Woodstock, Vermont
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Looking for quintessential New England holiday charm? The charming historic town of Woodstock hosts an iconic holiday celebration each year called Wassail Weekend (complete with horse-drawn carriage rides, twinkling lights, decorated homes and more) that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Hallmark Christmas card.
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Solvang, California
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If you want a European getaway without leaving the country, you’ll love this small California town’s charm and its festive, Danish-inspired annual holiday called Yulefest.
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New York City, New York
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Vail, Colorado
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For the ultimate winter getaway, head to the ski town of Vail, Colorado. After a perfect, snowy Christmas season on the slopes, you can explore the beautiful winter wonderland of Vail Village, where you can visit Kris Kringle Market and watch the giant tree lighting ceremony.
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Seneca Falls, New York
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If your favorite Christmas movie is It’s a Wonderful Life, you need to visit Seneca Falls, the town believed to be the real-life inspiration for the movie’s fictional town of Bedford Falls. Every December, Seneca Falls hosts a festival celebrating Christmas classics with film screenings, cast meet-and-greets, a parade and more.
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Stockbridge, Massachusetts
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This Massachusetts town was once depicted in Norman Rockwell’s 1967 painting, “Christmas on Stockbridge Main Street.” Today, Stockbridge recreates the work of art each holiday season with vintage cars lining Main Street, plus annual celebrations that include historic landmark tours, holiday concerts and more.
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Arctic Alaska
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Visiting Santa Claus at the North Pole is something every child dreams about, but it’s actually possible. This quaint Alaskan town is home to the “Santa Claus House,” where you can stroll Santa Claus Lane, see live reindeer, and marvel at the world’s largest Santa statue. What better way to celebrate Christmas?
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Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey Park
What better way to celebrate Christmas than eating mountains of chocolate? Bring the whole family to Christmas Candy Lane at Hersheypark, where you can enjoy holiday rides, meet Santa (and his reindeer!) and see more than 5 million lights decorating the fun-filled chocolate theme park.
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Oahu, Hawaii
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Forget winter wonderlands: if you’re looking to get somewhere warm and sunny this year, a tropical Hawaiian Christmas is just the thing. On Oahu, you can get into the holiday spirit (without the cold), especially with the Waikiki Holiday Lights Trolley Tour and the annual Honolulu City Lights event.
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McAdenville, North Carolina
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McAdenville is known as “Christmas Town, USA,” so of course it’s the perfect holiday destination. Every winter, this little town is transformed into a glittering wonderland decorated with thousands of lights and Christmas decorations, attracting thousands of tourists each year.
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Aspen, Colorado
This beautiful ski resort town is best known as a mecca for ski lovers and travel enthusiasts, but the holiday season also brings with it a ton of Christmas activities, including the annual tree lighting ceremony, the fun-filled 12 Days of Aspen event and holiday shows at the Opera House (including The Nutcracker).
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New Orleans, Louisiana
When you think of New Orleans, Mardi Gras might be the first thing that comes to mind, but the Crescent City also goes all out for the holiday season. After enjoying the city’s glittering lights and bonfires, be sure to check out Celebration in the Oaks, said to be one of the most spectacular holiday light festivals in the country.
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Taos, New Mexico
For anyone looking for a unique holiday experience, Taos is a must-visit destination, offering a taste of New Mexico’s unique holiday traditions every year. This ski town celebrates the season with its annual “Christmas in Taos,” featuring holiday markets, bonfires and other super festive events.
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Branson, Missouri
Silver Dollar City
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is a great destination any time of the year, but it’s especially charming (and warm!) during the holiday season when the city erupts in Christmas celebrations. This year, you can enjoy the Holiday Festival of Lights from your car before exploring the city for shopping, dining, and taking in the city’s historic mansions decorated for the holiday season.
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Jackson, New Hampshire
Sandra Prude
There’s no better destination for the holiday season than Christmas Farm Inn & Spa. After skiing and other outdoor activities, take a sleigh ride and join a festive Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour for scenic tastings of handcrafted chocolates.
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Chicago, Illinois
Leavenworth, Washington
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Leavenworth has been likened to a “swirling snow globe,” and one look at photos of the Leavenworth Village of Lights will clearly show you why: This Bavarian-style town has an annual tradition of decorating its downtown with beautiful Christmas lights, and this year you can enjoy them in all their glory (though there won’t be a big official light festival unveiling like in previous years).
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Cleveland, Ohio
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Andalusia, Alabama
Candyland Christmas
Come to Andalusia’s Candyland in December, where the town hosts a month-long super festive holiday event. Admission is free, but there is a small fee of $4 for horse-drawn carriage rides. You can also enjoy snow shows, take photos with Santa, ride the holiday train, and other activities.
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