Vacation time is so important, especially during the holiday season. It’s the perfect time to destress, spend time with family, and enjoy a holiday festival. I recommend getting away to one of these 5 festive towns for holiday travel. Whether you head to a small town or a big city, this is the most wonderful time of the year to find the perfect winter wonderland.
Enjoy The Holidays In Jacksonville Florida
Dazzling Nights at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens transforms every year into a winter wonderland that features a million dazzling lights, shining Christmas trees, magical displays, music, and beautiful sculptures during “Dazzling Nights”. It’s a family-friendly holiday adventure where guests have the opportunity to enjoy a three-quarter mile, interactive holiday experience. Dazzling Nights is located in the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in Jacksonville, FL from November 24, 2023-December 29, 2023.
TICKETS: Adult tickets start at $22, Children ages 3-13 start at $19 (Children under 3 enter free, no ticket required)
Purchase TIckets at www.dazzlingjax.com
Deck the Chairs at Jacksonville Beach and Downtown Jacksonville
This has been a holiday tradition in Jacksonville for more than a decade. Deck the Chairs features dozens of American Red Cross lifeguard chairs uniquely decorated in coastal-themed designs and holiday lights at the Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach. New this year is a second display at James Weldon Johnson Park in Downtown Jacksonville.
Christmas Celebrations In Boerne Texas
Boerne, TX was voted one of the best Christmas towns in Texas. With Dickens on Main, Boerne becomes a Christmas Village. The Cave Without a Name’s annual Sounds of the Season concert is one you won’t want to miss. And the Weihnachts Parade and Christmas lights, are a must for everyone to experience. It truly is a magical place to be during the holiday season.
Boerne Holiday Events
The magical Christmas Season in downtown Boerne is filled with historic small-town holiday fun. You can stroll Main Street and take in the Christmas lights. Enjoy live music and entertainment. There are many restaurants with holiday menus, and shopping at the Dickens on Main, one of Boerne’s favorite holiday traditions. It happens every Thanksgiving weekend. The first weekend in December is “Weihnacht’s Weekend,” where you can enjoy the annual Weihnachts Parade and Stocking Stroll. The fun continues with two more unique weekends of fun, Toast of Olde Town, perfect for a holiday date night including wassail tastings, and Kinder Fest, filled with fun surprises for the whole family, and the Cookie Crawl! The holidays are full of excitement in Boerne.
Old West Christmas Light Fest
Old West Christmas Light Fest is another of Boerne’s favorite holiday festivals. It excites and delights with Holiday Fun. It is the favorite holiday event, and it brings the Christmas season to life food, fun, and dazzling lights. There are family activities under the beautiful star-filled sky at Enchanted Springs Ranch.
Get your holiday photos with Santa, the man in the big red suit! He will be visiting his favorite ranch every night of the festival!
Every night there are Joyous Jingles, with the melodies of musicians and live entertainment adding a holiday soundtrack to your experience.
There are campfires to snuggle up with loved ones. It is a fireside treat as you enjoy the festive Old West Town!
The Woodlands Texas
Grab your favorite red Santa hat and head to The Woodlands, where holiday cheer is all around you. As soon as the Christmas lights are lit at the tree lighting ceremony, it feels like Christmas time. Head to Market Street for the spectacular Market Street in Lights. When they flip that switch, thousands of lights on a 70-foot-tall Christmas tree light up this popular shopping and dining area. Grab a holiday coffee or hot cocoa from one of our favorite coffee shops and take a stroll down the street to enjoy the holiday magic under the twinkling lights. Then tie on a pair of ice skates and enjoy some ice skating at The Woodlands Ice Rink. This is open from mid-November through mid-January.
The Doves Festival
Don’t miss one of The Woodlands’ essential holiday traditions, the annual Lighting of the Doves Festival. The lighting of giant doves symbolizes peace during the holiday season. Everyone will enjoy Santa’s grand arrival on a sleigh floating down The Woodlands Waterway. There will also be a spectacular fireworks show that is the perfect way to end this free holiday fun.
Erie Shores & Islands Ohio
There is nothing better than spending the holiday season in the cold weather. But even if you have warm weather, the Christmas festivities in Erie Shores & Islands, OH are breathtaking.
Christmas Lights On Lake Erie
One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is check out Christmas lights. Lake Erie in Light is a drive-through light display that will be held at the Erie County Fairgrounds! The event lasts from Thurs, Nov 16th-Sun, Dec 31st. Each night the lights will be open from 5:30-8:30 pm.
Holiday Market
Feel like you are at the Christmas markets in Europe by bringing your families, friends, and loved ones to the beautiful Gideon Owen Wine Company for this year’s Holiday Market and experience. It truly is a winter wonderland.
Sawmill Creek Resort
I had the pleasure of staying at Sawmill Creek Resorts in September. I can only imagine how amazing their Season of Joy is once they hang all the Christmas decorations. You can escape the hectic pace of life and immerse yourself in the magic of winter! From Nov 24 through Dec 31, the Sawmill Creek Resort invites you to experience the Christmas celebrations and enjoy the true spirit of Christmas on their 200-acre woodland resort. Indulge in activities, from sipping on naughty or nice cocktails to live music and comedic performances. Surrounded by the beautiful sights, sounds, scents, and tastes of the North Coast, you will have an unforgettable season that will leave you feeling refreshed, inspired, and full of holiday cheer.
Ice Skating In Sandusky
The annual Sandusky Winter Wonderland, sponsored by the Erie County Community Foundation is a two-day event that will have numerous components full of fun for everyone. It all starts on Jackson Street Pier, including ice skating on the expanded Civista Bank Ice Skating Rink. Be sure to shop for unique gifts, created by artisan vendors. Downtown businesses and parks will be decorated for the most joyful time of the year. Enjoy holiday drinks, and food trucks at this magical time of the season.
Upstate New York
Lake Placid is a special place to get away for winter. With all the snow, there is no place better than Lake Placid. Located in the heart of New York State’s Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid is truly a winter wonderland. It has activities for all ages, taking a winter stroll down the main street which is filled with unique shops and restaurants. Home to the Olympic center where miracles on ice took place, you can catch a hockey game or ice-skating challenge almost every day. There are adventures for all abilities, so you are guaranteed to find the visit perfect for your whole family. Do you want to play in the snow? Check out all the places to rent or buy winter gear and get out there for a winter adventure.
Peaks Paint Bar
Don’t forget to take a walk under the stars, and sip some hot chocolate by the fire at one of our incredible restaurants, bakeries, and pubs. And be sure to stop by the Peaks Paint Bar and sip and paint your way to a masterpiece.
The Holiday Village Stroll Puts This In My Top 5 Festive Towns Holiday Travel
The Holiday Village Stroll is a Lake Placid tradition that happens in early December. It’s a family and couples weekend set in the fairy-tale winter wonderland of Lake Placid, New York. This Holiday stroll lasts for three days and includes fun Christmas events like a skating party, photos with Santa, a free movie showing, and a Santa firetruck parade.
Please note that the activities and schedule are subject to change, and we always encourage calling ahead for any reservations needed. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the most up-to-date event changes.
Don’t Wait Go Visit These 5 Festive Towns For Holiday Travel
I am so glad I was able to visit these 5 Festive Towns For Holiday Travel, and I can’t wait to go back during the holidays some day.
