An adorable main street decked out in wreaths, garland, and lights. Christmas trees in every snow-dusted storefront window. Hot chocolate and cookies galore. A Big City Lawyer falling for the Small Town Baker while helping rescue her family’s local inn. (Okay, maybe not that last one.) You dream of visiting a town that looks and feels as cozy as your favorite holiday movies.
Whether you’re deciding where to travel over Christmas holidays, looking to infuse some festive spirit into your digital nomad lifestyle, or considering a potential relocation to a town that embodies the holiday season, we’ve got you covered. These 10 quaint U.S. towns and cities are not just must-see destinations during the holidays but also offer a charming lifestyle for potential movers.
1. Leavenworth, Washington
If you want to visit one of the prettiest towns in the USA and have an all-consuming holiday experience, you can’t skip Leavenworth. This Bavarian village is located in beautiful central Washington and is home to one of the most popular Christmas celebrations in the country.
During Christmastown, you’ll feel like you accidentally stumbled across the set of a holiday movie. The village goes all out on the lights and festivities. You can walk around taking in the sites while sipping on cocoa, enjoy live music at the gazebo, snap photos with Santa, participate in holiday-themed activities, and so much more!
The area also has plenty to offer year-round, with tons of outdoor recreation like hiking, rafting, cycling, and more. If you decide to stay long-term, the Pacific Northwest is full of fantastic summer travel destinations, like Portland and Seattle.
2. Santa Claus, Indiana
Nothing says Christmas quite like a town named after the big man in red himself. Santa Claus could be the perfect town if you’re looking for year-round cheer. Here, you’ll find plenty of holly jolly goodness 365 days, including a giant Christmas store and a candy store castle.
Each winter, the Indiana town puts on a three-weekend celebration leading up to Christmas. With tons of holiday activities, festive lodging, and shopping to be done, it’s a great way to spend the season.
While Santa Claus is big on Christmas, it’s more than a winter wonderland, and summer is the town’s peak season. So, if you decide to stay for a while, you know you won’t run out of things to do. Don’t forget to visit Holiday World, which has rides and attractions themed after all the major holidays, including Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and (of course) Christmas.
3. Frankenmuth, Michigan
When it comes to Christmas-y winter destinations, Frankenmurth is one of the top places to visit.
Known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria, this town is home to the “World’s Largest Christmas Store” and puts on an unforgettable Christmas experience. You can enjoy stunning light displays, a singing Christmas tree, endless tasty treats, an ice skating rink, and more. You’re sure to feel like the star of your very own Hallmark movie from the moment you arrive.
Outside of the holiday season, you’ll always have something to do between a ropes course, kayaking, museums, indoor water parks, and countless other activities. If you schedule your move in winter, be sure to check the weather and plan accordingly because Frankenmuth is no stranger to snow.
4. Santa Fe, New Mexico
While New Mexico may bring up mental images of deserts and earthy tones, the temperature in Santa Fe does dip in the winter, and you can catch some great skiing at the Ski Santa Fe Resort while checking out all the town has to offer for the holidays.
Santa Fe puts its own twist on traditional Christmas displays, and its unique vision makes the city well worth a holiday visit. Instead of the usual LED lights, Santa Fe uses farolitos, also known as luminarias. These paper lanterns are placed along streets and buildings, creating a warm winter glow. You can even catch a farolitos tree lighting at the Bishop Lodge. You can also enjoy Christmas concerts, a holiday train, a traditional tree lighting, and tons of great shopping.
If you decide to make Santa Fe more of a permanent home, you can look forward to tons of outdoor experiences, historic sites, art markets, and thriving nightlife. Just remember Santa Fe is a huge tourist destination, so you may have to deal with large crowds and more traffic during busy seasons.
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5. Chicago, Illinois
Deep-dish pizza, hotdogs with poppyseed buns, and a stainless steel bean sculpture might not scream Christmas, but Chicago has still made its way onto this list. While Chicago is by no means a small, quaint town, we’d be remiss to leave it off because nothing brings Christmas cheer quite like the Christkindlmarket that runs from late November through Christmas Eve.
