Does your town or city do a Christmas parade? Decorate for the holidays? Encourage businesses to open up their doors and share the warmth of the season with those shopping? My town lights a Menorah and a Christmas tree. It also decorates the light poles with some greenery. But it really doesn’t evoke the feeling of holiday cheer. So, I started thinking about some of the towns I see on the news around the holidays with the Christmassy names. I decided to share a few that really evoke the holiday spirit. Below, find 10 Christmassy towns in the USA that will be perfect for your family holiday vacation.

10 Most Christmassy Towns in the USA for a Family Vacation

1. Frankenmuth, Michigan (Bronner’s)

A hundred miles north of Detroit lies Frankenmuth, Michigan. From the moment you pull off the exit on I-75, you will be transported to a European village. Michigan’s self-proclaimed Little Bavaria. This Christmassy town in the USA is complete with window flower boxes and lederhosen. Therefore, it is what is arguably the “most Christmassy” place in America.

Welcome to Bronner’s, the world’s largest Christmas store. This is no seasonal pop-up shop. More than 50,000 different items, including Christmas trees, lights, decorations, trimmings and more, line the shelves. Bronner’s is the size of nearly two football fields. The store is open 361 days a year.

Even the most diehard lover of the spirit of Christmas will be overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. Actually, calling it a store seems almost oxymoronic. It’s so big that it has its own restaurant where you can take a break and eat some traditional pub-style offerings. Bronner’s is also highly religious, the full name of the store is Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland. And many items inside reflect that.

2. Santa Claus, Indiana

Talk about a year-round passion and dedication to Christmas. Billed as “America’s Christmas Hometown,” Santa Claus, Indiana, is a real place that lives and breathes Christmas every day of the year.

You can stay at Santa’s Lodge. Shop during the day. Visit Frosty’s Fun Center with the kids. And at night take a 1.2-mile drive through one of the best light displays in the country.

You won’t regret a second you spend in this Christmassy town in the USA. Although, you will be bummed that you didn’t plan to stay longer! So, I recommend planning to stay an extra day or two right from the start.

3. Rhinebeck, New York

Never heard of Rhinebeck, New York? Well, now you have.

This is the tiny town in upstate New York where Chelsea Clinton was married. It is a small place brimming with wealthy people who keep summer homes there or are active residents. Plus, this town is considered one of the best small towns in NY.

Singer Natalie Merchant lives in Rhinebeck. And actor Paul Rudd is often in town to tend to the throw-back candy shop he co-owns.

Rhinebeck features the oldest inn in America, the Beekman Arms. This inn dates back to the Revolutionary War. The town is also just a few miles north of Hyde Park and the Franklin D. Roosevelt presidential home and library.

But the Christmas hook here is a centuries-old festival that traces back to Rhinebeck’s roots. When Rhinebeck was first settled by the Dutch in the 1600’s, a festival called Sinterklaas was created. This annual event is always celebrated on the first Saturday in December. It hosts a fourth-century Bishop with a long, white beard who happens to love children. Sound familiar?

Day-long activities include shopping, music, dining and a parade through town.

You may feel like you are in the movies when you visit this or other holiday towns. 

4. Williamsburg, Virginia (Christmas Town, Busch Gardens)

The special seasonal attraction of Christmas Town, Busch Gardens is in Williamsburg, Virginia. The city itself plays host to Christmas traditions from yesteryear, including caroling through the town by torchlight.

At the amusement park, Christmas Town is kid-centric with play areas, and an ice show featuring former Olympian skater Elvis Stoijko. Your family can also take a visit to the North Pole to chat with Santa.

But children of all ages, including grownups, will be wowed by the more than eight million lights at Christmas Town. Plus, you won’t be able to resist this Christmassy town in the USA’s signature peppermint fudge hot chocolate.

5. Newport Beach, California – Most Surprising Christmassy Town in the USA

No, it doesn’t snow in Newport Beach, California. That would take a Christmas miracle, or some back-room deal between heat Meiser and Snow Meiser!

