Many Bostonians have visited the North Shore and been charmed by the area’s quaint, coastal towns; however, you may have overlooked the appeal of one seaside village. Essex tends to be eclipsed by the neighboring towns of Ipswich and Gloucester. Although Essex only had a population of 3,504 in 2010, this North Shore gem has far more to offer than you might expect given its size.
Thanks to Essex Bay, the town has water views galore, yet it remains sheltered from the open ocean.
However, the town developed its own identity, separating from Ipswich in 1819. Today it’s known for charming antique shops, outstanding seafood restaurants, and natural beauty.
Essex bills itself as America’s Antiques Capital and, given that the town boasts 25 antiques stores in the space of a mile, it certainly seems like a strong contender for the title.
Wander along Main Street, pausing to browse through Howard’s Flying Dragon Antiques or the White Elephant Shop for one-of-a-kind treasures – yes, that is a suit of armor!
Hobbyists and serious collectors alike will love the selection of stores.
When you’ve finished shopping, take a walk back in time at Cogswell’s Grant. This petite museum is devoted to folk art; it's a laid back way to appreciate the past.
When hunger strikes, you’re spoiled for choice in Essex. The Boat House Grille offers a raw bar, a wide range of baked, broiled, or fried seafood, along with soups and salads. Expect a menu filled with traditional favorites and also more experimental dishes.
Essex’s most alluring feature is its beautiful and varied landscapes. The Essex River is an outdoor playground - stroll beside it or venture out in a kayak or on a paddleboard.
During the summer, Essex River Cruises and Charters offers sightseeing trips along the river – it’s an easy way to appreciate the salt marshes and to see the area’s wildlife up close.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – especially in these 29 incredible small towns that look like they were ripped straight from a Hallmark Christmas movie. From picturesque Northeast hamlets covered in a blanket of snow to twinkling wonderlands in the American Southwest, these charming Christmas towns in the U.S. are the perfect place to celebrate the holiday season, whether you’re planning a cross-country getaway to enjoy Christmas lights with long-distance family or want to enjoy a close-to-home wintry day trip to visit Santa Claus.
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Featuring everything from Christmas markets to holiday light displays, these small towns across America transform during the holiday season to become magical winter wonderlands full of holiday cheer.
Where To Stay:The Sayre Mansion Inn is a delightful historic property within walking distance of Bethlehem’s top attractions.
Named Bethlehem on Christmas Eve in 1741, this small Pennsylvania town is full of holiday charm, and in 1937, it began being recognized as Christmas City, USA. Whether you visit as an annual Christmas tradition or are planning your first-ever day trip, the magic of the holiday season is unmatched in Bethlehem.
While in town, do some holiday shopping at one of the two markets: Christmas Huts on Main inspired by the German Weihnachtsmarkt or Christkindlmarkt, which is one of the nation’s best holiday markets. You can also take a tour with the Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, experience the town’s Live Advent Calendar, or enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride.
Where To Stay:The Shire is a riverfront property surrounded by natural beauty.
When you think of your favorite Hallmark movie setting, Woodstock, Vermont might come first to mind. Old-fashioned holiday charm abounds during the annual Wassail Weekend, where you can enjoy an indulgent holiday meal at nearly every restaurant in town, horse-drawn wagon tours, caroling performances as a medieval-style pageant, the “Christmastime Wassail Feast.”
Where To Stay: The Thomas Rose Inn is one of the most charming places to rest your head in Lewisburg.
With Christmas lights and horse-drawn carriage rides, Lewisburg transforms into a peaceful holiday getaway. Enjoy the Magic of Christmas in Lewisburg with weekly holiday festivities, including visits with Santa Claus, ice carving demonstrations, live music, and a holiday window contest. You will also find opulence at the nearby Greenbrier Resort, an 18th-century resort that features over-the-top decorations and plenty of fun family activities.
Where To Stay: The Stockbridge Country Inn is the closest B&B to the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Made famous by Norman Rockwell’s painting of the village during the holidays, the town of Stockbridge is a quintessential New England Christmas town. The area’s premier event is Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas, which features holiday markets, historic property tours, live performances, light displays, and so much more.
