With the holidays right around the corner, American families gather around to plan their travels or receive guests during the season in which spending time with family is prevalent.

Whether heading to visit family, a traditional spot for celebrating, or a festive U.S. city, Americans will pack their bags with holiday blankets, fuzzy socks, pajamas, and any other holiday-themed accessories one can find at the local superstore.

Along with personal items come all the gifts, and if one is visiting family, these tend to turn into human-sized bags with gifts wrapped to perfection to surprise those loved ones.

Junior Audrey Hill shares that her family will be traveling to New Orleans, “We’re staying in the French Quarter. My family and I have never been so we thought it would be cool to see a new place, it’s quality time with my family and in a new place with lots of cool things to do.”

According to CNN Travel, one of the favorite (and classic) American cities to spend the holidays in is New York City. A visit to its 80-year-old Rockefeller Center Ice Skating Rink is among the essentials when spending the holiday season in the Big Apple; the world-famous decorations come with an environment full of joy as well.

SGA Member Morgan Mielke who attended the SGA trip to New York City earlier in the month, says, “It has an exciting atmosphere.”

However, holiday travel can become expensive. Airfare rates are the highest among the lasts weeks of December, able to reach the $500’s, and, according to Waze, traffic on the roads is usually the worst on the days before the holidays.

Junior Sabrina Callejo says it is all worth it, “The holidays are for families to get together and make memories.”

Whether heading to see landmarks, family, friends, or staying home to host a visit, make sure to watch the traffic, plan your trip, and, most importantly, spend time with those closest to you this holiday season.

Happy Holidays everyone!