Places in the USA That Take Christmas to a Whole New Level

While almost every season lets New York City shine in its own right, Christmas time in the Big Apple is spectacular. From the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, which can measure up to 100ft (30m), to the light-festooned promenades of Brooklyn, the City That Never Sleeps glitters particularly brightly during the holidays.

Want to see a white Christmas in NYC? Book a stay in one of these excellent hotels near the Rockefeller Center, or search for the city hotel of your dreams.

While Chicago pulls out all the usual big-city stops for the holidays, decking buildings in tinsel and lights, its Christkindlmarket is what makes it extra special. Held in Daley Plaza and modeled after legendary German Christmas fairs, the market sells everything from sausages to Christmas ornaments and receives more than 1m visitors per year.

See the festive lights from the comfort of your room at one of these hotels with a view, or search for the best hotels in Chicago yourself.

Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes Christmas decorations. Each December, colorful and exuberant displays line the river that runs through the city. Other attractions also get in on the festive spirit, with SeaWorld San Antonio stringing up 9m lights alone.

Stay close to the action with a stay at one of these hotels near the river, or search the best offerings in San Antonio.

The best Christmas displays in Nashville are at Gaylord Opryland – a hotel near the famed country music hall, the Grand Ole Opry – where more than 3m lights deck the halls. Head downtown to see the neon signs of honky-tonk bars mingle with the holiday trimmings.

Looking to treat your other half this Christmas? Check out these romantic hotels in Nashville, or do your own search through the best hotels in the city.

Virginia Beach is a unique Christmas locale in America; the city lines the boardwalk and beaches with Christmas lights and decorations. In winter, it’s also whale-watching season, so if you’re lucky, you might spot one along with your holiday light show.

Spend Christmas with the whales when you book a stay at one of our favorite hotels in Virginia Beach, or find your favorite with a filtered search.

If you think it’s hard to decorate for Christmas without veering into tacky territory, the town of Richmond, Virginia, is the place for you at the holidays. Every year, it has a Tacky Lights Tour, in which residents compete to outdo each other in garish Christmas light displays. Grab a copy of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, which provides a list of the top homes to drive by every year.

Book a quirky trip to Richmond with a stay at one of these excellent hotels, or simply find your own dream retreat.

The ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden pulls out all the stops for Christmas. With more than 12mi (19km) of extension cords and millions of bulbs, the gardens come to life in the River of Lights, with more than 600 sculptures. For something completely different, stroll through downtown, where streets are lined in traditional New Mexican holiday fashion, with votive candles inside paper bags.

Want to see the lights in Albuquerque? Check out our selection of the best hotels in the city, or search for your perfect place to stay.

If you’re looking for somewhere to kick off the festive holiday season, Kansas City is a safe bet. On Thanksgiving night, the Country Club Plaza holds a fireworks show before a switch is flipped, turning on the magnificent holiday lights. Also, helicopter tours are available to experience the magic of the lights from an entirely new perspective.

Search through our vast array of excellent Kansas City hotels, or take a look at our favorites.

In the Ozark Mountains near Branson, Missouri, Silver Dollar City is an amusement park that hosts the lively Old Time Christmas festival each December. It has more than 1,000 decorated trees and 6.5m lights, along with parades every night.

Charmed by this unique amusement park? Book one of these hotels near Silver Dollar City, or search for accommodation in nearby Branson.

To get to the best Christmas lights in Las Vegas, you’ll need to leave the Strip and head down to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. There, you’ll find Glittering Lights, a 2.5mi (4km) course you can drive through to see more than 600 holiday displays decked out with lights. Alternatively, of course, visit the over-the-top Bellagio Hotel & Casino for an over-the-top Christmas tree.

Neon lights aren’t new to Las Vegas, but the festive views from these hotels with balconies are something else. You can also check out our full selection of hotels in the city.

As you might expect, the North Pole goes all out for Christmas. The small Alaska town hosts a Christmas in Ice festival every night for six weeks each winter, and almost everything is decorated to celebrate its most famous resident.

Book the ultimate Christmas retreat when you stay at one of our favorite Alaskan hotels, or search for your top pick from more than 100 options.