Christmas vacations in the United States can look completely different depending on where you go. You can ski through fresh snow in Alaska, wander beneath the lights in New York City, visit a German-style Christmas market, or celebrate beside palm trees in Florida or Hawaii.

This guide covers 32 of the best places to visit during Christmas in the USA, including festive cities, charming Christmas towns, mountain resorts, and warm-weather escapes. I have combined some of our family’s favorite Christmas destinations with recommendations from travel writers who have experienced these celebrations themselves.

Whether you want snow, Christmas lights, skiing, holiday markets, or somewhere warm enough for the beach, you will find an idea here for your family.

How to Plan a Christmas Vacation in the USA

Early to mid-December is often the easiest time to take a Christmas vacation. Holiday lights, markets, shows, and other seasonal attractions are usually underway, but flights and hotels may be less expensive than they are during Christmas week.

If you plan to travel over Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, check every attraction and restaurant individually. Some Christmas events end before December 25, while museums, restaurants, shops, and public transportation may operate on reduced holiday schedules.

Weather should also influence where you go. Snowy destinations such as Alaska, Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming require warm clothing and flexible travel plans. A warm-weather destination may offer easier transportation, but December can still bring rain, cool evenings, or crowded beaches.

Reserve popular train rides, Christmas shows, light displays, and special holiday meals as early as possible. These limited seasonal experiences often sell out well before hotels and general attractions do.

Go North for Christmas in Girdwood, Alaska

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Heading north to Alaska should be on everyone’s dream list of amazing things to do during the Christmas season in the United States. The cozy town of Girdwood, Alaska, offers the very best Christmas experiences in all of Alaska. Receiving heavy snowfall almost every year, Girdwood transforms into a magical winter wonderland with towering pine trees covered in fluffy snow.

After a long day of skiing, relax at the Alyeska Resort and Spa – one of the state’s best hotels. Take a soak in a bubbling hot tub, enjoy the sauna, or just relax before heading to dinner at any of Girdwood’s fine dining establishments. Waking up and having Christmas brunch while appreciating this beautiful snowscape is truly something special. The entire town of Girdwood lights up for Christmas, and there are plenty of sporty and relaxing activities in this world-renowned ski and spa town. Alaska in Winter is always beautiful but even more beautiful at Christmas.

Flagstaff, Arizona

photo credit: Visit Flagstaff

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Arizona’s Valley of the Sun makes a wonderful choice for a winter holiday vacation with its mild weather and plentiful Scottsdale Christmas activities. A favorite for locals and visitors alike is Christmas at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. The resort transforms into a winter wonderland every November and December.

Go skiing in Keystone, CO

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A ski vacation in Keystone, Colorado is the perfect place in the USA to go for Christmas.  High in the Rocky mountains, Keystone is picturesque year-round but even more so around Christmas time.  The steep mountains are covered with snow, and twinkling Christmas lights are strung throughout the River Run Village.

The skiing at Keystone is epic, covering three mountain peaks and more than 3,000 skiable acres.  Keystone offers terrain from beginner to expert so the ski hill is suitable for all abilities and ages. Keystone also offers night skiing on select weekends and holiday periods. Check the resort calendar before planning around it because it is not available every night.

But, skiing isn’t all Keystone has to offer.  There are so many fun things to do in Keystone besides skiing.  Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride to a rustic cabin deep in the woods for an unforgettable dining experience.  Or, visit the extensive Christmas village made completely of chocolate set up in the lobby of the Keystone Lodge and Spa every December.  The Chocolate Village even has a working gondola and train!  Ice skating on beautiful Keystone Lake is another fun thing to do in Keystone around Christmas time.  The buildings surrounding the lake are decorated with Christmas lights, and there is always a gigantic Christmas tree on the ice.

Christmas in Naples, Florida

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Savannah is such a magical place during the holiday season! The entire Historic District looks like a Hallmark Christmas movie come to life. Carolers stroll the streets, local stores try to outdo one another with their holiday window displays, and the squares are draped with greenery and red ribbons. It’s quite a charming scene!

One of the most popular seasonal events is the Holiday Tour of Homes, where guests can tour a handful of beautiful homes and B&Bs in the Historic District. Tickets sell out every year since many of the homes aren’t normally open to the public.

A few of the most festive areas include River Street, City Market, and Broughton Street. The Plant Riverside District on the far west end of River Street is home to the Savannah Christmas Market. It’s similar to European Christmas Markets but on a much smaller scale. Visitors and guests also love gathering to welcome Santa to Savannah during the annual Holiday Boat Parade. (Yes, Santa arrives by boat in the South!)

Recommended hotels: The Marshall House (they have beautiful traditional holiday Christmas decor) or the JW Marriott Plant Riverside (for those who want to be in the heart of all the activities)

Oahu, Hawaii

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Santa Claus, Indiana

With a name like Santa Claus, it is no surprise that this small Indiana town takes Christmas seriously. Santa Claus calls itself “America’s Christmas Hometown,” and the town fills December with lights, shopping, family activities, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Make sure to visit the Santa Claus Museum and Village, where you can learn how the town got its unusual name and see the historic Santa Claus Post Office. Children can write letters to Santa, and families can visit the enormous Santa statue outside.

The Santa Claus Christmas Celebration takes place over three weekends in December. Events vary by date, so check the calendar before your visit to make sure you do not miss the parade, light displays, Christmas shopping, or Santa appearances.

 Watch Santa come in on a boat in Kennebunkport, Maine

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Visit Kennebunkport, Maine to enjoy a traditional Maine Christmas. This is a small town with lots of charm, and the best way to experience it is at the annual Christmas Prelude event.

This free event begins with a boat parade; then there are carolers, crafts vendors, decorated trolley rides, musical performances and Santa!

Enjoy the Christmas hat parade, where hundreds of awesome and unusual Christmas hats are paraded down the center of the town.

Plus, the evening sing-along is one of the nicest ways to welcome in the Christmas season.

This is a great event for the whole family and free for most activities. It spans two weekends in December so there is lots of time to get to this awesome event.

Christmas in Sturbridge, Massachusetts

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Celebrate the holiday with some old-world flare at Sturbridge Village’s Christmas by Candlelight. This is a traditional candlelight tour of the village. The nighttime tours of Christmas past are very informative, and you will see Sturbridge like it would have been in the 1830s!

You can visit Father Christmas while there, see a magic show, judge Gingerbread houses, sing carols in the barn, visit a huge train set, and even make your own ornaments. It is a great event for kids who have room to run around and lots of hands-on activities.

The night’s highlight is a ride in an open carriage all around the village.

There is something for everyone in the whole family at this event, and you will even enjoy some hot apple cider and baked goods while you are there!

For anyone who likes charming small towns and snowy mountain views at Christmastime, Whitefish, Montana, is a great place to rent a cozy holiday cabin. The quaint downtown comes alive at this time of year, decked out in festive cheer – and the cold weather doesn’t hold anyone back from enjoying it. Spend a day before Christmas perusing the art galleries, doing some last-minute shopping at the many local stores, and enjoying the robust culinary scene. Or make it an active holiday season by hitting the slopes at the world-renowned Whitefish Mountain Resort or skiing cross-country at Glacier Nordic Center. And wintertime visitors to Glacier National Park, just 40 minutes from town, will be treated to mostly empty snowy trails and crowd-free alpine views.

But most importantly, be sure to head up to Whitefish Mountain Resort on the 24th for the beloved Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade. Santa and his elves ski down the slopes in a magical procession and then pass out gifts to the children in the village. The parade is free to attend and best viewed from the main village area. Bonus: buy a lift ticket for Christmas Eve, and ski with Santa all day long (just be sure to make a reservation in advance)!

Have a Big Apple Christmas in NYC

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New York City is one of the most popular Christmas destinations in the USA- for good reason! The city is every bit as magical during the holidays as it appears to be on movies and television.

If you visit New York City during the holidays- two must-visit shows are “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular” by the Rockettes and “The Nutcracker” by the New York City Ballet.

There are many sights to see during the holidays, including the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, the decorations along Fifth Avenue and the holiday windows at Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks has offered its synchronized light show during many Christmas seasons, but check the current schedule before planning your visit around it.

After visiting the two sites above, wander through midtown to see the iconic holiday decorations and window displays. The best are at Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Bergdorf Goodman, and Cartier.

A trip to NYC during the holidays wouldn’t be complete without visiting a few holiday markets. The best are located at Bryant Park, Columbus Circle, and Union Square. The best attractions in NYC are outside!

If you visit NYC during the holidays- be prepared for many crowds as this is one of the most popular times in the year to visit NYC. The best way to avoid crowds is to visit the major tourist sites early in the morning and afternoons during the weekday. NYC is very cold in the winter and most of the major sites are outdoors, so be sure to pack for cold weather with my guide to dressing for NYC in the winter. 

Related: Christmas tree tour in New York City

Go to Sinterklaas in Rhinebeck, New York

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Sinterklaas is an unusual festival held in Rhinebeck, NY held, on the first Saturday in December.  The region was settled by the Dutch more than 300 years ago, and the modern Sinterklaas festival is a continuation of a Christmas tradition they brought with them.

In the Netherlands, a ship arrives from Spain at the beginning of December each year, carrying Sinterklaas (the original version of Santa Claus) and his white steed.  In New York’s  Hudson Valley, Sinterklaas travels by boat across the Hudson River and participates in the festival with a life-sized puppet of a white horse.

