10 Places to Visit During Christmas Time

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I’ll be home for Christmas is a nice sentiment, but there are times that you may want to get away during the Christmas season. There are many great locales that you can visit in the US during Christmas time.

Great places to visit for Christmas come in all sizes. From the large cities to tiny small towns,  there are a lot of things to see and do during Christmas time.

So, if you are looking to get away, here are 10 of the best places in the states to visit during the Christmas season. And if you want, you can always be home just in time for Christmas.

1. Leavenworth, WA

Located a little over a 2 hour drive from Seattle, and located in the east Cascades is the town of Leavenworth. It is a Bavarian themed village and is the smallest place on our list with just over 2,300 full time residents.

During Christmas time the village is decorated with fresh evergreen garlands and the buildings are decorated with Christmas lights. The Front St. Park alone has half a million lights.

Even though Leavenworth is small in size there are plenty of Christmas time activities to do in the village.

From the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve there are all kinds of activities in the downtown area including performances of choirs, carolers and bands. Different Christmas characters also show up. 

You can get photos with Santa. Plus, Santa costumes from around the world are on display. There are photo family stations, free gift wrapping, Christmastown merchandise, and Gingerbread houses on display.

The museum is the only place in the world where you can see over 9,000 nutcrackers from 50 different countries on display. Over 30,000 people every year come through the doors to see all of the different nutcrackers. 

What is more Christmas than gingerbread? A few of the gingerbread creations at the bakery include traditional gingerbread and ice cream sandwiches made from ginger snap cookies.

If you are not a gingerbread fan, they do have other creations like tart lemon squares and cinnamon roll pudding to enjoy. 

During the Christmas season you can see performances of A Christmas Carol, Christmas with the Gothard Sisters, the Nutcracker and the Village Voices choir to name a few shows that are available. 

Sometimes you need to burn off some calories during the Christmas season. In Leavenworth, the best place to do that is the Leavenworth Ski Hill. 

Located on the edge of town, the Leavenworth Ski Hill is where you can ski, ski jump, snowboard, nordic ski, fat biking and tube.

At Leavenworth Sleigh Rides, you can go dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh, that reminds me of a song, that seats up to six people. You can also take a two horse open sleigh that seats 12 or 16 people. 

Each ride is 40-50 minutes long which includes a stop at the barn for hot cider around a fire. 

At the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, you can get up close and personal with Santa’s helpers. There is an educational presentation about the herd and you can have reindeer eat out of your hands. During Christmas time, kids can even visit Santa.

Places to Stay in Leavenworth

  • Bavarian Lodge– Located in the downtown area with suites and great views of the surrounding mountains.
  • Obertal Inn– The inn has plain hotel rooms all the way to a 3 room suite. Plus, the hotel is located one block from the action in the village. 
  • Enzian Inn– An authentic Austrian styled inn that is located a block from many shops and restaurants.
  • Posthotel Leavenworth– A beautiful hotel and spa with breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Definitely on the pricier side, but a nice splurge if you’re looking to invest in your stay.

2. Chicago, iL

Chicago is known as the Windy City and Chi-town. Chicago should also be known as one of the best places to visit during the Christmas season. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was filmed in Chicago so it has to be on my list.

There are many things to do in the city during the Christmas season so here are some of the best ones.

The annual Chicago Christmas tree lighting takes place in Millenium Park. The tree is lit the Friday before Thanksgiving and stays lit until early January. If you don’t see the lighting it is worth checking out the tree after it is lit. 

At the museum you can celebrate Christmas Around the World and the Holiday of Lights. There are 50 Christmas trees that represent the 50 ethnic groups that are in the city. 

The Holiday of Lights is a celebration of holidays throughout the year and the displays are included with admission to the museum. 

The zoo is decorated with more than 2.5 million lights. Plus, the zoo is decorated with giant snow globes, snowmen, and decorations that line the paths.

