Many cities infuse seasonal cheer around the holidays, stringing up lights and putting out colorful displays. But in my experience, it’s small towns that really take decorating seriously, pulling out all the stops.
They go beyond the usual holiday lights to offer experiences you won't find just anywhere, whether it’s a Christmas train through the Ozarks, a stable of Santa's horses in Wyoming, or a Texas town with a river parade featuring more than 150 illuminated floats.
From Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains to a Bavarian-inspired village with the world's largest Christmas store, these towns pair seasonal traditions with local character, creating plenty of reasons to plan a holiday getaway. Here’s where to travel over the holidays for hands-on family fun, historic charm, and festive weekends of shopping and sipping wassail.
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Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne puts a Western spin on Christmas with its annual Old West Holiday celebration, transforming downtown into the "North WEST Pole," Santa's imagined ranching homestead. The festivities begin with the annual Christmas Parade, featuring illuminated floats and Santa's arrival.
On select Saturdays in December, kids can write letters to Santa with his elves at Chronicles Post and Station (aka Chronicles Distilling), then watch the Pony Express collect them. Families can also meet Santa's horses at Kringle Ranch and visit Santa and Mrs. Claus at the historic Whipple House.
For more holiday fun, hop aboard the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley for a tour of decorated homes and yards. Or follow the downtown Santa Stops passport and collect stamps for a chance to win prizes.
Ellijay, Georgia
For small-town Christmas charm without the freezing temperatures, head to Ellijay, tucked into Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains.
Here, from mid-November through mid-January, the apple-growing town trades its harvest vibe for festive lights, seasonal shopping, and cozy wine tastings. The Merry Mountain Town Festival kicks off the season with a holiday parade, tree lighting, and decorated downtown storefronts.
For an even bigger display, Holiday Lights of Ellijay features more than 2 million lights and larger-than-life holiday scenes.
Between festivities, browse downtown's independent shops and book a stay at the Holiday Cottage, inspired by the English home featured in the movie “The Holiday,” which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Bastrop, Texas
About 30 miles outside Austin, Bastrop puts a Texas spin on the holidays with riverfront light displays, historic homes, and festive events that run from late November into December.
The season kicks off the day after Thanksgiving with Lighting of the Pines at Fisherman's Park, followed by the nightly River of Lights, where hundreds of holiday displays illuminate a half-mile stretch of the Colorado River's June Hill Pape Riverwalk.
Then head downtown to Wassail Fest, where you can sip a seasonal hot spiced beverage and browse shops for last-minute gifts. December offers more reasons to linger, including tours of decorated historic homes, Merry on Main (a cheerful holiday market), and the Lost Pines Christmas Parade, featuring more than 150 lighted floats.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Filled with authentic Bavarian architecture, Frankenmuth feels as if you’ve jetted off to Germany, just without the exhausting long-haul flight.
It’s also home to the world's largest Christmas store, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, so it’s no huge surprise to learn it goes all out for the holidays. In Frankenmuth, festive activities extend well beyond twinkling lights. You can take a heated Golden Ticket Trolley tour to see the town’s decorations or book a horse-drawn carriage ride with Fantasy Carriage Company for a storybook view of downtown.
While you're based in this Midwest city, head out to Santa's Reindeer Farm at Grandpa Tiny's Heritage Farm, where families can meet real reindeer and visit Santa on select weekends. For hands-on fun, the Bavarian Blacksmith transforms into an Elves Tinker Workshop, offering festive activities for kids.
You can also lace up your skates at the downtown Frankenmuth Ice Rink or swap snow boots for swimsuits at one of the town's indoor waterparks, Zehnder’s Splash Village and Bavarian Inn Lodge Waterpark, for a warmer holiday with family.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Named one of Hallmark's Merriest Towns, Eureka Springs brings holiday-movie charm to the Ozark Mountains, with Victorian architecture, festive pop-up bars, and seasonal traditions that extend beyond Christmas lights.
For a nostalgic outing, climb aboard the Eureka Express, a decorated historic train offering seasonal rides through the hills. Its Excursion Car goes a step further, offering Christmas stories from Santa and hot cocoa.
Back downtown, join the Christmas Parade of Lights, sing carols in Basin Spring Park, or follow the Hot Cocoa and Cookie Crawl to enjoy festive treats. For a quirkier celebration, the Jinglin' Jeep Parade lights up the mountain roads with thousands of holiday lights.
Make your stay part of the festivities at the historic 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, which transforms its mountaintop grounds into Santa's Village, complete with a Christmas Tree Forest, cocoa stations, and seasonal activities.
Coupeville, Washington
For a holiday getaway with waterfront views and old-fashioned charm, head to Coupeville, a historic village on Whidbey Island, north of Seattle.
Victorian-era storefronts, white lights, and festive greenery give downtown a fairy-tale feel, while seasonal celebrations bring the community together throughout the holidays.
On the first weekend in December, the annual Greening of Coupeville Parade and Tree Lighting fills Front Street with holiday decorations, a parade, and a visit from Santa. Stick around for the community tree lighting and late-night shopping at local boutiques.
For a festive outing with a historic backdrop, visit nearby Fort Casey State Park the day after Thanksgiving for Light Up Your Holiday at Admiralty Head Lighthouse. Expect campfires, roasted chestnuts, carolers, and children's games.
The Shortcut
Visit the “North West” Pole in Cheyenne: Cheyenne gives Christmas an Old West spin with activities reimagining Santa's workshop as a ranching homestead, a Pony Express, and a trolley tour.
Find small-town Christmas charm without the freezing temps: In Ellijay, Georgia, you can admire displays that include over 2 million lights.
Get near the water: Bastrop, Texas, offers a river of lights, while Coupeville, Washington, hangs lights with waterfront views in a historic village on Whidbey Island.
More festive fun: The whole family will get into the holiday spirit by riding the Christmas train in Eureka Springs and meeting the reindeer in Frankenmuth.
