Montreal is the most beautiful when it is blanketed in snow. Bundle up, go outside, and celebrate winter at the 17th Montreal en Lumiere (February 18-March 5), the city's biggest winter arts, music, and food festival. The eclectic lineup includes live music, theater, and dance performances; dazzling pyrotechnics and light shows; a circus acts, children's activities, and dance parties, plus ice sliding and ice-skating. Mixed in with this are fine-dining events pairing top Montreal chefs and over 50 city restaurants with culinary masters from the United States and Switzerland, the festival's featured country for 2015. Save some energy for the final night's Nuit Blance a Montreal, a dusk-to-dawn party packed with more than 200 indoor and outdoor activities. Most events are free, and some are held under the stars or, if you're lucky, the lightly falling snow.

Source: National Geographic's Best Winter Trips 2015.

Edinburgh, Scotland is a gem of a city known for its widespread arts and theater culture. It is a great place to visit during the holidays, particularly because of its holiday light snow that includes fireworks illuminating the sky from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" around the Sir Walter Scott Monument serve even better than carolers.

If you need somewhere to stay in Edinburgh, fireplaces are continuously rekindled at the aronial Balmoral. The Caledonian Hilton Edinburgh is Scotland's answer to the Plaza and equally as opulent.

In the 16th century, sorceresses were burned at the stake beside the gates of Edinburgh Castle. Today, however, nothing scorches at the Witchery by the Castle, which stands on the site. The restaurant serves Loch Duart salmon and Gartmom Farm duck -- all cooked to perfection.

New England's old-world ambience and coziness make Boston a lovely choice for the holidays. Enjoy Beacon Hill's cobblestoned streets dusted with white snow, and celebrate the ghosts of Christmases past with the Christmas Revels at Harvard's Sanders Theatre.

If you are not from around Boston and need a place to stay for the holidays, consider XV Beacon Hotel. A gas fireplace warms every bedroom here, mixing classic details like an antique cage elevator with bold abstract paintings. This hotel is located just minutes away from Boston Common and Faneuil Hall.

Don't forget to check out No. 9 Park, a restaurant that serves over-the-top, shockingly delicious cuisine. The menu showcases French- and Italian-influened dishes like signature prune-stuffed gnocchi with foie grasand Vin Santo sauce. A selection of rich desserts and artisan cheese rounds out the offerings.

With so much to do to keep warm and cozy in Boston, the city is a favorite spot for many during the holiday seasons.

• If your landlord allows you to install shelves (or if they’re already installed), that’s a good way to display pictures, artwork, and other items. This does require making a few holes in the wall, but not nearly as many as if you mounted each piece individually. Shelving also allows you to rotate displays.
• You’re probably not allowed to paint the walls, but no one’s stopping you from painting your furniture! A new coat of paint on a table, dresser, or bed can bring the pop of color you’ve been craving.
• Ugly carpet or damaged wood/linoleum can be covered with a tasteful rug. Adds color and style to an otherwise dull apartment.
• Make use of bookcases because they are great for storing a variety of items and require no hole-making installation. You can even make a coat hanger out of a tall bookshelf by taking out the top shelves and installing hooks. Pictures and artwork can also be displayed on bookshelves, as well as dressers, desks, and armoires.
• Add curtains and valances to the windows using spring-rods that don’t have to be screwed in.
• Easels are another good way to display pictures without damaging the walls.
• Hanging tools that don’t cause as much damage as nails: 3M hanging products, putty, tacks, tape, Velcro

Find the full article and more photos at http://howtobuildit.org/2013/10/09/tips-for-decorate-rental-spaces/2/.



Of course one of the best cities to visit during the winter months is the city that never sleeps, even in the coldest winter. New York City gets covered in a thick layer of snow during the wintertime, providing beautiful winter-like landscape and all the urban facilities you can think of. Central Park has numerous romantic hiking trails and also offers horse carriage rides. 

New York City, one of the greatest cities in the world, welcomes you all year round. However during the holidays, The Big Apple knows exactly how to create festive atmosphere and fill up the air with Christmas spirit.

Creating a curated home:

• Listen to your gut - If you see something that makes your heart melt, buy it.
• Know what you like - Use blogs and magazines as a tool to study what you like and what you don’t like.
• Have little moments - You don’t have to cram all of the unique accessories on the bookshelf – find unexpected spots for them. These random details in our living room make me smile.
• Leave your comfort zone - A unique space is created by mixing high and low end items.  If you’re on a low budget but can squeeze in a splurge here and *maybe* there, then do it!
• Let your home welcome you - Filling your home with pieces that you love will in turn make the space feel complete and unique to you.

Find the full article and photos at: http://clairebrodydesigns.com/creating-a-curated-home/.

Frankfurt, Germany has the oldest Christmas market in the country, and they are proud of it! Situated in front of the Town Hall, it provides the best Germany has to offer at this time of year. The beautiful Old Town can be explored by a historic tram Ebbelwoi-Express. Music lovers will be compelled to go to the Alte Opera and enjoy high culture.

The city is proud of the oldest Christmas market in the country! Situated in front of the Town Hall it provides the best Germany has to offer at this time of the year. The beautiful Old Town can be explored by a historic tram Ebbelwoi-Express. Music lovers will be compelled to go to the Alte Oper and enjoy high culture.

Frankfurt is a great place to go in the winter and on holidays -- after all, the Christmas market tradition originated here. Also, a variety of cultural events, shopping centers, and historic architecture make Frankfurt a desirable destination for you regardless of your favorite interests.

Who doesn't love the elegant look that many upscale homes so successfully have? Have you wished you had more of a staged, organized look? Search no further, because we have found the top ten tips to creating an elegant look in your own home thanks to Meredith from artsandclassy.com.

1. Flowers
2. Hang curtains high
3. Paint your walls
4. Area rugs
5. Custom window shades
6. Switch out lamp shades
7. Create vignettes
8. Use matching containers for storage
9. Replace crappy hardware
10. Use vertical space wisely

Source and full article: Meredith, Arts & Classy.

This city becomes a dazzling wonder of attraction in the wintertime. The Christmas lights and sophisticated decorations remind us that Japan is the country of innovation. You can go shopping, skiiing, or snowboarding in different places throughout Tokyo, relax in the hot springs, attend one of the many winter festivals like Tori no Ichi and the Jingu Gaien Icho Matsuri, and of course you can be the first in the entire world to celebrate the New Year.

Tokyo is the place to find all the good things that a big city has to offer, as well as find a retreat and relaxing place in various temples or in nature. Numerous activities ranging from skiing to bathing in an onsen will make your winter holiday a blast. Don't forget to grab sushi from some of the best sushi restaurants while you are here, too!