Christmas Escape in the USA: Christmas in America is a vibrant tapestry of traditions, customs, and celebrations as diverse as the nation itself. While the holiday’s core remains rooted in the Christian commemoration of Jesus’ birth, it has evolved into a cultural phenomenon encompassing secular aspects, family gatherings, and a spirit of giving.
Get ready to jingle all the way to some of the most magical Christmas escapes in the USA! Ditch the ordinary and dive into these 15 festive hot spots, where wonder and celebration are garantiert.
1. New York City, New York
New York City is the real-life Christmas wonderland!
New York City, New York is Famous for:
- Rockefeller Tree: Towering beauty adorned with sparkling lights, a must-see spectacle.
- Dyker Heights: Houses become canvases for dazzling lights, a feast for the eyes.
- Bryant Park Winter Village: Ice skating, cozy vibes, and holiday shopping, festive charm galore.
- Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular: Precision kicks and holiday magic, a New York tradition.
- Ginger Bread Lane: Whimsical stroll through a gingerbread-inspired streetscape, pure delight.
- Light scape Brooklyn: Glittering trails and luminous wonders, nature meets holiday magic.
Who to reach: New York Skyports Seaplane Base (NYS) Airport is nearest to New York. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
2. Orlando, Florida
Immerse yourself in a dazzling wonderland – where theme parks transform into festive spectacles, charming streets glimmer with twinkling lights, and the spirit of Christmas takes flight in Orlando, Florida.
Orlando, Florida is Famous for:
- Nights of Lights in St. Augustine:
- Mickey at Walt Disney World.
- Sandi Tree in West Palm Beach
- Santa’s Enchanted Forest in Miami.
- holiday boat parade
- Surfing Santas in Cocoa Beach.
- Enchant in St. Petersburg
- Winterfest in Pensacola
Who to reach: Orlando (MCO) Airport is nearest to Florida. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
3. Aspen, Colorado
Powdery slopes meet twinkling lights as Aspen, Colorado, transforms into a fairytale Christmas village, where cozy cabins whisper festive secrets and sleigh bells jingle against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks.
Aspen, Colorado is Famous for :
- Aspen Mountain
- Aspen Highlands
- Buttermilk
- Snowmass
Who to reach: Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE / KASE) is nearest to Aspen. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
4. Bethlehem, Philadelphia
Step into the birthplace of Christmas in Bethlehem, PA, where history shimmers with twinkling lights and Moravian traditions paint a timeless tableau of festive bliss.
Bethlehem, Philadelphia is Famous for:
- Historic Moravian District
- Colonial Industrial Quarter.
- The Moravian Museum
- South Side Arts District.
- Lost River Caverns
- Ringing Rocks County Park.
- Hoover-Mason Trestle trail
Who to reach: Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) is the nearest airport to Bethlehem, Philadelphia. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
5. North Pole, Alaska
Where Santa hangs his stocking and reindeer roam free, North Pole, Alaska, invites you to celebrate Christmas year-round, amidst twinkling lights, whimsical workshops, and the infectious cheer of a town dedicated to the most magical season.
North Pole, Alaska is Famous for:
- Sean Kurdziolek Portraits and Gallery
- Chena Lake Recreation Area
- Santa Claus House
- Arctic Harvest Farm Distillery
- The Alaskan Experience
- North Pole Sign, Christmas in Ice Contest, Winter Festival
Who to reach: Fairbanks International Airport (FAI / PAFA) is the nearest airport to North Pole, AK. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
6. Alexandria, Virginia
History twinkles with holiday magic in Alexandria, Virginia, as cobblestone streets adorned with colonial charm lead to dazzling waterfront boat parades and the heartwarming glow of George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Alexandria, Virginia is Famous for:
- Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
- Potomac River shoreline
- Scottish Christmas Walk Parade
- Christmas Eve, try to spot Waterskiing Santa along the Potomac River.
- Torpedo Factory Art Center
Who to reach: Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is the nearest airport to Alexandria, Virginia. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
7. Durango, Colorado
Durango, CO, transforms into a snowy wonderland, where steam trains chug through frosted landscapes, snowflakes waltz amidst Main Street’s Victorian charm, and twinkling lights drape over every corner, whispering tales of festive magic.
Durango, Colorado is Famous for:
- Singing with Santa
- The Polar Express
- Holiday Arts and Craft Fair
- Noel Night
Who to reach: Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO / KDRO) is the nearest airport to Durango, CO. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
8. San Antonio, Texas
In San Antonio, TX, Christmas explodes in a fiesta of twinkling lights, mariachi carols serenading the River Walk, and a million reasons to say “Feliz Navidad!” as cowboys meet Santas, SeaWorld ignites the night with aquatic acrobatics, and the Alamo shimmers with history and holiday cheer.
