The best American getaways for Christmas

What are the best places to visit during the Christmas and holiday season? Check them out in this gallery!

New York’s Rockefeller Square is a must-visit if you love gazing at lights while skating around one of the best-decorated trees in the United States. Consider seeing the Rockettes at the Radio City Music Hall or make your way down to Grand Central Station and enjoy the nightly laser shows! And don’t forget to pay a visit to the Christmas village or markets set up on the weekends. 

Frankenmuth is Michigan's own little slice of Bavarian culture in the continental U.S. Christmas is the absolute best time to visit this quaint little town because you can surround yourself with dancing lights, singing carolers, and beautiful garland-adorned Bavarian architecture. 

Just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, you’ll find McAdenville, a town that changes its name every December to Christmas Town USA. Why? Because Christmas Town is home to over 375 trees and 450,000 lights, making it one of the most unique and beautiful Christmas experiences on the continent. 

If you're more into shopping for Christmas than enjoying the season's pretty lights then Ashville is the perfect palace for you. The city offers an awesome selection of craft Christmas stores as well as art-deco architecture that gives off a very different feel than most North American cities during the holiday season.

Photo by Facebook @Asheville

If you want to wander in a European-style Christmas market without actually crossing the ocean then consider stopping in at Slovang. This charming, Dutch-inspired town hosts a yearly Christmas festival packed with activities called “Julefest”.

Visiting America’s capital during the holiday season should be at the top of any Christmas lover's list. What better way to spend your time than looking at the National Christmas Tree and the White House? The National Tree has been lit every year since 1923 and is surrounded by 53 smaller trees that are all decorated as well. 

You shouldn’t avoid The Windy City around the Christmas season. Chicagoans have one of the best trees in the country and the Magnificant Mile is filled with millions of beautiful shining lights. Plus, Chicago has some of the best German Christmas markets in the Midwest!

Bethlehem is a beautiful German-inspired Christmas City Village that hosts the country’s best Christkindlmarkt. After stocking up on all your Christmas essentials you can take a romantic carriage ride through the downtown of the city and take in all their beautiful Christmas lights. 

Photo by Facebook @VisitBethlehemPA

For the ultimate Christmas getaway, you should visit Vail, where you can sky down freshly powdered mountain slopes and visit the town’s Kris Kringle Market and famous tree lighting ceremony. 

Photo by blog.vail.com

Every child dreams of visiting Santa at the North Pole, so why not take yours to see the Santa Clause House and say hello to Dasher and Prancer while you’re there?

Branson is a year-round family-friendly place. But things get extra special around the holidays. City officials pull out all the stops for visitors to transform the sleepy Ozark Mountain town into a stunning winter wonderland. 

Photo by Facebook @BransonChristmas

Texas might not seem like the place to visit at Christmas but you don’t need snow and cold temperatures to enjoy the Christmas spirit. Dallas is host to the beautiful Holiday at the Arboretum and has a particularly impressive 50-foot tree inside their Galleria Dallas Ice Skating Center. 

Photo by Facebook @galleriaiceskatingcenter

Why visit Kennebunkport? Because they celebrate the Christmas season unlike anywhere else in the world. The town throws an 11-day bash called Christmas Prelude and it's filled with lobsters and clams rather than gingerbread and cinnamon. 

There is only one place to be this holiday season if you love Christmas and country music, and that's Nashville. Head to the Music City Hall and catch a show at Opryland. Who knows, you might just find yourself enjoying a cowboy Christmas!

Las Vegas might seem like an odd choice to end this list. But the city has loads of fun Christmas-themed attractions for guests of all ages. You could start your day ice skating on the roof of The Cosmopolitan and spend your afternoon checking out the holiday displays outside the LINQ promenade. A family picture on the strip might make the perfect photo for next year’s round of Christmas cards…