There are other attractions in the zoo, such as a light maze, ferris wheel, Lionel Train Adventure, Endangered Species Carousel and a place to make smores. The attractions cost extra with one ticket costing $4, 10 tickets for $36 and 20 tickets for $69.

The Navy Pier is a 170,000 square feet facility that contains an ice skating rink, kiddie train rides, a gift market, Merry Main Street, light sculptures and a holiday beer garden. You will see 600,000 lights as you go through the Pier.

Tickets are $15 for children and $27 for adults. Every ticket includes the above activities along with a free ride on the 200 foot Centennial Wheel.

The Christkindmarket is based off of the market located in Nuremberg, Germany which was one of the first open air markets of its kind. There are two different locations of the market. 

One is located at Daley Plaza and the other is located in Wrigleyville. At the markets, you will find vendors that sell food and gifts from all over the world. Admission to the market is free. 

  • Watch the Nutcracker

A tradition in Chicago is the performance of the Nutcracker by the Joffrey Ballet. Shows run from early December to just after Christmas.  

What would Christmas be without seeing a great performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol? While in Chicago, you can see the play performed at Goodman Theater. 

The play has been seen by over 2 million people and has been performed at the theater for the last 45 years. 

If you feel like getting your skate on you can go to Millennium Park to skate at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink. It is the most popular spot to skate in the city. It is free to skate minus skate rental. 

Other Christmas Activities in Chicago and Surrounding Areas

Photo by Wes McFee on Unsplash

3. Asheville, NC

Asheville is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains and has a population under 100,000 people. Asheville has many things to offer people all through the year but during the Christmas time it really shines. Pun intended.

You will find things for the young and old during the Christmas season. So, let’s take a look at a number of things to do.

The Biltmore Estate is the largest privately owned home in the United States. It has 250 rooms and is almost 179,000 square feet. The estate itself is 125,000 acres.   

The house during Christmas time is adorned with over 67 hand decorated Christmas trees in the house and 100 decorated trees in all on the property. There is a 35 foot Fraser Fir in the Banquet Hall. 

You will also find 500 wreaths and sprays, 1 ½ miles of garland, 2,000 poinsettias, and 100 kissing balls. You can take daytime and nighttime tours of the house. The costs of tickets vary by day. Kids 10-16 are half the cost of an adult ticket and kids 9 and under are free. 

All of the tickets include the tour of the Biltmore house, the gardens, Antler Hill Village and a wine tasting.

The arboretum is 434 acres and is decorated with nearly a half a million lights. As you walk through the exhibit there are live performances, a g scale model train to ride, story time at Woodland Cove, gift shops, wishing trees, smores and fire pits and places to get food and drink. 

The Omni Grove Park Inn every year holds a national gingerbread competition. Competitors come from all over the country to make gingerbread houses. The houses are put on display in the hotel after the competition. 

You don’t have to stay at the hotel to see the gingerbread houses. You can see the houses anytime Monday through Thursday and after 6:00pm on Sundays. Friday and Saturdays are only for people staying at the inn.

The Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley is a 75 minute ride on an enclosed and heated trolley. While on the trolley there will be live music, storytelling and caroling. There is even hot chocolate and cookies.

The trolley travels through the Biltmore Village, downtown Asheville, and the Montford and Grove Park neighborhoods to see the Christmas lights. 

At Chimney Rock State Park, you can watch Santa train for going down chimneys by repelling down one of the world’s largest chimneys in the park. 

Kids can write a letter to Santa and get a picture with him. There is hot cocoa, cookies and you can even make smores. There are also winter family animal encounters.

Places to Eat in Asheville

  • Jargon– Offers upscale new American fare and specialty craft cocktails.
  • Curate– Located in a former bus depot the restaurant serves authentic Spanish food.
  • Sunny Point Cafe– Family owned restaurant that serves comfort food and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Photo by Ty Tomlinson on Unsplash

4. Park City, UT

Park City is located east of Salt Lake City and in the Wasatch Range. Park City is a ski town but you don’t have to love hitting the slopes to enjoy the city during Christmas. 

