It’s hard to believe, but 2015 is just around the corner. So if you’re looking for somewhere to go or something different to do, I’ve got a few places where you can rock it ’til you drop it, snuggle in with your sweetheart, party with a purpose and more!
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.
Sit back, relax and let a cruise crew steer you into the New Year with a Starlite New Year’s Eve Cruise. Enjoy a leisurely four-hour sojourn on a luxury yacht with family (age 10 and older) or friends featuring cabaret-style entertainment, a delicious sit-down dinner, complimentary premium open bar, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight.
800-444-4814, www.starlitediningcruises.com
ATLANTA, GA.
Billed as “the Largest New Year’s Eve Celebration in the Southeast,” Atlanta’s Peach Drop, held at Underground Atlanta, is celebrating its 26th anniversary this year. The festivities begin at 11 a.m., with a host of family-friendly activities including carnival-style rides, street performers, live music and more. Evening adult-oriented highlights include top-notch live entertainment, festival food, the dropping of the 800-pound peach and fireworks at midnight and a rockin’ after-party with more live music and dancing at Kenny’s Alley until 4 a.m.
404-523-2311, www.PeachDrop.com
CHICAGO, ILL.
Voted “Best Chicago New Year’s Eve Party,” it’s the 15th annual New Year’s Eve Party at the Drake Hotel. Here, an astounding 2,500 guests converge on this venerable hotel to dance, sing and party the night away with some of Chicago’s best local DJs spinning hip-hop, house and top 40 music in four amazing ballrooms, coupled with more than 45 fully staffed bars.
312-787-2200, www.thedrakehotel.com
BALTIMORE, MD.
Bring the entire family for some fun hands-on experiences as part of “Noontime New Year!” at the Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore, Md. Biodegradable experiments, a beanbag boot toss, Hoe Down Dance Party, Mr. Gabe Music Show, DIY flower pot making, a Hippity Hop Barrel Obstacle Course, make your own confetti, milk and cookies and, of course, a noon countdown, will delight and inspire all and send you on your way home well before the sun goes down.
410-727-8120, www.portdiscovery.org
PITTSBURG, PA.
If you think polar bears are the only ones that enjoy frolicking in icy water, think again. Or better yet, join in the fun by stripping down to your skivvies and jumping into the Monongahela River during the annual Pittsburgh Polar Bear Club Jump. This party with a purpose is an annual benefit for the Salvation Army, with this year’s proceeds going to Project Bundle-Up, which supports needy families in Allegheny County.
412-446-1639, www.projectbundleup.com/PolarBearClub.html
LAS VEGAS, NEV.
How about a little bit of Sin City with Snoop Dogg? That’s right. You and your friends can celebrate the New Year at the Snoopadelic Cabaret with Snoop Dogg at the three-story Tao Nightclub at the Venetian Hotel. The theme is the “Roaring ’20s,” “with period-influenced entertainment acts” plus an opulent “Boss Lady Lounge.” Bring your A-game by wearing outrageous yet contemporary dapper suits and flapper dresses to help set the stage. Food and a premium open bar are also part of the fun.
866-659-9643, www.venetian.com/tao.html
NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.
When you think of celebrating New Year’s Eve in the Big Apple, Times Square no doubt comes to mind. But there is a way to welcome 2015 here that is family friendly and 100 percent alcohol-free! Join the fun on Level 3 of the AMC Times Square multiplex during the AMC 42nd Street NYC New Year’s Eve Party. Full-throttle arcade games, PG-13 and G-rated blockbuster movies, a DJ and more are some of the festivities.
212-201-0735, www.balldrop.com/new-years-eve-amc-42-times-square
SEATTLE, WASH.
Five unique simultaneous experiences, four areas of live entertainment, three fantastic performance stages, two VIP exclusive areas, a live comedy theater and fireworks under the Space Needle and, oh yeah, 3,000 of your closest friends—this is what the organizers are promising at “Indulgence,” Seattle’s “Largest New Year Eve Bash.” Celebrating its 13th anniversary this year, the event is held at the city’s EMP Museum, a one-of-a-kind museum combining interactive and interpretive exhibits designed to explore and celebrate music in more than 140,000-square-foot facility featuring more than 80,000 artifacts. The combination is something spectacular, making it one of the city’s most popular annual events.
ALLEN, TEXAS
How about a double? That’s the New Year’s Double in Allen, Texas, featuring two exciting and health-promoting marathon, half marathon and 5K running events. On both the morning of Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, hundreds of folks choose their length of choice to celebrate the end of a wonderful year and the fantastic start to the new one by walking or running. A great family friendly event, you too just might make it a double—without the horrible hangover! www.newyearsdouble.com
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Part multicultural festival, part meet and greet, the New Year’s gala hosted by Professionals in the City is a unique experience. Enjoy delicious food stations, exciting open bars, couples’ salsa lessons, singles’ speed dating, African, Caribbean, Asian and South American-themed rooms and more to welcome in the New Year.
202-686-5990, www.prosinthecity.com/washington-dc-new-years
Lysa Allman is the publisher and editor of Amazing Escapades, offering “Adventures for the Mind, Bod and Belly” (www.amazingescapades.com). She can be reached at editor@amazingescapades.com.