The Most Christmasy Towns in America

Put down your mistletoe and pack your bags because we've found the most magical cities across the country that go big when it comes to Christmas. Thinking of taking a holiday excursion? Find out which towns across America are so invested in Christmas cheer, they make jolly old Saint Nick blush!

Head up to Northern Virginia to explore one of the most idyllic little Christmas towns on the eastern seaboard. Whether you take a stroll down historic King Street to admire all the beautiful lights, stay for the annual Scottish Christmas Walk, head to George Washington's Mount Vernon estate for jolly fun or get lost in the magic of the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights, you're sure to feel the Christmas spirit.

Photo via R Kennedy for Visit Alexandria

The city of Annapolis, Maryland, has a calendar jam-packed with holiday events your family will love. Some noted celebrations include their annual Lights on the Bay Christmas boat parade, their famous tree lighting ceremony on Market Street, their deliciously gut-busting Chocolate Binge Festival and their famous Handel's Messiah Concert. There's so much to do and see during Christmas in Annapolis!

Branson, Missouri, does Christmas Ozark style, and once you experience their version of holiday fun, you'll never want to miss out. Events in the sparkling city include the Most Wonderful Time of the Year annual parade (when Santa visits!), the Titanic Museum's winter Christmas celebration, numerous live performances and even a holiday pancake breakfast! Plus, they're in a league of their own when it comes to awesome decorations.

Photo courtesy of the Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau

Another Virginia city you can't miss is Charlottesville. The vibrant city hosts a wide variety of local artisan shops, but its main attraction is Monticello, the plantation home of third U.S. president Thomas Jefferson. During the holidays, Monticello is lavishly decorated in traditional 1772 Christmas style and open to the public for tours. In town, there are plenty of activities, including a Santa Speed-O Run, holiday concerts and even a gingerbread house competition.

Photo via Robert Mical and the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau

We're pretty sure you already know that no place captures the magic of the seasons (or the magic of childhood) quite like Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. From their over-the-top decorations that flood the park(s) with bright holiday cheer, to their special Christmas shows (like "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" and "A Frozen Holiday Wish," when Cinderella's castle lights up the sky), there is no end to the holiday wonder and amazement at Disney World.

If you or your kids love "The Polar Express" (come on, who doesn't?), then head to Durango, Colorado, to ride the actual Polar Express train! Come in your coziest pajamas and be prepared to get your tickets stamped while you sip hot cocoa, listen to your favorite holiday songs and see the winter wonderland of gleaming snow outside your window. Durango is all about yuletide cheer and making Christmas feel like magic.

Want all the holiday cheer and awesome weather? Look no further than Encinitas, California. Visit the San Diego Botanic Garden for their annual Garden of Lights, where the sanctuary turns into an extravagant wintery wonderland. Make sure to check out Encinitas's iconic statue, The Cardiff Kook, who gets a special Christmas decoration every year! Don't miss their annual holiday parade or their Makers Market, where you can find the perfect locally made gift for everyone on your list!

Photo via Jen Hibbits

The Blue Ridge Mountain town of Helen, Georgia, transforms into a Bavarian wonderland every Christmas. Not only do they have some of the cutest German-inspired architecture (giving the town an old-world European feel during the holidays) but they go all out for the season. Visitors can shop for unique gifts at their Christkindlmarkt, get swept away in yuletide cheer during their annual Lighting of the Village and welcome Santa during their annual Christmas parade.

One of the must-see places to herald in the Christmas season is Los Angeles. Every year, the city of glitz, glamour and aspiring stars comes together to host one of the most magical events of the holiday, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, which has been going strong for 86 years! After the parade, you can tour the decorated city streets and see numerous performers in their best Christmas attire while you scope out the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Christmas is merry and bright with their fun decorations (check out their famous elk antlers in Town Square) and festive events, including their annual holiday concerts, an arts and crafts bazaar, relaxing rides in horse-drawn sleighs, a magical street-lighting celebration and (of course) their famous New Year's Eve torchlight parade at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which ends with a fantastic fireworks show!

