Atlanta

Few people actually appreciate fruitcake. Yet each Christmas, thousands of them crisscross the country, allegedly sent as “gifts.” Encased in a festive tin, many end up stuffed into the closet along with the holiday decorations, saved for regifting next year. There’s no need to let this dubious tradition infiltrate your holiday gift list. The advent of modern shipping methods — overnight delivery, cooled packaging — means you can send gourmet foods your recipients will want to devour the moment your present arrives.

Whether you’re a loyal iPhone user or you love your Android device, smartphone apps have changed the way we travel. You no longer need to carry around a map, guidebook, bus schedule, and directions to the restaurant you want to try for lunch. You can find all of that, and more, on your phone.

Got a kid in college? No doubt you’ve already received your invitation to the gala event of the season: Parents’ Visiting Weekend. When your student goes to school in a major urban area, this trip is extra-thrilling. Not only do you get to reunite with your child (while reminiscing endlessly and annoyingly about your own days on campus), you get to do it in a big city! How fun is that?

Sure, you love your car – but maybe it deserves some R & R, just like you do. Leave it in the parking garage at the hotel, and take advantage of the futuristic, whimsical and earth-friendly touring options found in CityPASS locales.

Who doesn’t love a baby? Especially a furry baby with soulful eyes? Throw in the fact that his clan is endangered, and he’s from another country, and his appeal only grows. Meet baby Po. Zoo Atlanta's latest addition to it's Panda Posse.

When you travel with children, it’s useful to have a place to relax, kick off your shoes, and grab refreshments, if necessary. Bonus points are awarded for guaranteed kid-pleasing activities and proximity to sightseeing draws. In Atlanta, Centennial Olympic Park is just such an oasis.

Gone With the Wind generated more famous quotations than you can shake a stick at, but the real legacy of Rhett Butler, Scarlett O’Hara and all the other personalities from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel lies with the woman who created them, Margaret Mitchell.

One of the best places to discover the pulse of a city is within its museums. And several of the country's top museums have pulse-pounding exhibits scheduled for 2011. Here are a few you may want to add to your vacation wish list.