I’m a self-proclaimed Christmas lover. I go crazy for it. The lights, the markets, mulled wine in a souvenir mug, a hotel lobby with a giant tree. I want all of it, every single year.
So every December I pick a Christmas destination and go. Leavenworth, Seattle, Denver and Loveland in Colorado, home to Wisconsin, and a whole lot of California, since I live in San Francisco. If you’re trying to figure out the best places to spend Christmas in the US, whether you want Christmas markets, a white Christmas in the snow, a warm-weather holiday, or a big city covered in Christmas lights, this list has you covered.
These are my favorite places to spend Christmas in the United States, from the Christmas towns I’ve fallen for to the bucket-list trips I’m still saving up for. I’ve also added two bonus spots just over the border in Canada. If you’re traveling earlier in the month, my guide to the best places to visit in December has more ideas.
Let’s get into it.
My Favorite Places To Spend Christmas In The US
These are the best US cities Christmas lovers should have on their list, plus the best Christmas towns in the US for a cozy holiday season. In other words, the best places to go in USA for Christmas, sorted by what you want out of the trip. I’ve noted which ones I’ve been to and which ones I’m still dreaming about, because I’d rather you know that up front.
The quick version, by trip type:
- Best for Christmas markets: Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Solvang, Quebec City and Vancouver
- Best for a cozy Christmas town: Leavenworth, Stowe, Woodstock, Mount Horeb and Santa Claus, Indiana
- Best for snow: Park City, Yosemite, North Pole, Vermont and New Hampshire
- Best for a warm-weather Christmas: San Antonio, Palm Springs, Los Angeles and Disneyland
- Best for big-city holiday lights: New York City, San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth at Christmas is my all-time favorite place to spend Christmas in the US and the cutest Christmas town I’ve ever been to. It’s a Bavarian village designed to look like it was plucked straight out of Germany, except it’s in the Cascades, about two hours and 15 minutes from Seattle. We went a few years ago right after a major snowstorm. The whole town was covered in fresh snow and lights.
We did a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow with Icicle Outfitters and drank hot cider after. I ate a giant pretzel at München Haus. And the Nutcracker Museum was so whimsical. I collected nutcrackers as a kid, so I loved seeing all the little sets. There are more than 9,000 nutcrackers in there. Adult tickets are $5.
The town’s Christmastown celebration runs Nov. 27 to Dec. 24, 2026, and the lights stay on daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Thanksgiving through February. Leavenworth dropped its single tree lighting countdown years ago to spread out the crowds, so any December night gets you the full light show. Weekends get packed, though. Go midweek if you can, and check WSDOT before you drive Stevens Pass.
Stay at Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort, a lodge outside town where my favorite holiday ritual was soaking in the outdoor hot tub in the snow. Or book this A-frame cabin with a hot tub, which is on my list for next time. If you have an extra day, tack on a trip to Lake Chelan for wine tasting.
San Francisco, California
I’ve lived in San Francisco at Christmas since 2014, and I think it’s one of the most underrated Christmas cities in the US. A lot of locals leave for the holidays, so the city gets quieter. It’s mostly tourists and the people who don’t travel for the holidays.
Union Square gets an ice skating rink and a giant Christmas tree, and Macy’s decks out its windows with adoptable SPCA puppies and kittens. My husband took me skating there after I told him I wanted to “ice skate, hold hands and have hot chocolate.” The rink runs Nov. 4, 2026 through Jan. 18, 2027. Tickets were $22 with skates last season, and sunset is the best time to go.
The Fairmont builds a life-size gingerbread house in the lobby (it lights up Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. with the San Francisco Boys Chorus) and serves holiday tea in Laurel Court through Jan. 3. I went to tea one year and spent the best afternoon gossiping and sipping Champagne. Houses all over the city go big on Christmas lights too, and my San Francisco Christmas lights guide has my favorite streets. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair at the Cow Palace runs weekends Nov. 21 to Dec. 20 ($50 for adults), and it’s worth a full day.
You won’t get snow, and December can be rainy. It’s mild enough to walk the city on Christmas Day, though, which is what we do every year.
Stay at the Fairmont San Francisco, the first Fairmont ever built, so the gingerbread house is right downstairs. For an Airbnb, the cabana with a hot tub near Dolores Park is a fun way to do the city.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle in December is rainy and moody, and that’s exactly why I love it at Christmas. I’ve been to Seattle four times, including at Christmas a few years ago. The gray weather makes everything feel more Christmasy. I love the Christmas lights bouncing off the wet sidewalks. On our December trip we were outside almost the entire weekend.
