Enchanting Holiday Destinations Across the U.S.
In this episode, we’re embarking on a festive journey to some of the most enchanting holiday destinations across the United States. From the tax-free shopping spree in New Hampshire to the star-studded holiday movie settings in Connecticut, we’ve got plenty to explore. We’ll stroll through the dazzling lights of Rockefeller Center in New York City, glide through McAdenville in Charlotte, and enjoy the festive splendor of Dollywood in Pigeon Forge.
We’ll also uncover hidden gems like Leavenworth, Washington’s Bavarian-inspired Christmas and the year-round holiday spirit of North Pole, Alaska. Whether you’re into gift-giving traditions or seeking winter wonderlands, this episode is packed with inspiration for your holiday travel plans. So, grab a cozy beverage, and let’s explore the magic of the holiday season together!
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge is located in the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. The town was made famous by Norman Rockwell’s Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas (Home for Christmas) painting. There is a Norman Rockwell museum to visit. Enjoy the Main Street at Christmas Weekend, where you’ll experience the town’s holiday celebration with caroling, festive performances, and a Main Street recreation of Norman Rockwell’s famous holiday painting (I sense a theme). Tour historic homes decorated in seasonal splendor through the Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas event. Savor a holiday meal at the iconic Red Lion Inn, famous for its traditional New England charm and seasonal decorations.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, the capital city of New Hampshire, has been called the Christmas capital of North America. The City celebrates a Vintage Christmas. A December 2021 article in the Toronto Star described part of what makes Portsmouth’s Vintage Christmas so special.
“In Portsmouth, one of the longest-standing holiday traditions is the 42-year-running candlelight stroll at Strawbery Banke Museum. We walk over after the parade to see lantern-lit houses that date as far back as 1695, and costumed role-players offering a glimpse into the locals past: the English settlers of the early 1600s, the centuries of merchants working the Maine-bordering port, and the Jewish immigrants who laid roots in the area in the early 1900s.
The downtown is all very walkable, so we decide to warm up with chowder and Gulf of Maine beer-battered fish at the Portsmouth Brewery before heading back to our cosy room in the Hotel Portsmouth’s 140-year-old mansion. In the morning, we loop back to Strawbery Banke for a pond skate, where Bruins-clad tykes whiz laps around a bonfire.”
The state also offers tax-free shopping, so get ready to do some serious holiday shopping!
Connecticut
If you are a fan of holiday movies on Hallmark, Lifetime, or Netflix, then visit Connecticut during the holiday season. So many holiday movies have been filmed in Connecticut recently that the State of Connecticut issued a Christmas movie trail map through Mystic, Hartford, Norwich, Essex, and more. There’s a QR code on the map, which I’m linking to in the show notes, for you to plan itineraries at each stop.
Mystic is renowned for its holiday lights and boat parade, as well as the Mystic Seaport Museum’s Lantern Light Tours. Experience an interactive holiday story as you tour the historic seaport by lantern light.
Visit Bethlehem for crafts, food, and photos with Santa at this small-town festival.
In Essex, hop aboard the Essex Steam Train for a magical ride with Santa, hot cocoa, and holiday carols.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
This Bethlehem is known as “Christmas City.” Explore the Christkindlmarkt, a world-renowned holiday market features artisan crafts, live music, glassblowing demonstrations, and delicious holiday treats. Enjoy the guided Bethlehem By Nights bus tour through Bethlehem’s beautifully lit streets while learning about its rich holiday history.
New York, New York
New York City was on my list of best places to visit in the fall, and it’s back for the holidays. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is incredibly special to watch in person, either at street level or from a balcony or window.
There’s so much to do in December in NYC. A must-do is to visit Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree and ice skating rink. The Christmas tree this year is 74 feet tall. It’s always crowded, but it’s such an impressive sight. For another beautiful Christmas tree in a less crowded area, head up to West 66th Street to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Holiday markets not to be missed include the Union Square Market, with over 175 vendors this year. There’s also the Columbus Circle holiday market, smaller than Union Square but in a beautiful location on the southwest corner of Central Park. There’s also the Bryant Park Winter Village, with shopping and an ice skating rink.
For more shopping or just window shopping, don’t miss the artful holiday window displays in the city’s department stores, especially Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, and Bergdorf Goodman.
