Merry and Bright: 7 Best Christmas Vacations in the USA
The North Pole, Alaska
The North Pole offers the chance to visit the ultimate Christmas town, the very place where Santa himself is said to live. It’s always Christmas here, with holiday decorations found 365 days a year.
Drive down streets such as Santa Claus Lane and Kris Kringle Drive, mail postcards from Santa’s official zip code, and even watch news broadcasts live from the Claus house. While it may be Christmas all year long, the North Pole becomes even livelier over the holidays, with the annual North Pole Christmas In Ice Contest bringing ice sculptors from all corners of the globe.
Orlando, Florida
If you want dazzling lights and breathtaking holiday themes without having to brave winter’s chill, Orlando may be the place to go. Not only will you get to enjoy pleasant temperatures, but the city’s most noted attractions, such as Disney World and Universal Studies, offer enough entertainment, kid-friendly cuisine and other delights, to keep the entire family happy for weeks.
Celebrate more unique holiday traditions from across the globe with Epcot’s Holidays Around the World that runs through the end of December. Watch the streets of Universal Studios burst to life with colorful floats and balloons in its Macy’s Holiday Parade.
And don’t forget to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World, featuring live entertainment, fireworks and a holiday parade that comes complete with Santa, Mickey and other popular Disney characters.
European family vacations are a great opportunity to give your kids a cultural experience they'll never forget. Here's where you should go.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Historic Williamsburg is the place to go if you want to enjoy the holidays like early American colonists. Experience 18th century holiday events that are often centered around lively song, with fiddles, flutes and harpsichords capturing the spirit of the season like they did some three centuries ago.
Create decorations inspired by one of the museum’s historical collections, enjoy holiday meals and watch costumed characters roast wild turkeys and prepare puddings, experiencing firsthand just how the settlers observed Christmas.
