Gruene, Texas
A two-steppin’ Texas Christmas awaits in this thriving historic district located within the community of New Braunfels. Within 15 walkable acres, you’ll pose for pics with Cowboy Kringle, Gruene’s distinctive wrangler twist on Santa Claus, cheer on the annual Pony Express Ride, then head to Gruene Hall, Texas’s oldest continuously running dance hall, for a calendar jam-packed with holiday shows.
Woodstock, Vermont
Grand Marais, Minnesota
Along the frozen waters of Minnesota’s majestic North Shore, a Lake Superior art colony offers wintry woods to explore, cozy respites from the chill, and plenty of places to bolster your creative side. Don’t miss the Scandinavian-inspired “Oh Ole Night” Christmas parade and plenty of opportunities to shop locally made crafts!
Middleburg, Virginia
Pella, Iowa
While this Midwestern town is perhaps best known for its spring Tulip festival, it also makes for a supremely festive family Christmas vacation. The distinctively Dutch celebration includes a traditional Kerstmarkt, Sinterklaas arriving on a wooden boat during the annual Christmas parade, and plenty of Gouda cheese and yummy fresh-baked pastries.
Whitefish, Montana
Park City, Utah
This buzzy Utah mountain town may be best known for skiing, great shops, and Sundance, but come Christmas there are activities the whole family can enjoy. To add to the calendar: a ride on the North Pole Express, the Holiday Spectacular Sing-a-long, and Santa’s annual ride down the town lift.
Palm Springs, California
There are few deserts as merry and bright as Palm Springs on any given day, but during the holidays, it’s even more brilliant. You can leave that parka in the North Pole, because the average high in December is a mild 70 degrees. That means you’ll actually want to be outside to take in all the delights at the Festival of Lights Parade. For those looking for dinner and a show, The Purple Room Supper Club serves up holiday-themed Elvis tribute shows and surf-and-turf dinners. And natural beauty and more-is-more lights come together at the WildLights display at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.
Copenhagen, Denmark
What could be more Christmas-y than the birthplace of “hygge,” which just so happens to be the Danish word for all things cozy and comfortable? Experience the wonder of a traditional Danish Christmas while you wander the cobblestone streets in search of naughty elves (“nisse”). The brave can go for a dip in icy waters and then pop into a wood-fired sauna. Or you could save the ice for drinks and sample some of the special Christmas beers and holiday desserts such as kringle and risalmande. We’re also willing to bet you’ve never seen a parade quite like the floating Santa Lucia affair—kayaks decorated with lights sail through the canal.
Disney World, Orlando, Florida
Look, you know you’re going to have to take the kids there eventually, so why not do it at Christmas? You get all the magic of the Magic Kingdom along with a whole bunch of holiday-specific activities that will make for fond memories whether you’re a Disney Diehard or not. There are literally hundreds of trees and wreaths layered throughout the park—some trees of as tall as 70 feet. What’s more, on 23 nights in November and December, regular park admission gets you into Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. You can ride rides under the twinkle of the Christmas lights and enjoy parades, parties, and performances, as well as cookies and hot chocolate at various spots around the park.
Scottsdale, Arizona
If your idea of a very merry day involves a round of golf and little spa time, you’re in luck. There are more than 50 spas and more than 200 golf courses here. But 18 holes and a massage aren’t everything! You can also commune with nature on a hike of Camelback Mountain and then commune with the locals at Scottsdazzle, a month-long festival in Old Town featuring live nativities, wine tastings, tree lightings, train rides, ice skating, and more.
Kennebunkport, Maine
There’s a reason almost every Hallmark Christmas movie takes place in a small town in Maine. Discover it for yourself on a holiday trip set in Kennebunkport (population 3,639). During Christmas Prelude in November and December, there are tree lightings to choose from, a pooch parade, fireworks displays, seashore holiday trolley rides, and lobster bakes. By the end of the trip, you may be tempted to quit your big- to midsize-city job and put down permanent roots—just like a Hallmark heroine.
