December: Sample the atmosphere down at Yellowknife

Where to go, what to do in 2011

The destination

Nasa predicts 2012 will bring the best display of Northern Lights since 1958. Make for an aurora hub such as Canada's Yellowknife, where atmospherics are at their best (spectacularnwt.com).

The route

Over in Qatar, Doha International airport (dohaairport.com) is due to open this month with a capacity of 24 million passengers a year. Combined with airport expansions in neighbouring Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the UAE will soon have more capacity than Europe's major airports combined.

The accommodation

The 210-room Park Hyatt New York (parkhyatt.com) will open opposite Carnegie Hall in December. Prices unavailable at time of going to press.

The great outdoors

The 115-mile Waitukubuli National Trail (dominica.dm), the first long-distance path in Dominica, will open this month. The trail will run north to south and link Cabrits National Park and Scotts Head.

The winter sports

The new trend for resort developments is akin to Centerparcs-up-a-mountain, and the EdenArc (edenarc.com), at Les Arcs in France, will be one of the first of the new breed to open.

All prices are per person, based on two sharing, unless otherwise stated. Hotel room prices are per room per night, unless otherwise stated