Jet-Setting January

January kicks off with an icy plunge into Vancouver’s English Bay. The tradition started in 1920, and now attracts thousands of people every year. Couldn’t make it this New Year’s? You’re not off the hook just yet! Plenty of icy plunges <a title="await elsewhere" href="http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/holidays/photos/plunge-into-2013" target="_blank"><b>await elsewhere</b></a> later this month.

The trailblazing civil rights leader is one of only 3 people with national holidays named in their honor. And when the day arrives the third week in January, many mark the occasion with a day of service. Grab a hammer and some nails, and lend a hand at a local community shelter.

America’s biggest political event heats up the nation’s capital this January. After being sworn in on the Capitol’s west side last time, President Obama and the First Lady walked a portion of Pennsylvania Avenue. Now’s your chance to see it again! Book a DC trip, and see the Prez walk along “America’s Main Street.”

See the Philippines put on its wildest fiesta this January. A grand festival in honor of Santo Niño (Infant Jesus) takes center stage in the town of Kalibo, on the island of Panay. Local dance and music, accompanied by indigenous costumes and weapons, mark the celebrations, with a vibe a lot like Rio’s Carnival.

Rev up for the hottest auto show of the year: nearly 1 million square feet of floor space devoted to cars, cars and more cars! 2013’s show features more than 50 hot wheels, including Toyota’s new concept car, the Furia, which is being touted as an "exciting sedan concept." Judge for yourself at downtown Detroit’s Cobo Center this January!

Wow! See amazing acrobatic feats, and have your funny bone tickled, in this annual street performers’ festival in Christchurch, New Zealand. January 2013 marks the festival’s 20th year, with a lineup of acts from countries such as Japan, Australia and, of course, New Zealand, all putting on a show in the largest city on the country’s South Island.

It seemed like a good idea at the time: opening a restaurant in the Victorian home where the original 1974 horror flick was filmed. Sadly, the restaurant is now closed, but diehard fans can still stop by the property in Kingsland, TX. For more Chainsaw thrills, brace yourself for <i>Texas Chainsaw 3D</i> opening this January. Might want to leave the kids at home for this one.

The festival that made Utah cool attracts nearly 50,000 people a year, along with actors and directors representing the latest, most cutting-edge independent cinema. This January sees the world premieres of some of the most highly anticipated films of 2013, including the festival’s closing event -- Ashton Kutcher’s biopic on Steve Jobs.

C’est super! The gods at French Fashion Federation have spoken, and so it shall be: This annual showcase of high fashion kicks off in mid-January, featuring designs by fashion icons like Giorgio Armani, as well as younger, edgier fashion houses like Giambattista Valli. Many of the higher profile events are closed to the general public, but c’est la vie! Get your fashion buzz in the Galeries Lafayette.

Ditch the winter boots, and grab your summer flip-flops! Escape the winter cold at this fourth annual foodie festival. Savor fresh Florida Keys seafood, fine wines from around the world, and the laid-back tropical vibe of the island that bears the festival’s name -- all over 4 days in late January.

Marching bands, equestrians and flower-covered floats lure thousands to “America’s New Year celebration.” The annual parade, which began in Pasadena, CA, nearly 125 years ago, has come a long way from its early days of flower-decorated horse carriages. Today’s current crop of ornate floats, including this winner from 2011, can take nearly a year to build. Get cracking!

High-five! Kick off the New Year with a healthy start and plenty of Disney fun. For the super-fit, take on a 26.2-mile course that runs through all 4 Walt Disney World Theme Parks. Or take on a half-marathon or 5K course, both finishing at Epcot.

Dreaming of dreamy Darcy? Two centuries after it was first published, in January 1813, Jane Austen’s novel remains as popular as ever. Revisit the story of love overcoming pride and prejudice with a tour of Haddon Hall, the English country house that served as one of the settings for the 2005 film adaption with Keira Knightley.