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- Santa Claus, Indiana. When this Indiana town changed its name from Santa Fe to Santa Claus in 1856 after it was discovered there was another town by the same name in the state, it had an unintended consequence.
- North Pole, Alaska. Though 1,700 miles away from the actual North Pole, this small town named after St. Nick's home base is where "the spirit of Christmas lives all year round."
- Frankenmuth, Michigan. Frankenmuth is best known for its strong German heritage, but the community also loves celebrating Christmas. Residents here display lights and garland all year round, and the town's main attraction is Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, a 98,000-square-foot one-stop shop for all things Christmas that claims to be the largest Christmas store in the world.
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Bethlehem, Penn., received its name on Christmas Eve 1741 and has celebrated the spirit of Christmas ever since. In fact, travelers can actually follow this town's guiding landmark if they've lost their way.
- New York, NY. Nobody does Christmas like New York City. The Big Apple’s flagship tree, at Rockefeller Center, shines bright with over 50,000 lights, topped with a Daniel Libeskind-designed Swarovski star.
- Burlington, VT. Vermont is a holiday wonderland, and the city of Burlington is a perfect example with its Church Street Marketplace, a holiday festival throughout the city’s main pedestrian thoroughfare.
- Asheville, NC. Bask in Gilded Age holiday splendor at the sprawling Biltmore Estate, the 250-room French Renaissance-style mansion and grounds built in the 1890s by George Washington Vanderbilt.
- Natchitoches, LA. When it comes to throwing festivals, the state of Louisiana is unrivaled. The city of Natchitoches, the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase, has consistently ranked on lists of the best holiday celebrations; it’s also one of the oldest community holiday celebrations in the country.
- Park City, Utah
- Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
- Woodstock, Vermont
- Annapolis, Maryland
- Duluth, Minnesota
- Newport, Rhode Island
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Sheridan, Wyoming
Park City, located in the mountains of Utah, is bound to bring you a white Christmas this year. From sleigh rides in the picture-perfect town to holiday markets for your festive needs, Park City has everything you need to make a Hallmark holiday.
Cape Cod puts a classic New England twist on the Christmas town concept, from lighthouses dressed up with garlands to lights lining the streets. The seaside town is perfect for a bit of Christmas and a bit of the ocean, complete with parades and theater productions.
The home of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a quaint town with tons of holiday-themed events, from German food markets to live music to a carol sing-along. Plus, the town has the potential to be a winter wonderland just in time for Christmas.
If you want to ditch the cold weather and opt for a warmer, more coastal holiday, check out Carmel-by-the-Sea in sunny California. Trade out the chilly outdoor markets for dinner on the beach, complete with holiday lights.
Woodstock is the picture-perfect Hallmark town, with plenty of charm to go around. From horses pulling buggies to carolers serenading the lighting of a Christmas tree, this town might look like it's fresh off a holiday postcard.
This quaint capital city of Maryland, located on the Chesapeake Bay, puts a nautical twist on classic holiday traditions. From grand Victorian homes to a gorgeous holiday tree on the dock, Annapolis tops off its holiday celebrations with an annual lighted boat parade each December.
Every year, the city of Duluth puts on Bentleyville, a massive light display that's free to the public. The city also sets up a Christmas village and has a scenic train ride along Lake Superior to tie the bow on top!
A seaside town, Newport boasts a monthlong holiday celebration complete with an annual tree lighting, concerts, tours of its grand mansions and more.
Festive doesn't mean it needs to be snowy and cold all the time! Head to St. Augustine for some holiday spirit in the sun with Christmas lights, quaint décor and other holiday activities. Plus, the beach is right there if you want a tropical holiday! But coming off of the heels of hurricane season (and the damage from Hurricane Ian, in particular),...
If you want that small-town, Hallmark holiday movie feel, check out Sheridan in the Equality State. The town hosts an annual "Christmas Stroll," coupled with snowy weather and the charm of a small town during Christmas.
- Breckenridge, Colorado. Holiday movie lovers might recognize Breckenridge from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” with Clark Griswold’s greased-up sledding incident shot on the ski area’s Peak 8 and many more slapdash scenes filmed throughout this classic Colorado mountain town.
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Back in 1741, a religious group settled in the Lehigh Valley, and, on Christmas Eve, after a bishop visited a two-room log cabin housing both people and animals, the Pennsylvania city had a name: Bethlehem.
- Bardstown, Kentucky. Leave it to a small town to get its residents and businesses on the same decorating schedule. Bardstown holds the annual Hanging of the Greens, which culminates with the whole town "flipping the switch" on Christmas to make Bardstown a dazzling display of lights and decor that visitors can take in on a special driving route.
- Taos, New Mexico. Enjoy a Southwestern-style Christmas in Taos, where adobe buildings in the historic plaza are lined with candle-lit farolitos for the holidays, and you can order your burrito with red and green chile (i.e., Christmas-style) year-round.
- Tina Donvito
- Mystic, Connecticut. Best for: Boat lovers. The historic seaport of Mystic isn’t just a summer destination—it’s an exciting place to spend “Christmas in Connecticut” (if you didn’t catch the reference, the classic flick is one of the best romantic Christmas movies).
- Bardstown, Kentucky. Best for: Bourbon lovers. Nicknamed “the most beautiful small town in America,” this old stagecoach stop gets into the holiday spirit with southern-style hospitality and Christmas traditions.
- Branson, Missouri. Best for: Live music shows. Judy Garland might have sung “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in the classic holiday flick Meet Me in St. Louis (side note: Judy’s original version definitely belongs on your holiday playlist), but that city may be outdone by another Missouri town at Christmastime.
- Canton, Mississippi. Best for: Children’s activities. This sleepy southern town comes alive during the holidays, when thousands of twinkling lights illuminate the town’s historic Courthouse Square during the Canton Christmas Festival (also known as the “City of Lights” Christmas festival).
Dec 8, 2023 · 1. Park City, Utah. Jason Cameron //Getty Images. The stunning scenery of this mountain town is only the beginning! Kick off the holiday season with Park City's Electric Light Parade, featuring cars and the town trolley decked out with lights. Then, visit Snowfest at Park City Resort for a variety of festive events.
Dec 5, 2023 · Best Christmas Towns In The USA. While there are many places to visit during Christmas, here’s a list of our favorite Christmas towns in America. 1. Duluth, Minnesota – One Of The Best Christmas Towns In The US. Beautiful aerial shot of holiday lights at Duluth, Minnesota- one of the best Christmas towns in the US.
