These inspiring destinations go all-out for the
winter holidays with time-honored traditions,
vibrant festivals and European-inspired Christmas
markets. (Getty Images).
With the winter holidays just weeks away, now is
the time to lock in your December travel plans.
Instead of taking the same ski vacation or
dashing off to a festive Christmas market to
shop for seasonal goods, why not carve out
some time to travel to underrated holiday
attractions? For an atypical getaway, travel to
these towns across America with superlative
winter attractions to keep your holidays merry
and bright.
[See: 8 Winter Events Worth Planning a Trip
Around.]
Minneapolis - St. Paul
If you love winter weather, travel to the Twin
Cities. In Loring Park, just steps from downtown
Minneapolis, you'll find food booths and festive
drinks in heated tents at Holidazzle, a special
tradition that draws people from all over the
region. During Holidazzle, held from Thursdays
through Sundays until Dec. 23, you can find
treasures from local artisans, see a holiday movie
under the stars, go ice skating and enjoy
fireworks. In St. Paul, stroll through the European
Christmas Market in Union Depot to find one-of-
a-kind gifts, holiday decorations and European-
inspired dishes on the first two weekend of
December. As for accommodations, luxury hotels
abound in Minneapolis and St. Paul, but The
Saint Paul Hotel overlooks a beautifully lit Rice
Park in downtown and is within walking distance
of the Union Depot as well as other holiday
happenings throughout St. Paul. The hotel also
offers holiday tea on Sundays through December.
The National Harbor, Maryland
Known as the one of the largest resort
destinations near the nation's capital, the
Christmas on the Potomac event is shining a
little brighter this year at Gaylord National Resort
& Convention Center . The resort is showcasing
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer carved in
colorful ice sculptures at its popular ICE!
attraction. Larger-than-life vignettes bring to life
the beloved 1964 TV classic, "Rudolph the Red-
Nosed Reindeer." The walk-through attraction
features 13 scenes of more than 2 million pounds
of hand-carved ice sculptures including favorite
characters such as Rudolph, Bumble the
Abominable Snow Monster and more. If ice
sculptures aren't enough, the resort has
transformed itself into a Christmas wonderland.
Visitors will find more than 2 million lights, a
suspended 55-foot-tall Christmas tree, a 20-foot
gingerbread display, a Christmas Village, a new
live entertainment show and even a mixology
class all within the resort.
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
Colonial Williamsburg offers an immersive holiday
experience, weaving traditions of past and
present. From fireworks to holiday parties in
historic taverns to streets illuminated by candles,
the true spirit of the season fills almost every
block. You'll feel like you've stepped back in time
as you warm up with a hot cider amid the
flickering light of crackling fires, with caroling
and other sounds of the season spilling out from
the taverns and shops, each adorned with
handmade wreaths and garlands. Arrive in time
for the afternoon candle- and cresset-lighting on
Duke of Gloucester Street, a tradition since 1934
that will take place on Dec. 3. During the
holidays, join Colonial Williamsburg's Historic
Trades and world-famous Fifes and Drums to
admire torch-lit illuminations of candles and
street-side cressets, each with a patriotic
musical accompaniment.
Then, embrace the spirit of the season at the
Raleigh Tavern. Celebrate seasonal festivities like
music to dancing at the tavern where Thomas
Jefferson, Patrick Henry and others met. During
the day, guests are invited to take in preparation
for the coming night's celebration; at night,
guests can join the party. The event is open to
guests with Colonial Williamsburg admission,
while a special evening program ticket is required
for Christmas party. Also carve out some time to
join the Christmas Decorations Walking Tour and
learn about the evolution of holiday decorating
from the 18th-century to present- day and enjoy
caroling at the Courthouse, when nightly
performances usher in holiday cheer.
[See: 10 Top National Parks to Visit This
Winter.]
