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Europe might get most of the love during the holidays, and those Christmas markets are pretty impressive, but there are plenty of festive cities right here in our backyard. And while we’d recommend checking them out ANY time of the year, the below cities seem to shine just a little bit brighter, literally, during the Christmas season.
It’s a magical time of the year for everyone. If you’re searching for the perfect spot to head to for the holidays and love the city life, then places like New York, Boston, and Chicago have something unique for visitors and locals alike. Celebrating Christmas in America is a memorable affair, especially at the following locations. Even though people say there’s “nothing like home for the holidays,” sometimes it’s fun to mix things up.
So, if you’re thinking about heading out of town this Christmas, we have some great places to consider, from picturesque small towns to cities buzzing with holiday cheer. Let’s take a look at 11 cities to spend Christmas in the US to make your holiday season merry and bright!
…Click “Next” below to find out which cities made our list!
Chicago is one of the most magical places to be during the holidays because the holiday season has every type of holiday event you can imagine. From the German-style Christkindlmarket to ZooLights at the Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago never disappoints.
Their holiday season kicks off right before Thanksgiving with the city’s annual Lights Festival along Michigan Avenue. Walt Disney World partners with the city for a parade that gets any crowd in the perfect holiday mood. From surprise guests to exciting performances, the parade ends with the lighting of the trees on Michigan Avenue to indicate the start of the holidays.
Other events during their Christmas season include Christmas Around the World at the Museum of Science and Industry with many trees displaying the customs of families worldwide, Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier with carnival rides, and ice skating.
And you can’t miss the Illumination at the Morton Arboretum, which features a walk through many lighted trees while drinking hot cocoa and hearing carolers. Don’t miss an incredible chance to spend your Christmas in a city that goes all out for the holidays.
New York City has become a dream destination for many during the holidays. Anyone strolling through the festively lit streets of the Big Apple and seeing the toys and Christmas decorations through the store windows will quickly understand why New York is one of the best places to visit during Christmas.
During winter, a “can’t-miss” of any NYC itinerary is the ice rink in front of Rockefeller Center. This place is one of the city’s most popular winter attractions. Even if you don’t ice skate, it’s a great place to watch others with a warm drink in hand. But the real highlight at Rockefeller Center is the giant Christmas tree located here each year.
And don’t miss the city’s many Christmas markets either. The New York markets can keep up perfectly with any of Central Europe’s typical ones with their festively decorated stalls. Also, don’t miss the Saks Fifth Avenue light show, where every afternoon after dark until late in the evening, a spectacular light show occurs every 10 minutes.
Aspen is one of the most amazing places to spend your holidays in America! Aspen is not only a utopia for ski-lovers but has events and activities for any family. Each year at the end of December, The Aspen Chamber of Commerce produces “12 Days of Aspen”, a celebration with many fantastic events that transform the city into a magical Winter Wonderland. Some of the greatest things to do in Aspen during this time include skiing, ice skating, and holiday shopping.
For Christmas lights lovers, you can’t miss Aspen Meadow Nights. It promises to leave each visitor having felt all the warmth and love that only Christmas can provide. Also, the St. Regis Resort offers its tree lighting ceremony on December 16 with complimentary drinks, desserts, and obviously, a chance to meet Santa and take a memorable picture!
Boston is an excellent place for history and sports lovers to spend memorable days during the holidays. The best locations to visit to get the best experience are the “Winter holiday markets,” which open in November in several areas all over the city. The markets are a perfect mix of English craft markets and traditional European Christmas markets, where you can shop unique handmade gifts and enjoy a lot of festive delicacies.
One of the most popular markets is the SoWa Winter Festival & Holiday Market in the famous district of “South of Washington Street,” where you’ll find many galleries, shops, and fantastic restaurants. More than 130 stalls are set up there, and, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, Christmas shopping is accompanied by carolers.
You also shouldn’t miss the Holiday Pop Up Market in the Seaport district. Other great spots in Boston are Harvard Square Holiday Fairs and the Christmas Craft Fair at Old South Church, where you’ll find great crafts and artworks.
Generally, Vermont is known for being the best destination in autumn, but you should be considering going here for the holidays! It’s one of the most charming Christmas towns in the US! As a rule, Vermont is one of the best states to visit during the holiday season because it’s cute, festive, snowy, and has a unique New England vibe. Strolling through the downtown area is excellent. You will discover the gorgeous Christmas lights as well as the adorable local craft shops. You also can’t miss their annual Christmas lights contest, so we’re sure that you’ll be in for a treat in terms of lights shows. As Stowe is a key skiing location, you’re also guaranteed a white Christmas here! In terms of accommodations in Stowe during the holidays, we recommend the Field Guide Lodge. It’s a charming inn that’s fully decorated for Christmas.
This city is one of the most under-rated Christmas destinations in the US. There are lots of Christmas events and activities that happen from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. Pike Place Market has its Magic in the Market event yearly, where visitors can take photos with Santa and seek all the festive pig statues in the market.
There’s also a giant carousel in the middle of Westlake Park that’s fun for the whole family, and the Sheraton holds their annual Gingerbread Village. At Woodland Park Zoo, there’s an event where they have enormous lanterns in the shapes of different animals. There’s also the Pacific Northwest Ballet that produces The Nutcracker performance every year.
