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November 30, 2021

Top 10 Christmas Towns To Visit In The U.S.

The Holiday season is about to begin and what better time to start making your list of Holiday destinations you want to visit? I know, I’ve started mine! What’s not to love about this time of year? Listening to Christmas music, taking in all of the twinkling lights, and sipping hot cocoa are just a few of the perks of the Holiday season. There are so many amazing places to visit this Holiday season but if you are looking for charming towns that go all out for the Holidays then you are in the right place…

Christmas Towns To Visit This Holiday Season
 [show]
  • 10 Christmas Towns To Visit This Holiday Season
    • Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
      • Bethlehem Christkindlmarkt
    • Stockbridge, Massachusetts
    • Solvang, California
      • Julefest
    • Asheville, North Carolina
      • Christmas At Biltmore
    • Frankenmuth, Michigan
      • Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland
    • Jackson, Wyoming
    • Helen, Georgia
      • Helen’s Christkindlmarkt
    • Durango, Colorado
      • Durango & Silverton Railroad
    • Leavenworth, Washington
      • Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
    • St. Augustine, Florida
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Want to know more about the Christmas holiday origins check out: The Celebration Of Yule

10 Christmas Towns To Visit This Holiday Season

1. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

This charming Pennsylvania town is a given, but did you know that it’s known as “Christmas City”? The town boasts horse-drawn carriage rides and a “Christmas City Stroll” to take in all of the sparkling lights. Check out the town’s annual Christkindlmarkt for even more Holiday cheer!

Bethlehem Christkindlmarkt
  • 2021: Every weekend from November 19 – December 19
  • Buy Tickets In Advance HERE
  • Handmade goods, live Christmas music, handmade German ornaments, nutcrackers, and collectibles

2. Leavenworth, Washington

The winter wonderland Bavarian village of Leavenworth will put you into the holiday spirit immediately. This town transports you to the snowy magical streets of Europe during Christmas. Don’t miss out on the town’s sleigh rides, and lighting ceremonies. Oh, and this place even has its very own reindeer farm!

Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
  • 10395 Chumstick Highway, Leavenworth, WA 98826
  • Cost: $25 General Admission
  • If you are planning on visiting during November or December it is best to book tickets early
  • Book HERE
  • Complimentary cocoa, cider, and cookies are included in ticket prices
  • Santa hangs out here during Nov and Dec and you are welcome to take photos with him, but bring your own camera

3. Stockbridge, Massachusetts

If you are looking for a classic Norman Rockwell holiday, then you can’t do better than Stockbridge. Every year the town recreates Rockwell’s 1967 “Stockbridge Main Street At Christmas.” This recreation happens during the town’s annual Christmas festival, but it’s unfortunately been canceled for 2021. While the festival may not be happening this town is still full of Christmas charm.

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Often referred to as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria” Frankenmuth goes all out for the Christmas season. The German roots of this charming town make it a guarantee that their Christkindlmarkt is epic. Enjoy the whimsical light displays, and don’t forget to visit Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland before you leave.

Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland
  • 25 Christmas Ln, Frankenmuth, MI 48734
  • Mon – Thurs: 10 am – 7 pm, Fri: 10 am – 8pm, Sat: 9 am – 9 pm, Sun: 12 pm – 6 pm
  • Bronner’s is the world’s largest Christmas store

Solvang, California

Solvang will transport you with its quaint European streets. Every year the town hosts its Julefest, where you can go on a festive holiday lights tour and listen to live holiday music. Sounds magical!

Julefest

  • 2021: November 27 – January 1, 2022
  • Complete with tree lighting ceremony, parade, candlelight tours, and a tree burn at the end of the season.

Asheville, North Carolina

Can you imagine the Biltmore Estate all decked out for the holiday season? Well, you don’t have to imagine it! The lavish Vanderbilt mansion is covered in garlands, ribbons, and thousands of twinkling lights every holiday season.

Christmas At Biltmore

  • 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803
  • This Holiday season also offers the Van Gough Alive exhibit
  • There are 2 options for the Christmas tours at the Biltmore
    • Daytime Celebration – $106 – $339 – Buy tickets HERE
    • Candlelight Christmas Evenings – $106 – $330 – Buy tickets HERE

Jackson, Wyoming

You’ve undoubtedly seen photos of Jackson’s famous antler arch sparkling with holiday lights. But this entire town does a pretty impressive light display. It is focused around the town square and a magical display of thousands of twinkling lights.

Tip: On New Year’s Eve they do an awesome torch parade of ski instructors who fly down the town’s 2 ski-resort mountains with torches burning.

Helen, Georgia

This Bavarian town at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains is the perfect stop on any holiday trip. Check out the towns Festival Of Trees, Kinderfest, or their very own Christkindlmarkt.

