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One of my favorite hotels in the world is pretty close to you - Calistoga Ranch in Calistoga, CA. All the rooms are suites, they all have outdoor showers (as well as indoor if its too cold out) and there's a fair amount to do.
However, to show that I can actually follow instructions, here are some other suggestions:
New York City - it's expensive, but there's lots to do and see. You can find pretty much any culture you want since it's probably moved to NYC at some point. Plus all the Christmas decorations will still be up, and most of them are pretty impressive.
Vancouver - there's lots of good skiing there, and doesn't Canada count as another culture?
I'm not going to recommend the Florida Keys at that time of year because the chances of warm weather aren't that great. You certainly wouldn't want to get into the water in December. However, my favorite American hotel is down there, and it's a great place if you have the money for it and the desire to eat 5-star food and do absolutely nothing.
East Tennessee/Western North Carolina - there are a bunch of bed and breakfasts, inns and hotels. If you need a list of hotels, let me know. There is some skiing in the area and great things to see like the Smokeys, the Biltmore Mansion and lots and lots of natural beauty.
I'm not going to recommend New Orleans either, although two of my favorite New Years Eves ever were there. From what I'm hearing from family and friends, the French Quarter still has major problems and crime is an even bigger problem than it used to be.
It doesn't sound like warm weather is a big draw for you guys, so I'll forgo my Mexican recommendations. I'll also stay away from skiing recommendations since I don't know what you're looking for.
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