Christmas Vacation Ideas & Places to Visit
The USA is full of natural wonders, charming towns, and magical holiday experiences, so making a Christmas destination list was no easy task! From snow-covered mountains to cities that twinkle with festive lights, here are some of my favorite places to celebrate the season.
1. Lantern Light & Old Walls: Christmas in St. Augustine
“This town glows like it remembers every Christmas,” I thought, standing beneath a canopy of white lights on Aviles Street. St. Augustine at night felt enchanted with gas lamps flickering, palm trees wrapped in ribboned bulbs, and horse-drawn carriages clopping softly over cobblestones. It didn’t try to be magical. It just was.
The oldest city in the U.S. wears its holidays well. Spanish architecture shimmered in golden strands, and I wandered past stone courtyards and open balconies where music drifted out like memory. The Nights of Lights wrapped every street in quiet brightness, and I followed it like a trail.
What I Loved Most: The contrast of warm air, cold-season lights, poinsettias spilling from old terra cotta pots, and churches ringing out “Silent Night” in 70-degree weather.
My highlights? I had lunch at Catch 27, a cozy spot tucked off Charlotte Street. I ordered the blackened local catch sandwich. It was grouper, flaky and just spicy enough, layered with citrus aioli and served with house-made pickles. The fish tasted like it had just left the dock, the bun warm and soft. It smelled like garlic, lemon, and salt air. Later that evening, we had dinner at The Floridian, where I ordered the Datil BBQ pork over a bed of roasted veggies. The sweet heat of the local Datil pepper lingered, balanced by smoky depth. We sat near a window, lights reflected in the glass, while street musicians played carols outside in flip-flops.
Plan your St. Augustine Christmas trip:
- Drive Time from Jacksonville: ~45 minutes south
- Vibe: Historic, glowing, warm and whimsical
- Highlights: Nights of Lights, Catch 27, The Floridian, Aviles Street, Castillo de San Marcos at dusk
- Best Time to Visit: Late November through early January for full holiday lights
- Cost: Lights are free; entrees ~$15–30; walking tours vary
- Hours: Restaurants open lunch through dinner; lights on nightly at dusk
2. Mountain Light & River Stillness: Christmas in Charleston, WV
“This feels like the kind of Christmas that doesn’t need an audience,” I thought as I stood along the Kanawha River, the state capitol dome glowing gold behind bare trees. Charleston wasn’t putting on a show. It was simply quiet, lit from within, like a memory held in someone’s pocket.
Downtown was strung with wreaths and soft white lights, shop windows dressed with vintage ornaments and tiny nativity sets. There wasn’t a crowd, just a calm rhythm. I saw locals chatting over coffee, bundled-up kids pointing at the tree in Davis Park, and hymns echoing from a nearby church on Capitol Street.
What I Loved Most: Watching the snow begin to fall, light as dust, while the river kept moving beneath the bridges. It was steady, silver, and silent.
My highlights? I stopped for lunch at Bluegrass Kitchen just east of the Capitol, where the windows looked out toward the hills. I ordered the roasted vegetable pot pie, flaky and golden, with steam that smelled like rosemary, sweet onion, and butter. The filling was warm and rich, dotted with carrots and mushrooms in a white wine gravy. Later, I walked off dinner past the Clay Center, where Christmas trees lined the lobby and children’s laughter trickled out through the glass. The town was still but never dull, more like it had figured out how to rest beautifully.
Plan your Charleston Christmas trip:
- Drive Time from Huntington, WV: ~1 hour east
- Vibe: Peaceful, local, quietly festive
- Highlights: West Virginia State Capitol, Davis Park tree, Capitol Street lights, Bluegrass Kitchen, Clay Center holiday displays
- Best Time to Visit: Early to mid-December for lights, local events, and snow-dusted charm
- Cost: Most attractions free; dinner ~$15–25; parking available and affordable
- Hours: Shops and restaurants 10am–8pm; Capitol grounds open daily
3. Durango Lights & Winter Steam
“It feels like a storybook,” I thought, watching the snow settle over downtown Durango. The streetlamps glowed golden, wreaths hung from old brick buildings, and bundled-up families wandered past shop windows dressed in garland. Everything smelled like pine and chimney smoke. It was Christmas, and Durango wore it softly.
What I Loved Most: The way the whole town glowed at night. I saw lights reflecting off snow, music spilling out from under café doors, people slowing down without needing a reason.