San Antonio, Texas is Famous for:
- The Tunnel of Lights at Legacy Park
- Bass Pro Shops
- The H-E-B Christmas Tree
- The San Antonio Riverwalk
- SeaWorld San Antonio’s Christmas Celebration
- Go Ice-Skating
Who to reach: San Antonio (SAT) Airportis the nearest airport to San Antonio, TX. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
9. Duluth, Minnesota
Where Lake Superior meets a million twinkling lights, Duluth, Minnesota, transforms into the “Christmas City of the North,” a frosty wonderland of breathtaking lights displays, heartwarming parades, and the crackling joy of bonfires on the frozen shore.
Duluth, Minnesota is Famous for:
- Christmas City of the North Parade
- Bentleyville Tour of Lights
- Christmas City Express
- Christmas at Glensheen
- Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.
Who to reach: Duluth International Airport (DLH / KDLH) is the nearest airport to Duluth, MN. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
10. Santa Claus, Indiana
In Santa Claus, Indiana, Christmas isn’t just a season, it’s a way of life, where candy canes grow on trees, reindeer roam free, and every day feels like a visit to Santa’s workshop.
Santa Claus, Indiana is Famous for:
- Santa Claus Land of Lights
- Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
- Ride the Candy Cane Express train
- Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
- Santa Claus Christmas Parade
Who to reach: Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport (OWB / KOWB) is the nearest airport to Santa Claus, IN. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
11. Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth, Washington, transforms into a Bavarian fairytale village at Christmas, where every gingerbread-trimmed chalet twinkles with lights, horse-drawn carriages trot through snow-dusted streets, and the scent of warm gluhwein hangs in the crisp mountain air.
Leavenworth, Washington is Famous for:
- Christmas town at the Gazebo
- Christmastown at the Festhalle
- The Sugar Plums: Live Performances at the Gazebo
- Manuela’s Magical Christmas Spectacular
Who to reach: Pangborn Memorial Airport (EAT / KEAT) ) is the nearest airport to Leavenworth, Washington. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
12. Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, California, swaps bikinis for bonfires, trading sun-kissed shores for harborside carolers and shimmering yachts adorned in festive lights, creating a Christmas celebration where beach bliss meets holiday cheer.
Newport Beach, California is Famous for:
- Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
- Balboa Island Christmas Lights
- The Lighting of The Bay At Newport Dunes
- Fashion Island’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Party
Who to reach: Santa Ana (SNA) is the nearest airport to Newport Beach, CA. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
13. Chicago, Illinois
In Chicago, the Windy City dons a dazzling winter coat, as Millennium Park’s towering tree glitters like a celestial beacon, ice skaters pirouette beneath the skyscrapers, and the CTA Holiday Train spreads cheer on snowy tracks, turning every ride into a joyful jingle.
Famous for :
- Christkindl market
- Millenium Park Ice Skating,
- Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum,
- Winter Wonder Fest
Who to reach: Chicago Midway (MDW) is the nearest airport to Chicago, Illinois. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
14. Las Vegas, Nevada
In Las Vegas, the desert ignites with holiday spirit, as neon lights morph into festive masterpieces, iconic landmarks dress up in dazzling displays, and Christmas cocktails flow like magic potions, promising a wild, wacky, and unforgettable holiday extravaganza
Las Vegas, Nevada is Famous for :
- Bellagio Fountains.
- Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.
- Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa.
- Ice Rink at the Cosmopolitan.
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
- Ethel M’s Chocolate Factory Holiday Cactus Garden.
- Santa in the Shipwreck at Mandalay Bay.
- Christmas Tree at the Venetian.
Who to reach: McCarran International Airport (LAS) is the nearest airport to Las Vegas, NV. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
15. Oahu, Hawaii
Swap snowmen for surfers and carols for ukuleles in Oahu, Hawaii, where Christmas blooms under swaying palm trees, turquoise waves whisper festive greetings, and Santa swaps his sleigh for a surfboard, catching waves amidst tropical lights and the Aloha spirit.
Famous for :
- A fun Christmas parade;
- Xmas lights and decorations at all the major venues and shopping centers;
- A decorated night boat parade;
- Christmas fares and holiday markets;
- Firework displays at the Hilton resort; and
- Orgeous store decorations.
Who to reach: Honolulu International airport is the nearest airport to Oahu, Hawaii. From airport regular interval Taxi/Rideshare, Public Transportation and Buses are available to get you to your destination.
FAQ
Q. What is the tallest Christmas tree in the USA?
A. Last year, Enid Oklahoma had a tree that stood 140 feet tall. Just to give you a reference, the Rockefeller tree is only 77 ft and the National Christmas Tree is 30 ft. They’ve had the tallest Christmas tree for the past 6 years (to the best of their knowledge).
Prior, the world’s tallest cut Christmas tree on record was 221 ft at Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle in the 1950s.
Q. Christmas markets in the USA
A. Famous Christmas Market
- Christkindlmarket in Chicago, IL
- Downtown holiday market in Washington DC
- Peoples gas holiday market in Pittsburgh, PA
- The bank of America winter village in New York, NY
- Savannah Christmas market
Nice 👍