15 Best Places to Spend Christmas Vacation in the USA

Christmas holidays are the best time to visit the United States for a good reason. It’s because of the special way of celebrating the Christmas season across the USA.

In fact, some places have snowy weather there while others offer pleasant sunshine. So, each spot has different activities, foods, and traditions to enjoy during December.

But which are the exact places that you should visit this December? Well, here is a list of the 15 best places to spend Christmas vacation in the USA. Go through each to find what suits you the best. So, let’s explore together.

15 Best Places to Spend Christmas Vacation in the USA

These 15 locations offer different ways to celebrate holidays but the Christmas spirit remains the same everywhere. So, get ready to make memories this Christmas like never before.

New York City

New York City is a main hub of tourists who want to make Christmas a grand celebration of the year. So, each December brings new life to the city. This city is also special as it displays the huge Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. 

Thousands of lights and shops or food courts further make the spot worth enjoying. Ice skating is also another option of exploring. Overall, tourists used to come here again and again to enjoy the beauty and celebrations of this place.

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen used to fill completely with snow in each December that makes it the perfect Christmas vacation spend spot in the USA. A series of Rocky Mountains surround this town that further contribute to its beauty.

Specifically, the “12 Days of Aspen” is all about free concerts, cookie decoration, and fun competitions.

It’s the best place to ski or snowboard on four great mountains and then warm up by a fire. The Little Nell Hotel also has a tree-lighting event where Santa arrives on a fire truck.

Chicago, Illinois

Spending Christmas vacations in Chicago is a great decision as it’s going to be your best celebration forever. The best part is that it doesn’t just show a tree, rather puts different Christmas trees on display from around the world.

Macy’s Great Tree celebrations are still there as per the holiday tradition since 1907. Similarly, Navy Pier’s Winter WonderFest also offers indoor fun with slides and skating safe from the cold winds of Chicago.

Leavenworth, Washington

This small town comes up just like the German Village in between the mountains. During the Christmas holidays, the town lights up as the crowds count down. It’s a place that visitors remember for its memorable lighting festival.

Skiing and sledding are also the options to try there. Kids can also meet St. Nikolaus there. In fact, Leavenworth gives you a European Christmas experience without having to leave America.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe celebrates Christmas according to both Spanish and Native American traditions. This is the time when paper bags having candles inside (farolitos) line paths and rooftops of clay buildings.

On Christmas Eve, people walk down Canyon Road to see hundreds of these lights. Small bonfires called luminarias burning at street corners are also worth seeing.

In fact, the traditions of Christmas celebrations in Santa Fe go back 400 years. So, it’s always a unique experience spending Christmas vacation there.

North Pole, Alaska

It’s interesting to know that Alaska is a town where Christmas keeps going all year nearby Fairbanks. Well, this is because streets are named like Santa Claus Lane even with candy cane-striped light poles.

The Santa Claus House is where Santa greets visitors every day. Besides, a huge 42-foot Santa statue also stands outside. In fact, real reindeer live here too. Even though it gets very cold, the warm welcome makes this a special place for Christmas lovers.

Key West, Florida

Celebrating Christmas on a beach always feels like a dream. However, Key West makes it real as Christmas gets a beach makeover there. Lighting festival covers everything as palm trees wrapped in lights replace pine trees.

Similarly, boats covered with colorful displays sail in the Harbor Walk of Lights parade. The Historic Seaport also shines with lights over the water.

Sunset celebrations at Mallory Square further add holiday performers. In short, this sunny island is a perfect spot to enjoy Christmas without winter coats.

Park City, Utah

This old mining town does Christmas with mountain style. Main Street’s old buildings shine with lights that sparkle on fresh snow.  

Olympic Park lets visitors ride bobsleds on the real Olympic track. Santa also rides down the Town Lift to meet waiting children. Deer Valley Resort serves fancy holiday meals. Horse-drawn sleighs take families to quiet spots for dinner in the woods. 

Williamsburg, Virginia

Christmas in a historic style is something worth experiencing. And what’s best is that it’s still happening in Williamsburg which celebrates Christmas as per America’s early days.

In this regard, candles light up historic homes and the Grand Illumination features fireworks and music. This concept came from the old custom of putting candles in windows.

Fife and drum bands also play old music in the streets. Visitors are free to join games and dances from long ago. In short, Williamsburg connects Christmas to American history.

Branson, Missouri

This Ozark Mountain town calls itself the Christmas Tree City of the USA for a good reason. This is because over 700 decorated trees add up to its attractions. In this regard, Silver Dollar City theme park becomes a Christmas celebration with 6.5 million lights and a five-story special effects tree.

Not just this, the drive-through Trail of Lights stretches for miles with more than 300  displays. Almost every show in town adds special Christmas acts.

Shopping at Branson Landing also gets festive with lights that reflect on Lake Taneycomo. In short, Branson makes Christmas its main business each winter.

Asheville, North Carolina

Biltmore Estate is the main Christmas attraction in Asheville which is the largest home in the USA. So, it takes more than 100 Christmas trees, 10,000 ornaments, and 100,000 lights for decoration.

Candlelight tours show the house in a similar way as it would be when the Vanderbilt family celebrated here in the late 1800s. Nearby forests also offer Christmas tree farms where families can cut their own trees.

In short, the Blue Ridge Mountains provide a pretty backdrop to the season, sometimes dusted with snow. Asheville balances grand displays with the charm of a small-town mountain.

Nashville, Tennessee

The Nashville Symphony gives a new turn to Christmas celebration with special music tunes. It performs holiday concerts in the beautiful Schermerhorn Symphony Center. In addition to this, horse-drawn carriage rides also travel through downtown giving a unique festive touch.

The Gaylord Opryland Resort also covers its 9 acres of indoor gardens with 3 million lights and adds ICE which is an indoor winter wonderland having ice sculptures. The dancing lights everywhere take the whole celebration to the next level.

In short, Nashville combines country music charm with big-city holiday offerings in one place.

Charleston, South Carolina

The Christmas celebration of Charleston has a southern touch of traditions. In this regard, historic homes are open for holiday tours that match their time periods. The James Island County Park Festival of Lights lets visitors drive through more than 700 displays.

Besides, the Charleston City Market is filled with local craftspeople selling handmade gifts. Above that, the mild December temperatures further make the outdoor activities pleasant.

Meanwhile, the smell of fresh pine mixes with ocean breezes. Overall, the Christmas holidays feel as elegant as the city itself.

Taos, New Mexico

What makes Taos the best Christmas Vacation spot in the USA is its influence from three cultures. Adobe buildings in this 1,000-year-old town now provide a backdrop for holiday celebrations that combine Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo customs.

This is the time when bonfires light up the historic plaza on Christmas Eve. Taos Pueblo also hosts deer dances with traditional clothing and drumming.

Since the town sits at 7,000 feet in elevation, it has clear cold nights under star-filled skies. In short, Taos is a quiet place to spot on Christmas for a memorable experience.

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio centers its Christmas around the famous River Walk. Over 100,000 lights drape from cypress trees and line the water. Similarly, dozens of caroling boats float along carrying singers.

The Mexican tradition of luminarias also lines the walkways at the same time. Market Square becomes a holiday market with Tex-Mex flair. So, the giant 750-foot-tall Tower of the Americas gets wrapped in lights.

The mild weather makes it suitable for everyone to enjoy Christmas at best. In fact, it’s the Christmas celebration that has a hint of Texan, Mexican, and German influences.

Final Words

In short, there are many more Christmas vacation spend spots in the USA. However, the best one depends on what matters most to your holiday experience. So, think about what activities your family enjoys most together. In fact, these 15 locations offer different ways to celebrate holidays but the Christmas spirit remains the same everywhere. So, get ready to make memories this Christmas like never before.