Locations in the USA where Christmas is celebrated to the fullest
Spend any amount of time in the United States during the Christmas season, and you’ll quickly notice that Americans adore their holiday lights and decorations. However, if you’re looking for places in the country where the decorations get especially festive, consider visiting these towns and cities that represent the best of Christmas.
New York City
While New York City shines in almost every season, Christmas in the Big Apple is spectacular. From the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, which can stand up to 100 feet (30 meters), to Brooklyn’s light-festooned promenades, the City That Never Sleeps shines especially brightly during the holidays.
Las Vegas, Nevada
To find the best Christmas lights in Las Vegas, leave the Strip and head to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Glittering Lights is a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) course where you can drive through to see more than 600 holiday displays decked out in lights. Alternatively, visit the extravagant Bellagio Hotel & Casino for an extravagant Christmas tree.
San Antonio, Texas
Everything in Texas is bigger, including the Christmas decorations. Colorful and exuberant displays line the river that runs through the city every December. Other attractions get into the holiday spirit as well, with SeaWorld San Antonio alone stringing up 9m lights.
Chicago, Illinois
While Chicago goes all out for the holidays, decking out buildings in tinsel and lights, its Christkindlmarket is what sets it apart. The market, which is held in Daley Plaza and is modeled after legendary German Christmas fairs, sells everything from sausages to Christmas ornaments and attracts over 1 million visitors each year.
Richmond, Virginia
If you think it’s difficult to decorate for Christmas without going overboard, Richmond, Virginia, is the place to be during the holidays. Every year, residents compete to outdo each other in garish Christmas light displays during the Tacky Lights Tour. Grab a copy of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, which publishes an annual list of the top homes to drive by.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is a one-of-a-kind Christmas destination in America, with Christmas lights and decorations lining the boardwalk and beaches. It’s also whale-watching season in the winter, so if you’re lucky, you might spot one alongside your holiday light show.
Nashville, Tennessee
The Gaylord Opryland, a hotel near the famed country music hall, the Grand Ole Opry, has the best Christmas displays in Nashville, with over 3 million lights decking the halls. Head downtown to see honky-tonk neon signs mix with holiday decorations.
North Pole, Alaska
The North Pole, as one might expect, goes all out for Christmas. Every night for six weeks during the winter, the small Alaska town hosts a Christmas in Ice festival, and almost everything is decorated to honor its most famous resident.
Kansas City, Missouri
If you’re looking for somewhere to kick off the festive holiday season, Kansas City is a safe bet. On Thanksgiving night, the Country Club Plaza holds a fireworks show before a switch is flipped, turning on the magnificent holiday lights. Also, helicopter tours are available to experience the magic of the lights from an entirely new perspective.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
The ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden goes all out for Christmas. The gardens come to life in the River of Lights, with more than 600 sculptures, thanks to more than 12 miles (19 kilometers) of extension cords and millions of bulbs. Stroll through downtown for something completely different, where streets are lined in traditional New Mexican holiday fashion, with votive candles inside paper bags.