If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, consider heading to a ski resort. Colorado's Vail Mountain is planning a winter full of events to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Daily holiday festivities start with a tree lighting on Dec. 16 and end with a torchlight parade and fireworks on New Year's Eve.

Leavenworth, Washington, offers carols and tree-lightings in the Bavarian-style town's square on three weekends in December, along with Bavarian food, holiday sweets and roasting chestnuts.

Taos, New Mexico, incorporates Hispanic and Native American traditions in its celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah and the Winter Solstice. Las Posadas, a candlelight procession re-enacting the journey of Mary and Joseph, takes place for the nine days preceding Christmas.

In Southern California, parades are a big part of the season, from the Hollywood Christmas parade on the Sunday after Thanksgiving to the Tournament of Roses parade on New Year's Day. There's also the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, featuring hundreds of yachts, cruise ships and water craft of all kinds sailing past Newport Harbor's decked-out waterfront.

To many, Christmastime in the city means New York with its window displays, Rockefeller Center tree and the Rockettes. But Chicago also sparkles in December, with lights strung along its Magnificent Mile and an outdoor German crafts market. San Antonio wraps the trees along its River Walk in colored lights. New Orleans has "Miracle on Fulton Street," an illuminated pedestrian walkway featuring bursts of synthetic snow.

For a country Christmas experience, Nashville offers tours of antebellum mansions, a residential holiday lights competition and a Christmas parade. And, of course, country music.

What can you give your tech-savvy nephew who lives for the bells and whistles, and was first in line for the latest gadget?

How about a baseball glove -- and an invitation to go to the park with you and throw the ball around?

Or a kite. Set a date to go fly it together.

Or an old-fashioned board game. Schedule a game night, with pizza.

Buy someone a Crock-Pot or casserole dish, and spend an afternoon demonstrating how to use it. Share your favorite recipe, then enjoy it together.

Take a loved one to a play, a sporting event, a museum or the zoo. Schedule a day trip to a national park or historic site. Dig out the sled, gather the family and go find a park with a snowy hill.

Introduce children to gardening, or bird watching or coin collecting. Teach them how to fish, or knit, or build a model.

Give the gift of your company. It might not be on anyone's wish list, but it's sure to be a gift they won't get anywhere else.

These may be lean times, but you can still dream about splurging this holiday season. A Dallas-based department store offers that opportunity every year.

The 86th edition of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book offers a wide selection of extravagant gifts.

The most expensive is a set of diamond-studded his-and-hers watches from Van Cleef & Arpels that depict scenes from a love story. The price tag of just over $1 million includes a trip to Paris and Geneva.

Too much? There's a special-edition red McLaren 12C Spider sports car for $354,000. Or, a $250,000 dinner for 10 featuring four famous chefs.

Other offerings include a $150,000 wood-paneled trailer designed for tailgating, with a sound system and stocked bar. A water-propelled jetpack goes for just under $100,000. And for $30,000, you can buy a walk-on role in "Annie: The Musical" on Broadway.

Neiman Marcus spokeswoman Ginger Reeder says the catalog is a nod to the spirit of the holiday season and the fantasies children have about Christmas gifts.

Charities get a chunk of each sale.

Pets are family, too, so it's not surprising that many will find something just for them under the tree this Christmas.

You'll find lots of gift ideas at the local pet store, from holiday-themed squeaky toys to little Santa suits.

But your pet might prefer a cozy new place to sleep. Or an ergonomic food bowl, one that doesn't require them to stoop. If they're getting on in years, maybe they could use a ramp or doggie steps to help them get in the car or jump into bed.

Treats are always appreciated. Many shops now offer organic and homemade doggie biscuits. Or, you can make your own.

PetSmart sells a Sunbeam Pet Gourmet Dog Treat Maker for whipping up soft snacks for a finicky pooch or a senior dog that has difficulty chewing crunchy treats. The $30 kit comes with dog-friendly frosting recipes and toppings.

If you're worried your dog will wander off, consider a doggie GPS. Tagg-The Pet Tracker is a lightweight device that attaches to most collars and lets you track your dog using a computer or smart phone.

For other ideas, check out the Humane Society's website. Their online shop offers a wide range of animal-friendly products.

It can be hard to figure what to give a child, especially one you don't know well.

You know they probably don't want clothes. But what is it that will truly delight them?

First tip: Ask the parents.

Mom and dad probably have a plan for getting whatever the "it" gift is this year. But ask them anyway.

Find out what the child's interests are. Do they like books? Are they budding artists? Do they enjoy playing games or building things? Are they into outdoor activities?

When in doubt, go for the classics -- things like Legos, crayons, Play-Doh, a ball, a kite or a book. Toy cars and other things that roll are always popular. Kids who like to help in the kitchen might enjoy the updated version of the classic Easy-Bake oven. Older kids might enjoy a science kit.

It's also a good idea to ask the parents if there are any kinds of toys they don't approve of, or don't need any more of around the house.

And remember that toys with small parts or magnets can be hazardous to small children who might be tempted to put them in their mouths.