During Christmas time, Main St. is decorated with large snow globes and Christmas decorations. There is plenty to do during the Christmas season in the city so let’s take a look. 

Snowfest takes place over a three day period just before Christmas. Highlights of the Snowfest include: Santa coming down the town lift, festive music, fireworks, Torchlight Parade and daily special surprises.

The Heber Valley Railroad’s North Pole Express is a 90 minute long ride. During the ride you get hot cocoa and Mrs. Claus’ chocolate chip cookies. You will be entertained by the hosts, elves and special guests. You will also sing traditional Christmas songs. For the return trip, Santa gets on the train. He greets all of the children and each child gets a special gift. 

  • Electric Parade and Festivities

There are three different events that go on during this evening. First, Santa makes a trip down Main St. to start off the evening. Next, there is the Christmas tree lighting in Miner’s Park along with the lighting of the Main St. lights. Finally, community members and businesses decorate their cars and floats with Christmas lights as they go down Main St. 

Taking place at the Egyptian Theater, the musical group thfe Celts perform contemporary Christmas music along with ancient Irish carols with Irish instrumentation. The group is also joined by Irish dancers during the show. 

The Nutcracker is synonymous with Christmas. So, if you want to see a performance of the Nutcracker you can do so at the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts. The ballet is performed by the  Ballet West. 

The Deer Valley Torchlight Parade starts at dusk coming down the Big Stick Run. There are up to 100 skiers coming down the slopes with lit up costumes and flares. Complimentary hot cider and cookies are provided at Snow Park Plaza. 

The Park City Holiday Spectacular Sing-A-Long takes place at the Egyptian Theater. The variety show features local talent that entertain you with songs, skits, and dance. There is also plenty of opportunity to sing-a-long through the show. 

Places to Stay in Park City

  • Newpark Resort– Located at the edge of the scenic 1,200 acre Swaner Nature Preserve and is minutes away from the ski resorts. 

5. St. Augustine, FL

I live in Ohio so when it comes to Christmas I don’t think of warm and sunny weather. Even though that is where I would like to be. Just because a place is warm and sunny doesn’t mean that it can’t be a great place to experience Christmas. This is especially true of St. Augustine, FL. 

St. Augustine is located south of Jacksonville on the east coast of Florida and has the title of being the oldest city in the US. As you will see there are plenty of things to do in the city during Christmas time.

The Night of Lights is a misnomer since the 3 million white lights that are decorating every corner of the historic district are on display from the middle of November to the end of January. 

Businesses during the seasonal display are open longer for people to shop and to enjoy the lights. The lights have been on the National Geographic list of the top 10 light displays in the world. 

At the lighthouse and museum more than 2,000 luminaries are on display on the ground and the streets surrounding the lighthouse. People can also climb the lighthouse to get a better view and to see the lights from the Night of Lights.

The former villa now museum is decorated with a large Christmas tree and Victorian and traditional decorations in every room. There are over a 100 candles that light up the museum as you go on an audio guided tour of the museum. 

A great way to experience the Night of Lights is by taking the Old Town Trolley. On the ride not only will you experience the lights but you will also have sugar cookies and warm cider. The trolley lasts from 30-45 minutes.

If you are looking to get a different perspective in viewing the Night of Lights, you can take a 75 minute ride on a pontoon boat. There are two different sized pontoons to choose from. Complimentary hot cocoa is served on both pontoons. 

Music at the Museum takes place at the Lightner Museum. The St. Augustine Orchestra performs in the grand lobby, Music Room and in the former Alcazar Hotel parts of the museum. You can tour the museum and shop in the gift shop while you are there. 

Tasting Tours offer a number of different carriage rides to fit almost anyone’s needs to experience the Night of Lights. They offer private and group wine tasting tours in the historic district. For kids and families, they have rides with the Gringich, Scrooge, Santa, and Mrs. Claus. 

