer

If the kids have been exposed to the Harry Potter films take them to Leadenhall Market to search for the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron

Regent and Oxford street Christmas Lights

See The Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree and have lunch at the Crypt Cafe in the nearby St Martin of Fields church.

Just be aware public transport will be VERY limited on Boxing Day ( 12/26 ).

Thank you, all, for these wonderful suggestions! London had been at the top of my Travel List in general, since it seems like a nice, easy First Visit for the boys. And that's still in the running - But then several of you suggested Rome. Rome has always been low on my list, actually. The crowds, the heat, the chaos - just not something I wanted to deal with (although my sister, who has been a few times, thinks I would love it). But hearing about it from you - maybe I need to change my mind about Rome! I think 90F and crowded would be miserable, but may 40/50F and crowded would be doable? I checked out the 2020 Rick Steves Italy from the local library and am looking through the Rome chapter. So who knows?

Thanks again for all the suggestions! Should this trip happen, I'll be back with more specific questions.

(To those who suggested Spain and/or Portugal - those are definitely on my list! We have a family wedding in Morocco next year, and will likely combine that trip with a trip to Iberia.)

A so-called dream trip? Normally, I don't like traveling in the winter, which is the main reason for having done the trips to Europe in the summer. Aside from the weather factor, there are a number of disadvantages for going in the winter.

Given the parameters listed, I would choose France, or maybe just Paris. Fly out on Dec 26, SFO to Paris, non-stop on an eleven hour flight, arriving at CDG ca. 11 am. Fantastic.

Allison, Thanks for coming back and telling us what you are thinking. Do watch -- with your kids -- some Rick Steves' shows about your potential destinations for ideas and inspiration. While winter daylight hours are not long, there are many things you can do up to dusk and then lights walks/rides/tours after dark as well.

Come back with questions, perhaps in a new post so it doesn't get confusing.

Allison, I still think London would be much more interesting for your boys, but if you go to Rome, here are some ideas:
Day train trip to Florence to see the Science Museum there (Galileo's finger)
San Clemente Church-excavated to see it at several different times in history

Spain: Granada and Seville.

In 2019 we spent the Christmas and New Year's holidays in Prague, Istanbul, Rome, and then Barcelona. I would do any of them all over! If I had to suggest just one? Well, I can't LOL! But Prague was definitely the coldest - but soooo beautiful! Barcelona - stay in El Born! Rome was AWESOME and it really clears out at night so stay in the city center if you can. Istanbul was an experience for sure. I had two kids ages 12 and 17 with me along with my husband. It was magical if not difficult and totally worth it. Have fun planning!

Lviv or Kyiv to do Christmas again (Orthodox Christmas in Jan 7 and the markets will be open for several weeks in advance).