While most people associate pine trees with Christmas, don’t overlook the delight that palm trees can bring to the holiday. Imagine being so accustomed to seeing snow on December 25, that it could simply be expected.. Love Northern Cal? Also referred to as Christmas Town, USA, McAdenville typically holds traditional tree lighting and yule log ceremonies, but the pandemic halted them. Skiing awaits you at Snow Summit, and Bear Mountain is a snowboarder’s paradise, so you can enjoy lots of fun and spectacular views during the days before cuddling up in your vacation rental at night. Don’t miss the Night of Lights, an extravaganza in which the whole town takes the gondola up to Canyon Lodge at the top of the mountain to enjoy a torchlight parade and fireworks to celebrate the start of the holidays. 2 guests Christmastime in Yosemite brings a delightful combination of vintage traditions and spectacular winter scenery. Calling itself the Best Christmas Town in America, Colonial Williamsburg particularly shines at Christmastime. 6 guests This charming town doesn’t contain any chain stores, so you can indulge in some truly one-of-a-kind shopping as you wander in and out of the beautifully decorated historic buildings on the main street. Head north of San Francisco to the hamlet of Mendocino to enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas vacation that still manages to be supremely Californian in style. When you step outside, you’re likely to find a dusting of snow embracing the beautiful Yosemite scenery to make your visit even more Christmasy. Our research is editorially independent but we may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. Williamsburg has dubbed itself the "Best Christmas Town in America," and with all it has to offer, it may actually be true. Pacific Grove’s seven historic B&Bs cover their fireplace mantles in bows and gift wrap their staircases for the annual Christmas at the Inns … About Us | Contact Us | Sitemap; Home: Community Map: Search: Submit A House: About CCL: Press: Letters: Link to Us: Visitor Stats: Tracy, San Joaquin County : Sorry - Due to new Google Maps Quota Limits, maps may not be working properly. It’s best to plan your day before heading out each morning rather than winging it, as the area can be confusing to navigate and Google Maps isn’t always your best friend out here! Named one of “America’s 23 Best Small Towns for Christmas” by Country Living, the community also hosts sleigh rides, a live nativity scene and a great deal of music. â â Bask in the charm of these smaller cities this holiday … Here in Northern California, we have some truly spectacular towns that encourage people to get out and about during the Christmas season. Plus, you can’t miss the big windmill! Plenty of local restaurants, including Nottingham’s and Stillwells, serve a Christmas feast if you want to take it easy. Proud of their history, locals have been very careful to preserve the Victorian buildings for visitors and future generations. While it may be hard to believe, there are a number of locations across the U.S. where white Christmases are almost always guaranteed. Performers entertain with everything from heart-stirring carols to rowdy sketches, and the menu features classic dishes, such as roasted chestnuts and pheasant. Little Bavaria's main attraction is the holiday megastore, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. … Find the perfect California vacation rental on Tripping.com. Enjoy Old World Christmas during Solvang’s Julefest, a month-long celebration of the season. Book a stay at one of many California vacation rentals today. Napa Valley Wine Train’s Santa Train. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: This eclectic event takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving at noon. Turn on JavaScript so our search engine can do its magic. The festivities run for five nights in the middle of each December, with Dine & Watch and Dine & Walk packages available. I love seeing the way California celebrates Christmas, even when most places have warm weather and very little snow.I also like visiting the small town of Solvang and experiencing its beautiful Danish charm on trips up Highway 101. Also voted as one of the best small towns to visit in California by The Crazy Tourist, ... Another perk of the winter season is the Victorian Christmas Celebration, when the streets come to life with twinkling lights, Victorian singers and minstrels, roasted chestnuts, crafty vendors, horse-drawn carriages, a live nativity and a boon of holiday cheer. Browse forums; All. 2 guests Note: Napa Valley Wine Train does not have … … â Christmas in