My highlights? An early dinner at El Moro Tavern, where I sat near a frosted window and ordered the braised short ribs over mashed potatoes. The meat fell apart gently, rich and warming, with rosemary and black pepper rising in the steam. It felt like the kind of meal you eat slowly, with both hands around the fork.
After dinner, I walked down to the historic train depot and boarded the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for the evening “Polar Express” ride. The engine hissed and steamed in the cold, and the ride wound through snowy trees and dark quiet, hot cocoa in hand, carols overhead. Even just walking afterward (along snow-covered sidewalks past flickering luminarias) felt like part of the experience. Durango didn’t rush Christmas. It let it breathe.
Plan your Durango Christmas trip:
- Drive Time from Albuquerque: ~3.5 hours north
- Vibe: Vintage, festive, warmly lit
- Highlights: Durango & Silverton train (Polar Express ride), El Moro Tavern, downtown Christmas lights, local shops
- Best Time to Visit: Mid-December through New Year for lights, events, and snow
- Cost: Train ride ~$40–80 depending on seating; dinner ~$25–40; free to walk and enjoy lights
- Hours: Shops 10am–6pm; train departures vary by day; restaurants open late
4. Carols & Cobblestone: London at Christmas
“Even the air here sounds like December,” I thought, stepping out of the Underground into streets lit by a thousand golden bulbs. London in December wasn’t just festive, it was cinematic. Every corner glowed, every storefront dressed like it knew it was being watched. And I was more than willing to play the part of enchanted visitor.
Snow hadn’t fallen, but the chill carried hints of roasted chestnuts and mulled spices. Carolers gathered outside old churches. Skaters looped beneath towering trees at Somerset House. The city didn’t rush, it shimmered.
What I Loved Most: Ducking into warmth (quiet shops, glowing bistros, and unexpected corners of creativity) while outside, the city sparkled like a snow globe someone just shook.
My highlights? I started my morning at Chimes Music, tucked behind the Royal Academy of Music. The scent of aged paper and varnish lingered in the air. I thumbed through sheet music and listened as a cellist quietly rehearsed upstairs, notes floating down like gentle snowfall. Later, I slipped into a tiny Mini Cooper for a Small Car Big City driving tour, winding through historic backstreets and along the Thames. The guide pointed out Dickensian nooks and hidden lanes I’d never have found alone.
In the afternoon, I joined a hands-on workshop at Sozai Cooking School, where I learned to roll maki with warm vinegared rice. The kitchen smelled like nori and sesame oil, and I left with my hands dusted in flour and my heart full. Dinner was at Le Garrick, a subterranean French bistro near Covent Garden. I ordered the beef bourguignon, slow-cooked, savory, and deeply comforting, served with mash that soaked up every bit of sauce. The candlelight danced on the stone walls, and I sat back, full and content, while the hum of London carried on just above.
Plan your London Christmas day trip:
- Nearest Major Airport: Heathrow or Gatwick; ~45 minutes into Central London
- Vibe: Magical, elegant, nostalgic
- Highlights: Chimes Music, Small Car Big City tour, Sozai Cooking School, Le Garrick, Somerset House skating
- Best Time to Visit: Late November through New Year’s for peak festive décor
- Cost: Small Car Big City from £59; Sozai classes ~£85; Le Garrick entrees ~£18–25
- Hours: Shops 10am–6pm; tours and classes vary by day; Le Garrick open lunch & dinner
5. Still Waters & Storybook Cliffs on Kefalonia
“Even the sea feels slower this time of year,” I thought, looking out over Myrtos Beach beneath a pale December sky. Kefalonia at Christmas was hushed and luminous. There were no summer crowds, no ferry horns, just the rhythm of waves, the scent of pine, and small villages wrapped in winter quiet.
Shops moved at their own pace, lights twinkled in modest windows, and stone churches held warmth that had nothing to do with heat. The island didn’t need decorations. It had cliffs, cypress groves, and a sky that turned gold just before dinner.
What I Loved Most: The gift of stillness. I had no schedule, no rush, just the sound of goat bells in the distance and the scent of firewood in the air.
My highlights? Dinner at Lorraine’s Magic Hill near Lourdas Beach, where the patio was quiet but glowing with candles and soft Christmas music played inside. I ordered the stuffed tomatoes, slow-roasted, tender, and filled with cinnamon-spiced rice and herbs. The aroma of oregano and lemon floated up as the dish was placed in front of me, still warm from the oven. Lorraine stopped to chat, her kindness making the space feel more like a friend’s home than a restaurant. Earlier that day, I’d wandered through Assos under a cloudy sky, the old Venetian castle completely silent except for the wind. It felt like the island was handing me a secret.
