Anyone recommend any US towns to vacation during Christmas... I want a small town Christmas.

[MIGrandma]

http://www.countryliving.com/life/travel/g2829/best-christmas-towns-in-usa/

Frankenmuth, Michigan made that list!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I've been curious about this place at Christmas. Have you or someone you know been during holiday time?

I've been there every year for the past 40.

Bethlehem bills itself at "The Christmas City" because it was a missionary settlement organized by Moravian Church missionaries and was given the name Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, 1741.

Throughout the Christmas season, there are tours of the historic area available with costumed tour guides.

It includes one of the largest Christmas markets (Christkindlmarkt) in the world. They have a glassblowing experience available this year.

Moravian Bookshop, the longest continuing operating bookstore in the United States, hosts an evening with Gerald Charles Dickens (Dickens' 2x great grandson).

Downtown is decorated tastefully with holiday music playing with lots of shops and restaurants.

There are horse drawn carriage rides available. And there are night bus tours also.

There are performances of the Nutcracker in both Bethlehem and nearby Allentown.

Touchstone Theatre, a local community theatre group, performs their traditional Christmas City Follies

Central Moravian Church (the headquarters of the Moravian Church in the United States) hosts a Christmas Eve Vigil that is truly beautiful but requires tickets to attend because of its popularity.

The Moravian Museum of Bethlehem will have various Christmas music performances throughout the year.

Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas has special Christmas matinee movies (White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, etc.)

Civic Theatre of Allentown will be preforming A Christmas Carol and The Santaland Diaries this December.

Easton's State Theatre will have several Christmas related shows throughout December.

http://www.christmascity.org/
http://www.artsquest.org/christkind...off-5-week-holiday-run-nov-20-at-steelstacks/
https://historicbethlehem.org/
https://historicbethlehem.org/christmas/christmas-tours/
http://www.bethlehempa.org/visit_christmas.html
https://www.familyvacationcritic.com/visit-christmas-city-in-bethlehem-pa/
https://getdowntownbethlehem.com/

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I live in CO. I do love Vail and they decorate beautifully but if you want the feel of a small town USA Christmas then I recommend Georgetown. https://www.historicgeorgetown.org/christmas-events.html

 

[NotUrsula]

It isn't snowy, or generally even very cold, but I'd recommend Natchitoches, LA (in the nw part of the state. pron. NACK-i-tish, btw) Natchitoches was where Steel Magnolias was filmed, and they start off the season with a Christmas Festival the first week in December, and keep the festivities going until Epiphany (January 6th.) The food tends to be very good, too.

For those who want a city getaway for the holidays, consider New Orleans. It's one of the best bargain times of the year at hotels and restaurants, due to the Papa Noel rate program, and the weather is generally in the upper 60's that time of year. http://www.wfrenchquarter.com/papa-noel

 

[Shellsbutt]

We're heading to Grass Valley in a couple weeks - hoping that the ski resorts in Tahoe are open by then, but any recommendations of other things to do in the area in case they don't get snow? My wife's friend is letting us use a vacation home they have outside of Grass Valley.

Hi Soccer Dad- Last year was the first time I've ever visited Grass Valley and Nevada City, so I don't really know anything off the top of my head. Have you checked Trip Advisor or Yelp? I highly doubt the resorts will have enough snow in Tahoe but who knows. Fall is beautiful there and there are plenty of casinos if you like to gamble. I enjoy the west shore- Emerald Bay and Tahoe City. North shore- Incline Village. If I had the money, I would buy a summer house there. What do you like to do? Plenty of hikes in desolation wilderness too.

 

[DisneyOma]

Marblehead MA does a great Christmas - http://northshorekid.com/event/marblehead-christmas-walk

https://wednesdaysinmhd.com/wp-cont...ep-it-Local-Mud-Puddle-Toys-Marblehead-MA.jpg

http://robkipp.com/winter/5dimg_1413.htm

or Newburyport MA, Rockport, etc.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We're heading to Grass Valley in a couple weeks - hoping that the ski resorts in Tahoe are open by then, but any recommendations of other things to do in the area in case they don't get snow? My wife's friend is letting us use a vacation home they have outside of Grass Valley.