If you want to get a little exercise and have a good time at the same time, (yes that is possible) you can run in the Santa Suits on the Loose 5k. You can jog or walk the course if you don’t want to run it. If you don’t want to do any of those things, you can watch and see all kinds of people running in their Santa suits. 

Alternative Thing to Do

Disney World is less than a 2 hour drive from St. Augustine. So, if you have the time and money you can make a short drive over to the land of the mouse to enjoy all things Disney during Christmas. 

6. Telluride, CO

Telluride is our second smallest town on my list with a population of just over 2,600 people. The town is located in a box canyon on the San Miguel River in the San Juan Mountains. Telluride started out as a mining town but is now known for skiing and golf. 

Steep forested mountains and cliffs surround the town adding to its ambience. The sister town of Mountain Village is a free gondola ride away from Telluride and has Christmas activities in this list.  

Telluride Fire Festival takes place at the beginning of December. The festival lasts for three days and is family friendly. There are workshops that are geared towards the young and old. At the festival you will see interactive flaming sculptures, fire dancers, music and a cash bar. 

The beginning of the holiday season in Telluride begins with Noel Night. Starting the festivities is the lighting of the ceremonial Ski Tree. The 17 foot tree is made with colorful skis and is decorated with many white twinkly Christmas lights. 

The lighting of the tree takes place in Elk’s Park with a bonfire and hot chocolate being provided. Local restaurants and shops offer treats, snacks, and discounts throughout the day.

The Holiday Prelude in Mountain Village takes place two days in the second week of December. The village is transformed into the North Pole. 

During the Holiday Prelude there are holiday movies, Santa and his workshop, train rides, ice skating and other holiday surprises. Kids can share a Christmas list with Santa, make crafts, and enjoy free popcorn and hot chocolate. 

Besides the activities that are taking place, merchants in the village offer discounts and specials to customers with giveaways, raffles and food and drink specials. 

On Christmas Eve, the Telluride Ski Resort lights up with 100 employees of the resort lighting up the slopes with torchlights in hand. The snow reflects the red light making for a lovely scene that you won’t forget. 

The three day holiday bazaar takes place in the heart of town at the Haa School for the Arts.  At the bazaar you will find one of a kind of handmade goods, such as clothes, food, ceramics and more from artists and artisans. 

The Michael D. Palm Theater is a 30,000 square foot state of the art facility that seats over 600 people. The theater offers different shows during the Christmas season each year. This year they are offering Holiday in the Big Apple. 

The show offers over 90 local dancers. The show helps you to experience a subway ride, the Rockefeller Center, and entertainment on Broadway. 

Telluride Sleighs and Wagons not only offers you a sleigh ride to the 740 acre Aldasoro Ranch but a meal is included with the ride. The meal is served in a large heated canvas tent on the ranch. You also get some spectacular views while you are on the ranch. 

Places to Stay

  • Hotel Telluride– This boutique chalet with a European feel. The hotel is located in the downtown area.
  • The New Sheridan– The location of the hotel is in the heart of town. They offer 26 rooms of varying sizes and views. 
  • Hotel Columbia– This is a luxury boutique hotel that has 21 rooms. There are also suites and a penthouse available. 
  • Mountain Lodge Telluride– The lodge is located above the town of Telluride. They offer rooms, suites, condominiums and luxury log cabins.

7. Newport Beach, CA

Newport Beach is located on the coast of California south of Los Angeles. The city is made up of 10 distinct neighborhoods with each having their own flare. You can fish, surf, swim and do other water activities.

During Christmas time there are many different things that you can do with friends or family to celebrate the Christmas season. So, let’s dive in.

The Christmas boat parade has been going on for more than a 100 years in the city of Newport. The boat parade goes on for 5 nights in the middle of December. Each night there are over 100 yachts, boats, kayaks and canoes that are decorated for the Christmas season. The parade motors along a 14 mile course. 