Photo courtesy of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

During Christmas, Sin City goes from naughty to very nice with their over-the-top holiday decor and endless Christmas-themed shows. Check out Bellagio Hotel's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, which transform each year into a miraculously lit Christmas wonderland. Or take a stroll to Holiday at the Park, where ice skaters twirl, Christmas carols fill the air and a towering 80-foot Christmas tree lights the night sky.

In Leavenworth, Washington, there's no shortage of good cheer all Christmas long. This Bavarian-style village hosts an annual Christmas Lighting Festival, featuring more than half a million twinkling lights! Every weekend, beginning on Friday, the town turns up the volume and plays beloved Christmas carols on the city streets while waiting for Santa Claus to arrive and share his stories with eager children. Bell choirs also perform while street vendors sell warm mulled cider and yummy roasted chestnuts.

McAdenville, N.C., loves the holiday season so much, they change their name every year to Christmas Town. The town shines in holiday cheer as they host their annual Official Lighting of Christmas Town. Once done, visitors can check out Main Street, where McAdenville showcases all of its small-town charm. A drive through the town will be a traveler's biggest reward as they take in the awe of all the gorgeously decorated and lit homes and trees in the city.

Photo via Steve Rankin and McAdenville-Christmastown.com

New York's Christmas excitement begins each year in November during the Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, which heralds in the city's holiday season. From the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree (seen here) to Central Park's ice-skating rink, the twinkling lights of Times Square and holiday-inspired performances (like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular), there's so much festivity to behold, it's entirely possible you'll need to spend multiple Christmases there to discover it all.

Located only 20 minutes from Fairbanks, Alaska, is the North Pole. What could be more festive than visiting the home of Santa Claus? The city boasts year-round merriment, but things kick into overdrive in winter, when they host Christmas in Ice, a dazzling display of ice sculptures located right beside the famous Santa Claus house. Families can also visit the world-renowned post office that receives thousands of letters to Santa every year and see the world's largest Santa Claus statue.

Photo courtesy of Santa Claus House and ExploreFairbanks.com

For nearly 20 years, Paradise, Pennsylvania, held a Christmas treasure—the National Christmas Center, a museum and family center dedicated to sharing the magic of the holidays. Sadly, this monument to Christmas is closing its doors on Jan. 7, 2018, meaning families have just one last chance to pay them a visit. Nearby, in Lancaster, families can take in the annual American Music Theater Christmas Show or take a drive to Intercourse to visit their famous Kitchen Kettle Village at Christmas.

Photo via DiscoverLancaster.com

If you're looking for a white Christmas, look no further than Salt Lake City, which hosts a snowy Christmas wonderland every winter. In their famous Temple Square, families can hitch a ride on horse-drawn carriages decorated with holiday bows while taking in the spectacle of Christmas lights and holiday carolers around the city. Even the zoo gets in on the action, hosting a menagerie of wildlife in a park that's been decorated in full holiday style.

With a name like Santa Claus, this Indiana town is bound to have some holiday cheer! In addition to their numerous Christmas-themed cottages and vacation rentals, the city hosts an annual Santa Claus Christmas Parade, Santa's Candy Castle and the unforgettable Land of Lights at Lake Rudolph, which features 12 miles of dazzling decorations. For three weeks in December, Santa Claus is alive and buzzing with Christmas spirit.

Photo via the Spencer County Visitors Bureau

For some, a visit to Washington, D.C., might seem less than tempting, but don't let political turmoil ruin what could be a truly magical Christmas experience. From seeing the famous national Christmas tree to walking through historic landmarks, taking in the holiday shows (like "A Christmas Carol" at Ford's Theatre) and hitting the shops in Georgetown, there's no end to the good cheer you'll find in the nation's capital.

If you visit one Northeastern town for Christmas, make it Woodstock, Vermont, during Wassail Weekend. The annual event offers spectacular holiday fun, featuring musical performances, horse-drawn wagons, tours of their famously decorated New England homes, the annual equestrian parade and their magical Christmas with the Celts production, which mixes traditional Irish music with American pop, creating a fun holiday performance of our favorite Christmas carols.

Photo via the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce