The Top 5 U.S. Cities that go crazy for Christmas!

Seattle is the perfect place to experience the winter holidays in not-too-freezing conditions. Indeed, enjoy the holidays with a nice and fresh breeze from the Pacific! This bay side city offers many activities for locals and tourists around the holiday season, such as the Winterfest, Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village, Lumaze: Lost in Lights festival, Westlake Center’s Tree lighting celebration, Pike Place Market, Winter Beer Festival, Enchant Christmas, and this year’s new Seattle Christmas Market (composed of artisan shops, eats & treats, live entertainment, and a ‘very merry go round’). 

From winter train villages and gingerbread goodness to ice spectacles at the Winterfest, Seattle and its various festive locations celebrate cultures and traditions from all over the world, catering to children and adults alike! 

If you’re looking for inspiration, an ideal festive day would start with a pleasant walk around Pike Place market followed by a visit to the Westlake Centre Tree before starting the evening at the Lumaze light festival. Finally, enjoy a much deserved drink at the Winter Beer Festival before topping it all off at the Christmas Market for some lively outdoor entertainment (you can find their schedule here). 

With breathtaking views over the ocean and centrally located right by Seattle’s famous Space Needle, The Mediterranean Inn has just what you need to enjoy a holiday break. Book now!

Chi-town has also got a lot to offer. Known as one of the landmark cities for holiday films (such as Home Alone or Planes, Train and Automobiles) no doubt it’s got what it takes to exceed expectations! Amongst its many delightfully colourful city attractions, it offers various holiday-specific locations and activities, such as: light shows (Lightscape at the Chicago Botanical Garden or Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum), holiday markets (Christkindlmarket German Christmas market, Renegade Craft Fair, Kwanzaa Market), ice skating rinks (Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park’s Skating Ribbon, and the Gallagher Way rink), and christmas trees of course (the biggest being the Millenium Park Tree)! Indeed, weather conditions may be very cold at this time of year, so make sure to bundle up!

Chicago Athletic Association, part of Hyatt: This hotel combines luxury and comfort in the centre of buzzing Chicago! An experience not to be missed. 

A blast from the past - Williamsburg and its historical area offers a unique approach to a Christmas-themed landscape. Indeed, its charming city centre is the perfect place to spend a peaceful holiday.

Along with its historical centre Christmas tours, it also hosts Christmas themed activities all around the city, such as Busch gardens Christmas Town, the Yankee Candle Village experience, Merchant Square, and Jamestown settlement & Yorktown foundation’s annual Christmastide event. A charming experience for a laid back and picturesque holiday break with the family. 

And to top it all off, the city organises a magical evening, Grand Illumination, every weekend leading up to Christmas in December. Filled with firework displays and cheerful music - gather all round an open fire and celebrate the holiday season the right way on the Palace Green. With endless food and drink stands available, you are bound to celebrate Christmas the right way. And if you want to mingle with the locals, don’t come empty handed! This is the perfect occasion to picnic with strangers in the open air and beautiful conditions. 

It’s the cold winter months, so let’s go all out and book a cottage-like hotel, am I right? The Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection offers an escape from our mundane lives and right into the Christmas mood! 

Denver, the buzzing American city in the middle of mountains. What more can you ask for a beautiful holiday experience? As you can imagine, Denver celebrates the holidays big. And when I mean big, I mean it hosts the Mile High Tree, America’s tallest digital tree right by the Christkindlmarket.

Other enchanting experiences in Denver involve the Cherry Creek North Winter Wanderland (with over one million lights and 600 trees on display), the Blossoms of Light show at the Botanical Gardens, The Polar Express interactive experience at the Colorado Railroad Museum, and the downtown Denver Rink at the Skyline Park for some spirited ice skating. 

In addition, special treats such as Santa visits will take place at events such as Santa at the (Union) Station or Santa Story Time. Finally, don’t miss out on other outstanding holiday art performances happening all over the city, such as A Christmas Carol, Camp Christmas, and The Nutcracker. And when all that’s over, head over to the slopes for a quick send! Some of the best ski stations are just under an hour from the city, so you’ve got no excuse. Curious? Here’s a quick list of slopes to consider. 

The Curtis Denver - A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel: Chic and modern, this hotel experience is the best you can get in Denver. Enjoy its colourful indoor design and upbeat atmosphere! Perfect for families. 

Now for the merriest city of them all: The Big Apple. Safe to say that this city is absolutely covered in holiday cheer and special occasions. From organised group events such as SantaCon to the world famous Rockefeller Centre (and Washington Square) Christmas Tree(s), New York City is showered in lights and decorations! 

Amongst classic activities like ice skating at Rockefeller Centre or Bryant Park, the city also has lesser known but all the while fantastic sights to be seen before the big day, such as: Dyker Heights Holiday Lights, Winter Villages and Markets in Bryant Park, Union Square or Columbus Circle, Gingerbread Lane at Chelsea Market, The Holiday Express collection at the NY Historical Society and Museum, or yet again the Frost Fest at Luna Park in Coney Island. Finally, you may also attend world-class spectacles such as The Nutcracker by the NYC Ballet or yet again the Christmas Spectacular with the Radio City Rockettes. 

Since we’re going all out for New York over the holidays, let’s go all out for accommodation. Here’s our personal favourite Arthouse Hotel located in the heart of the Upper West Side, offering mesmerising  views over the whole city and its luminous decorations!