Where To Stay: Step back in time when you stay at the Historic Inns Of Annapolis, a group of stunning properties in the heart of Annapolis.
Nestled on the Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore Washington D.C., Annapolis might just be the most charming capital city in the United States. It is also one of the best places to celebrate Christmas. With beautifully decorated storefronts, and Christmas wreaths on every lamppost, this is a Charles Dickens town if we’ve ever seen one. Event highlights include the Annapolis Holiday Market, Midnight Madness — select dates when shops are open until midnight — the Grand Illumination of the Annapolis Christmas Tree, and the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade.
Where To Stay: The Hotel Viking is one of the most unique properties we’ve ever seen.
Designed to inspire an old-fashioned candlelit ambiance, Newport, Rhode Island is one of the most charming holiday destinations in New England. The town’s premier event is Christmas In Newport, a two-week celebration of the holiday season that features a plethora of events: a boat parade, holiday bazaar, performances of The Nutcracker, historic tours, and more.
Christmas begins in Galena with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus and their Jeep Jingle Parade. Stroll down Galena’s Historic Main Street, admire festive storefronts, do some local shopping, and enjoy outdoor adventures. You could spend weeks exploring Galena at Christmastime, but a few days will have to do.
Branson, Missouri is one of the Midwest’s premier tourist destinations, especially during the wintertime. The Branson Scenic Railway is decked out for holiday train rides (including a Polar Express ride), the Dolly Parton Stampede has phenomenal holiday dinner shows, and the Miracle of Christmas at Sight & Sound is quite enchanting as well. For even more fun, Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas is a truly remarkable holiday extravaganza and has been named one of the best theme park holiday events in the country.
Known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria, Frankenmuth has deep German roots and lovely Bavarian architecture that makes you feel like you’ve been transported to Deutschland. It is also home to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the “World’s Largest Christmas Store,” which measures in at more than 7 acres in size and landscapes grounds covering 27 acres.
The Frankenmuth Visitor's Center is home to a 40-foot Christmas tree, and in Zehnder Park, you’ll find the outdoor Frankenmuth Ice Rink where you can go ice skating. You can even embark on Little Bavaria’s Little Driving Light Tour. How festive!
Named after the man of the season himself, Santa Claus, Indiana is a themed wonderland that’s hard to resist at Christmastime. Holiday World offers themed roller coasters, and you’ll find themed holiday attractions galore; shop ‘til you drop at the Santa Claus Christmas Store, wonder at the fantastic light shows that illuminate the area, cheer at the Santa Claus Christmas Parade, and more. This is truly one of the best Christmas towns in America.
Why not extend the fun for another day? An hour away, in French Lick, Indiana, the North Pole Express at the French Lick Scenic Railway is a family favorite.
Where To Stay: The Mills Park Hotel has its own on-site restaurant.
Christmas in Ohio is truly spectacular — a Midwest gem. And one of the best destinations in Ohio to celebrate the holiday season? The Historic Clifton Mill Legendary Christmas Light Display is one of the country’s best light shows — with more than four million lights illuminating the mill, the gorge, the riverbanks, and even a 100-foot “waterfall” of twinkling lights. This fantastic winter wonderland is also home to a Santa Claus Museum, a Toy Collection, and a synchronized lights and music show.
Minnesota is a snowy state home to plenty of Christmas cheer, but Red Wing is one of our favorite spots to celebrate. Covered in a blanket of snow and thousands of twinkling lights, visitors can enjoy caroling and carriage rides, the Annual Holiday Stroll, and so much more. The day after Thanksgiving, this old-fashioned Christmas celebration offers meet and greets with Santa and Mrs. Claus as well as baby reindeer plus fireworks, shopping, and a light parade.
Where To Stay: The Bavarian Lodge will transport you to another world.
Leavenworth might just be one of the most popular Christmas towns on this list, and for good reason. This tiny Bavarian-themed town nestled in the Cascade Mountains is bursting with Christmas cheer — Leavenworth sees over 200,000 visitors for its Christmas festivities alone!
