The Riverwalk at Christmastime should be on everyone’s bucket list. #14 in Best Christmas Vacations. Why we go: There are few holiday displays in the nation that compare with Washington, D.C.'s National Christmas Tree, but other seasonal perks include private igloos at the Watergate Hotel, the Downtown Holiday Market, and a glorious absence of field trip groups in the Smithsonian museums. The Best Places to Spend Christmas in the U.S. Austin. This charming town is big on holiday spirit. Want to feel like you're walking around on the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie? Okay, okay. Why we go: The Music City is all about the—wait for it—music during the holiday season. You may first think of Mardi Gras when you think of New Orleans, but the Crescent City also... 2 Hershey, Pennsylvania. A Christmas tree—decorated with glass ornaments, of course—stands in Centerway Square, the town's historic meeting place. Enjoy concerts, watch the annual tree lighting, shop at craft fairs, and even tour those majestic homes by candlelight. The one thing to get you in the spirit: Head straight to the 1880s-themed amusement park Silver Dollar City for the annual An Old Time Christmas festival. Stay here: It doesn't get more authentically Texan—or festive—than The Driskill, with its Christmas dinner and decorated tree in the grand lobby. It has been updated with new information. From wine country to Myrtle Beach, we bet there's a hidden gem somewhere in here you've never even heard of, let alone laid eyes on. There are tons of Christmas events throughout December such as holiday markets, sleigh rides, and a Christmas Eve torchlight parade, where skiers and snowboarders come down the mountain carrying torches to lead Santa into town. In December, the city sees … Why we go: As if the world-class skiing isn’t reason enough to visit Park City this winter, the town also happens to be a wonderful place to spend Christmas. Stay here: Cozy up in the The Foundry, a hotel that opened in 2018 with a James Beard-nominated chef running its in-house restaurant. (If it's good enough for Kevin McCallister...). The Wentworth Mansion, completed in 1886 by wealthy cotton merchant Francis Silas … Carolers serenade townsfolk and everyone gathers for the lighting of the tree and Yule log. 17 Best Places to Spend Christmas in USA 1. Visit during Woodstock Wassail Weekend to see the town at its Christmas best. While San Juan isn't among the cheapest places on this list for Christmas, it's still very good value and it's a great place for a longer stay during this period. Country Living editors select each product featured. The one thing to get you in the spirit: This year, visitors can enjoy Park City's first-ever installation of huge, interactive snow globes located in the historic Main Street district. The holiday season kicks off this year with the city's annual Christmas Parade, then continues through the end of January with the famous Nights of Lights festival. From beautiful light displays to giant Christmas ornaments hanging from buildings, Christmas is the one time of the year when towns go all out. Back in 1948, William M. Koziar began decorating his home in Bernville for the viewing pleasure of his family. As a city that tends to be quite cold in the winter, the chances of snowfall or cold weather are pretty much guaranteed. Christmas in the Cowboy State might seem like a too-good-to-be-true dream. When you plan your trip to Lewisburg, be sure to make a reservation to stay at The Greenbrier Resort. But Woodstock Wassail Weekend is an actual annual event in picturesque Woodstock, Vermont. © 2020 Condé Nast. The town at the base of the Tetons has a spectacular town square any time of the year, with monumental arches of elk antlers at the four corners. Why we go: Aside from the delightful sight of a Christmas tree atop the Space Needle, there are plenty of reasons to visit Seattle over the holidays. On any day of the year, this Bavarian village gives off an Alpine holiday air. set the stage for Christmas in charming Williamsburg. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Enjoy exploring time-honored traditions such as Christmas lights, visits with Santa, Christmas markets, the beauty of candlelit gardens, and more. It's downright magical! Known as "America’s Christmas Tree City," Branson’s more than 6.5 million lights compete for wows with more than 1,000 Christmas trees. Washington DC. Whether you prefer a tropical escape in Hawaii, an outdoor adventure in Alaska, or a sunny retreat in Texas, TripAdvisor Rentals is committed to making your Christmas vacation as affordable as it is enjoyable. The average temperature in December is around 64 degrees. And let's face it: You haven't really experienced Christmas cheer until you see it through the shiny lens of Las Vegas. A 100-foot-tall Christmas tree is just the thing to shift the mood from beach to holiday. Thousands flock to Duluth during the holidays to witness Bentleyville, a massive light display. Chicago is a beautiful place to visit for Christmas in the United States. Stick around until New Year's Eve if you want to see the torch parade of ski instructors snaking down the mountain at the town's two ski resorts. The