The town is filled with festivities, including workshops held throughout the day where children make crowns and turn birch branches into glittering scepters.  Large paper lanterns in the shape of stars are also sold throughout the small village of Rhinebeck.  Of course, there are also Dutch seasonal treats, such as ginger cookies.

The festivities culminate in a Starlight Parade.  Sinterklaas and his white horse are there, of course.  But there are also dozens of enormous animal puppets.  Each year, there is a featured animal, and a group of puppets of that animal gets pride of place in the parade after Sinterklaas.  These are followed by previous years’ puppets.

CHRISTMAS IN ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

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Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, the bustling mountain town of Asheville, NC is one of our favorite places in the United States, not to mention one of the best places in the country to visit during the holiday season.

Though it’s relatively small as far as cities go (less than 100,000 residents), there’s such a great array of things to do in Asheville that you could visit repeatedly and never get bored. There’s a bustling downtown area (with the art deco buildings of historic Pack Square at its epicenter), a thriving cultural scene (especially in the River Arts District), and loads of critically acclaimed restaurants. Best of all, the entire metropolitan area is surrounded by some of the most picture-perfect mountain scenery you could possibly imagine.

Christmas at the Biltmore is a spectacular celebration in its own right. The Biltmore Estate is America’s largest privately owned home, with 250 rooms encompassing over 135,000 square feet. The historic landmark’s Châteauesque-style architecture and lushly landscaped gardens are even more beautiful around the holidays, with the Biltmore House, Antler Hill Village, and the entire estate decked out in the luminous lights and sounds of the season. Whether you explore the rooms of Biltmore House by day or embrace the romantic elegance of their Candlelight Christmas Evenings, it’s truly a must-see event.

Visit “Christmas City” Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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There are many Christmas things to do in Bethlehem, PA, which is known as the “Christmas City.”

Attend the Christkindlmarkt: This annual event features over 150 artisans selling handmade gifts, food, and drinks. It is modeled after a traditional German Christmas Market and it gets bigger and better every year! My kids love to watch the ice carvers at the Christkindlmarkt.

If you want a new experience you should see the Live Nativity and Experience the story of the first Christmas through a live reenactment of the Nativity scene.

There are dozens of things to do at Christmastime in Bethlehem, Pa including:

• Take a horse-drawn carriage ride: Enjoy a festive ride through the historic streets of Bethlehem, lined with Christmas lights and decorations.
• Visit the Bethlehem Star: The giant star atop South Mountain is a symbol of the Christmas City and can be seen from miles away.
• Take a Christmas walking tour: Learn about the history of Bethlehem and its Christmas traditions on a guided walking tour.
• Attend a Christmas concert: Many local churches and venues host Christmas concerts featuring traditional carols and holiday music.
• Enjoy the Christmas lights: Take a stroll through the historic streets of Bethlehem and enjoy the festive Christmas lights and decorations.

Nashville, Tennessee 

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Nashville, Tennessee is a surprising Christmas pick, but this city that offers a unique and exciting experience during the Christmas season.

One of the best things to do in Nashville at Christmas is to visit the Gaylord Opryland Resort, which is transformed into a winter wonderland with over 3 million twinkling lights, a life-size Nativity scene, and an ice skating rink. Guests can also enjoy a ride on the Delta Riverboat, which takes them on a scenic tour of the resort’s indoor gardens and waterfalls.

Another popular attraction is the Country Music Hall of Fame, which hosts a variety of holiday-themed events, including live music performances and a tree lighting ceremony.

Visitors can also take a stroll through the historic streets of downtown Nashville, which are adorned with festive lights and decorations.

For those who enjoy shopping, there are many Christmas markets and craft fairs throughout the city, including the Nashville Christmas Village and the Holiday Market at the Nashville Farmers’ Market.

Lastly, visitors can attend a Christmas concert at the Ryman Auditorium, which has hosted some of the biggest names in country music during the holiday season. Overall, Nashville is a fun and festive destination for anyone looking to celebrate the holiday season in style.

 

Visit the Christmas Capital of Texas

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Grapevine, Texas also known as the Christmas Capital of Texas, is one of the great places to celebrate Christmas in Texas.  This suburb of Dallas, Texas, transforms the entire town during the holiday season, welcoming visitors from all over the United States.

Grapevine’s Main Street hosts the first annual event, a lighted Christmas Parade.  This parade is where the guest of honor, Santa, is welcomed into town, and the parade kicks off 40 days of festival fun!  The shops along Main Street and throughout the town come alive with millions of twinkling lights and more activities than you can imagine.

One of the most popular family activities is the North Pole Express. Grapevine’s Vintage Railroad hosts this annual event.  Here, they welcome children to come in their pajamas and experience a magical holiday adventure aboard the vintage railcars.  The experience is topped off with cookies, milk, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Clause.

