It still feels like summer across most of the country, but wreaths, ornaments, and garlands have already started appearing in stores and it's nearly time for Hallmark Christmas movies to start airing. That can only mean one thing — the most wonderful time of the year is right around the corner.
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Christmas will arrive before we know it, so it's best to get at least some holiday planning done ahead of time. No, you don't have to rush to the mall and buy presents for everyone on your list, but you may want to start thinking about where you want to spend Christmas (and maybe even ring in the New Year).
For an extra helping of holiday cheer, line up a trip to a Christmas town. These spots feature extravagant parades, twinkling light shows, and plenty of sweet treats to help you get into the Christmas spirit. Many even hold holiday markets with artisan vendors, the perfect place to find a unique gift for that special someone.
Whether you're traveling with the whole family, celebrating Friendsmas, or flying solo, find out how to spend your holidays at the best Christmas towns in the U.S. Trust us, you'll be feeling the holiday magic from the coast of New England all the way up to the North Pole itself.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Photo by Domenico Convertini on Flickr.
This coastal New England town takes just about every holiday seriously, but Portsmouth is best known for its Vintage Christmas celebration that includes evening candlelight strolls and carol concerts. In the morning, strap on your skates for a spin around the frozen duck pond and peruse the Gingerbread House Contest's stiff competition.
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
You might recognize Stockbridge from Norman Rockwell's famous 1967 illustration of Main Street decked out for the holidays. These days, "Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas" is lovingly recreated each year, with a vintage car showcase and family-friendly activities up and down the road. Visitors can also tour historic properties (including the iconic Naumkeag) and purchase festive florals at Berkshire Botanical Garden's holiday marketplace.
Newport, Rhode Island
Millions of tourists flood "America's first resort" during summer months, but the streets fortunately quiet down in the winter. At least, until December — that's when Newport transforms into a winter wonderland, with something different happening almost every day of the month. Don't sleep on the downtown decorations and Holidays at the Newport Mansions, where you can visit three Gilded Age estates.
Mystic, Connecticut
Photo by Rowan Jacobs on Flickr.
With a name that magical, you just know Mystic puts on an incredible Christmas extravaganza. Santa Claus arrives in this small town aboard a tugboat, followed by a lighted boat parade in the evening. You can attend several different festivals and carnivals throughout the holiday season, but everyone 21+ should save the date for SantaCon, a downtown bar hop for charity.
Woodstock, Vermont
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Woodstock's Wassail Weekend packs dozens of activities into just a few days, so you'll have to plan your visit wisely. At a minimum, you should take a horse-drawn carriage tour, participate in the town-wide scavenger hunt, and watch the Wassail Weekend Parade. With any extra time, you can visit the beautifully decorated Woodstock Inn and check out the artisan market on the Green.
Bernville, Pennsylvania
Photo by Jintu Jacob on Flickr.
Koziar's Christmas Village has lit up the Bernville countryside every holiday season since 1948 and now features more than a million Christmas lights glowing around the Koziar property. You can wander the grounds at your own pace, sipping hot cocoa, munching freshly baked cookies, and shopping for ornaments. At the end of the night, don't forget to pay Santa a visit in his workshop.
Annapolis, Maryland
In Annapolis, holiday celebrations span both land and sea. You can watch the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade and ride a Jolly Express Cruise around the harbor, then take a lantern-lit walking tour or wander the gardens at London Town. Shopping includes a Christmas market and Midnight Madness, three evenings of late-night retail in the historic downtown.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Photo by Larry Syverson on Flickr.
In the spirit of Williamsburg's colonial roots, the town throws a Grand Illumination with hours of fireworks displays and live musical performances. Although the Illumination only runs a few nights a year, you can still enjoy an outdoor ice skating rink and sparkling decor on other days.
Lewisburg, West Virginia
The Magic of Christmas in downtown Lewisburg includes horse-drawn carriage rides, a tree-lighting ceremony, visits with Santa, and a Holiday Window Contest that brings out surprisingly creative decorations. For even more holiday fun, drive just 15 minutes to the nearby town of White Sulphur Springs and stop at the Greenbrier Resort, where you'll find a full calendar of seasonal activities.
Beaufort, North Carolina
Both Christmas cheer and salty sea breezes are in the air at this coastal paradise. You might get sidetracked by candlelight tours, boat parades, and holiday-themed art walks in Beaufort, but make sure to set aside some time to shop 'til you drop at the Olde Fashioned Holiday Market.
Asheville, North Carolina
Photo by Brett Kiger on Flickr.
Nobody decks the halls quite like the Biltmore in Asheville. This palatial historic home receives a towering Douglas fir in the banquet room, in addition to lights, wreaths, and garlands on seemingly every other available surface. Meanwhile, the rest of Asheville gets into the spirit with lights at the North Carolina Arboretum and a downtown holiday parade. You can also watch Santa climb down 315-foot-tall Chimney Rock in preparation for Christmas day.
Helen, Georgia
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Helen goes above and beyond in celebrating Christmas, with a yearly Decemberfest that features a Christmas parade and Christkindlmarkt. Helen's picture-perfect downtown streets have served as the backdrop for movies like Christmas Love Letter and A Taste of Christmas, so you might just feel like you're in your own holiday rom-com while you visit.
St. Augustine, Florida
Photo by Jeff Krause on Flickr.