Helen’s Christkindlmarkt
  • 2021: November 27-28, December 4-5
  • Free Admission

Durango, Colorado

To really get into the holiday spirit, take a steam-engine ride through the snow. *Immediately thinks of White Christmas* The rides include a Polar Express inspired trip for the kids or you can take a weekend Christmas tree run. On the second option, you can cut your own tree and get it transported back to town, while you enjoy the train ride. How cool?

Durango & Silverton Railroad

The Polar Express Ride –

  • November 19, 2021 – January 1, 2022
  • Book and Find Price For Fares & Seats HERE

St. Augustine, Florida

If you are looking for a warmer Christmas season getaway then check out St. Augustine. Take in the historic cities gorgeous light display. And because it’s the south make sure to hitch a ride on a golf cart for the cities, Nights Of Light tours.

Honorable Mention:

  • New York City
  • Woodstock, Vermont
  • Breckinridge, Colorado

There are so many amazing options for travel during the Holiday season! Take advantage of this magical time of year and check out one of these charming towns. Have you been to any of these places during the Holiday season? Which was your favorite? Happy Holidays!

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Posted In: Mountain West, New England, South, United States · Tagged: Christmas, Christmas Towns, Holiday, Holiday Travel, United States

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Hi! I'm Vanessa, a 30 something, sunset chasing traveler. I'm here to inspire you to travel wherever, whenever, and with whoever you can. My Huskies, Loki and Freya are usually along for the ride. I have a soul that likes to wander, a desire to experience the unknown, and a curiousity to discover things off the beaten path. I hope you'll stick around for awhile!

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Everyone does Mount Desert Island - -> Want to esc Everyone does Mount Desert Island - -> Want to escape the crowds at Acadia? Go here instead…

Almost nobody drives the hour out to the Schoodic, the only part of Acadia on the mainland, and it got under 10% of the park’s 4 million-plus visits last year. Their loss.

Same pink granite, same crashing surf, a fraction of the people. And here’s the part that got me: from Schoodic Point you watch the sun set behind Cadillac Mountain, so you’re seeing Acadia from the outside. 

Ya know what else that means? No Cadillac reservation, no parking war, your park pass gets you in, and it’s entirely dog-friendly since the no-dogs trails are all back on the island.

✨Save this for your Acadia trip. What’s the most underrated corner of a park you’ve found?
Come for a sunset drive at T.R. with me 🌅 Theodore Come for a sunset drive at T.R. with me 🌅 Theodore Roosevelt at golden hour is wild horses in the road, bison under a rising moon, and badlands going pink, and somehow almost nobody’s here to see it.

It’s the most overlooked national park in the country, and after 3 years on the road it might be our favorite. Their loss.

The first photo might be one of my favorites I’ve ever taken. Watching this bison herd just do its thing as the final flicker of light left the park was something I’ll never forget. Even though the smoke swallowed the sunset, it was still a beautiful one! 

Save this for your someday trip, trust me, you don’t want to miss this one! 🦬🐎☀️🌙
kinda chic, if you ask me. Leaving a place better kinda chic, if you ask me.

Leaving a place better than you found it.

Keeping your distance from the wildlife.

Getting up before the sun and complaining about it like you didn’t set the alarm yourself.

Packing the long lens because getting closer is, in fact, not the move.

And somehow still thinking a dusty road, and a questionable gas station coffee counts as a pretty good day.

A little wild.
A little dusty.
Kinda chic.
Kinda feral.

And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🦬
6 months on Mount Desert Island taught me this: Ac 6 months on Mount Desert Island taught me this: Acadia is a completely different park depending on the time of year and the time of day 🦞✨ 

Steal my one perfect day at Acadia. 

But to be honest, in my opinion, Acadia deserves 4 or 5, and after six months here, I wrote down the rest for you! 

Comment Guide and I’ll send you a direct link or Comment lobster for the free Bar Harbor/Acadia Cheat Sheet 

If you’ve been to Acadia, what’s the one place you’d tell people not to miss?
Life lately, from the road 🛻 2,500-ish miles. Pen Life lately, from the road 🛻

2,500-ish miles. Pennsylvania in the rearview. Idaho finally under the tires. One truck that had several thoughts about the arrangement, not starting, but 🤷🏻‍♀️ what are ya gonna do? 

Somewhere in Theodore Roosevelt National Park we pulled over because we thought fog was rolling across the prairie. It wasn’t. It was one of the biggest bison herds we’ve ever seen.

We accidentally found the best burger of the trip because that’s how road food works. The ones with the lake view are just showing off.

Targhee and Bridger-Teton quietly reminded us that some of the best places never make the bucket lists.

And then there were the Tetons. We drove all that way and spent most of our visit admiring what can only be described as the concept of mountains through wildfire smoke. We’ll be back when they’re visible.

✅ Another place to call home for a little while.
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