With more than 500,000 Christmas lights, carolers, and roasted chestnuts, the festivities kick off the day after Thanksgiving for Christkindlemarkt, and some decorations stay up through Valentine’s Day. Families won’t want to miss a visit to the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm, where you can connect with the festive animals in their care.
Is there a town more quintessentially Christmas than North Pole, Alaska? It’s Christmas every day at the Santa Claus House, but during the Christmas season, this Alaska town just a 15-minute sleigh ride from Fairbanks becomes truly spectacular. Take a picture with the World’s Largest Santa — a larger-than-life three-dimensional Santa statue that stands nearly 50 feet tall. Go Christmas shopping for ornaments and toys, tell Santa Claus your Christmas wishes, and admire the snowy landscape outside.
Covered in a blanket of snow, Bozeman is home to holiday celebrations and Christmas decorations galore. The Annual Christmas Stroll is a can’t-miss — Santa leads a parade down Main Street to sign carols and light holiday lights. You can also go holiday shopping, do some skiing or snowboarding, or even find the perfect Christmas tree for your very own at-home tree-lighting ceremony.
Where To Stay: Stay by the beach at the Hotel Carmel.
Carmel is one of my favorite places in the world, and I can’t wait to someday visit at Christmastime. Full of Christmas spirit, this small oceanside town near Monterey is full of twinkling lights and holiday decorations, as well as live music and entertainment, boutique shopping, and fun leisure activities — like reading a book by the ocean with a cup of holiday coffee or making a gingerbread house! If you have a creative spirit on your shopping list, you’ll want to check out the local galleries for unique gifts.
We love spending Christmas exploring snowy small towns with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, and well, Jackson Hole, Wyoming fits the bill. Take a sleigh ride or snowmobile tour through the mountains and partake in a variety of outdoor activities by day, and by night, take in the local town square — a Christmas village of sorts that is home to unique shops, restaurants, and plenty of festive lights. It's easy to see why Jackson Hole is one of the best places to spend the holidays in the U.S.
Where To Stay:The Sebastian is a truly stunning place to stay.
Sledding, snowboarding, and skiing, oh my! Vail is an outdoor lover’s dream during the winter months, but it’s especially beautiful under a sea of twinkling lights and a blanket of snow. With events, festivities, dining, and more, Vail is the definition of postcard-perfect. Notable events include the Vail Ice Skating Spectacular, the Mountain Legacy Parade, the Holiday Tree Lighting in Vail Village, and fireworks to ring in the New Year.
Where To Stay: The Frontier Hotel is close to shopping and lots of holiday festivities.
The home of the Pioneer Woman, Pawhuska might not be on your radar as a Christmas town. With glittering lights, festive storefronts, and the annual Christmas parade of Lights — where you can meet Santa Claus himself — we think Norman Rockwell would fall in love with Pawhuska, and we hope you do, too. This is easily one of the best Christmas towns in the U.S.
If you’re dreaming of a White Christmas, look no further than Park City. This is one of the best places in the U.S. where it snows for Christmas and it's absolutely beautiful. Go shopping along Main Street when it’s lit up with holiday lights in the evening, hop aboard the North Pole Express at Heber Valley Railroad, or make plans to attend one of Park City’s events: the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Canyons Village, the Electric Parade on Main Street, or play in the mountain snow. This is one of the best Christmas towns in the USA.
Settled by Danish Americans in the early 1900s, Solvang continues to celebrate its Scandinavian roots, and the charm becomes even more apparent during Julefest, the town’s Danish-style holiday celebration, which kicks off on Black Friday and runs through January 6, 2024. With seasonal music, holiday shopping, culinary delights, twinkling lights, and holiday cheer, Solvang is a must-visit day trip destination if you live in Southern California.
Where To Stay: The entire family will love your stay at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine.
Located near Dallas-Fort Worth is the Christmas Capital of Texas, Grapevine. With 40 days of unique and traditional Christmas events, you’ll be delighted by millions of lights, Texas-sized decorations, animated characters, and so much more. Hop aboard the North Pole Express, admire holiday parades, go skating at the Peace Plaza Ice Rink, or indulge at Dr. Sue’s Chocolate Hot Chocolate Bar for family memories that will last a lifetime.
