The Best Christmas Destinations in America

If you love snow, shopping and all things sparkly, spend your Christmas in New York. The Big Apple is a winter wonderland with popular attractions including the gigantic illuminated tree and ice rink at the Rockefeller Center and the festive window displays at the glitzy department stores.

You can also catch a classic Christmas musical at many of the theaters across the city. But if you want to embrace a US festive tradition, watch the annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular by the Rockettes dance troupe. It’s a festive extravaganza held at Radio City Music Hall with big dance numbers, grand stage design and shimmering costumes.

Chicago receives its fair share of snow during the winter – more than most cities in Illinois – so if you’re looking for a white Christmas, this is where you’ll find it. It also offers all the traditional big-city events and activities that will make you enjoy the festive season even more. Among the must-sees are the sparkling lights in the Magnificent Mile neighborhood – the tree-lighting ceremony in late November officially marks the beginning of the holiday season – and the Christmas Around the World exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry, which celebrates holiday traditions across the globe.

Twirl away on the ice rink at Millennium Park; pop by the Christkindlmarket for authentic German Christmas craftwork, pretzels and glühwein; and catch a showing of Joffrey Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker at the Civic Opera House. With so much to do and see here, there’s nothing quite like Christmas in Chicago.

Christmas often means snow, and snow calls for skiing. And what better place to fly down pistes and moguls than Colorado? The Centennial State is blessed with several top ski resorts, with enough options to satisfy any skier’s needs. And the festive fun doesn’t stop there.

Head to Georgetown for the tree-lighting ceremony and the traditional Georgetown Christmas Market; and to Aspen for the 12 Days of Aspen festival, when the town holds concerts, theater shows and all kinds of street-entertainment events.

And don’t miss a ride on the Polar Express in Durango – you’ll enjoy a reading of Chris Van Allsburg’s classic Christmas tale on board, while drinking hot chocolate and munching on sweets.

San Francisco is full of holiday cheer at Christmas. Travel round town on a refurbished cable car from the 1800s to see the sights (including Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach and Union Square) illuminated at night, along with many seasonal light displays.

And don’t forget to lace up your skates to glide across the Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square, right next to Macy’s glorious 83ft (25m) tree. For dinner, try one of the seafood restaurants at Fisherman’s Wharf, before watching a performance of the Nutcracker by San Francisco Ballet.

Hawaii may not seem like your typical Christmas destination, but it’s a delightful place to be during the holidays – think glorious sunshine paired with fun activities and watersports.

And even if you crave Christmas traditions, Hawaii doesn’t disappoint. Each island has its own celebrations – from the Festival of Lights Boat Parade in the Hawaii Kai area on Oahu, where boats adorned with colorful lights cruise by the waterway, to the Kailua-Kona Christmas Parade on Kauai, where the streets transform into a winter wonderland with light displays, floats and live music.

Whichever island you choose, attending a luau on Christmas Day is a must. This feast includes music and cultural performances from across Hawaii and the greater Polynesia region.

There’s probably no better place to spend Christmas than Bavaria – but if Germany is a bit far, there’s a Bavarian-style village closer than you think.

Over the festive period, Leavenworth, Washington, is covered in snow and dotted with millions of twinkling lights. The town has a dazzling Christmas Lighting Festival, which includes holiday-themed activities such as sledding in Front Street Park, plus several concerts and festive shows.

The Leavenworth Christmas Market is where you can join a lantern parade – families decorate their own lanterns and follow Mr and Mrs Claus through the streets – or taste German delicacies and buy handmade craftworks.

Alternatively, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the forest as you snuggle up in a warm blanket, the scent of roasted chestnuts permeating the air. Skiing and dog sledding are also possible here. For the best cookies in town, pop by the Gingerbread Factory – it offers a wide selection of gingerbread houses, cakes and other Bavarian treats.

One of the most interesting places to visit at Christmas is New Orleans. This buzzing city becomes even more fascinating during the holiday season, thanks to all the special events and brightly colored decorations on every corner.

Among the highlights is the Christmas Eve Bonfires on the Levee, a tradition that dates back to the earliest Cajun settlers in the region. It’s said that the bonfires built on the Mississippi levees on Christmas Eve light the way for Papa Noël – the Cajun Santa Claus – on his airborne journey around the area.

Also gather in front of St Louis Cathedral – the oldest cathedral in North America – to sing traditional holiday songs, or visit City Park to take part in the Celebration in the Oaks, a fundraising event with 25 acres (10ha) of holiday displays and 600-year-old oak trees dressed in lights.

Christmas is also the time to get a closer look at the Garden District Houses; these 19th-century mansions open their doors for home tours, letting you peek into the opulence that lies behind their wrought-iron fences.

Alternatively, go sailing on the Steamboat Natchez riverboat and indulge in four-course Creole holiday meals in the various restaurants around town. Don’t leave without tasting the buttery Cajun Kringle pastry, which is filled with praline and topped with caramel icing and pecans.

Konstantina Pyrnokoki provided additional reporting for this article.