While many families choose to spend the holidays at home, taking a trip and experiencing someplace new as a family can be an exciting way to make Christmas memories together. Many towns and cities pull out all the stops for the holiday season, decking out downtown areas with garlands and wreaths and coordinating fun activities and performances for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. However, if you’re truly searching for a fabulous Christmas vacation, some places stand out above the rest as exceptional places to plan a Christmas getaway. Here are a handful of destinations we recommend:
San Diego, California
Situated on the coast and blessed with beautiful weather year-round, San Diego is one city worth a visit at any point in time. However, planning a trip during the Christmas season can be the perfect time to experience the area. San Diego really embraces the holiday with stunning light displays, festive parades, seasonal shows, and more. Also, many of the area’s most well-known attractions, like SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, and the San Diego Zoo, go all-out for the holiday, making it the perfect time to visit with family.
Washington, D.C.
Our nation’s capital can be a truly magical place to experience Christmas. You’ll find holiday parades, open-air ice rinks, and plenty of opportunities to meet-and-greet Santa Claus scattered throughout the city over the course of December, and you won’t be able to turn a corner without seeing a holiday light display or a Christmas tree dressed for the season. For one of the area’s most unique attractions, rent a car and head half an hour south to National Harbor, Maryland, where the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center hosts Christmas on the Potomac, a winter wonderland consisting of impressive ice sculptures, ice slides, and more!
Quebec City, Canada
If your family is up for an international trip, consider spending the holiday season in Quebec City. The city is filled with historic charm throughout the year, but it honestly looks and feels like a scene from a snow globe at Christmastime. Walk the streets of Old Town during the evening and admire the lights glimmering in storefronts and draped overhead, or stroll through the Christmas market that pops up each year for the holidays. Offering plenty of shopping opportunities and seasonal shows, you’re sure to enjoy a Christmas spent in Quebec City.
New York, New York
It’s hard to find a vacation destination that beats New York City for the holidays if you’re on the hunt for the quintessential Christmas experience. Home to holiday institutions like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, the Rockettes, the Union Square Holiday Market, and the dazzling window displays that line the storefronts along 5th Avenue, you’ll be hard-pressed to check off all of the items on your itinerary. Get a hotel room in the middle of the action, and don’t forget to make Christmas dinner reservations in advance!
From sunny beaches to historic towns and urban centers, there are plenty of excellent places to enjoy a Christmas getaway with family or friends. See what destination sounds most appealing to you and book your ticket early; flight prices go up fast!