event is free to the public and runs through November and December. Stay here: ARIA Resort & Casino is particularly festive this year, with special holiday menus at six of its in-house restaurants. This quaint Bavarian town is idyllically situated in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, just two hours east of Seattle. Traditions abound, such as caroling by torchlight, a gun-salute display, and every home in the historic area lighting a candle in their windows—dating back to the days of the Founding Fathers. Whether you stop by the La Jolla Christmas Parade or simply enjoy shopping at one of this locale's beachfront shops, you can't go wrong with a Christmas trip to beautiful La Jolla. Can't-miss activities include visiting the Christmas Tree Farm on Goose Island, ice skating in Millennium Park, and seasonal menus and decorations in pretty much every restaurant in town. Or take the two-mile drive through Jingle Beat, a light show set to remixed versions of classic Christmas carols. Now in its second year, Enchant Christmas is an immersive festival that typically offers 80-foot Christmas trees, an ice skating trail, Santa cameos, and a lot of twinkling lights (it’s going virtual this year with online shops and phone calls with Santa). Don't forget the hot chocolate! The show will depict the Christmas story with large-scale murals, shown on a continuous loop between 6 and 9 p.m. Stay here: Book a room at the elegant Saint Paul Hotel, a four-star property with a perfect downtown address on Market Street. With its countless attractions, skating rinks, and shopping opportunities galore, it's an obvious choice for at least one of your family's Christmas trips. Michael Culbertson/Flickr Creative Commons. No town lights up for the holidays quite like Jackson. If you ask me, Washington, DC is one of the best places to visit for Christmas in the USA! 66 New Year's Eve Dinner Ideas to Welcome 2021, New Year Wishes to Send to Friends and Family, 38 New Year's Eve Cocktails to Help Ring in 2021. Skate in an outdoor rink on a sunny day, enjoy holiday events at Disneyland and Universal Studios, witness the splendor of the nightly Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, and see Las … Throughout December, check out free Christmas New Orleans Style concerts in … Stay here: The 12-room Washington School House is just a hop away from Park City's lit-up Main Street, and we must say its Christmas decorations put a lot of other hotels' to shame. For the second year running, there's even a new Polar Express-themed train ride at the Union Station development. The one thing to get you in the spirit: As a special treat this year, Nashville Ballet will air a free televised premiere of Nashville’s Nutcracker for the first time in company history, on December 18 at 7p.m. Roam the Victorian Village and try Victorian era Christmas treats like sugar plums while listening to carolers. Just as adorable is the town's post office, which gets flooded with tens of thousands of letters addressed to Santa Claus each year. makes it an excellent place to spend Christmas. When: Lighting ceremony is on Nov 30, 2018 at 5pm-6pm. Snowy weather, an annual Christmas Stroll, and small town charm will have you pinching yourself all day. But St. Augustine won a spot here because it's downright festive. At the town’s historic Hotel Settles, you can expect to find a beautifully decorated grand lobby lounge complete with traditional décor. Tucked within Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains, this gorgeous town is the perfect place to enjoy a true cowboy Christmas. On the day of the tree-lighting, Sharlott Hall Museum hosts a Frontier Christmas Open House where locals enjoy hot cider and cookies while listening to stories about pioneer holidays. Known as Michigan's Little Bavaria, Frankenmuth's European heritage is on full display during the Christmas season. It's just what is sounds like: A carol sing-along featuring Santa himself, plus plenty of cookies and cider. Old-fashioned cars line the main street to recreate the painting, and the public can tour historic homes decorated for the holidays. Which Restaurants Are Open New Year's Day 2021? The one thing to get you in the spirit: The 20th annual Denver Christkindl Market, a traditional European Holiday Market, will return this winter with a move to Denver's Civic Center Park in a spacious, open-air location. It’s here that you can experience a month-long holiday extravaganza with live music, festive displays of lights and fun-filled parades. Fredericksburg, a Hill Country town that still honors its original German settlers, kicks off its holiday with a Christkindlesmarkt in November and continues the celebration with a Texas-scale flurry of parades, tree lightings, choral concerts, Nutcracker performances, craft shows, cookie decorating events, charity balls, and—in a nod to its German heritage—locally brewed seasonal beers. Each globe is themed around the city's wildlife, silver mining heritage, and Olympic legacy. The town's nautical traditions are honored with a lighted boat parade in December. Prizes are given out for categories such as best animation and originality—some owners are even known to