Regardless, one of the staples of Christmas in this USA town has been the annual boat parade. This boat parade has taken place for more than 100 years. That’s how far back the tradition goes.

The parade in the harbor is basically a reverse drive-thru light display. Only the decorated boats drive by you instead of the other way around.

6. Bernville, Pennsylvania (Kroziar’s Chrismas Village) – My Favorite Christmassy Town in the USA

This Christmassy town in the USA is only 30 minutes from where I live, and I have one tip. Get here early, either early in the season or early in the evening you wish to go.

One year, William Koziar began decorating his farm for Christmas with an extra splash of lights on his home and barn. That was in 1948. Almost seven decades later, after yearly additions to the display. And outcry from his neighbors to see all the lights. The farm became Koziar’s Christmas Village.

It is now one of the best walk-thru Christmas light displays in the country. Now, it is one of the top 10 tourist attractions in the state of Pennsylvania. A pretty heady achievement given that there are probably 10 great tourist attractions in Philadelphia alone.

This is one of the many destinations where you can feel the Christmas spirit while having fun with your family.

7. Durango, Colorado

There are many things that make Durango a cool place to be for the Christmas season. Those things include its shopping and winter activities such as skiing and snowboarding. However, the highlight is kids in pajamas lining up by the hundreds each night to take a real-life Polar Express steam engine train to visit “The North Pole”. They drink hot cocoa on the journey and sing Christmas carols.

But the really cool thing is on weekends families can board that same train to a Christmas tree farm. Families cut down their own tree, tag it, and have it hoisted on their car’s rooftop to take home.

8. Las Vegas, Nevada (Las Vegas Christmas Town)

Las Vegas Christmas Town is a yearly, seasonal attraction at the Wet N Wild waterpark. It brings a little wintry weather and a lot of Christmas spirit to Sin City. So, you shouldn’t really be shocked that Las Vegas is part of the 10 Christmassy towns in the USA on this list!

In addition to the 2 million lights, organizers have created the Jingle Bell Sledding Hill. The hill is created with man-made snow sitting freshly atop a man-made sledding hill. Kids can visit Santa Claus at his Cozy Cottage. Yes, Santa has a winter home in Vegas.

There’s also Tiny Tim’s Train Ride, the Merry Magic Tree, the Let It Snow Spectacular, the Polar Express Train Ride, a skating rink, Blitzen’s Bounce House, and more.

There are so many other things to do in Las Vegas during a family vacation there. So, don’t think you must be stuck in the Christmas spirit during your entire visit!

9. New York City, New York – Most Well-Known Christmassy Town in the USA

This city is the one Christmassy town in the USA everyone knows about. New York City is a fast-paced, mile-a-minute city. But life seems to slow down a little around the holidays. At least long enough for you to get into the Christmas spirit.

Starting with Santa’s arrival at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the city becomes a magical place. However, the spectacular holiday window displays at major department stores are attractions in and of themselves. Skating at Central Park, Bryant Park or Rockefeller Center is a must.

And of course, the 75-foot-tall Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is the centerpiece of it all, decorated with 30,000 lights and filling young and old with joy. You won’t want to miss out on watching the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall either.

10. Red Wing, Minnesota

If you had a day, just one day to get yourself in the Christmas spirit, Red Wing, Minnesota should be at the top of your list. This Christmassy town in the USA offers an annual Holiday Stroll. But you better bring your most comfortable shoes.

This Holiday Stroll is no little walk. It is a day-long extravaganza that starts with a pancake breakfast at the local Elks Club. The Festival of Wreaths allows people to bid on some of the most elaborate holiday wreaths ever made.

A Christmas-based movie is shown at the theater in the afternoon. However, there is an ice-sculpting display, cookie decorating classes, reindeer sleigh rides, a live Nativity scene, a tree lighting ceremony, parade, and fireworks to close the night. And that’s not even the half of it.

Still searching for some Christmas spirit? Check out these other holiday destinations for your next family vacation. 

So, are you ready to embrace the holidays and make memories with your family during a family vacation in one of these Christmassy towns in the USA?

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