Paging all Civil War buffs: Your vacation haven awaits in Gettysburg, Pa.

The Beecher House, one of several Pennsylvania vacation rentals on our site, teases with a special winter rate of $695 a week for Dec. 11-17. The three-bedroom home, a pre-Civil War beauty outfitted with a country kitchen and tasteful furnishings, rests on more than one acre of gardens with views of the South Mountain range and apple orchards.

By day, hit the Gettysburg National Military Park, where 51,000 Confederate and Union soldiers waged war in what was considered the “High Water Mark of the Confederacy,” according to the U.S. National Park Service. Then spend time in Kreider Farms, a localvore’s food supply-come-true with its cage-free eggs, premium-batch churned ice cream and other dairy goods, which are sold at Amish markets throughout the area.

If you’re lucky, you may even run into a horse and buggy on the road.

Now that would be cool–even more so than staying in a historic home. Don’t forget your camera.

Sure, there’s Santa Claus, Ind., and Saint Nicholas, Pa., but who would have ever guessed that one of most festive yuletide towns in the U.S. exists in Branson, Mo.?

Branson vacation rentals owners should capitalize on the city’s host role to the Branson Area Festival of Lights, a six-week electricity extravaganza designed for oohing and aahing. Limousine tours wind through downtown Branson in style–complete with sparkling cider and Christmas tunes–but visitors are more than welcome to take their own vehicles along the 175 displays of twinkling Santas, reindeer and nativity scenes. (Note: The Branson Area Festival of Lights Drive-Through charges $10 for family vehicles, but the limo rides are offered by Branson Limo Service for $125-$360 depending on the style of car you reserve, whether that’s luxury sedan, stretch limo or shuttle bus.)

If you’re a landlord with a Missouri cabin rental, make sure to detail how close your property is to the sights and how it would make an attractive option for groups looking for a break from their usual holiday routine. Showcase large open spaces if you have them, like a supersized dining table or game room, where prospective renters can see themselves carving a turkey, sipping eggnog together and challenging the in-laws to a game of pool.

And besides “light-seeing,” don’t forget those other two holiday traditions: shopping and eating. Your listing should mention proximity to Branson Landing, the behemoth outdoor mall, the Tanger Outlet Center and the Branson Mill Craft Village, where artisans display their unique wares such as etched glassworks, wood carvings and stained glass.

For dining, make recommendations on where to eat, as people will be too lazy to cook all of the days. Or, if your house boasts a kitchen built for grandma’s from-scratch recipes, place your renters there so they can smell it. Showcase the dining room table all dressed up for holiday dinner. Post pictures of the duel ovens. If you have images of previous tenants baking cookies, display them. A lively room speaks volumes.

That’s what the holidays are all about: spreading cheer.

Hawaii came in as the second-happiest state in the U.S. in the Gallup Organization’s Well-Being Index, which looked at factors like job satisfaction, emotional and physical health and healthy habits.

There’s no need to state the obvious as to why, but Utah–the leader–is a headscratcher. Utah, really? Utah before luaus, waterfalls and golden sands? No offense to Utah, but I’d rather be surfing, parasailing, tubing in a lazy river, dolphin watching, heck, eating Spam, in a Hawaii vacation rental. Wouldn’t you?

Now it’s time for you Utah folks to sound off.

What is your secret to happiness? Share on Twitter @checkincheckout.

Property owners, it’s time to take a good, hard look at your listing.

Is it stuck in the wrong season? Is your posting riddled with photos of people water skiing or golfing in shorts? Yep, it may be time for a makeover.

With the right “staging,” your lovely little getaway can be billed as the perfect ski bunnies’ retreat or Christmas cabin. Remember: Even Floridians need a break from 80 degrees.

To properly winterize, say, your California vacation rental, think like a prospective tenant.

What would you  associate with the season?

1. In cold-weather climates, tenants look for places to play in the snow. Think skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling. If your property is near a ski resort, by all means, say specifically how close your home is, as the owner of the Big Bear Lake vacation rental does above.

2. If you have any photos of the property dressed up for the holidays, upload them. Who can resist a fully lit, 16-foot Fraser Fir in all its yuletide glory?

3. Show off that hot tub in photos. Folks who endure subzero temps will be grateful for the soothing jet action after taking their muscles to their limits on the slopes.

4. Ditto for fireplaces, and by all means, make sure there’s fire in the photos. A stone-surround fireplace is gorgeous and all, but even more brilliant when lit with logs. The only thing missing there is a family in reindeer sweaters sipping hot cocoa.

5. When the season is over, change the “linens” with new images that are appropriate to the time. Keeping the listing fresh reminds renters that you’re a conscientious business owner who tends to his properties and cares about the customer experience. An absentee landlord is like the neighbor who refuses to take down his Christmas lights–in February. Come on already.

After winding through mountains and past gold-flecked trees and sparkling streams, your reward is a cabin in the woods.

The 1920s cottage above, affectionately called “The Lilacs,” perches at an elevation level of 5,300 feet, blessing visitors with views of starry skies, a pond below and all that gorgeous greenery. Besides its name, the setting oozes with historical charm. The property was once part of the Bailey Palomar Resort, where “townies” would come to play during summers to enjoy the warmth and the community gathering places like the dance hall and hotel.

The no-frills, Redwood cabin looks every bit the part of rustic retreat, where walls are wood-paneled and decorated with antlers, the fireplace is stone and guests can climb to a loft bedroom upstairs or chillax in one of a living room that streams the light in from multiple windows.

