’Tis the season to be jolly — unless you are stuck on the road in a snowstorm or sitting in an airport for three to 10 hours because your flight has been delayed or canceled. Although I’ve certainly traveled during the holidays, I still wonder why we do it.
According to AAA, a record-breaking 119.3 million Americans traveled 50 miles or more from home during Christmas 2024. The stats included an all-time record for air travel, with 7.85 million airline passengers, along with an increase in bookings for buses, trains and cruise lines.
In 2024, the average price for gas was $3.03 per gallon.
The top destinations for domestic travel during Christmas 2024 were in the Sunshine State: Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Tampa; Los Angeles/Anaheim were also part of the list, according to AAA. Outside of the U.S., the top destinations included Punta Cana, Mexico City and Cancun.
They say the No. 1 reason people travel during the holidays is to visit family. However, given the most popular destinations, unless the relatives live in the sunshine states, I would say vacation travel might be a close second.
OK, moving on to business: We have readers who call us from time to time asking questions about commercial activity in the area. We always try to follow up with those inquiries.
For example, we received a call last month about Whataburger and Starbucks. According to the Whataburger corporate office, they will be opening a restaurant at Owl Marketplace sometime in 2026. There is no word on the stand-alone Starbucks also planned for Owl Marketplace. Their corporate website shows the Starbucks that is currently housed inside King Soopers but does not mention another site in the area at this time.
Then, there is the Falcon Park n’ Ride, which is in a state of flux right now. We received a call from two readers citing the disarray at the Park n’ Ride — stray cars, litter, etc. The county recently announced that the Park n’ Ride had been turned over to the city of Colorado Springs; in late November, the city told us that the change has not taken place — the Park n’ Ride was still under the umbrella of the county. Maybe the state will adopt it. We’ll have more information soon; we can post it on Facebook when we have something specific to tell you.
A few new businesses opened in November. Check out our Business Briefs section.
Back to Christmas! For the most part, people celebrate the holidays based on their family background and traditions. There are Christian festivities focused on the birth of Jesus, there is Hanukah, which is the Jewish Festival of Lights that lasts eight days; Kwanzaa, which comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits.” Kwanzaa was established after the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles, created to unite the African-American community and provide a sense of identity.
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs when Earth’s axial tilt angles the northern half of the planet farthest from the sun, resulting in the least daylight. The solstice usually falls on Dec. 21 or 22. It’s celebrated as a return to longer days and more light. Many people see it as a time to appreciate the cycles of nature, the changing seasons and the beauty of the winter landscape. The solstice also marks the start of winter.
There is a celebration this season for everyone. Enjoy the holidays; and, if you are traveling, be careful and prepared for anything!
January is our annual health care issue. We aren’t on the stands until Jan. 3 so Happy New Year’s Eve! Be safe.
See you in January,
Michelle
