With the holidays around the corner, most of us think of visiting home, but it can be one of the most magical times to visit other cities too. It’s not just Europe who knows how to do Christmas right. Whether you make it a family trip or explore on your own, here are the best places to spend Christmas in the US to help you plan your holidays. Show
Pin This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. All opinions are always our own. Read our full disclosure for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible. Last Updated: September 7, 2022 17 Best Places to Spend Christmas in USAMovies and TV make New York City to be the quintessential place to spend your Christmas getaway. You can gaze at all the lights, ice skate at the Rockefeller Center or Central Park, see the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, or enjoy the laser light show at Grand Central Station. Also, don’t forget to check out the Christmas villages and markets.
Pin 2. Christmas Town USA, North Carolina
Right outside of Charlotte, NC, this town is known as McAdenville most of the year, but each December, they change the name to Christmas Town USA. There are over 375 trees, 450,000 lights, and they hand out free hot chocolate and kettle corn to the first 1,000 attendees each night! It’s free to view the Christmas lights since it’s literally the entire town. Note: Prepare yourself for a lot of traffic. Pin What better way to spend Christmas than with the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. This tree is just south of the White House and has been lit every year since 1923. Surrounding the tree are 56 smaller trees representing the 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia. Pin 4. Chicago, IllinoisThe Windy City has their own giant tree, millions of lights fill the Magnificent Mile, and there’s a German Christmas market filled with everything you can think of. Pin Enjoy the mild winters in Orlando and visit one of the most magical places on earth! It’s no wonder that it also makes it one of the best places to spend Christmas in the US. Disney World gives their parks an extra dose of cheer during the holidays, and it doesn’t hurt that you can visit the beach in just a couple of hours. The city that is always full of lights shines even brighter during the holiday season, and each hotel does its own take on the season. Don’t forget to stop by Bellagio’s botanical gardens. We think they have the best decorations on the Strip. Did you know you can spend Christmas at the North Pole without leaving the United States? Thousands of letters are sent to the Santa Claus House every year, and he even writes back. You may even be able to catch the Aurora Borealis! Pin photo: Kit Leong / Shutterstock 8. Vail, ColoradoGet a guaranteed white Christmas by visiting this ski town. They get so excited about the fresh powder that they celebrate with live concerts during Snowdaze. 9. Nantucket, MassachusettsIf you want to spend your holidays in New England, Nantucket is the perfect spot. The annual Christmas Stroll is a special event where you can shop amidst dozens of decorated Christmas trees, do a wine tasting, enjoy carolers, or partake in home tours. If trees are your thing, be sure to check out the Whaling Museum where there are 80 decorated trees. A couple of years ago, we drove up to Asheville to experience a candlelight Christmas at the Biltmore Estate with Jacob’s side of the family. It was magical. The entire estate is decked out in holiday decor but the highlight is the large Christmas tree in the Banquet Hall along with 55 other intricately decorated trees. You can immerse yourself in all the Biltmore Estate holiday events, but Asheville is also a fun city to explore on its own. Pin 11. Carmel by the Sea, CaliforniaThis quaint coastal town is perfect for any wine lover. Enjoy the lights, walk along the beach, and stop into any of the dozens of spots to do a wine tasting. 12. Park City, UtahThis ski town starts it celebration in late November with its Electric Parade where they light up everything! Enjoy the slopes, walk through town, and if you’re around on Christmas Eve, keep your eye out for Santa. He spends the day skiing the slope the leads a parade down the PayDay trail. Pin 13. Williamsburg, VirginiaWilliamsburg is full of history. Visit Jamestown to celebrate the holidays like the colonists, or if you’re looking for something more up-to-date, Busch Gardens has its very own Christmas Town. 14. La Jolla in San Diego, CaliforniaCelebrate the holiday season in a wetsuit surfing the waves, enjoying farm-to-table food, or shopping at the high-end and beachy shops in La Jolla. Don’t forget to check out the annual Christmas parade too! Our favorite thing to do is to ice skate near the beach at Hotel del Coronado. 15. Branson, MissouriThe historic downtown shopping center is the place to be during the holiday season in Branson. The Branson Scenic Railway is transformed into the Polar Express. And since it’s known as the Live Music Show Capital of the World, there is plenty to keep you busy! Pin If you’re looking for a real winter wonderland experience, Jackson Hole is the place to go. You can fill your time with one of many winter activities, like skiing, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, and more. Plus, you’ll be right next to Grand Tetons National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Keep a watch out for Santa skiing at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort! Pin 17. Leavenworth, WashingtonWe’ve only been out to Leavenworth in the summer for bouldering, but this small Bavarian town becomes the Village of Lights during the holidays. The buildings and trees covered in over a half a million lights. It’s a lot of fun for the whole family, and you can even meet reindeer or walk through the traditional German Christmas market. Fun Fact: Leavenworth doesn’t have any historical ties to Bavaria but it was instead a great way to reinvent the city and promote tourism. Pin photo: Checubus / Shutterstock Map of Best Christmas DestinationsMore Places to Spend Christmas in USAMidwest
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Top 10 American Christmas TraditionsIn case you didn’t know, Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and commemorates the birth of Jesus. Today, traditions are a blend of religion and culture.
The Christmas in America song actually talks about many of these traditions. Where Does it Snow on Christmas in the US?
Though it’s never a guarantee, to get the highest chances of a white Christmas, these are the best spots that have had a history of snowing on Christmas Day.
What is the tallest Christmas Tree in the US?Last year, Enid Oklahoma had a tree that stood 140 feet tall. Just to give you a reference, the Rockefeller tree is only 77 ft and the National Christmas Tree is 30 ft. They’ve had the tallest Christmas tree for the past 6 years (to the best of their knowledge). Prior, the world’s tallest cut Christmas tree on record was 221 ft at Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle in the 1950s. Don't Forget to Pack ThesePin Are we missing any amazing Christmas destinations in the US? Have you spent any time in any of these cities during the holiday season? What did you think? Did you feel more of the Christmas spirit? Does your city belong on here? We would love to explore more ideas and see how your hometown does the holidays (you can link them in the comments section below). Did you enjoy this post? Pin it for laterPin Pin SEE MORE USA GUIDES“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust Pin Esther + JacobEsther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in NYC. You might also loveWhere is the best place to spend Christmas in USA?17 Best Places to Spend Christmas in USA. New York City, New York. ... . Christmas Town USA, North Carolina. ... . Washington DC. ... . Chicago, Illinois. ... . Orlando, Florida. ... . Las Vegas, Nevada. ... . North Pole, Alaska. ... . Vail, Colorado.. Where is the best place to vacation for Christmas?From exotic resort towns and islands to famous cities, there is plenty to choose from around the world. Warm-weather Christmas getaways include the Caribbean islands, the Maldives, Bali, Mauritius, and New Zealand. Great cold-weather international destinations include Slovenia, Italy, Japan and many others.
What city is the most beautiful at Christmas?Rovaniemi - Lapland, Finland
Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland, may be the best place on earth to celebrate Christmas. Located just north of the Arctic Circle, Finns argue that it makes a much likelier home for Santa than even the North Pole.
Where is the cheapest place for Christmas?15 Best Cheap Christmas Holiday Destinations. Riviera Maya, Mexico. Akumal Beach, Riviera Maya. ... . Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Puerto Plata beach. ... . Prague, Czech Republic. Christmastime in Prague. ... . Chiang Mai, Thailand. Beautiful Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai. ... . Bali, Indonesia. ... . Curaçao. ... . Split, Croatia. ... . Las Vegas, Nevada.. |