Americans pull out the stops during the Christmas season, ensuring plenty of festivity and good cheer almost anywhere you go. Twinkling lights, evergreen boughs and Santa-style props are ubiquitous in front yards and urban streets, creating a warm feeling to ward off the winter chill that blankets most of the country.
But too much of a good thing can wear you down, and America often overindulges in the Christmas hoopla as retailers bombard customers with muzak and an indiscreet push of consumerism. The trick to visiting the USA at Christmas is to find a place that still reveres the inspirational camaraderie of seasonal cheer and avoid the shopping malls.
Top 10 classic destinations for visiting the USA at Christmas:
New York City: a big city with big displays of holiday cheer. The streets are bedecked in strings of light and its famously curt residents seem in a jovial mood. From the massive Christmas tree and ice skating at the Rockerfeller Center to the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, the city is awash in shows and shopping magic.
Branson, Missouri: Christmas on Main Street. Silver Dollar City goes over the top with more than four million lights strung around its charming city centre. The main square hosts a five-storey tree with a nightly sound and light show followed by a parade with sparking floats that pass by twice each evening.
Baltimore, Maryland: Miracle on 34th Street. For six decades residents of this block of downtown Baltimore have competed to decorate their homes with quirky and inspiring displays of Christmas spirit. Thousands of visitors descend each night to walk around and admire the creativity.
Orlando, Florida: keeping warm with Mickey. The display at Disney World is unmatched in terms of spectacle and spirit. Nightly fireworks, parades with Disney characters and even snowfall on Main Street happen every night amid a mind-blowing light and sound show.
New England: storybook white Christmas. New England is speckled with quaint little towns that could have fallen off a Norman Rockwell painting. Snowfall is common in classic towns like Montpelier and in Vermont, and Lebanon in New Hampshire.
Las Vegas, Nevada: partying with Santa’s elves. Vegas is a major destination over Christmas and new year for those who want a lively holiday experience. Special Christmas displays at resorts like the Bellagio and the Venetian remind you of the season as you gamble, party and enjoy a buzzing scene along the Strip.
Leavenworth, Washington: a taste of Bavaria. This gingerbread village deep in the Cascade Mountains is virtually guaranteed to be covered in snow. For three weeks around Christmas, the entire town comes out for nightly carolling, tree lightings and sleigh rides around town.
Santa Cruz, California: surfing Santa. This cool northern Californian beach town has a thing for Christmas. Its classic beachside pier lights itself up every night and the quaint town centre livens up with special shop and gallery openings, live music and other fun events.
Washington, DC: the National Tree. America’s capital city puts a lot of energy into finding a perfect, and enormous, Christmas tree each year. The annual lighting ceremony in front of the White House is a big deal, supported by a full schedule of special performances and festive events.
San Antonio, Texas: warm and wonderful. With pleasantly warm weather and a fun Texan population, San Antonio is a great place to enjoy the Christmas holidays. Its famed River Walk transforms into an endless canopy of twinkling lights that can be enjoyed on a boat cruise or by strolling along the path. Thousands of people come for the opening parade and nightly events.
John is a guest blogger from National who provide special rates on Florida car hire and car rental across the USA. Image by Rob Boudon