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Salt Lake City, Utah, for Christmas

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Salt Lake City, Utah is a beautiful destination to visit during the Christmas season.  You can almost guarantee that there will be snow, and there are many festive activities to enjoy, making it the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit.

One of the most popular things to do is visit Temple Square, beautifully decorated with thousands of lights and Christmas trees. Visitors can take a free tour of the grounds, listen to live music and see the famous Nativity scene.

Another must-see attraction is the Gallivan Center, which features an ice skating rink, holiday lights, and live performances throughout December.

Families can also visit the Hogle Zoo, which hosts a popular event called Zoo Lights, where guests can walk through the zoo and see the animals illuminated by thousands of twinkling lights.

For those who enjoy the performing arts, there are many Christmas-themed shows and concerts at venues such as the Eccles Theater and the Capitol Theatre.

Christmas Decorations in Washington, DC

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Christmas in Leavenworth, WA

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One of the best ways to get into the Christmas spirit is to celebrate the Leavenworth Christmas Lighting Festival in the German inspired town of Leavenworth, WA. Located along the towering Cascade mountains, Christmastime in this picturesque town is full of magic. The streets are (usually) covered in snow, and over half a million Christmas lights are on display. Wandering the main street feels like stepping right into a Hallmark Christmas movie.

One of the best highlights is to visit the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm but prebook tickets as they can sell out fast. Another great adventure is an afternoon winter sleigh ride.

St. Nikolas makes his way around the main street, the Village Voices Choir sings carols, and in the evening, the lights are lit with a countdown. There is also sledding on the hill under the Christmas lights.

McAdenville, North Carolina

McAdenville, North Carolina, has been known as Christmas Town USA for decades. This tiny town near Charlotte transforms itself every December with hundreds of decorated trees, illuminated homes, and Christmas displays.

You can drive through town or park and walk along the light route. Walking gives you more time to see the decorated houses, but driving is a good option on a particularly cold evening. The display is free, although traffic can become extremely heavy on December weekends.

For 2026, the Christmas Town USA lights will be on from December 1 through December 26. The town also holds a tree-lighting ceremony and its traditional Yule Log Parade. Visit on a weekday if possible because weekends closer to Christmas are the busiest.

St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine is one of the best warm-weather Christmas destinations in the United States. The historic streets, Spanish architecture, palm trees, and waterfront are beautiful throughout the year, but the city becomes especially impressive during its annual Nights of Lights celebration.

Millions of tiny white lights cover buildings, trees, balconies, and public squares throughout the historic district. You can explore the lights on foot, take a trolley tour, or see the city from the water on an evening boat tour.

The lights are free to see, but tours and parking can sell out on busy nights. For 2026, Nights of Lights runs from November 21 through January 18, 2027, giving families a much larger window to visit than most Christmas events.

Christmas in Branson, Missouri

Branson is known for live entertainment throughout the year, but the entire city embraces Christmas during its Ozark Mountain Christmas celebration. The combination of Christmas shows, enormous light displays, decorated resorts, and family attractions makes it easy to fill an entire holiday weekend.

Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas is one of the biggest reasons to visit. The theme park is covered with millions of lights and offers Christmas shows, a nighttime parade, seasonal food, and rides when the weather cooperates.

Branson’s theaters also replace many of their regular productions with Christmas shows. Popular choices include Dolly Parton’s Stampede, the Hughes Brothers Christmas Show, and Branson’s Christmas Wonderland. Families can also ride the Polar Express on the Branson Scenic Railway or drive through one of the area’s Christmas light displays.

There is so much happening that it helps to choose your shows and buy tickets before arriving. Find more ideas in my complete guide to Christmas in Branson, Missouri.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

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If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, then there’s no better thing to do in the USA than a ski trip to the Old West. Country Living magazine named the small town of Jackson, Wyoming, one of the “20 Best Small Towns for Christmas”. The biggest draw for people is the skiing and Jackson Hole frequently sits atop many of the annual lists of best ski resorts in the USA. It averages nearly 500 inches (12-13 meters) of snowfall yearly and features over 4,000 feet (1200 meters) of elevation change – North America’s biggest continuous vertical descent.

Skiing at Jackson Hole can be very pricey if you only buy some day passes, so consider getting either the Ikon Pass or Mountain Collective, which gets you access not only to Jackson Hole but to other resorts as well, such as Park City in Utah. Though you pay more upfront, these passes are actually the most affordable skiing options if you plan on doing a lot of skiing or taking multiple ski trips this year.

 I hope you find something to help celebrate Christmas wherever you live in the United States! If I have missed your favorite event, email me at travelswiththecrew1@gmail.com and let me know! I’d love to find more ways to celebrate Christmas in the USA.