Grass Valley is down in the foothills. So they're not going to have snow right now down there.

It's probably a bit early yet even up at higher elevations. Last year Mt. Rose and Boreal were open starting about Mid November. Squaw Valley, Northstar Alpine meadows about a week or two later. Same with Heavenly Valley. The rest open early to mid december. Some of the harder steeper slopes tend to open later than the full resort. It all just depends. How cold is it. How much snow will they have to make vs it just falling, etc etc.

As to what to do, well Donner pass and lake are nice. The drive around the western side of Lake Tahoe is a blast. Emerald bay isn't green nearly as much as it was. But it's pretty. A short and steep climb up a trail there will lead to a panoramic view of the lake. You can dip your feet in at various places. Emerald bay isn't one of them. The water isn't too cold yet I wouldn't think for that. And then there's the casinos at south shore. Nothing as extravagant as Vegas and not even close. But we've been able to eat in some decent places there. I'm not a big gambler but if that is your thing, limits are much lower in Tahoe than on the Vegas strip. I had a girlfriend that was a dealer up there. That was before i even met my wife. She's still up there. Still a dealer.

Down at lower elevations you can drive back through Auburn down to Coloma where gold was first discovered.
Be advised. Freak storms can and do happen up there. We got caught in June one year

 

[Mirielle]

FLIGHTLESSDUCK...how outstanding! Bethlehem is just what I've been dreaming of. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

ETA: Is there usually snow on the ground the week of Christmas?

 

[Planogirl]

I can do without snow but I love small town holiday charm. Natchitoches, LA and Fredericksburg, TX are both nice. Frankenmuth (and Holland) Michigan are both on my short list. However my personal favorite is Eureka Springs, Arkansas. There is nowhere like the Ozarks and Branson isn't too far if you want more excitement.

 

[Planogirl]

FLIGHTLESSDUCK...how outstanding! Bethlehem is just what I've been dreaming of. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

ETA: Is there usually snow on the ground the week of Christmas?

Bethlehem does look interesting. I might have to add it to my list!

 

[soccerdad72]

Grass Valley is down in the foothills. So they're not going to have snow right now down there.

It's probably a bit early yet even up at higher elevations. Last year Mt. Rose and Boreal were open starting about Mid November. Squaw Valley, Northstar Alpine meadows about a week or two later. Same with Heavenly Valley. The rest open early to mid december. Some of the harder steeper slopes tend to open later than the full resort. It all just depends. How cold is it. How much snow will they have to make vs it just falling, etc etc.

As to what to do, well Donner pass and lake are nice. The drive around the western side of Lake Tahoe is a blast. Emerald bay isn't green nearly as much as it was. But it's pretty. A short and steep climb up a trail there will lead to a panoramic view of the lake. You can dip your feet in at various places. Emerald bay isn't one of them. The water isn't too cold yet I wouldn't think for that. And then there's the casinos at south shore. Nothing as extravagant as Vegas and not even close. But we've been able to eat in some decent places there. I'm not a big gambler but if that is your thing, limits are much lower in Tahoe than on the Vegas strip. I had a girlfriend that was a dealer up there. That was before i even met my wife. She's still up there. Still a dealer.

Down at lower elevations you can drive back through Auburn down to Coloma where gold was first discovered.
Be advised. Freak storms can and do happen up there. We got caught in June one year

Thanks for the info! We fly into San Francisco Nov. 17th and are spending a day there before heading to Grass Valley. I'm hoping for open resorts at somewhere like Boreal, but know that it's a crap shoot depending on weather that week. Otherwise, we'll check out the other stuff around the Tahoe area and maybe do some hiking and other outdoors stuff.

 

[arminnie]

I can do without snow but I love small town holiday charm. Natchitoches, LA and Fredericksburg, TX are both nice. Frankenmuth (and Holland) Michigan are both on my short list. However my personal favorite is Eureka Springs, Arkansas. There is nowhere like the Ozarks and Branson isn't too far if you want more excitement.

How could I forget Eureka Springs and Natchitoches? I split time between Arkansas and New Orleans.