And now for the secret of this California vacation rental, one that may apply to many other vacation homes throughout VacationHomeRentals.com …

Through the end of December, the three-bedroom house is $65-$95 a night with a two-night mininum stay. Even in the summer (May 22-Sept. 10), the rate is an affordable $145 a night.

Shhh. No one has to know but you, your lady and mountain bike.

There’s not enough spontaneity in your life.

Your day is a series of deadlines book-ended by trips to the elevator, the office snack drawer and depending what’s on TV, that 7 p.m. spin class. (Your teacher is cute, but his squeaky voice, amplified by a wireless microphone, annoys.)

A crescent beach … a sunset … are just what you need.

Proponents of the unplanned vacation will find a deal in Destin condos, where the Gulf of Mexico waters are still warm and the high-rises are eager to fill their rooms during the slower fall and winter breaks. Florida’s Emerald Coast has some of the most pristine beaches in the state, offering less kitsch (not that Dade County’s Coral Castle doesn’t have its charm) and centralized living that allows visitors to stay in one place, thanks to on-site restaurants, multiple pools, parking, fitness rooms and tennis and basketball courts.

For a husband looking to surprise his bride with a long weekend away, you can’t beat it.

The two of you can also go shopping at the Silver Sands Factory Outlet, snorkeling, para sailing and golfing, then retire to your quarters to watch the dolphins from your balcony. The condo above rents for $100-$150 a night through Dec. 26. Do it. Shock her.

She’ll be impressed for years.

If Ivanka Trump can get married in the fall, then late-year weddings must be the new black. Or in her case, the new lace sleeve. (An impeccable style modernized by Vera Wang)

Maybe it’s the cooler weather or the buildup to the holidays, but brides and grooms are warming up to hosting their big day in October, November and December. But not everyone has a Trump-sized budget.

Perhaps you’re one of those couples who recognizes the importance of the union, but you’d rather save your dollars for a splashy honeymoon or first home. Smart.

It’s just one day, right? One day that can equal $$$.

When it comes to the honeymoon, Mr. and Mrs. have a bounty of affordable options in vacation home rentals. From Florida vacation rentals to Cape Cod house rentals, there’s a hideaway for every bank account. Had to cut 50 of your closest friends because the numbers weren’t working? You’ll forget the guilt when you’re tanning poolside in your Miami Beach vacation condo or testing the sauna in that Utah chalet.

In rough economic times, road trips shouldn’t  be out of the question or staycations in your very own zip code. With added baggage fees on major carriers, both may be the ways to save airfare for other costs like entertainment or the occasional meal out.

And if you’re newlyweds who simply don’t have enough vacation time accrued to take that getaway of a lifetime, consider a long weekend or “teaser” honeymoon. Save the sightseeing for another time. This is one case where its OK to spend most of your time in the room.

To clarify, that’s the city of Steamboat Springs, whose city council is revisiting the regulation of vacation home rentals and property managers.

Known as “Ski Town USA,” Steamboat Springs has become a hotbed for second-home purchases thanks to its reliable snow drifts and luxe, roomy accommodations. On VacationHomeRentals.com, Steamboat Springs vacation rentals are stunners, where hot tubs with mountain views, private saunas and Viking appliances introduce skiers to the good life.

However, some vacation home owners argue that the regulations place undue burden on those who have been following the rules, The Steamboat Pilot & Today reported. Points of contention: fees associated with adhering to a city compliance, parking rules and an agreement that calls for private homeowners to sign off when their roads are used to access vacation home properties. City officials, meanwhile, claims that the rules are effective.

The debate prompts officials to review the ordinance and submit suggestions on next steps by the end of the year.

Have any vacation home owners–in Colorado or elsewhere–encountered similar issues? Talk to me on Twitter @checkincheckout or leave your comment here.

With Christmas less than two months away, you’d better believe that the retail blasts will be on, whether that’s your inbox, television or weekly circulars. But presents aside, what do the holidays mean to you?

For moi, it’s the lights, the tree, bundling up and stuffing my face, but I’m open to creating new traditions with my own family. Would that include travel? Maybe.

In my quest for a non-traditional idea for the holidays, I found the Alaska vacation rental above, quite possibly the most affordable vacation home I’ve stumbled across in 276 posts or so. The log cabin rents for just $375 a week until May 15, 2010. The adorable cottage sits on Cottonwood Lake, where rainbow trout are yours for the catching (or releasing, if you’re merely into the sport). It’s pretty cold now (28 degrees, teens at night), which is why the deal is so good, but for you tropical climate dwellers, a winter in Alaska may just be the novelty you need.

Everyone in Florida has seen a pink flamingo, but what about the Aurora Borealis, which dances across the sky in spearmint, indigo and fuchsia swirls? Or what about a real reindeer? (Nature geeks, I know they’re called caribou in the U.S.)

Ask Santa for a Patagonia coat for Christmas, and head up North. Now that’s going rogue.

Tonight’s tomfoolery–MJ, the Gosselins and Gaga oh my!–will have all of us thankful for that extra hour of sleep, but in some places, daylight savings time isn’t practiced.

In territories and states like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii and Arizona, residents don’t need to turn their clocks back. If you’re spending Halloween in a Hawaii vacation rental, your location’s tropical latitude ensures plenty of daylight in whatever season.

Lucky Hawaiians.

What is it like to be spoiled with so much sun?