STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Well, I guess it depends what you want to do! So you want to stay in the southeastern states, huh? Obviously, FLA is the only area of the SE that will be remotely warm.... so you wouldn't want to go to Key West?

Let's see - how about New Orleans (god willing that it fares okay from this hurricane!), Nashville (which I love - ALL kinds of music, not just country, and good restaurants, etc)... and of course DC is always wonderful (though not really SE so much, but close!). Lots going on in Williamsburg in December, since Colonial Williamsburg would be all decorated for the holidays, and there's outlet shopping... and you could combine that with DC and Richmond (Richmond is an hour away, DC is 1.5- 2 hours north of Richmond) and do like 2 days in each. I used to live in Richmond and visit often, so I can provide any advice you'd need there (as well as Washington, of course...)

It would be off-season in Hilton Head (SC), so while it won't be beach weather, it could still be fun and not as crowded as at other times of the year if you enjoy just being near the ocean. Ditto anywhere in the Outer Banks (NC) - it's still pretty, just cold! Personally, I love a beach town in the off-season... can be quite relaxing.

HTH!