A great place to watch the parade is at Marina Park on Balboa Peninsula. There is a large fireworks display at the Newport Pier on the opening night of the parade and at the Balboa Pier on the closing night. 

Kicking off the day after Thanksgiving and lasting until January 1st is the Lighting of the Bay at Newport Dunes. There are over 40 light displays and Christmas trees that light up the bay. 

On opening night of the event there is a movie, fire pits to make s’mores, stocking and ornament making, a visit by Santa and much much more. 

Homes and businesses along the route for the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade are encouraged to decorate for the Christmas season. There is a competition with various categories that homes can enter. You can take a stroll on Balboa Island or go on a boat cruise  to see the lights. 

From the middle of November through January 2nd, Fashion Island, which is a shopping center, lights up a 90 foot white fir tree each night. Along with the lighting of the tree, which takes place in the Neiman Marcus-Bloomingdale’s Courtyard, there is snowfall, music and a choreographed light display. 

You can see the lighting of the tree every half hour from 5:30-7:30 each night. 

The Christmas Walk in Corona del Mar has been occurring for more than 40 years. The event helps to promote the businesses and restaurants in the area. 

During the Christmas Walk there are live bands, restaurant and business promotions, activities for the kids, beer and wine gardens, Santa’s visits and photos. You can also find unique vendor gifts. 

On the opening night of the Boat Parade there is a pop up market located at Marina Park. At the market you will find local vendors, food, music, face painting for the kids, and photo ops. The pop market runs from 4:00pm-8:00pm. 

The location of the market makes it a great place to watch the Christmas boat parade and the opening night fireworks.

There are many Christmas holiday activities that go on at the Lido Marina Village for all ages. Some of the events you will find include: a visit from the Sugar Plum Princess, visiting with Santa, Female Maker Market Holiday Celebration, holiday music brass ensemble and a holiday vintage market to name just a few. 

Places to Eat

  • Mama D’s Italian– Offering authentic Italian food from pizza, pasta, oven baked dishes and speciality dishes.
  • Beachcomber Cafe– The restaurant is located in a converted cottage that is located on the beach. The restaurant serves California favorites and a popular breakfast. 
  • Rusty Pelican– The restaurant has great waterfront views and a menu that offers seafood and steaks.
  • Eddie V’s Prime Seafood– This is more of an upscale place that offers seafood and steak. They also have live jazz to enjoy.
  • Crystal Cove Shake Shack– A 40’s style diner located on the beach. It is a popular local spot that serves burgers, fish and chips, fries and shakes. 

8. Kennebunkport, ME

When I hear Kennebunkport, I think about both President Bush’s who have a compound there in which they visited often while they were both President. 

Kennebunkport is a coastal town located in southern Maine. It has a population of just over 3,600 people making it the 3rd smallest place on my list. 

Don’t let the size fool you. Like all of the other places on my list, they have many activities to choose from to celebrate the Christmas season and I do mean many. 

The Christmas Prelude was started in 1982. It takes over the town of Kennebunkport from December 1-11. The town is decorated with trees, lights, boughs and bows. People living in the village as well as people from all over the country come to Kennebunkport to enjoy the festivities. Each day there are events that are happening all over the village that are geared for all ages.

There are too many activities to list all of them here but this is a sampling of some of them.

  • Caroling Parties
  • Gaming Nights
  • Holiday Gift Fairs
  • Bonfire Nights
  • A Live Nativity
  • Christmas Karaoke
  • Live Christmas Music
  • Specialized Christmas Breakfast
  • Prelude Trolley Rides
  • Spiked Cider Bars
  • Fish Chowder Suppers
  • Christmas Boat Rides
  • Religious Services at Various Churches

Believe me when I say that this is a small sampling of everything. The following are some of the major events that occur during the Prelude.