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel turns one of its rooms into the Teddy Bear Suite, stuffed with nearly 100 themed teddy bears. It’s free to visit (donations go to the Seattle Children’s Autism Center) and typically runs from late November to Christmas Eve, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Seattle Christmas Market at Seattle Center runs Nov. 20 to Dec. 24, 2026, with timed tickets. WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo runs Nov. 13 to Jan. 17.
Heads up, it gets dark around 4:20 p.m. Plan your Pike Place Market run for the morning and save the lights for after dark.
Stay at The Edgewater, the hotel built out over the water that’s at the top of my list for a cold-weather trip. Or book this downtown Seattle loft. Seattle is also an easy jumping-off point for Leavenworth or a bonus trip to Vancouver.
Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite is my favorite national park in the entire United States, and seeing it covered in snow is one of the best things I’ve ever done. I stayed at Tenaya Lodge right after Thanksgiving a few years back. There was a giant Christmas tree in the lobby and we went ice skating to holiday music. I’ve also walked Mariposa Grove when the giant sequoias were covered in snow.
The big event is the Bracebridge Dinner at The Ahwahnee, a seven-course candlelit Christmas feast and pageant that’s been running since 1927 (Ansel Adams once played the Lord of Misrule). The 99th annual dinner is scheduled for Dec. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18, 2026. Formal attire is required and phones aren’t allowed. It’s on my Yosemite bucket list.
If you go for Bracebridge, stay at the Ahwahnee so you’re right there for dinner and don’t have to drive park roads after dark. You’re required to carry chains from November through March when chain controls are on, and Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road close for winter. Check the road hotline at 209-372-0200 before you leave.
The Ahwahnee is the lodge to book. For something cozier outside the park, Tenaya Lodge is one of our favorite Yosemite hotels, or rent the Acorn Falls A-frame on Bass Lake. I kayaked Bass Lake in November once and had the whole lake to myself.
New York City, New York
New York City at Christmas is still on my bucket list, and it’s a bucket-list place for a reason. My first trip to New York was in July, so the rink at Rockefeller Center was closed. Skating under that tree has been at the top of my holiday list ever since.
The 2026 Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony is Wednesday, Dec. 2, and the tree arrives Nov. 7. Last year’s was a 75-foot Christmas tree, a Norway spruce with more than 50,000 LEDs and a Swarovski star that weighs about 900 pounds. The Rink at Rockefeller Center opened Oct. 10. For Central Park ice skating, Wollman Rink runs October through March. Bryant Park Winter Village has free skating from Oct. 28 to Feb. 28 and more than 180 holiday shops through Jan. 3.
My writer Margaret lives in Manhattan and put together our guides to the best NYC Christmas bars and the Elf filming locations in New York. Between the pop-up Christmas bars, the carolers and the window displays, you could fill a week.
Pro-tip: book prime skating times early, and avoid Midtown on weekend evenings if crowds stress you out.
Stay at The Mark on the Upper East Side, steps from Central Park, or citizenM Times Square if you want to be close to Rockefeller Center. I’d skip Airbnb here. New York’s short-term rental law means most stays under 30 days require the host to be home with you, so a hotel is the easier move.
Stowe, Vermont
I’ve only been to Stowe, Vermont in the fall, and I’m dying to go back for Christmas. The whole town looks like a postcard. I know New England winters can be harsh, but if a town does fall this well, it’s going to do Christmas really well too.
When I go back, I want another maple croissant from Black Cap Coffee and a hot chocolate to carry around while I walk downtown. A Traditional Christmas in Stowe usually happens the first weekend of December, with a Main Street tree lighting and a lantern parade. Stowe Mountain Resort typically opens for ski season in late November, though early snow isn’t guaranteed.
Stay at Trapp Family Lodge, the Austrian-style resort run by the von Trapp family from The Sound of Music. Or book the Summit House A-frame for mountain views. My Bluebird Cady Hill Lodge review covers a cozy option right in town.
Woodstock, Vermont
Woodstock, Vermont is the other New England town I can’t stop thinking about. We visited in the fall and didn’t stay overnight. Next time I want to spend the night at one of the inns and do all of my Christmas shopping downtown.
