Christmas is just around the corner! Although you may believe there’s no place like home for the holidays, traveling with the family to a beautiful destination is always a memorable adventure.
We’ve listed the best places to celebrate Christmas with your family in the U.S. – from chocolate theme parks to charming towns and popular winter vacation spots. The options to spend this festive holiday are endless, as there are many seasonal treats and activities for the whole family!
Read on to discover which will suit your ideal Christmas vacation with your family!
The 11 Best Christmas Vacation Spots in the U.S. for Families
Chicago, Illinois
Image source: Christkindl Market by Eric Allix Rogers on Flickr
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There’s nothing like a charming winter getaway in The Windy City! This place celebrates the holidays with plenty of festive cheer!
In the Museum of Science + Industry, you will find the Christmas Trees Around the World exhibition. This exciting display has more than 50 Christmas trees and holiday customs worldwide.
The Art of the Brick LEGO exhibit here features a collection of holiday creations inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas. Children will have a memorable time ending the museum visit with a picture of the Grand Tree or with Santa.
You can also find one of the top Christmas markets in the country in Chicago: the Christkindlmarket. The family can enjoy the variety of vendors, sights, local traditions, and attractions at this Christmas market.
For those searching for some time on ice, Maggie Daley Park offers a unique experience in its Skating Ribbon. You can enjoy skating surrounded by nature and the city’s skyline in this park.
For free ice skating experiences, the iconic Millenium Park is a must-visit. Many families find it a treat to skate within the eyeshot of the Chicago Christmas Tree. The park also offers free ice skating lessons on weekends.
Head to Morton Arboretum’s annual tree lights display to see more dazzling lights. Visitors can walk through the two-mile stretch of beautifully decorated trees while listening to a holiday musical soundtrack.
If you fancy a photo with a 45-foot tall Christmas tree, visit the Great Tree at Macy’s Walnut Room restaurant. It’s still worth seeing this attraction — a tradition for many past generations.
Washington, D.C.
Image source: White House and National Christmas Tree by Tim Evanson on Flickr
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As the year ends, Washington, D.C., transforms into a sparkling holiday destination. Its many attractions and displays are perfect for families with children!
One of the most popular activities during Christmas in the nation’s capital is visiting the National Christmas Tree. This iconic tree is what the President of the United States lights once the season has started.
For a memorable Washington D.C. shopping experience, visit the Downtown Holiday Market. It is a lively outdoor shopping village that features more than 70 exhibitors.
For a great family holiday experience that the children will enjoy, the Bull Run Festival of Lights is a must-see! A 2.5-mile drive illuminated by holiday light displays, it’s best to enjoy the ride with dim headlights.
The Festival of Lights also has a Holiday Village and Carnival. Children will adore the s’mores and bonfires while parents explore Christmas shopping options.
Another notable holiday attraction in Washington, D.C., is the Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State. For more light displays, visit the D.C. Holiday Lights around the main streets and the Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
For families seeking more holiday attractions to enjoy with young kids, venues in and around Washington D.C. have more to offer! There are live music concerts, theatrical performances, movie shows at the harbor, and a Polar Express train ride!
Charleston, South Carolina
Image source: Charleston Christmas Parade by North Charleston on Flickr
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If you’re up for some heartwarming Southern hospitality this holiday season, a visit to Charleston, South Carolina, is a must!
Charleston is perfect for those looking for a pleasant crowd and historical sights. There are also plenty of award-winning restaurants in this charming city!
As one of the best spots for weekend getaways in the U.S., Charleston doesn’t fall short during the holiday season! This romantic city provides visitors with memorable experiences and attractions during Christmas.
One of the year’s most anticipated shows in Charleston is the Holiday Festival of Lights. Visitors of all ages can marvel at over 2 million lights while enjoying delicious snacks.
To elevate your Charleston family holiday experience, go for the Christmas Candlelight Tour! This attraction will lead you to explore the beautifully decorated Boone Hall Plantation.
Theodora Park is excellent if you want more laid-back but festive fun with your kids. Here, children can enjoy playing in the small city park. While relaxing, you can appreciate the holiday lights strewn across the gardens.
Even though Charleston has pleasant December weather, you will not miss the white Christmas experience! Visit The Charleston Place’s Let It Snow event on Market Street Circle to see snow falling twice a night.
Another noteworthy aspect of Charleston is its family-friendly hotels that go the extra mile with the festive cheer. For example, the French Quarter Inn has the Sleigh Bell Suite. Here, they even have an in-room Christmas tree and fireplace!