Of course, there’s great holiday entertainment in NYC, starting with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes. I’ve seen this show multiple times, and it’s always a favorite. Another favorite of ballet lovers is The Nutcracker by the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center. I had never seen The Nutcracker, just parts of it performed within other holiday shows, so I vowed to see it when I lived in NYC, and I absolutely loved the show and the overall experience of seeing it at Lincoln Center. If you’re a fan of the movie “Elf”, then you’ll probably enjoy the current Broadway revival of “Elf the Musical” at the Marquis Theatre in Times Square.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Start in McAdenville, aka Christmastown U.S.A., where residents decorate their homes with more than 500,000 holiday lights. The Southern Christmas Show is a huge event with live music, holiday treats, and all the gift items you can imagine. Ice skate at the Whitewater Center, catch a performance of the Nutcracker, and visit the Christmas Village, a European-style Christkindlmarkt.
At the Charlotte Motor Speedway, drive through an awe-inspiring display of over 4 million holiday lights synchronized to festive music, ending with a holiday movie on the speedway’s big screen.
Experience WinterFest at Carowinds mid-November through early January. Enjoy a nightly Christmas parade, millions of holiday lights, ice skating, live holiday music, and holiday food and beverages.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
If you’ve been listening to the show for awhile, then you know of my love for Dollywood. In fact, I’m a season passholder, and I’m about to make a trip there to ring in 2025. It will be my first time experiencing Dollywood at this time of year, and I’m so excited to experience a Smoky Mountain Christmas.
Dollywood’s website describes a Smoky Mountain Christmas best:
“Immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas at Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, open Nov 1 – Jan 5. Immerse yourself in a winter wonderland twinkling with over six million twinkling lights, dozens of towering Christmas trees and more, all adding a cheerful glow to award-winning rides and attractions, like the new Big Bear Mountain. Embrace this special time of year with all your senses as you discover festive flavors, heartwarming holiday shows, and seasonal shopping, all nestled right in the heart of the Smokies. Discover the warmth, wonder and glow of one of our most cherished holiday traditions at Dollywood.”
I hear that the shows are fantastic, especially Christmas in the Smokies, and I’m sure the park will be gorgeous. It certainly was when I visited in the spring and fall.
Outside of Dollywood, Pigeon Forge hosts an annual Winterfest celebration with more than 6 million holiday lights, from early November through February.
Nashville, Tennessee
If you are a fan of live music, then you must visit Nashville. Country music does tend to dominate here, and you’ll also find rock, blues, jazz, and other genres being played in bars along Broadway in downtown Nashville. There are also so many different venues with concerts, including the famous Grand Ole Opry. In December 2021, we stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. Both inside and outside, the holiday lights were so gorgeous in this resort. There were also various decorated Christmas trees around the resort that were themed to different celebrities, and you could enter to win prizes (the money went to charity) from each celebrity. The Gaylord’s signature attraction is ICE! featuring beloved scenes from Frosty the Snowman brought to life through colorful, colossal ice sculptures. There’s also ice tubing, gingerbread decorating, and photos with Santa. From the Gaylord Opryland, it’s a quick walk to the Grand Ole Opry. To me, it doesn’t matter who is playing at the Opry because you’ll likely see at least 6 different acts, and the two times I’ve been have both been very memorable. I also highly recommend taking the backstage tour and learning about the history of the Opry.
Since I was a kid, I’ve loved listening to Amy Grant Christmas songs. My friend and I decided fairly last-minute to get tickets to see Amy Grant and Vince Gill for Christmas at the Ryman. This ended up being one of the best and most moving parts of our trip for me. The music and the setting were breathtaking. It really felt like a spiritual experience.
If you want music other than country, check out “Home Alone in Concert”. Watch the classic film Home Alone with a live orchestral performance by the Nashville Symphony at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
Franklin, Tennessee, is about 30 miles south of Nashville. Explore the downtown area, which was magical when I visited it in October 2022 and I’m sure is even more magical during the holidays. Also, enjoy the Franktown Festival of Lights, a drive-through light show features over a mile of dazzling holiday displays set to holiday music.