Woodstock goes all in for Wassail Weekend, scheduled for Dec. 11 to 13, 2026. The Wassail Horse Parade circles the Green twice on Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by a tree lighting with a Yule log bonfire at 3 p.m. Stop at Sugarbush Farm for a maple syrup tasting and some Vermont cheese (almost as good as Wisconsin cheese… almost).
Stay at the Woodstock Inn and Resort, which sets up a cocoa and donut bar on the front lawn on parade day. Rooms for Wassail Weekend book up early. For an Airbnb, this cozy log cabin is the move. My New England road trip itinerary shows how easy it is to link Woodstock, Stowe and New Hampshire.
North Conway, New Hampshire
I stayed in Conway on my New England road trip in the fall, and I’ve wanted to see the Mount Washington Valley in the snow ever since. At Christmas, the Conway Scenic Railroad runs Santa’s Holiday Express starting Nov. 28, 2026, a roughly one-hour train ride with milk and cookies with Santa.
Up the road in Bretton Woods, the Omni Mount Washington Resort does Christmas week with gingerbread decorating and visits with Santa. Santa’s Village in Jefferson opens on weekends in December for its Christmastime season. Fresh snow can make mountain roads tricky, so give yourself extra drive time.
Stay at Merrill Farm Inn, which has a cozy farmhouse feel. For an Airbnb, this A-frame in Conway is ready-made for a snowy weekend. Grab a beer at Sea Dog Brewing, where I discovered sugar on beer rims.
Park City, Utah
I’ve been to Park City in the fall and loved how cute it was. The downtown has colorful houses and it’s very walkable. You’ve got mountain-man bars right next to upscale shops and restaurants, so it works for every budget. The best part is that it’s about 45 minutes from the Salt Lake City airport.
Park City kicks off the holidays with its Electric Parade on Main Street on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (projected for Nov. 28, 2026). Santa strolls Main Street at 4 p.m., there’s a tree lighting at Miner’s Park at 5:30 p.m. and the parade starts at 5:45 p.m. Park City Mountain is targeting a Nov. 20 opening and Deer Valley is targeting Dec. 5, but last year Park City’s opening slipped to Dec. 5 for lack of snow.
Book the Waldorf Astoria Park City for a luxury ski trip, or stay in this downtown condo so you can walk to Main Street. Grab a drink at High West Saloon.
Denver And Loveland, Colorado
I’ve done Christmas trips to Colorado, and I love having the city and the mountains so close together. Denver gives you the city side of the holidays. The Denver Christkindlmarket moves to a new spot this year, Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus, and runs Nov. 20 to Dec. 23, 2026. Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanic Gardens runs Nov. 20 to Jan. 10, 4:30 to 9 p.m.
Then head for the snow. Fair warning, there are two Lovelands. Loveland Ski Area sits on I-70 near the Continental Divide, about an hour west of Denver. The town of Loveland is north of Denver and decorates for the holidays too. Its big Winter Wonderlights show has ended, so check Visit Loveland for this year’s light displays before you plan around them.
In Denver, look at The Crawford Hotel inside Union Station. For an Airbnb, the Mill Creek Cabin in Clear Creek County puts you close to Loveland Ski Area. My list of weekend trips from Denver has more ideas, including The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park.
Chicago, Illinois
I grew up in the Midwest, where Chicago’s Christkindlmarket is the classic. Christkindlmarket Chicago celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, and all three locations open Nov. 20, 2026. Daley Plaza runs through Dec. 24 and Wrigleyville runs through Dec. 31. Entry is free, but bring cash, and buy the collectible mug (it was $10 last year).
Book lunch at Macy’s Walnut Room, where the 45-foot Great Tree has gone up every year since 1945. Reservations open in late September and weekend slots disappear fast. Also, the wind chill is no joke, so pack the warmest coat you own.
Stay at the Pendry Chicago, or book this chic Chicago loft if you’re traveling with a group.
Mount Horeb And Madison, Wisconsin
I grew up in Mount Horeb, about 20 minutes outside Madison, and Wisconsin Christmas is my baseline for all of these. My family cut down a real Christmas tree every year. The winters here are long and cold (part of the reason we ran away to San Francisco), but at Christmas the snow is the whole point.
Mount Horeb is known for the giant trolls all over town, and every December it throws Trollidays, with a fire truck parade and a tree lighting. Get breakfast at Sjolinds Chocolate House, my favorite breakfast spot in town. In southeast Wisconsin, Lake Geneva runs a Santa Cruise on the lake from Nov. 20 to Dec. 30 (adults from $37). Milwaukee’s Holiday Lights Festival puts half a million lights across three downtown parks from Nov. 19 to Jan. 1.