There are other accommodations in Charleston that offer seasonal amenities. Some notable ones are The Spectator, Belmond Charleston Place, and Harbourview Inn.
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Image source: Public Domain Pictures
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Is there a better way to celebrate Christmas than with tons of chocolate? The entire family will enjoy the holidays at Hersheypark’s Christmas Candylane!
This chocolate theme park has family-friendly holiday rides and coasters. Sometimes, there are even visits by Santa Claus and his reindeer.
Also, there are more than 5 million lights in the park. A crowd-favorite is the NOEL, a synchronized light show with over 250,000 dancing lights. This display is a sight that the little ones will find memorable!
To make your Chocolatetown experience more fun and memorable, visit The Chocolatier! Children and adults will enjoy the chocolate-inspired menu, including signature desserts and cocktails.
If you can make early reservations, stay at a Hershey Resort. You have three options: Hotel Hershey, Hersheypark Camping Resort, and Hershey Lodge. The park also hosts events and concerts during the holiday season — perfect for music-loving families!
Nashville, Tennessee
Image source: Gaylord Nights by Aaron Hockley on Flickr [CC License: BY-NC-ND 2.0]
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Home to rock n’ roll, folk, country music, and even Christmas carols, Nashville is perfect for music lovers! Also, this music city offers plenty of seasonal fun for families with its lineup of events.
A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland is an event frequented by many guests from all over the country. Here, visitors of all ages can participate in activities such as rides, ice tubing, ice skating, and carriage rides. But one of the most memorable displays is the ICE! Experience featuring elaborate ice sculptures.
There are also a variety of memorable holiday experiences for the entire family in Gaylord Opryland. In addition, there are various live musical performances and ice skating shows during the season.
Families will also have many opportunities to bond here. The Delta Riverboat Christmas Cruise and Reindeer Games Scavenger Hunt are popular events. The Snowball Build & Blast is also a great way to have fun here!
Vacationers with young children will enjoy The Parade of Trees and Gingerbread Decorating Corner.
The family-friendly dining options at Gaylord Opryland Resort do not fall short, either.
Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Breakfast and The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Christmas in Tennessee” Dinner Show are some of the festive dining choices here. Other exceptional dining options are Frosty’s Pub and General Jackson Snowboat’s Christmas Cruises.
Accommodations at the Opryland Hotel are also perfect for family holiday getaways. Extravagant Christmas lights blanket the atrium. Book a room facing this side for a magical moment the family will remember for years!
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
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Jackson Hole has plenty to offer if your family is looking for a holiday getaway in the wilderness! In its location between the Teton and Gros Ventre mountain ranges, this town is the perfect home to three major ski spots.
Some popular events in Jackson Hole are snow sculpture-building contests and ice skating on the Village Rink.
Jackson Hole is close to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton National Park. This location is ideal for active families who want to hike up trails during the holidays.
If your family’s favorite holiday tradition is hitting the slopes during winter, Jackson Hole is the place to be! The Teton Village Association and the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort offer an array of family-friendly skiing, nordic skiing, and snowboarding. The slopes are excellent for skiers of all levels.
Kids can also enjoy a skiing experience with Santa Claus on select dates in December. You can also go sleigh riding through the breathtaking National Elk Refuge for a memorable experience.
The Wort Hotel in downtown Jackson offers fun activities for those with younger children. There are memorable events like Gingerbread house decorating and even brunch with Santa!
You can visit the Town Square for Christmas celebrations and downtime with the family. Here, you can enjoy the Christmas decorations while enjoying hot chocolate, cookies, and carols. Santa even visits the square regularly for photo ops, so bring the little ones here!
New York, New York
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
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New York City at Christmas time is always a sight to behold! This city that never sleeps embraces the Christmas spirit like no other!
One of the best reasons NYC is a great Christmas getaway for families is that it has something to offer everyone – from tots to adults!
Everyone loves the breathtaking holiday decorations in this city. There are also stellar ice skating rinks, festive Christmas markets, and other attractions!
Families can kick off their winter NYC trip with child-friendly activities. Viewing the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, watching the Rockettes on the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Show, and ice skating in Bryant Park are some options for those with young kids.
There are also magical holiday activities in the New York Botanical Garden. Here, you can check out its famous miniature train show. You can watch the little trains go around a display of around 200 of NYC’s landmarks, like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.
Children will especially love basking in the holiday spirit in NYC. They will adore the brilliant festive lights at the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Display.