spend months (and up to $50,000!) The one thing to get you in the spirit: Walk among a million dazzling lights at the Botanical Garden's annual Garden Glow. During Nights of Lights, St. Augustine glows with 3 million tiny white lights, over the Bridge of Lions and through 20 city blocks in the Historic District. Today, I wanted to share idea for places to go for Christmas on the east coast that will put you in the holiday mood. Condé Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Why we go: If you're wondering where to go for Christmas celebrations unlike anywhere else, look no further. It’s truly one of the best places to travel in the USA for a historic Christmas experience. Why we go: It's been 76 years since Judy Garland first graced the world with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” at the end of Meet Me in St Louis, and the Missouri city has embraced its role as one of America’s yuletide capitals ever since. There may not be snow, but we don't think your family will be complaining. ), departing December 24, returning January 1. (The festival will not take place this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, but make a note of it for future trips.). It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Washington! The well-established arts scene in town makes shopping for unique gifts easy at craft shows and studio visits in the River Arts District. A month-long holiday celebration (yes, you read that right!) 10 warm-weather destinations to visit in the USA in December 1. South Padre Island, Texas 2. What better way is there to celebrate Christmas than with tons of … The Crystal City, home of Corning Glass, is also home to a sparkling holiday season, beginning with a Parade of Lights through the Gaffer District (where the master glass blowers still ply their trade). Destinations to Visit for Christmas New York City. It’s location … Even when Christmas is officially over, you can keep busy at Taos Ski Valley and Ski Santa Fe—both just an easy drive away. Phone +1 212-588-8601 New York City lands on every best destinations list, but it is especially gorgeous... Chicago. Around the world, there are magical towns and villages that come alive during the holiday season. The city itself goes all out in creating a festive atmosphere for its residents as well as out of town visitors. For the past 63 years, this Charlotte suburb has put on an impressive holiday display, with 265 evergreen trees covered in 500,000 lights, plus more than 160 decorated houses. Each December, they host an array of old-timey activities to prove it. From beautiful light displays to giant Christmas ornaments hanging from buildings, Christmas is the one time of the year when towns go all out. Adults will love this festive hotel that features activities all season long, including parties, tree lightings, and a Gingerbread Ball. Other highlights include drive-through light displays at Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade, the World’s Largest Toy Museum, and an epic Christmas festival at Silver Dollar City for their “An Old Time Christmas,” with more than more than 680 miles of … Over at Triple Creek Ranch, you can enjoy horseback riding, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and more, and you'll find elaborate holiday décor all around the property and cabins. Stay here: With its mountain lodge interiors, The Edgewater Hotel is one of the best places to cozy up in the Pacific Northwest. If this list doesn’t give you enough ideas, see Travel Mamas’ suggestions for the best hotels for families in the USA. More about us. These American towns are the best to visit during the Christmas … Few destinations offer the charm and atmosphere of Boston at Christmas. The one thing to get you in the spirit: Throwing a few back at one of Austin's decked-out bars, including the Secret Bar at W Austin and Gibson Street Bar. Newport Beach, California As a destination in itself or as a 30-minute side trip from Disney Resorts, Newport Beach is one of the best places to travel in the USA at Christmas. Just be sure to check websites for the latest updates on 2020 events, as some may be effected or cancelled due to coronavirus precautions. Visitors come to town in December to view the wreaths and artist-decorated holiday trees on auction at the Festival of Trees and to participate in the Kinderfest, the Christkindlmarkt, and tree lighting in tiny downtown Helen. Grab the kids and jump on … Stay here: You can't beat the glittering, Gateway Arch-facing views at the Four Seasons. For the less historic minded, nearby Busch Gardens opens for the holiday with Christmas Town, a stroll through European holiday traditions. Every year, thousands of letters are answered by volunteer Santa's Elves. The Durango & Silverton narrow gauge train operates year-round but in December, its runs include a Polar Express-inspired trip for kids as well as weekend Christmas Tree runs on which passengers can cut their own tree and get it transported back to town. Join a walking tour, organized by the area’s residents. This year's activities include rooftop ice skating at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Santa Claus scuba diving in the Shark Reef Aquarium