(Travel)
TZR Readers' Choice Awards: The Best Christmas Towns In The U.S.
These destinations don’t just celebrate the holiday season — they become it.
You don’t need to book a trip to the North Pole to indulge in holiday magic. TZR’s nominees for our Readers’ Choice Award for Best U.S. Christmas Town are the festive destinations that go all out for the most wonderful time of the year — think twinkling lights, charming main streets, holiday parades, ice skating, caroling, and cozy local shops brimming with seasonal spirit. From mountain getaways to storybook small towns, each contender brings its own unique brand of Christmas magic to life.
Have questions? Read the official Readers’ Choice rules.
1. Solvang, CA
What TZR readers love about Solvang, CA:
- Love the energy and spirit Solvang gives off each holiday season–it’s magical.
- Beautiful lights and decorations provide Christmas vibes with no freezing weather.
- European, small-town charm, Danish-American culture, and the annual Julefest celebration.
- The smell of baked goods in the air.
- Christmas shops open year-round.
- Warm, inviting people and horse-drawn trolleys.
2. Aspen, CO
What TZR readers love about Aspen, CO:
- Twinkling lights, consistent snow, and festive decorations.
- Quaint small-town with all the Hallmark-movie feels.
- No cars in the main part of town, so you can ski right in.
- Free Christmas tree lighting, complete with caroling, visits from Santa, and sleigh rides under the stars.
What TZR readers love about Bethlehem, PA:
- Everything about Bethlehem is Christmas-centric. Every trip there brings the holidays closer.
- Beautiful city of lights and festivities, bustling with shoppers.
- Historic 18th-century churches, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Full of warmth and a sense of community.
- The awesome vendors and shops with merchandise you can’t find anywhere else.
10. Franklin, TN