Though you won't get a white Christmas in tropical Florida, you can definitely expect a bright Christmas in St. Augustine. Spectacular parades take place in both the downtown historic district and in the harbor, plus a special torch-lit parade that forms the centerpiece of the Colonial Night Watch. This demonstration of 18th-century military arts, culture, and lifestyle happens in early December, so history buffs, plan your trips now.
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Getty/Brad Dison
For nearly a century, Natchitoches' annual Christmas Festival has been the place to celebrate a Cajun Christmas. You can find a holiday goose or turkey anywhere, but where else could you snack on alligator? Besides delicious eats from local vendors, you can enjoy the Festival of Lights Parade and fireworks shows, as well as artisan markets packed with eclectic booths.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Photo by Ken Lund on Flickr.
Frankenmuth ranks as Michigan's best Christmas town for several reasons. First, it's known as "Michigan's Little Bavaria," so the town already has the Old-World-Christmas look down pat. Second, Frankenmuth is home to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, aka the world's largest year-round Christmas store. A reindeer farm, open-air ice skating rink, and Christkindlmarkt round out the town's holiday offerings, making for at least a full weekend of entertainment.
Santa Claus, Indiana
Photo by Doug Kerr on Flickr.
This Indiana town is all about Christmas all year long, with permanent Santa art installations and a Holiday World theme park. But when the holidays finally do roll around, Santa Claus really kicks things up a notch. Between Santa's Candy Castle and the Santa Claus Museum, you can try something new all over town. Visitors can even stay in Santa-themed lodgings, like Santa's Cottages or Santa's Lodge.
Branson, Missouri
Photo by Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau on Flickr.
During the holidays in Branson, you can drive through multiple light shows and explore "Christmas Tree City," a town-wide tree exhibition that might spark inspiration for your own Christmas decorations. But the star of the season is An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City, when millions of lights illuminate the theme park and daily holiday shows dazzle guests.
Big Spring, Texas
Instagram/visitbigspringtx
Despite the Big Spring name, Christmas celebrations here have a nostalgic, small-town flavor. In early December, head to Scurry Street for the annual Christmas parade and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts at boutiques. Before calling it a day, take a scenic drive through the free Comanche Trail Festival of Lights to see more than a million lights on display.
Durango, Colorado
Getty/KaraGrubis
Once a mining and railroad town, Durango now boasts a thriving downtown lined with small businesses and beautifully preserved historic hotels. Every winter, those streets fill with holiday revelers looking to do some Christmas caroling and attend themed cowboy shows. Durango's train still runs, too, though it goes by a different name during the holidays: the Polar Express.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Photo by Beau Rogers on Flickr.
When the holidays roll around in Santa Fe, locals adorn the streets and adobe buildings with gently glowing luminarias, also called farolitos. That's not the only thing Santa Fe does a little differently — Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrive in a vintage truck rather than a sleigh, and Christmas cookies consist of lightly spiced biscochitos, a step up from your traditional sugar cookie (but still Santa-approved).
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Photo by Latham Jenkins on Flickr.
From the antler arches in Jackson Town Square to the ice rink at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, you can find Christmas-card-ready photo ops everywhere you look in Jackson Hole. Be warned, though: You might be too busy to snap more than a few shots. Visitors can take a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the stunning National Elk Refuge, browse the Holiday Art Bazaar, and ski with Santa Claus on world-class slopes.
Park City, Utah
Photo by Cu Fleshman.
Park City is well known for hosting the Sundance Film Festival at the end of January, but those who visit a little earlier can see this quaint town in its full holiday glory, starting with a tree-lighting ceremony and fireworks show in late November. Stick around to watch the Park City Electric Parade and attend the Park City Holiday Spectacular and Sing-along, a beloved local tradition.
Leavenworth, Washington
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With a German-esque downtown and the snowy Cascade Mountains glittering in the distance, Leavenworth looks like something out of a holiday postcard even before the Christmas lights come on. And what lights they are — Leavenworth's transformation into the Village of Lights draws visitors from across the country to hear live music, meet Santa Claus, and simply bask in the spirit of the season.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Photo by Cu Fleshman.
Just south of Monterey Bay, Carmel-by-the-Sea fully embraces holiday magic of all kinds with an annual tree- and menorah-lighting ceremony, accompanied by a party at the Carmel Plaza. The plaza stays hopping for the rest of the season with frequent live performances and bustling shops and restaurants. Drop by the Rise and Roam Bakery to snag special holiday treats, like persimmon pudding cake or cookie butter cruffins.
Solvang, California
Photo by Amy Meredith on Flickr.
Solvang's Danish-style buildings and famous windmills get a Christmassy dressing during Julefest, which runs more than a month. You can sip your way around town on the Skål Wine and Stein Stroll, sampling some of the Central Coast's best brews while admiring the nutcrackers and lights throughout this sleepy village. Plus, you can try glasses of traditional Gløgg (trust us, it tastes better than it sounds).
Newport Beach, California
Christmas is typically sunny and 75 in Newport Beach, but that won't keep you from feeling the holiday cheer here. An annual boat parade brightens the harbor waters, while the Ring of Lights encourages some friendly competition between waterfront homes. As for Christmas shopping, you're sure to cover everyone on your list with a trip to Fashion Island.
North Pole, Alaska
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Finally, nothing says Christmas like a visit to the North Pole. Well, as close as you can get to the real deal, anyway. This small Alaskan town sits a couple thousand miles south of the actual pole, but you can still meet Santa Claus and his reindeer here. If you can't make it to Alaska this year, don't worry — you can request personalized letters from Santa that will arrive postmarked from the North Pole.