 

[sunshine1178]

Want a really small town, and a cultural celebration? Try Bishop Hill, Illinois. https://bishophillheritage.org/lucia-nights-schedule-for-bishop-hill/

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I don't know that I've ever seen more than a few flurries on Christmas Day in this part of the country. While TV and movies make Christmas all about snow filled holidays, that's just not the reality for many of us.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

FLIGHTLESSDUCK...how outstanding! Bethlehem is just what I've been dreaming of. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

ETA: Is there usually snow on the ground the week of Christmas?

I'm glad you are considering coming to my city. I truly love it.

As for snow, that's really hit-and-miss. Lately we haven't gotten much snow until late January or early February.

 

[Imzadi]

I want to get away from FL and go somewhere I can feel and experience Christmas. Nevada City is at the top of my list. All thanks to a certain Hallmark Christmas movie. I was looking for more suggestions.

could you tell me the name of that Hallmark movie? We live in the Sacramento area and drove up to Nevada City/Grass Valley last fall and during December. It's such a cute little town, lots of historic buildings. They had a Victorian Christmas event in December that we went to and I just remember it being very cold, in the 30's.

The Christmas Card.

That's one of my favorite Hallmark Christmas movies. Interesting, Hallmark films so many movies up in Vancouver, that I took it for granted (other than that bridge at the end,) that it was also filmed in Vancouver.

 

[soccerdad72]

Grass Valley is down in the foothills. So they're not going to have snow right now down there.

It's probably a bit early yet even up at higher elevations. Last year Mt. Rose and Boreal were open starting about Mid November. Squaw Valley, Northstar Alpine meadows about a week or two later. Same with Heavenly Valley. The rest open early to mid december. Some of the harder steeper slopes tend to open later than the full resort. It all just depends. How cold is it. How much snow will they have to make vs it just falling, etc etc.

As to what to do, well Donner pass and lake are nice. The drive around the western side of Lake Tahoe is a blast. Emerald bay isn't green nearly as much as it was. But it's pretty. A short and steep climb up a trail there will lead to a panoramic view of the lake. You can dip your feet in at various places. Emerald bay isn't one of them. The water isn't too cold yet I wouldn't think for that. And then there's the casinos at south shore. Nothing as extravagant as Vegas and not even close. But we've been able to eat in some decent places there. I'm not a big gambler but if that is your thing, limits are much lower in Tahoe than on the Vegas strip. I had a girlfriend that was a dealer up there. That was before i even met my wife. She's still up there. Still a dealer.

Down at lower elevations you can drive back through Auburn down to Coloma where gold was first discovered.
Be advised. Freak storms can and do happen up there. We got caught in June one year

Sorry for the bump - just wanted to follow up and say that we had a great trip to Northern California. Squaw Valley was open from the High Camp and up from there, so our boys got a chance to ski/snowboard for a day. My wife and I opted out of skiing and just spent the day in the resort village and hiking some of the trails there. Had one rainy day, so we spent a lot of it driving around the lake. Went down around Emerald Bay - which was beautiful, except for the fog and rain. Nice lunch down around that area, then drove around to Nevada and ended up in Reno at an indoor rock climbing gym. One of the other days, we toured one of the old mines and then spent the afternoon in Nevada City.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Sorry for the bump - just wanted to follow up and say that we had a great trip to Northern California. Squaw Valley was open from the High Camp and up from there, so our boys got a chance to ski/snowboard for a day. My wife and I opted out of skiing and just spent the day in the resort village and hiking some of the trails there. Had one rainy day, so we spent a lot of it driving around the lake. Went down around Emerald Bay - which was beautiful, except for the fog and rain. Nice lunch down around that area, then drove around to Nevada and ended up in Reno at an indoor rock climbing gym. One of the other days, we toured one of the old mines and then spent the afternoon in Nevada City.

Glad you had fun in some of my old stomping grounds.

 

[cinnaminny]

Frankenmuth, Michigan? I've never been right at Christmastime, but it's Christmas all year round there.

There are quite a few places in Michigan that would be amazing at Christmas.

 

[Sabeking]

Asheville, NC