Stay at the Graduate Madison near the Capitol, or rent a cabin near Lake Geneva for a snowy winter wonderland weekend.
Asheville, North Carolina
I haven’t spent Christmas in Asheville yet, but the Explore Asheville team sent me their holiday lineup this year and it moved way up my list. Christmas at Biltmore runs Nov. 6, 2026 to Jan. 10, 2027. It’s the estate’s 131st Christmas, with 36 decorated Christmas trees, 45,000 lights and 442 candles inside Biltmore House alone. Daytime tickets start around $105, and Candlelight Christmas Evenings add live music after dark.
Hallmark also premieres “A Grand Biltmore Christmas” on Dec. 5, filmed on location at the estate. The 34th National Gingerbread House Competition is on display at the Omni Grove Park Inn from Nov. 17 to Jan. 3 (non-guests can visit Monday through Thursday). For a holiday cocktail, Tiki Easy Bar behind Hi-Wire Brewing runs a Sippin’ Santa pop-up starting Nov. 17.
The Blue Ridge Mountains are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, and tourism is coming back. Check Blue Ridge Parkway closures before you plan a scenic drive.
Stay at the Omni Grove Park Inn, with massive stone fireplaces built for 12-foot logs. Or book this wizarding treehouse, for a fun North Carolina Airbnb.
Solvang, California
I haven’t been to Solvang during Christmas yet, but it’s very high on my bucket list. It’s a California town modeled after Denmark, and it even has a one-third-scale replica of Copenhagen’s Round Tower. We spent a summer living in Copenhagen, and we love all things Danish, so this one’s personal.
Julefest runs Nov. 27, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027. The tree lighting is Friday, Dec. 4, and the parade is Saturday, Dec. 5. Solvang Park has a light and music show on the hour from 5 to 9 p.m. every night. Eat as many aebleskiver (Danish pancake balls) as you can handle. It’s chilly at night but you won’t see snow.
Look at The Genevieve for a boutique hotel in the middle of town, or rent a cottage nearby in the Santa Ynez Valley. My guide to places to spend Christmas in California has more spots in the area.
Disneyland, California
Disneyland goes all out for Christmas. Holidays at the Disneyland Resort run Nov. 13, 2026 to Jan. 6, 2027. Sleeping Beauty Castle gets more than 80,000 lights, and the “Believe… in Holiday Magic” fireworks end with snowfall on Main Street. Haunted Mansion Holiday turns the ride into The Nightmare Before Christmas. “It’s a small world” Holiday and A Christmas Fantasy Parade are back too.
Heads up, mid-December through New Year’s is peak crowds and peak ticket prices. Go early in the season if you can. And if you’re celebrating as a grown-up, my guide to everywhere you can drink at Disneyland will come in handy.
Stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, which decorates its lobby with a huge tree and a crackling fireplace. For more room, rent a house near the parks in Anaheim.
Los Angeles, California
In 1928, Hollywood Boulevard between Vine and La Brea was renamed Santa Claus Lane for the holidays, lined with 100 live fir trees from Big Bear, with Santa riding down the street every night behind live reindeer. It became an annual parade in 1931, and today it’s the Hollywood Christmas Parade.
The 2026 parade is Sunday, Nov. 29, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Curbside viewing is free if you show up early. Reserved grandstand seats were $120 last year, with proceeds going to Toys for Tots. I’m a big Harry Potter fan, so the holiday version of the Wizarding World at Universal Studios Hollywood is my other must-do here.
Stay at the Hollywood Roosevelt, right on the parade route, or rent a place in Los Feliz or Silver Lake.
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is the ultimate town in California for a super chill Christmas vacation. Think pool days in December and a palm tree wrapped in lights. The Festival of Lights Parade rolls down Palm Canyon Drive on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, starting at 5:45 p.m., and it’s free. Drive through Candy Cane Lane for the holiday lights, or go to WildLights at The Living Desert in Palm Desert.
Desert nights drop into the 40s, so pack a sweater. Parade weekend hotels fill up fast.