This German Christmas market is sure to put you in a holly jolly mood with tasty food, warm beverages (can’t forget the mulled wine!), and plenty of holiday shopping to be done. If you’re in Chicago for a short-term assignment or just passing through for a trip during the holiday season, staying near Daley Plaza can offer easy access to this slice of Christmas magic. While there, don’t forget to hitch a ride on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Holiday Train.
If you choose to stay in Chicago long-term, know there is plenty to do between the fantastic food, popular sports teams, nightlife, museums, and zoos.
6. Williamsburg, Virginia
Colonial Williamsburg is the perfect holiday destination for history nuts and Christmas fanatics alike. Drive around local neighborhoods to check out their Christmas decorations, enjoy a touch of history with a carriage ride, watch a Christmas parade, and catch one of the town’s famous Grand Illumination — a history-inspired fireworks and gun-salute display. Don’t forget to visit the Busch Gardens theme park for their Christmas Town event!
Long-term, Williamsburg offers a beautiful experience of all four seasons and a deep-rooted American history. Plus, the Virginia town is conveniently located near New York City, so you can easily access Brooklyn and Manhattan when you want a taste of something more metropolitan.
7. St. Augustine, Florida
If you’re looking for holiday magic but want to avoid the colder cities, St. Augustine could be the perfect Christmastime destination. This town is renowned for its Night of Lights, which runs nightly from late November through late January. Night of Lights has been recognized as one of the best holiday light displays in the world, and you can enjoy it on trolleys, trains, carriage rides, boats, and more.
If you love surf and sun, this coastal Florida town could become a longer stay with its warm weather and boating, beaching, and fishing opportunities.
8. Solvang, California
Solvang is another great option if you’re looking for a sunny travel destination this winter but still want the full holiday experience. Located in the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang is a Danish-styled town that is huge on Christmas spirit.
Every year, they host a month-long celebration called Julefest. Running from the end of November to the beginning of January, this celebration bursts with activities and festivities to enjoy. Twinkling lights, tree lighting, caroling, Christmas markets, festive food and drink, photos with Santa — Solvang has it all. But the best part might be the Nissee (Danish for gnome) Adventure, where you can participate in a village-wide scavenger hunt for little gnomes.
Year-round, Solvang lets you immerse yourself in Danish culture through bakeries, shops, museums, and more. Enjoy an authentic small-town vibe while soaking up the SoCal sun.
9. Durango, Colorado
There are tons of Colorado cities and towns we could put on this list, including the ever-popular Aspen, Denver, and Vail. But we decided to go with Durango for its sparkling snow, stunning decorations, and countless holiday events. You can sing with Santa, catch a showing of the Nutcracker, ride the Polar Express, shop at the holiday farmer’s market, and enjoy festive treats. For snow lovers, don’t forget to hit up one of the nearby ski resorts or take a sledding or snowshoeing trip.
For the outdoorsy and friendly at heart, Durango could be the perfect place to settle down for a few months or longer. From hiking in the mild summer to hitting the slopes in the winter, you can always find outdoor activities to keep you busy. With a vibrant nightlife and a bustling food and brewery scene, you won’t run out of opportunities to be social.
10. Grapevine, TX
When looking for places to visit during Christmas, why not check out the self-proclaimed Christmas Capital of Texas? Everything’s bigger in Texas, and that includes the holiday celebrations in the town of Grapevine. Located just north of Dallas and Fort Worth, this city boasts a vibrant downtown Main Street and hosts more than 1,400 events over 40 days during the holiday season. Take in the stunning decorations and capture a few memories with the festive photo ops sprinkled around.
If you enjoy the year-round warmth of the south, Grapevine could become more than a quick holiday trip. This suburb is full of restaurants, coffee shops, parks, and other activities. You’ll have more of a small-town feel while living here, but conveniently located highways make the city experience in Dallas a quick drive away.
Make Your Holiday Home Picture Perfect with CORT
Wherever the holidays or your next move takes you, CORT is here to support your journey by making each new place feel like home. Whether you’re trying out a new town, exploring a seasonal move, or settling in a new place entirely, we want to support you. Our flexible furniture rental options allow you to settle in with ease—no hauling or heavy lifting required.
Although our services aren’t yet available in every holiday town, we’re ready to be there when you need us most. Explore our furniture rental packages online or visit a showroom to see how we can help make your next homecoming, whether temporary or long-term, warm, comfortable, and stress-free.