inside Mandalay Bay, a 15-foot sugar castle at ARIA, and a massive holiday display—complete with a 42-foot Christmas tree—at the Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Fares to New Orleans tend to be fairly inexpensive from most corners of the US. Calling itself the Best Christmas Town in America, Colonial Williamsburg particularly shines at Christmastime. The one thing to get you in the spirit: Catch an iconic show at The Fountains of Bellagio to see performances set to “Santa Baby,” “Carol of the Bells,” and other holiday classics. With a population under 3,000, Denton is a fabulous, homey place to spend Christmas this year. It might not often get cold and snowy in this college town, but the locals have a clear understanding of Christmas giving. The Ozark Mountain town transforms into a winter wonderland with 1,700 decorated Christmas trees in and around town, a ferris wheel with 144,000 individual lights, and dozens of seasonal concerts and shows along Route 76. Chicago is a beautiful place to visit for Christmas in the United States. Trust us, grown-ups: You'll be jealous you can't partake in all of them yourself! In the late 1920s, the local postmaster began to promote the town and pretty soon, children's letters to Santa began pouring in. NOLA heats up the season for a Cajun Christmas that’s not too hot, not too cold. Take a trip to gorgeous wine country this holiday season and visit Solvang, located in the Santa Ynez Valley. Take a boat ride, go kayaking, or simply stroll the streets! Situated on the westernmost point of the Great Lakes on Lake Superior's north shore, Duluth is one of the northernmost cities on this list. Each year, the town re-creates the 1967 Rockwell painting, "Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas (Home for Christmas)" during their annual festival. Who wouldn't want to spend their Christmas in this lovely East Coast locale? Sierra Madre, a foothills town just a few miles east of Pasadena, imports snow from the San Bernadino Mountains every year to build a big snowman in the town's central square, Kersting Court, until the balmy local temperatures send him downstream. Visitors will be wowed by more than 4,500 hand-lit candles while they listen to Christmas carolers. Why we go: This Christmas, visit the little town of Bethlehem—in Pennsylvania, that is. You might be staying closer to home this Christmas, but these festive towns are worth a spot on your future travel bucket list. With a temperate California climate, vineyards, hiking trails galore, top-notch spa treatments, and a world-class golf course, the Carmel Valley Ranch, located in … Every year, all of Red Wing turns out for the Holiday Stroll, an event that starts with a pancake breakfast and goes on all day to include parades, cookie decorating, live penguins and baby reindeer, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, sleigh rides, a live Nativity scene, and lots and lots of music. Star of the Rocky Mountains, Aspen is … It's almost too good to be true. Why we go: Even though this North Pole is 1,700 miles south of the true North Pole, the quaint Alaskan town is 100-percent saturated with Christmas cheer. Country Living participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. As a city that tends to be quite cold in the winter, the chances of snowfall or cold weather are pretty much guaranteed. Why we go: Christmas in St. Augustine is truly something to behold. Find festive displays near you—and bucket-list trips to plan for next year. All that and more is available for your family to explore in this northern Georgia town. The one thing to get you in the spirit: The annual Christmas Eve lighting of the bonfires along the banks of the Mississippi River is a seasonal tradition that's as authentically "New Orleans" as they come. The one thing to get you in the spirit: Santa Fe's annual Canyon Road Farolito Walk, a Christmas Eve event consisting of farolitos (paper bags filled with sand and topped with a votive candle) lining the streets and walls of adobe buildings. The wide and sandy beaches just next to the historic center are some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, and since it's part of the US… The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Why we go: We aren't surprised that New Orleans leans into the holiday season, but we still get all tingly thinking about Christmas in the city (it might even beat uber-crowded Mardi Gras). Enjoy a family outing to the Denver Zoo Lights, or a fun day of shopping and ice skating downtown. Christmas Town USA, North Carolina. Bet you never thought you could make a trip to the North Pole! Stay here: Hotel Domestique is more reminiscent of Tuscany than the American South, making your domestic travel feel just a little more far-flung. New Orleans. The former Olympic city has ample opportunities for skiing, fly fishing, snowmobiling, and dog sledding—with no shortage of resorts to warm up in between runs, too. It sounds like the image of a Christmas card: a parade of horses and buggies circling a snowy village green. Movies and TV make New York City to be the quintessential place to spend your Christmas... 2. 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