Rent a poolside Airbnb like the Palm Springs Dome House, or check into The Parker if you want a hotel.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is one of the best warm places for Christmas in the US. About 200,000 holiday lights hang in the cypress trees along the River Walk, and they stay on through early January. The 45th Ford Holiday River Parade floats down the river on Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, at 6 p.m. Paid seats sell out, and the River Walk gets packed that night.
December highs usually land in the mid-60s, so you can eat dinner outside under the lights. Visit the Alamo while you’re downtown.
Stay at Hotel Emma, a converted brewhouse in the Pearl District, or rent a historic home in the King William neighborhood.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe does Christmas in its own way, with farolitos (paper bag lanterns) lining adobe walls. The SWAIA Winter Indian Market brings more than 160 Native artists to the Santa Fe Community Convention Center on Nov. 28 and 29, 2026 ($15 a day). It’s the best place to do your holiday shopping and support Native artists at the same time.
The Plaza tree lighting usually falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The big tradition is the Canyon Road Farolito Walk on Christmas Eve, which is free and runs from sunset to about 9 p.m. Roads close at 5 p.m., so take the free shuttle. Nights drop to around freezing, so wear real layers. Eat red chile enchiladas at The Shed.
Stay at La Fonda on the Plaza so you can walk to everything, or rent an adobe casita on the Eastside.
North Pole, Alaska
If you want the most literal Christmas trip possible, go to North Pole, Alaska. It’s about 20 minutes from Fairbanks. The Santa Claus House has been open since 1952, with a 50-foot Santa statue out front and live reindeer. You can also send the “Original Letter from Santa” home with a North Pole postmark. It’s open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily but closed Dec. 25 to 27, so plan around Christmas Day.
Christmas in Ice, the ice-sculpture park next door, depends on weather and has been canceled in warm years. And you’re going to be cold. Fairbanks gets less than four hours of daylight on the winter solstice. The upside is that long nights mean good odds for the northern lights.
Stay at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks, or rent a log cabin outside town for darker skies.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth is a Bavarian-style Christmas town in Michigan, and it’s home to Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland. It’s open 361 days a year, sits on 27 acres and sells more than 50,000 Christmas trims and gifts. If you buy ornaments the way I do, set a budget before you walk in.
Nearby in Owosso, the Steam Railroading Institute runs the North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225, the locomotive that inspired the train in The Polar Express movie. The 2026 trips run weekends from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20, coach seats are $85, and the round trip takes about four hours and 45 minutes, including a stop in a small Christmas village. Book early, because these weekends sell out.
Stay at the Bavarian Inn Lodge, or rent a farmhouse outside town.
Santa Claus, Indiana
Yes, there’s a town in Indiana named Santa Claus, and it leans all the way in. Mail a letter to Santa at P.O. Box 1, Santa Claus, IN 47579 by Dec. 13 and you’ll get a reply. The post office stamps a special Christmas postmark from Dec. 1 to 24. The Santa Claus Museum and Village has an 1880 church and a 22-foot Santa statue from 1935, and Santa’s Candy Castle is right next door.
Drive through Land of Lights for holiday lights in the evening. Holiday World, which opened in 1946 as Santa Claus Land, closes for winter, and almost everything in town closes on Christmas Day.
Stay at Santa’s Lodge, or rent a cabin at Lake Rudolph Campground.
Bonus: Christmas Just Over The Border In Canada
These aren’t in the US, but they’re so close (and so good at Christmas) that I’d feel wrong leaving them off. If you live on the East Coast, Quebec City is an easy flight or drive. If you’re on the West Coast, Vancouver is about an hour and a half flight from San Francisco or an easy drive from Seattle.
Quebec City, Canada
If you want Christmas in Europe without leaving North America, go to Quebec City at Christmas. I went a few years ago in early December and walked around the Christmas market with a cup of mulled wine.
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is the chateau hotel on the hill, lit up in red and green for the holidays, and a lot of the Christmas events happen there. We had drinks there, and I’d stay there next time. The German Christmas Market is small but packed with stalls. I went ice skating at the Place D’Youville rink at golden hour. Montmorency Falls freezes over, and I was blown away by how huge it looks frozen. Ice canoeing on the St. Lawrence River is a bucket-list thing to do here, but ours got canceled for weather, so book it with a backup plan. My favorite reset was the Strøm Nordic Spa, where I soaked in the outdoor hot pools and then ate dinner in my robe. (I also did the cold plunge. Brave.)
This trip we stayed at Hôtel Le Germain near the Old Port, which made it easy to walk to Old Town. Next time, I’m booking the Château Frontenac.
Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver at Christmas has the best Christmas market on the West Coast. I’ve been multiple times, including in December 2024 when I flew up for Taylor Swift’s last Eras Tour show of the year. The Vancouver Christmas Market sits at Jack Poole Plaza right on the water, and the glühwein is great. I buy my ornaments there. One year I found a banana ornament that made me laugh out loud at the booth, and it went straight onto my tree.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park lights up for Canyon Lights, with the bridge and the trees covered in millions of lights. It’s so fun and festive. I walked it again in 2024 and it still gave me butterflies. Temperatures hover in the 40s, so pack a waterproof coat instead of heavy snow gear.
We stayed at the Shangri-La Vancouver and scored a great rate. For a trendy budget stay, look at The Burrard.
FAQs About The Best Places To Spend Christmas In The US
What Are The Best Places To Go For Christmas In The US?
The best places to go for Christmas in the US are Leavenworth, Washington for a snowy Bavarian Christmas town and New York City for the Rockefeller Center tree. Chicago is the pick for a Christmas market. San Francisco, Seattle and Yosemite National Park are my favorite West Coast picks. If you want a warm Christmas, go to San Antonio or Palm Springs.
What Is The Best Christmas Town In America?
My pick for the best Christmas town in America is Leavenworth, Washington, and I’d call it the best Christmas town in the United States, period. It’s a Bavarian-style village in the Cascades with lights on every building, horse-drawn sleigh rides and a Nutcracker Museum. Other great Christmas towns in America include Stowe and Woodstock in Vermont, Frankenmuth in Michigan, Solvang in California and Santa Claus, Indiana.
What Are The Best Christmas Towns In USA For A White Christmas?
For the best odds of snow on Christmas, go north or go up. Park City, Stowe, Woodstock, North Conway in New Hampshire and North Pole, Alaska are your safest bets. Leavenworth and Yosemite often have snow in December, but it’s never guaranteed, so check conditions and pack chains if you’re driving mountain roads.
What Are The Best Places To Visit For Christmas In USA If You Want Warm Weather?
The best places to visit for Christmas in USA for warm weather are San Antonio, Palm Springs, Los Angeles and Disneyland. San Antonio’s River Walk holiday lights stay on through early January, and December highs usually hit the mid-60s. Palm Springs gives you pool days and a Festival of Lights Parade.
What Are The Best Places To Visit During Christmas In USA With Kids?
The best places to visit during Christmas in USA with kids are Disneyland, Santa Claus, Indiana, and North Pole, Alaska, where you can visit the Santa Claus House and send a letter home with a North Pole postmark. In Michigan, the North Pole Express steam train out of Owosso is a big hit with families, and Conway Scenic Railroad’s Santa’s Holiday Express in New Hampshire is a shorter, easier ride for little ones.
Where Are The Best Christmas Markets In The US?
Christkindlmarket Chicago is the classic, with three locations opening Nov. 20, 2026. Denver has its own Christkindlmarket at a new home on the Auraria Campus, and the Seattle Christmas Market runs at Seattle Center through Dec. 24. Solvang’s Julefest has a Danish spin. Just over the border, Vancouver and Quebec City have two of my favorite markets anywhere.
When Should You Book Christmas Day Vacations?
Book Christmas Day vacations as early as you can, ideally by early fall. Christmas US travel is some of the busiest of the year, so hotels in the most popular Christmas towns fill up fast and holiday-week prices climb as December gets closer. If you’re flexible, the quiet stretch between Christmas and New Year’s often has better rates, and a lot of light shows and markets run into the new year.
Christmas In The US Is My Favorite Time To Travel
There’s no wrong way to spend Christmas in the US, and you don’t have to pick between the best Christmas cities USA has to offer and the smallest snowy Christmas towns in the United States. You can ski in Park City, drink glühwein at a Christmas market in Chicago, skate under the tree at Rockefeller Center or eat dinner outside on the River Walk in San Antonio. I’ve loved every one of these trips I’ve taken, and the ones I haven’t taken yet are on my list for the next few Decembers.
These are the best places to visit in the US during Christmas, whether you want snow or a warm escape with holiday lights. If you’ve been searching for good Christmas places to visit, start with the town that matches the Christmas you picture in your head and book it early.
Where are you spending Christmas this year? Drop a comment below. I’m always looking for new Christmas towns to add to my list.
