9 of the Best Christmas Towns in the United States

Christmas season brings out the best — and most colorful — in towns across the United States, as main streets are strung with lights, shop windows are decorated and carols ring out. Some towns and cities outshine the rest and make good destinations for family travel in December.

The tiny seaport town of Kennebunkport, Maine, adorns its central square with a Christmas tree decorated in colorful lobster buoys. Festivities include a parade, bonfire, concerts, craft shows, children’s activities and a chowderfest. The Nonantum is a family-friendly resort in Kennebunkport, a handy base for all the activities.

For a glimpse of how “The 400” of high society celebrated the holidays in the Gilded Age, visit Newport, Rhode Island, in December. These famed mansions are even more resplendent than usual, with lavishly decorated trees and sweeping stairways lined in poinsettias. Throughout the historic town center, white lights are preferred over multicolor to preserve the look of candlelight, and decorations reflect Newport’s historic roots.

As you might expect from its name, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, takes Christmas seriously. Known as The Christmas City, Bethlehem observes the season with a Live Advent Calendar; a Christkindlmarkt; carriage rides; a Christmas movie; and strolls through the National Historic Landmark Districts, where candles light windows.

In Annapolis, Maryland, boats in the harbor are strung with Christmas lights, and the Old Town area looks like a scene from two centuries past. Santa arrives by boat, and a huge Christmas tree overlooks the harbor. Streets and storefronts are decorated with garlands, snowflakes, bows and lights, and on two Thursday nights in December, shops and cafés remain open until 12 a.m. for Midnight Madness.

It may be hard to believe, but the theme parks in Orlando, Florida, go even more over the top with decorations and festivities in December. You’ll find Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on select days, with Christmas-themed fireworks and activities at Walt Disney World, and artificial snow covering The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The landmark event of the Christmas Festival in Natchitoches, Louisiana, is the boat parade on Cane River, aglow with lights and fireworks. All along the river and throughout town are thousands of holiday lights and dazzling light displays. Live music, parades and tours of holiday-decorated historic homes fill the six-week festival.

Multiple drive-through holiday light displays and more than 100 decorated Christmas trees deck the town of Branson, Missouri, where Silver Dollar City features a living Nativity scene and performances of A Christmas Carol.

Farther west, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Canyon Road Farolito Walk follows a trail of lanterns illuminating the adobe houses.

The mountain town of Leavenworth, Washington, was built to look like a traditional Bavarian village, making it the perfect stage set for Christmas celebrations. Live entertainment ranges from Christmas carols to oom-pah-pah bands, and you’ll find dozens of gingerbread houses in the annual competition.