This year, like every year, many will be home for Christmas. Nothing strange about that: most only want to be with their family during the holiday season. They’re perfectly happy dressing their home in holiday lights and maybe visiting the local holiday markets for some Christmas shopping. But not everyone is the same. A family small enough might decide to visit a winter wonderland far away. Maybe their own Christmas towns don’t have a Christmas parade, or they’re not covered in snow.
In short, they want the classic small town, white Christmas experience, complete with Christmas lights and a real-life recreation of Santa Claus’ house. If that’s you, we’re here to help.
Here are our favorite charming Christmas towns for the 2023 winter holidays in the USA.
Best Christmas Towns and Cities in America
New York, New York
Surprisingly, many people name New York one of their favorite cities to visit on holiday. While it’s worth visiting this city all year round, the snow and large Christmas markets make it one of the best Christmas cities to visit.
Being as big as it is, New York has a strong theater scene. Do you want to see “A Christmas Carol” during Christmas? If you visit during the holiday season, you’ll have quite the choice.
Even if you want to go for a Christmas stroll, New York has you covered. Sure, there are plenty of small outdoor markets, but did you know about House of Holiday, the city’s largest Christmas store? It’s a different kind of holiday magic, sure, but it’s the variety that makes New York a Christmas wonderland.
The city also has plenty of Christmas events, including an annual Christmas parade. And if you’re willing to leave the city, the state of New York has its own North Pole. The amusement park is complete with a Santa Claus house and daily appearances by Santa.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe makes for a unique Christmas and is one of the most beautiful Christmas towns around.
The annual holiday festival in New Mexico’s capital includes plenty of different events. The Eight Northern Pueblos Council’s celebrations alone have a website page’s worth of dances and processions. And the city is full of artists anyway, with plenty of holiday music concerts that are not available all year.
Since you’re already there, you might as well take a trip downtown and visit the historic part of the city. Santa Fe’s story is very unique, as is its architecture and culture.
The North Pole – Santa’s Workshop, Colorado
Technically speaking, Santa’s Workshop and the North Pole aren’t towns or cities. But while the North Pole Colorado Santa’s Workshop is an amusement park in Colorado, Santa’s Workshop looks more like a magical Christmas town than an attraction.
Located near Colorado Springs, the North Pole is filled with the spirit of Christmas towns. We mentioned Santa Claus’ workshop, but there are plenty of more conventional attractions — one among many: roller coasters themed after sleight rides.
Abitues say it’s best to visit near December, when Santa Claus’ shop is covered in snow. Not too much, but enough to make it look like the perfect holiday village.
North Pole, Alaska
Alaska’s North Pole is a very different kind of Christmas village than Colorado’s North Pole. For one, while not located at the North Pole, Alaska is a fair bit further north than Colorado. And unlike the amusement park of that name, this is one of the few remaining genuine, real-life Christmas towns.
Its name might be an homage to Santa Claus landing in the Arctic Ocean, but this is a genuine Alaskan town that transforms into a magical winter getaway during the Christmas season.
The Santa Claus House is open all year, but your visit might include talking and taking photos with Santa during the winter holiday.
Park City, Utah
Park City in Utah is self-described as “winter’s favorite town.” Being a fairly touristy place, the entire town seems dedicated to upholding the Christmas spirit. But Park City is also a well-loved sky location and a historic town full of local Christmas treats.
Park City takes its place in Utah’s economy and well-being seriously. Its dedicated sustainability page describes ambitious goals of reaching net zero and 100% renewable energy by 2030. Environmental sustainability can’t help but add to the Christmas town charm of Park City.
For a unique Christmas celebration, how about breakfast with Santa? Every Sunday, you can start your day with Santa at the Montage Deer Valley resort. The event only runs from December 3 to the 17, so it’s best to plan ahead.
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Bethlehem, Pennsylvania — a.k.a. Christmas City
No, not that Bethlehem. But while not quite as ancient, this Pennsylvanian city has a rich history, especially with Christmas. The city even organizes sleigh rides through the historic town.
Bethlehem is often called “Christmas City,” so of course, there’s an annual Christmas festival. And while its holiday markets might not look much compared to those in bigger cities, they carry the spirit of the magical Christmas towns of old.
Santa Claus, Indiana
Search online for the best Christmas towns, and you’ll surely find the Santa Claus Village in Indiana. And while the town’s Santa Claus museum isn’t inhabited (except perhaps by Santa himself), Santa Claus is a proper community.
Take a trip down Santa Claus’ reindeer, then visit the iconic museum. What’s best is that since this town is not an amusement park, admission is free and open all year.
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth is a charming town all year, but it has the most to offer during the winter holiday. It’s widely considered one of the best Christmas towns in the USA and for good reasons.
During a trip to Leavenworth, you might jump on one of the candlelight tours of the city. Better yet, why not join the candlelight Christmas service right on the night of December 24?
While it lacks nothing that other Christmas small towns have, it should be noted that Leavenworth is quite close to many foot trails and sky resorts. You might as well take advantage of your trip to this remote location to visit the nearby mountains, too.
Woodstock, Vermont
Many say it looks straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Whether that’s true or not, it certainly fills the holiday spirit. Let’s see why so many think Woodstock can rival those Hallmark Christmas towns.
The town becomes charming during the holidays. But it completes its transformation into a magical Christmas village during the Wassail Weekend. The city becomes an idyllic winter getaway for just three days, with Christmas decor and a parade featuring horse carriages.
Those looking to visit the town during the winter holiday season should make sure to prepare in advance. The town gets many visitors during the holidays, especially during the festival. As for 2023, the Wassail Weekend took place from December 8 to December 10.
Santa’s Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire
Another Christmas-themed amusement park, Santa’s Village has the benefit of being quite close to Jefferson. The city is easier to reach than other remote locations like Holiday World. And you won’t waste your trip if you get bored of the relatively small park.
The park carries all the Christmas attractions you might expect, but they’re here all year round. Santa’s Home is here, as are many holiday-themed rides and roller coasters. There’s a surprising amount of events, too, certainly enough to justify a trip to this location.
Alternative Christmas trips that didn’t make the list
There are too many charming Christmas towns to count, so it was inevitable that our list would come short. Here are a few but still valid alternative picks for most Christmas trip destinations that didn’t make the cut.
The Village of Lights is an isolated location in Philadelphia, and it’s pretty small, which is why it didn’t make the cut. Still, a short but intense Christmas trip might just be what some are looking for.
Bardstown is a small, historic city in Kentucky, which became holiday-famous for its winter parade. But while it describes itself as “the ultimate Christmas town,” we decided to give space to other locations.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — In the Featured Photo: A large Christmas tree in Michigan, USA. Featured Photo Credit: David Solce.
