It’s the holiday season, why not spend your Christmas vacation doing a little window shopping. You don’t have to buy presents, you can just look. Holiday window decorations are the best of the year, and they’re free for your gazing pleasure. Saving money is my favorite.

This Christmas window is in New York City at the New Museum. It appears that alien kids love the holidays as much as the rest of us. Who knew? Stop in on your New York City holiday vacation!

The New Museum is located at:

It’s just one of the many great museums in NYC. Also, one of the great holiday windows! Two birds, people. Two birds.

Please note that the New Museum in New York has special holiday hours that can be found on their website.

This month we are featuring Holiday Window Decorations! Normally on Tuesdays we run the UpTake Tuesday Roadside Attractions Series. If you have a photo of an odd, funny or interesting roadside attraction that you would like to see featured here please submit it via the link in the sidebar with subject line: Roadside.

Photo: makerbot via Flickr

My husband and I are constantly on the lookout for weekend day trip ideas. Our weekends are spent filled with the awareness of all the useful things that we’re supposed to be doing around the house, yet we are severely lacking the willpower to do those things. One Saturday afternoon not too long ago, our desperate escape from the horror of chores took us in the direction of Scottsdale, and the Arts District.

The Old Town area of Scottsdale is a treat for window shopping enthusiasts, and a mecca for Southwestern oriented artwork and decor. Parking can sometimes be a challenge, though it’s easier during the day than at night, when Those Who Wish To See and Be Seen come out to play.

Art galleries mingle seamlessly with souvenir stores and restaurants. Every Thursday the art galleries host an evening Art Walk from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., displaying their artwork and crafts along the walkways and sidewalks. Come for the art, stay for the free wine!

It’s easy to spend hours looking through the hundreds of shops in the area. My husband and I broke up the day with regular stops for refreshment, first at the Rusty Spur Saloon:

Then at the Sugar Bowl:

There is absolutely no way to forget that you are in the heart of the Southwest.

Nothing says Arizona like a good old fashioned cow skull:

Scottsdale is family and pet friendly – though they discourage pets coming into the stores and restaurants themselves. To get there from Loop 101, exit on Indian School Road and travel west to Scottsdale Road. If you’re taking the 202, exit on Scottsdale Road and travel north to arrive in the Old Town area. The heart of the Arts district is on Scottsdale Road and Fifth Avenue.

The Old Town area of Scottsdale – just like the rest of the city – is an excellent place to spend very little money and enjoy the sites; alternately, you can spend a WHOLE LOT of money and indulge in some truly unique arts and crafts.