A Christmas tree made from lobster traps is a quintessential Maine thing. The traps are decorated with red bows and greenery. The tree is located in Cape Porpoise Square where the lighting of the tree takes place. You can join in on the caroling that takes place at the lighting and finish off the night by having refreshments at the Cape Porpoise Fire Station. 

The lighting of the tree in Dock Square kicks off the season in Kennebunkport. There is caroling that is led by the Kennebunk High School Chamber Choir with the tree lighting taking place afterwards.

To begin the last weekend of the Prelude there is another tree lighting in Dock Square that follows the same schedule of events. A fireworks display takes place right after this tree lighting. 

The walk depicts the travels of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem looking for a place to stay. You can join the procession of the Walk to Bethlehem by going to the White Columns house where it begins. 

The procession then goes to the Kennebunkport Inn and ends up at the South Congressional Church. A short concert takes place along with the singing of some carols. The event ends with some cookies and hot chocolate being served.

Storybook Christmas is an event that takes place at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust. Santa Claus reads “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to the children. Mrs. Claus helps children make gingerbread houses while the elves help them create sparkling snowflakes. 

There are treats provided as well as a hot chocolate bar. Children can get a photo with Santa and they can even give him their Christmas list. 

Various streets are closed to traffic while the Family Street Festival takes place. At the festival you will find ice sculpting demonstrations, entertainers, musicians, food vendors, strolling carolers and more. It is a good time for families. 

Do you have a pooch? If you do, you can put your favorite outfit on your pooch and bring him or her to the parade. The parade travels for about two miles starting at the Consolidated School and ending at Ocean Avenue.

In Maine, Santa doesn’t travel by reindeer and sleigh but by lobster boat. Santa arrives at the Nonantum Resort on his lobster boat. At the event, children can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, take a complimentary photo, create holiday crafts, play reindeer games and have beverages. There are adult beverages, also. 

Places to Eat

Here are a number of restaurants that you may want to check out while you take in the Prelude. 

  • Chez Rosa– A French bistro that offers French comfort food. 
  • Old Vines Wine Bar– An old barn that has been turned into a rustic chic bistro that offers small plates, wines and cocktails.

9. Charleston, SC

Charleston is a historic port city that has a lot to offer all through the year. You have cobblestone streets, historic homes, friendly people and first class shopping. 

When it comes to the Christmas season, they still have all of those things but they add so much more. You will find live performances, festivals, parades, light displays and holiday markets. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, you will find something to do in the city to celebrate the season. 

James Island County Park is decorated with over 2 million lights along a 3 mile course through the park. As you travel, you will see hundreds of displays along the way. The festival is open from the middle of November through December 31st no matter what the weather.

After you drive through the light display, you can visit Santa’s Village and Winter Wonderland. You can take a train ride, ride an old fashioned carousel, roast marshmallows, look through gift shops and watch entertainment on selected nights. 

The Charleston Boat Parade is a tradition in the city. The parade starts from the Cooper River, travels through the Charleston Harbor and into the Ashley River. You will see all kinds of boats lit up for the Christmas season. 

Some of the best places to view the parade include Patriot’s Point, Waterfront Park, Memorial Waterfront Park Pier, SC Aquarium area and Charleston Maritime area. 

Taking place for more than 25 years in the city, the Charleston Christmas Special is a show that offers singing, dancing, and skits. The show takes place in the Charleston Music Hall and runs from December 15-22.

The Holiday Market is located in downtown Charleston at Marion Square. You can visit the market during the first three weekends of December on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00am to 2:00pm. At the market, you will find fresh local produce, artisans and crafters, live music, food, and special entertainment.

The walking tour is a 2 hour tour through the historic district. You will learn about the history and colorful past of the city. The tour goes through Battery and Four Corners of Law where homes are decorated for the Christmas season. The tour also goes through the Edmondston-Alston House which gives you a great view of Charleston Harbor. 