Plan your Kefalonia Christmas trip:
- Nearest Major Airport: Kefalonia International Airport (EFL)
- Vibe: Serene, off-season, soul-soothing
- Highlights: Myrtos Beach overlooks, Assos village, Lorraine’s Magic Hill, quiet winter drives, local churches
- Best Time to Visit: Late December for a quiet, reflective holiday away from crowds
- Cost: Most scenic spots free; entrees at Lorraine’s ~€10–20; car rental ~$40/day
- Hours: Many tavernas are seasonal. Lorraine’s is open during the holidays, but call ahead
6. Lake Light & Quiet Streets: Christmas in Racine, WI
“I didn’t expect it to feel this peaceful,” I thought, standing by the lighthouse at Wind Point, Lake Michigan stretched out in still, cold silver. Racine at Christmas didn’t dazzle, it soothed. No big fanfare, no rush. Just neighborhoods tucked under snow and storefronts wrapped in lights that looked like they’d been strung by hand.
The downtown streets were calm, each shop window glowing with tiny trees or toy trains. Wreaths hung from lampposts. The kind of place where you might find a bakery you weren’t looking for, or a conversation you didn’t know you needed.
What I Loved Most: How the lake never stopped moving, even when everything else did, like the heartbeat under the quiet.
My highlights? I stopped into O&H Danish Bakery on Durand Avenue for a warm Kringle, raspberry, flaky and sweet, the scent of almond and icing rising the moment I opened the box. I sat in my car, heat running, unwrapping each bite like a gift. Later, I walked through the holiday displays at the Racine Art Museum, where even small pieces felt intimate in the quiet of the season. As the sun set, I drove past houses near the zoo, their porches glowing in red and green, snow packed tight on every rooftop. It felt like a town that didn’t need to try hard to be heartfelt, it just was.
Plan your Racine Christmas trip:
- Drive Time from Milwaukee: ~40 minutes south
- Vibe: Lakefront calm, hometown cozy, understated charm
- Highlights: Wind Point Lighthouse, O&H Danish Bakery, Racine Art Museum, Christmas lights near the zoo
- Best Time to Visit: Early to mid-December for festive lights and fresh bakery selections
- Cost: Most sights free; Kringles ~$10–15; museum ~$7 admission
- Hours: Bakery opens early; museum 10am–4pm; lights best after dusk
7. New York City at Christmas: Familiar Streets, Holiday Spark
“I know this city better than any map could,” I thought, pulling my scarf tighter as the lights of Fifth Avenue shimmered. I had lived here for a decade, but visiting at Christmas felt different. It was like stepping back into a story I already knew, dressed now in garlands and gold. Family drew me back, but so did the quiet thrill of walking streets that once belonged to my everyday life.
What I Loved Most: The contrast with crowds pressed close around Rockefeller Center, yet just a block away the side streets hummed with the soft hush of snow. The city felt both mine and brand-new.
My highlights? Dinner at Balthazar in SoHo. I had steak frites perfectly seared, peppery and rich, with pommes frites that crunched before melting soft. The scent of butter and shallots lingered in the air, cut by the sweetness of a tarte Tatin that tasted of apples and warmth. Sitting in that familiar clatter of voices and clinking glasses, I felt both guest and local again.
Plan your NYC Christmas trip:
- Getting Around: Subway runs 24/7; traffic heavy in midtown
- Vibe: Dazzling, nostalgic, fast-paced
- Highlights: Rockefeller Center tree & ice rink, holiday windows on Fifth Avenue, Bryant Park Winter Village, Central Park strolls
- Best Time to Visit: Mid-December for peak decorations, but expect crowds
- Cost: Window displays and walks free; skating ~$20–$40 plus rentals; dining varies
- Hours: Most attractions open late; restaurants and shops extended holiday hours
Booking Checklist
1. Book Your Flight - I use Expedia because I like their mobile app with my itinerary. They've helped me re-book flights on many occasions. Once you reach their Gold tier, support is especially good.
2. Book Your Hotel - I use Booking.com or Expedia, depending on my destination.
3. Book Your Rental Car - I use Expedia.
4. Book your tours on Viator or Get Your Guide.