Natchitoches, Louisiana (Naa-kee-tush)
The town celebrates its Creole heritage during the Natchitoches Christmas Festival, one of the oldest holiday festivals in the U.S. Held on the first Saturday of December, this iconic event features a festive parade, live music, fireworks, and a dazzling light display along the Cane River Lake. There’s also the Festival of Lights, held November through January. Stroll along the downtown riverfront adorned with over 300,000 holiday lights and more than 100 set pieces creating a magical winter wonderland. And don’t miss festive dining at local eateries. Enjoy Cajun and Creole holiday treats like meat pies, gumbo, and pralines at famous local restaurants like Lasyone’s Meat Pie Kitchen.
Santa Claus, Indiana
The Town of Santa Claus hosts a three-weekend Santa Claus Christmas Celebration each December.
Explore the Santa Claus Museum and Village. Get your sweet tooth fix at Santa’s Candy Castle. There’s a Kringle Place Shopping Center with a choreographed light show, and a Santa Claus Land of Lights at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph that tells the story of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer and offers reindeer rides.
Stay at the festive Santa’s Lodge, or select from cabins and cottages around town. I would recommend that you add a visit to the Holiday World theme park, but it’s only open May through early November.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth is known as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria.” Enjoy the Frankenmuth Holiday Celebration & Candlewalk. Kick off the holiday season with a candlelit walk through downtown, tree lighting, caroling, and fireworks.
Explore the world’s largest Christmas store, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, spanning 27 acres. I have been there, and it is a sight to behold.
If you’re not already shopped out, visit the Frankenmuth ChristKindlMarkt, a traditional European-style Christmas market featuring artisan vendors, handcrafted gifts, and festive holiday foods.
At Zehnder’s Christmas Dinner & Holiday Show, experience an authentic Bavarian holiday feast paired with live holiday-themed entertainment.
Lastly (and I really love this one), visit the Silent Night Chapel: Visit this replica of the original chapel in Austria where “Silent Night” was first performed—a peaceful and reflective holiday experience.
Taos, New Mexico
Taos offers a unique blend of Southwestern culture and Native American traditions with beautiful adobe architecture and a thriving art community.
Participate in Las Posadas Christmas festivities. This traditional Hispanic re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey is filled with carols, processions, and community gatherings.
Experience the Taos Pueblo Christmas Eve Procession featuring bonfires, traditional dances, and the lighting of luminarias.
Savor traditional New Mexican cuisine by dining on holiday feasts featuring tamales, posole, green chile stew, and biscochitos at local restaurants like The Love Apple and Lambert’s of Taos.
Solvang, California
Solvang celebrates its Danish traditions with the Solvang Julefest in November and December. There’s a tree-lighting ceremony, a Julefest parade, a maker’s market, photos with Santa, and holiday carolers.
For 2024, there is a new event – the Copenhagen Countdown on New Year’s Eve. Honestly, my favorite part of this is that they will ring in 2025 with Denmark, which is 3:00 PM Pacific time. That sounds great to this early bird who is not a night owl!
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth, about 120 miles east of Seattle, is a Bavarian-style village. The Christmas grand lighting festival kicks off the season. The Village of Lights – Christmastown, as it’s known at this time of year, features the world’s largest Nutcracker exhibit, with over 7,000 nutcrackers. See Santa costumes from all over the world on display. Partake in a gingerbread house competition that benefits local charities.
At the Eagle Creek Ranch, glide through snowy meadows and forests on a horse-drawn sleigh ride while bundled up under warm blankets. Stay at charming inns like the Bavarian Lodge or Icicle Village Resort, offering cozy fireplaces and holiday-themed decor.
North Pole, Alaska
What better destination to end with than North Pole, Alaska. This small town near Fairbanks pretty much celebrates Christmas year-round. Walk down Santa Claus Lane and tour the Santa Claus house, where you’ll see a 40-foot tall Santa statue, holiday gift shop, and Santa’s reindeer. During the holiday season, visit Christmas in Ice, a winter wonderland with ice sculptures, ice slides, and interactive exhibits.
See the northern lights, and bonus during winter, the sky is usually dark and clear to give you an even better view.
Join locals for events celebrating the winter solstice, including parades, fireworks, and cultural performances.
Visiting North Pole, Alaska, is like stepping into a real-life holiday postcard. We won’t make it there during our Alaska cruise next year, but as a lover of Christmas, it’s definitely on my wish list.
Resources
Explore Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas during the holiday season.
Plan your trip to Connecticut with this Christmas movie trail map.