This 30-year-old tradition spans several streets in Brooklyn, from the 11th to 13th Avenues and from 83rd to 86th Street in Dyker Heights. The buildings here are a sight to behold, with their over-the-top traditional decorations, lights, and Christmas trees.
Your family can also take a quick break from the bustling festivities by visiting some of New York’s family-friendly attractions. A walk in Central Park is perfect for some downtime with the kids, while visiting the city’s museums is always a treat for all ages.
New York City hotels also have some of the best holiday packages for families staying during the season.
Aside from their elaborate displays, these hotels offer many child-friendly activities. Some options include gingerbread decorating, meet-and-greets with Santa, and candy cane scavenger hunts.
Check out our in-depth guide on the best family-friendly activities in NYC during Christmas to help you plan your New York City family getaway this holiday season!
San Francisco, California
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San Francisco is one of the best places in the U.S. for a family Christmas vacation. In addition, this Golden Gate City offers vast choices of child-friendly holiday activities.
It also features a panoply of festive decorations and lights for the season.
The iconic Macy’s Great Tree is an impressive display worth seeing, which stands at 83 feet. The Great Tree also features over 33,000 LED lights and 1,100 ornaments. The sight of the tree alone is enough to bring festive cheer to families, especially those with young children.
Families will also enjoy visiting Golden Gate Park, which turns into a fascinating winter wonderland. The park also houses whimsical installations with themes like enchanted forests decorated with over 2,000 LED lights.
Ice skating experiences at Union Square also include family skating sessions. Another family-friendly activity in San Francisco is driving through the Christmas Tree Displays in the Bay Area. You can also visit Plaza de Cesar Chavez for its annual holiday extravaganza.
Visitors of all ages will also enjoy visiting the Gingerbread House at Fairmont Hotel, which has wowed visitors for more than a century. Little ones will enjoy the delicious scent of a two-story, intricate, dazzling display.
Be sure to drop by the iconic Westin St. Francis! This place hosts two 12-ft. holiday Medieval Sugar Castles by Executive Pastry Chef Jean François Houdré and his team.
Another quaint experience is the Great Dickens Christmas Fair at the Cow Palace Arena in Daly City. Literature lovers will enjoy seeing San Francisco transform into an immersive version of Victorian London. On this event, Dickens’ Christmas characters roam around the streets!
Aside from holiday activities, families can enjoy the usual San Francisco tours. These include visiting Chinatown, Ghirardelli Square, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. For the season, festive decorations adorn all these destinations.
As for accommodations to elevate the festive cheer, San Francisco has several options offering special Christmas packages. Some child-friendly hotels are St. Regis, the Intercontinental, the Westin St. Francis, the Scarlet Huntington, and the Ritz-Carlton.
Solvang, California
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If you want a European-style Christmas without going to Munich or London this winter, a trip to Solvang will solve that dilemma!
Founded by several Danes in the 1900s, this small city in the Santa Ynez Valley in California is beautiful and idyllic. A quaint town, Solvang is home to many Danish businesses and stunning European architecture.
Each holiday, Solvang hosts Julefest. This event is a month-long celebration that turns the town into something from a Hallmark movie or a vintage postcard.
In Solvang Park, there are nightly lights and music shows. Little children will love the meet-and-greet events with Santa!
Head on to the Solvang Visitor Center for fun family activities. This city hosts a scavenger hunt with gnomes called the Nisse Adventure and an immersive Candlelight Walking Tour.
Although there are no typical malls in the Danish Capital of America, it is still home to over 150 boutiques and shops that offer unique finds. From antique collectibles to authentic European clogs, you will find gifts fit for every member of the family in this quaint town.
Head on over to Jule Hus if you’re looking for souvenirs. This year-round Christmas shop offers Scandinavian handicrafts, glass-blown ornaments, nativities, and wooden nutcrackers.
To complete your seemingly European experience, book a room in Solvang’s iconic hotels. For example, The Landsby is perfect for a contemporary Scandinavian style that teems with hygge vibes.
Other beautiful, child-friendly accommodations in Solvang that offer a warm atmosphere and festive flourishes are the Corque Hotel and The Winston.
Florida Keys, Florida
Image source: Christmas in Paradise by Joe Parks on Flickr
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Sure, going to the beach for Christmas may sound counterintuitive for some. But, the pleasant December weather in the Florida Keys makes it an ideal holiday beach destination for families.
Suppose you dream of a white sand Christmas in the Florida Keys but do not want to miss out on the festive activities – no need to worry! There are plenty of holiday-themed events in the various establishments and hotels here.