Frankfurt, Germany
Did you know the Frankfurt Christmas Market has been a thing since 1393. It has, and it’s huge—more than 3 million people make a pilgrimage to this event every year. You’ll know why when you feast on mulled wine, grilled sausages, and gingerbread after making the rounds (literally!) on the historical merry-go-round. And nothing could be sweeter than the sounds of church bells and carols as you shop for handmade gifts and treasures.
Fredericksburg, Texas
The Lone Star State might not be the first place you’d expect to experience a very German yuletide, but this Hill Country destination is full of surprises. Fly into Austin or San Antonio and then head for the hills to experience the 26-foot-tall traditional German wooden Christmas pyramid and the stunning lights of the Marktplatz almost every evening at the Nights of Lights event. There’s also ice skating, a Christmas Wine Affair wine tasting tour, and superb shopping at more than 100 shops and boutiques.
New York, New York
Embrace your inner tourist—this is the time to hit all the tried-and-true holiday hotspots. That means, you gotta go see that tree at Rockefeller Center, and you might as well skate while you’re there. You should also make your way to the market at Bryan Park, take time to see the Rockettes at Radio City and treat yourself to something fun at FAO Schwartz. In your downtime, you can have a word with Santa at Macy’s and take a walk past the fab windows at Bergdorf’s. As if that’s not enough, you can also experience incredible art at The Met on Christmas Eve. What a gift!
Missoula, Montana
A visit to the Treasure State is just the ticket for folks who believe there can be no Christmas without snow—Missoula averages 40 inches of the white stuff every year. Active family members can bond in the great outdoors—skiing, snowshoeing, sightseeing—at SnowBowl, which is located in the Lolo National Forest. There’s plenty of holiday-specific events here, too, during the month of December. Have you ever heard 100 tubas play Christmas music at once? You will at TubaChristmas! Later you can warm up your body with hot chocolate at Ducrey Chocolate and warm your heart with a carol-centric performance by the Missoula Symphony & Chorale.
Chicago, Illinois
If you’re looking for a location to break out your warmest puffer coat, there’s no greater place to rock it than the Windy City. There’s obviously a ton to do year-round here, but Christmas vacation is the right time for ice skating at Millennium Park, sledding at Soldier Field, and then seeing a performance of The Nutcracker performed by Joffrey Ballet. Cap it all off with a visit to Frosty’s Bar, a pop-up tavern that will get you into the holiday spirit with spirits.
Asheville, North Carolina
For years, artists have been flocking to this charming town located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Now it’s your turn! Not only can you buy a heap of handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gifts for the folks on your nice list (and maybe even a few for those on the naughty one, too), there are also loads of holiday-themed activities like gingerbread house competitions, holiday bazaars, and performances that you can take on with your nearest and dearest. And you must make time to tour the Biltmore. During the holidays, the stunning estate is a sight to behold—the 35-foot Fraser fir is adorned with more than 25,000 ornaments and 100,000 holiday lights.
Bentonville, Arkansas
Originally known as the birthplace of Sam’s Club and Walmart, this Arkansas hamlet is now showing up on a lot of “Best Places to Live” lists. It’s also a great place to vacation during the holidays thanks to a town square that’s absolutely brimming with holiday spirit courtesy of thousands of lights and Christmas tree. After you check out the twinkling lights, you can show off your moves at the 7,000-square-foot ice skating rink located nearby. There are plenty of shops, parades, and an aptly named pop-up bar called Miracle on Second Street that serves up hot toddies.
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
There’s something that just feels right about spending Christmas in the mountains. Not only do you get to snowboard and snowmobile, you also get to experience things you don’t get to see every day. For example, have you ever seen Santa ride a horse? You will here at the Santa Horseback Procession. You can also visit with him at his workshop during the Steamboat Festival.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
This post was originally published on 3rd party site mentioned in the title of this site