The Brandywine Valley, Delaware
This Mid-Atlantic region, straddling the Delaware
and Pennsylvania border, is steeped in holiday
spirit. Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library,
the former home of Henry Francis du Pont, is
the site of Yuletide at Winterthur, which takes
place through Jan. 7, 2018. The site explores
holiday traditions from the 1800s and 1900s,
paying homage to early Christmas lights, the
evolution of Christmas trees through the decades
and even a full-room recreation of a scene from
Clement Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicolas." In
honor of Winterthur's current special exhibit,
"Royal Splendor: The Coronation Gown from The
Crown," this year's Yuletide Tour features
recreations of the types of trees that would have
decorated Windsor Castle during Queen Victoria's
reign. The holiday festivities also include a one-
man performance of a Victorian favorite, Charles
Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," performed by the
author's great-great-grandson, Gerald Charles
Dickens.
Strolling Christmas carolers were also a part of
many a Victorian holiday scene, and it's
practically guaranteed that guests will run into
some at Longwood Gardens. The nation's
celebrated gardens are even more enchanting
during "A Longwood Christmas," which lasts
through Jan. 7, 2018. The gardens pay tribute to
the du Ponts' native France, as the site's
conservatory transforms into a miniature
Versailles with a collection of topiaries, wreaths,
ornate mirrors and more than 50 trimmed trees.
The entire site is illuminated with half a million
twinkling lights.
If you're more intent on learning about the
region's early culture, on Dec. 10, the Old
Swedes Church in Wilmington, Delaware, pays
tribute to the region's Swedish heritage with a
visit from Sankta Lucia in a celebration. As
another way to step back in time, visitors to the
village of Historic Odessa can stroll brick-lined
streets and also take in this year's Storybook
Trees exhibit, which runs through Dec.31.
Seattle
Light shows and exhibitions are an integral part
of any major metropolis, and Seattle does not
disappoint. Take a walk through the bright
Olympic Sculpture Park downtown to admire the
dazzling lights and check out the art on display,
listen to music, sip a hot drink and grab a sweet
bite. The Argosy Christmas Ship Festival has
been a holiday tradition and fan favorite in
Seattle for decades. Board the Christmas-themed
ship or a similar parade boat for a two-hour
cruise around Puget Sound while listening to
carols, playing games and meeting Santa. Also,
the German-inspired nearby village of
Leavenworth becomes a Christmas wonderland
come December, fully decorated with lights and
brimming with holiday events and winter fun.
There are carolers singing in the streets, visits
from Santa, sledding and more holiday delights,
including a lighting ceremony to kick off the
excitement. As for lodging, there are many
options in the downtown area including the Inn
at the Market , the Loews Hotel 1000 and the
Thompson Hotel.
Asheville, North Carolina
This city just off of Blue Ridge Parkway should
be on your radar for its Christmastime traditions.
Asheville 's busy downtown sidewalks are dressed
in holiday style, thanks to Winter Lights
Downtown display in Pack Square, with double
the number of lights this year, and a 10-foot
gilded purple snowflake serving as the piece de
resistance. Then, as the sun sets, the North
Carolina Arboretum's 434 acres transform into a
glowing winter wonderland, strewn with nearly
500,000 lights. In its fourth year, the Winter
Lights exhibit will bring back favorite features
such as a 50-foot animated tree, model trains
and a Quilt Garden, while introducing new
additions, including interactive motion sensor
games and even more lights and music. If you're
looking to trim costs, take advantage of friends
and family pricing on Tuesdays. If you're willing
to splurge, go all-out with the Winter Lights
Holiday Tour and arrive in a vintage-style trolley.
[See: America's 50 Prettiest Winter Towns.]
What's more, Asheville's 25th annual National
Gingerbread House Competition at the Omni
Grove Park Inn is worth attending. Celebrate with
a warm cup of hot chocolate and house-made
marshmallows (or a ginger-apple-cider hot toddy)
by one of the towering fireplaces flanking the
Great Hall of this historic resort. For little ones in
tow, Santa Claus is coming to the Blue Ridge
Mountains by train as the Craggy Mountain Line
Railroad gets in the holiday spirit. The Jingle Bell
Trolley Train Run, operated by the Craggy
Mountain Line Railroad, takes off on Saturdays
through Dec. 17, and on Friday, Dec. 23. A $10
admission price includes hot cocoa, cookies and
a meet-and-greet with Santa.