Where To Stay: The La Posada de Santa Fe is within walking distance of all of our Santa Fe favorites.
Interested in a desert Christmas? See Santa Fe in a new light during the holiday season — with historic traditions and annual celebrations, this is one of the most unique destinations on our list. Go skiing, take in a variety of live performances, and shop local at the Santa Fe Winter Indian Market where more than 150 juried artists sell jewelry, pottery, paintings, weavings, and more. Santa Fe’s favorite tradition — the Canyon Road Farolito Walk — takes place on Christmas Eve, touring historic neighborhoods on the Eastside with millions of Christmas lights.
With an impressive arts scene, scrumptious restaurants and shopping, and access to nature, there are so many reasons to love Greenville, but we love it most at Christmastime. Go ice skating, attend the Poinsettia Christmas Parade, marvel at the displays made as part of Poinsettia Postcards. or attend the Saturday Market: Holiday Edition.
If you wish A Christmas Carol would come to life around you, Williamsburg might just be your best bet. This colonial wonderland is truly something special during the holidays, especially when you visit during Grand Illumination, the town’s premier festival of live musical performances and fireworks.
Where To Stay: This cozy cottage is all decked out for Christmas.
Tucked away near Nashville, Franklin, Tennessee was founded in 1799 and named after Benjamin Franklin. While the entire town is lit up for the holiday season, the annual Dickens of a Christmas festival in downtown Franklin is the highlight. The festival brings characters from A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist to life as you roam the Victorian Village and sample Victorian-era holiday treats.
One of the best small towns in the country, Bardstown is known for its history, bourbon, and charm and you can still experience all of those during the holiday and winter seasons.
At Christmastime, this Kentucky town lights up with beautiful decor and festivities. After the town's tree is lit and the parade heads down Main Street, the festive fun continues throughout the season.
Where To Stay: This lakefront cabin is the ultimate retreat.
This Louisiana town is not only the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory, but since 1927, it has been home to one of the oldest community-based holiday celebrations in the country. Natchitoches holiday traditions include carriage tours through the National Historic Landmark District, weekly fireworks displays, live music and entertainment, and the Christmas Tour of Homes presented by the Natchitoches Historic Foundation.
You won’t experience a White Christmas in Florida, but that doesn’t mean you can’t explore charming small towns like St. Augustine. The town was named one of the best places to see Christmas lights in the world by National Geographic — with well over a million lights on display throughout the town.
During Nights of Lights, three million white lights glimmer from the sidewalks to the rooftops of approximately 20 city blocks. Other popular events include Luminary Nights, Lighthouse Illuminations, the Holiday Regatta of Lights, and the Colonial Night Watch. If you are searching for some of the best Christmas lights in the U.S., this is it.
Tell us, which of these U.S.A. towns will you be visiting this holiday season? Are there any other places you visit that will put you into the holiday spirit? What are your favorite Christmas towns in the U.S.? Let us know! And if you need some cold weather gear for your upcoming holiday adventure, we have you covered!
From the coast of Oregon to the mountains of Pennsylvania and everywhere in between, there are countless charming and captivating small towns across America worthy of an escape to a simpler life. Come along as we introduce you to 24 Small Town Getaways you can take this year.
Curated by our team of local travel experts and recommended by thousands of our readers, nature lovers, history buffs, foodies, and shopaholics alike will find wonder in these small towns. These towns are each home to less than 30,000 residents while still offering a variety of unique attractions, restaurants, and things to do.
Each has plenty of charm and character, plus a sense of community and a robust history. Whether you visit from nearby for a day or want to visit on your next cross-country vacation, we have compiled everything you need to know about visiting these small towns, from logistics planning to sights, landmarks, attractions, restaurants, shopping, nature, and more.
Where will your next Small Town Getaway take you? Perhaps a coastal community or rural wonder? Or maybe a mountainous marvel or historic hamlet is more your speed? Either way, you're sure to love OnlyInYourState's Small Town Getaways.