But the best place to get into the Christmas spirit in Seattle is at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. They have their Teddy Bear Suite, where guests take photos in a room filled with hundreds of teddy bears. In the lobby, there’s a Festival of Trees where people can wonder at the Christmas trees. And there’s even a life-size gingerbread house that people walk through.
This village looks like a holiday card year-round, with candy cane striped light poles and green and red signs. You can check out one of the reindeer farms or see the holiday decorations at Santa’s workshop, one of the biggest Christmas decoration stores in the US! The North Pole is exceptionally festive during Christmas, though, as locals mail Christmas cards to children worldwide, and Santa stops by the workshop to greet visitors.
The annual winter festival also includes night lights, ice slides, and artisanal booths during Christmas. If you’re willing to drive twenty minutes out of town, some of the best things to do in Fairbanks in the wintertime are going dog sledding and then heading inside one of the museums to warm up! When the sun sets and you’re all worn out for the day, pick an open clearing and grab some hot cocoa to stay up and catch the Northern Lights as they dance across the sky.
Christmas is a magical time in Denver, the city comes alive with lights and holiday celebrations loved by locals and tourists alike. If visiting for Christmas, there are several activities you should add to your schedule. One of its best draws is the Denver Christkindl Market, and it runs the entire month leading up to Christmas. At this holiday-themed market, guests can enjoy an artisan marketplace, incredible live music in the beer garden, many beverages, and incredible food stalls serving a variety of options.
Another cherished event is the Denver Parade of Lights, usually held at the beginning of December. This event showcases over 40 brightly illuminated floats, giant inflated balloons, incredible marching bands, and horses. It’s a fantastic Christmas event the whole family will enjoy. Also, make sure you don’t miss some of the best Christmas light displays the city has to offer.
Local favorites include Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo, Blossoms of Light at the Botanic Gardens, and the unbelievable display at the Denver City and County Building in Civic Center Park.
You can find two of the city’s best Christmas markets in Philadelphia’s iconic City Hall. The first, located across the street in LOVE Park, you’ll discover local designers, crafters, and artisans showcasing their crafts and gifts. In Dilworth Park, you’ll find great Philadelphia food vendors selling the city’s classics like soft pretzels and seasonal items. The Park also features a small outdoor ice skating rink and a Winter Garden tent for snacks.
Down the street from City Hall, you’ll find the Macy’s Department Store, home to a magnificent holiday light show each hour. Head to the third floor to go back in time to the Dickens’ Christmas Village. There you’ll find a beautiful set of figurines portraying scenes from “A Christmas Carol.” Another fantastic holiday display is located in Franklin Square. Visitors will find here the Electrical Spectacle, a Philadelphia holiday light show tradition.
Christmas lovers go to Frankenmuth, Michigan, for Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, one of the state’s top attractions. Established in 1945, it covers 27 acres and claims to be the largest Christmas store in the world. Bronner’s emphasizes ‘Christ’ in Christmas, and the store is massive, with more than 6,000 different ornaments, wreaths, advent calendars, garlands, lights, and exclusive Precious Moments holiday-themed figurines.
If two hours of shopping isn’t enough, take a car tour through the property’s one-and-a-half-mile-long Christmas Lane, weaving past full-sized holiday displays like Snowmen, Santa, reindeer, and nativity scenes. There is also a Silent Night Memorial Chapel, which is a full-sized replica of the Austrian church where the classic song was first sung in 1818.
This is one of the most perfect holiday stops in the US to get into the holiday spirit. The entire Williamsburg area comes alive with Christmas spirit during December. The Historic Triangle area of Yorktown, Jamestown, and Williamsburg holds various events in December to commemorate the holiday season.
These include a Christmas market, a tree lighting ceremony, cookies with Santa, a lighted boat parade, an ice skating rink, and even unique presentations showcasing colonial festive traditions. All the streets, houses, and workshops are decorated with lights, wreaths, and even carolers who sing.
At night, head over to Busch Gardens for one of the biggest light displays in the world. Busch Gardens Christmas Town magically comes to life with a Christmas train ride, holiday displays, special performances, and food.
Here, driving around, you’ll see thousands of decorated Christmas trees on display. First, check out Branson’s Lights of Joy, a one mile drive-along path displaying “12 Days of Christmas” and a Christmas tree forest. But your trip won’t be complete without visiting An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City amusement park.
From November through December, kids and adults will love wandering the park, admiring the 6.5 million lights, 8-story Christmas tree, and musical productions. A nightly parade featuring Rudolph and a pop-up shop, Jingle Bell Junction, sells a vast array of gorgeous holiday decorations.
The Branson Zoo also puts on a two mile drive-by light show and a live nativity petting zoo. Then, head to Candyland Courtyard at the zoo, where you can meet Santa, cozy up with some hot cocoa, and watch holiday movies. Based on the popular children’s book, Branson even transforms its Scenic Railway into ‘The Polar Express .’ based on the children’s book. People enjoy hopping on the train, meeting characters, including Santa, and warming up with some hot cocoa.
If holiday lights shows are what you’re looking for, check out: Top 35 Dazzling Holiday Lights Displays in America
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