Aside from the regular beach activities, families can enjoy other bonding opportunities here. There are cookie decorating, mixology, and sip & paint art classes in the Florida Keys.
During Hanukkah, some places here hold Monrah Lightning Events. Also, you should take advantage of specialty buffet options on Christmas Day!
You will love the Harbor Walk of Light if your family is in Key West during the holidays. This attraction features a 16-foot Nautical Christmas Tree, a 20-foot-tall Fishing Buoy Tree, and a Key West Lobster Trap Tree.
Another fun, family-friendly event in the Florida Keys is the Key West Holiday Fest. This happening includes Holiday Historic Inn Tours and the Old Town Trolley Holiday Sights & Festive Nights Tours.
The festively decorated iconic green and orange trolleys go for hour-long tours during the season. You can visit the area’s best-decorated buildings on these tours, starting at Mallory Square.
Since the Florida Keys can get crowded on Christmastime, it’s best to enjoy a quiet holiday in a secluded hotel like Sunset Key Cottages. A short ferry ride from Key West, this 27-acre resort with luxurious cottage rentals is perfect for families.
Walt Disney World, Orlando
Image source: Magic Kingdom Main Street at Christmas by Justin Brown on Flickr [CC: BY-NC-SA 2.0]
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What better way to spend the most wonderful time with your family than in the happiest place on Earth?
Even on ordinary days, Walt Disney World never disappoints in giving families a wonderful time. But during the Christmas season, Disney brings Christmas cheer to families! It has an extravagant lineup of various events loved by all!
For instance, Epcot visitors can see Santa Claus in his horse-drawn sleigh tour at the World Showcase. Guests can also visit the Holiday Kitchens and participate in the Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.
Both young and old will enjoy the colorful castle projections and the holiday trolley at the Magic Kingdom. There is even a philharmonic performance at certain times.
The entire family can also make memories at Chip and Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree. In this scavenger hunt, you can help the characters gather ornaments in each World Showcase pavilion.
On select nights, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party has fantastic lineups and Christmas performances. One attraction that will thrill young ones is Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.
Other attractions in this Disney event are Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.
Complete the family holiday experience at Walt Disney World by checking into its hotels and resorts. These lovely establishments have beautiful Christmas tree displays, ribbons, ornaments, lights, and wreaths!
A top choice for family accommodations for the holidays is the Wilderness Lodge. Families can relax and take in holidays with its 60-foot Christmas tree in the lobby, rustic ambiance, and tranquil environment.
The elegant Grand Floridian Resort is perfect for a Victorian Christmas vacation. Young kids will enjoy the life-size gingerbread house and Christmas trees in this hotel’s lavishly decorated lobby. Yet, since this place gets pretty crowded during Christmastime, it’s best to avoid the main building.
It’s also worth checking out the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, which have iconic Christmas decorations. The Yacht Club features a giant holiday village, complete with trains, which the tots will surely enjoy.
Those with a sweet tooth should see the life-sized candy carousel at the Beach Club, made from chocolates and fondant. There is even a counter in the lobby where you can buy various Disney-themed desserts!
Many other resorts and hotels in Disney World feature unique Christmas decorations. Drop by the Animal Kingdom, Fort Wilderness Compound, BoardWalk Inn, Gran Destino Tower, Port Orleans French Quarter, Contemporary Resort, and Polynesian Resort for memorable holiday sights.
Suppose you need to cut costs on your Christmas trip to the happiest place on Earth; no need to worry! To help you avoid traps on your trip, we listed ten money-saving tips when visiting Walt Disney World!
To help you prepare for your Christmas family vacation with your little ones, check out our articles below:
- Tips and Tricks to Make Flying Fun for Children
- 10 Effective Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep During a Flight
- 11 Tips to Remember on Your First Time Flying with a Baby
- Natural Remedies for Children’s Travel Sickness
- 19 Ways to Make Kids’ Travels Hassle-Free
Book Kidmoto Now!
Ensure travel convenience this holiday season and book a Kidmoto ride! When you’re flying with a baby or with several kids, it’s best to ditch the bulky car seats for a more convenient time on your family trip this Christmas.
Book a ride quickly by downloading the mobile-friendly Kidmoto app! Kidmoto has top-notch car seats installed by professional drivers who will ensure a safe and secure ride to and from the airport.
You don’t need to worry about lugging a car seat around the busy airport or where to park. Instead, book a Kidmoto ride now so you can focus on making new memories on your holiday trip with your family!
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