Taking place from the middle of November through December 31st, the South Carolina Aquarium located in the heart of Charleston puts on Aquarium Aglow. The aquarium is decorated with thousands of lights. There are interactive displays, as well as food, beverages and live entertainment. 

If you feel like you want to get your inner Scarlett O’Hara on during Christmas, you can go to the Boone Hall Plantation. The plantation grounds and house are all decked out for the Christmas season. 

All of the rooms on the main floor have Christmas trees in them. There are some unusual decorations like wreaths made from magnolia leaves and ornaments made from sweetgrass. 

Other Christmas Activities in the City and Surrounding Areas

Parades and Lightings

Charleston Christmas Parade

Charleston Tree Lighting

Folly Beach Christmas Parade

Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade

Live Performances

A Christmas Carol

The Sound of Charleston

A Very Merry Footlight Holiday Special

Charlton Singleton’s Holiday Special

Celtic Woman: A Christmas Symphony

Holiday Pops

Holiday Events

Holiday Events at the Charleston Place

North Pole on the Plaza

Skate the Stadium

Santa Sundays at the South Carolina Aquarium

10. New York, NY

I know for me when it comes to Christmas and big cities the first city that comes to mind is New York City. I am sure it stems from the fact there have been a million movies and TV shows that take place in New York City during Christmas time. Okay, I may be exaggerating a bit. There are only 500,000 movies and TV shows.

Seriously though, there are a ton of activities and things to see in the city during Christmas time. So, let’s take a look.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is probably the most iconic Christmas tree in the United States. It is even a major event when they bring the tree into the city. 

The lighting of the tree takes place right after Thanksgiving. It has over 50,000 lights on it and is topped with a Swarovski Star. The best times to visit the tree are in the morning or later in the evening because of crowds. 

Dyker Heights is located in Brooklyn. During the Christmas season over 250 homes deck out their homes with lights, life size Santas, sleighs, snowmen and some people even pump out Christmas carols with loud speakers. 

The best time to see everything is from dusk until 9:00pm. There are bus and walking tours through the neighborhood that you can take. 

The Rockettes are world famous and at Christmas they put on a Christmas show. The show is 90 minutes long and involves more than 140 performers. There are eye-catching costumes, singing, dancing, and humor during the show. You will get a big kick out of seeing the show. I just had to do it. 

The Nutcracker premiered in New York City in 1954 and is performed by the New York City Ballet. There are 90 performers and 62 musicians that take part in the production. The ballet is set to Tchakiovsky’s famous score.  

The central attraction of the Winter Village is the 17,000 square foot ice skating rink. It is free to skate. You can use your own skates or you can rent them there. At the village, you will find 170 holiday shops. They also have new kiosks for shopping and eateries to choose from if you get hungry. 

There is also a Lodge, a covered area where you can grab something to eat or drink. You can enjoy your food and drink while watching people skate. 

During Christmas time the New York Botanical Garden has two main events going on. You can walk through the garden and enjoy New York’s largest outdoor light display. The grounds and buildings are all lit up for people to enjoy. Some of the displays have choreographed music and lights.

You can also take in the Holiday Train Show at the Botanical Garden. There are 175 scaled models of New York’s most famous neighborhoods with 25 trains running through them on a half mile track. You can buy a combination ticket to see both events.

The show takes place on the outside of Saks Fifth Avenue. There are 600,000 lights that are synchronized to music. The show is 3 to 4 minutes long and takes place every 10 minutes. You can also take in the famous Saks Fifth Avenue window displays before or after the show. 

You can take in the lights of New York City from a different perspective with a cruise on a 1920s style yacht that is decorated for the Christmas season.  Harbor Line offers a number of different cruises to enjoy, such as the New York City Lights Holiday Cocoa Cruise, Around Manhattan Holiday Brunch Cruise, and a Jazz Cruise to name a few.

Other Christmas Activities in the City and Surrounding Areas

Light Displays

Holiday Markets

Miscellaneous Activities

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