Is there any holiday more bittersweet than New Year's Eve? Everything about it, from the idea of resolutions to the search for the perfect spot to ring in the next year, is fraught with excitement and peril. The stakes always seem so hilariously high, which is why, more often than not, I've avoided the situation. To name a few instances, I've spent New Year's in "Scream 2," on California State Route 128 between Cloverdale and Mendocino, and in some country bar I happened to stop into somewhere near Basalt, Colorado. Usually, the plan is no plan, but at least it's mine.

This year, who knows? Maybe it's time to actually join the ranks of those who think ahead. Maybe not. However you're feeling about the impending new year, here are some options.

Looking to party?

While New Year's ...