Natchitoches begins in June when the bulbs on the strings of holiday lights are tested in anticipation of the town's proud Festival of Lights. The Christmas season in Red Wing includes parades, cookie decorating, visits from reindeer, and more. The town was founded by a group of Danes in the early 1900s and features gorgeous Danish architecture. One of the best things about the holidays is seeing communities come together. The Julefest tree gets lit on December 1, followed by parades, the community’s nativity pageant, and the two-day Wine & Beer Walk, which takes you through some of the best tasting rooms in town, including Casa Cassara, Dascomb Cellars, and Lions Peak Vineyards. â Browse by destination. This charming village is nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains, surrounded by lush forest and granite outcrops. 1 bedroom, Apartment 11 Best September Vacation Destinations in the U.S. 8 Best Romantic Weekend Getaways in Texas, Top 10 Big Bear Lake Vacation Rental Locations. No wonder it draws in about 600,000 … Idyllwild. 3 guests Thank you! The city is filled with holiday markets and pop-up shops, and you don’t have to look far to find a performance of “The Nutcracker.”. Just an hour and a half south of Shreveport, Louisiana, Natchitoches is a French Creole town that has hosted a Christmas festival every year for nearly a century. â You’ll get out of some of the heavy big city traffic and find the perfect spot for a coastal Christmas. Here in the High Sierras, you can spend your days snowboarding and skiing on the mountain, then relax during the evenings by singing karaoke carols or letting your kids visit Santa at The Village at Mammoth. Whether you prefer high-end shopping or skiing from dusk ’til dawn, these seven vacation destinations in California have it all. Luckily a few of the beach towns decorate their piers for Christmas. Best of 2021 ; Road Trips ; Help Center ; Christmas towns? As far as lights, the area can’t be beat, with Busch … Facebook/McCloud Chamber of Commerce. Here are some of our favorites: Here’s a really fun preview of the Victorian Christmas Celebration: How does your community celebrate the holiday season and what is your favorite part about getting together with friends and family? Tripping.com is the world's #1 vacation rental search engine with over 10 million properties! Head to Yosemite National Park’s Ahwahnee Hotel to enjoy the Bracebridge Dinners, a 90-year-old tradition built around author Washington Irving’s description of a traditional celebration from the early 18th century. 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While there are lots of Bavarian villages to visit during Christmas, this California town is full of Danish holiday charm. All told, the town uses over 450,000 lights in its yearly decor. 3 bedrooms, Rancho San Diego, San Diego County, California, House Sweet Bavarian towns make for the best Christmas spots because everything about them gives off major holiday vibes. Park the car and walk along the narrow streets to see the beautiful buildings up close and discover art, … In true Californian style, the town has artsy leanings, so take a bit of time to browse its many galleries. â â We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. 11 Best Small Towns to Visit for Christmas in the U.S. By Charity De Souza. … 7 California Beach Towns to Visit This Winter In the Golden State, you can enjoy a relaxing seaside getaway in a sunny locale any time of … 1 bedroom, Huntington Beach, Orange County, California, 11 Best Columbus Day Weekend Getaways in Rhode Island, 11 Best Columbus Day Weekend Getaways in New Hampshire. 2 bedrooms, Resort It’s the Danish capital of America! 1. Book for the Bracebridge Dinners well in advance, and choose a vacation rental near the Yosemite entrance gates to provide easy access to the park. With its mountain villages covered by fresh blankets of snow, Colorado has more than its share of Christmas towns, from Aspen, Breckinridge, and Telluride to Durango and Ouray. Skiing awaits you at Snow Summit, and Bear … Big Bear Lake’s charming village is patterned after an old-fashioned German town, so it becomes the height of Christmas when it’s decorated for the holidays. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Thoroughbred St in Rancho Cucamonga (Driving only, pedestrian access closed) If you happen to be in town on December 1st, then you're in luck—the Christmas Stroll, featuring horse-drawn carriage rides and a number of other holiday-related events, is the biggest celebration the town puts on during the winter season. 5 guests Solvang, California is one of the best Christmas towns in the US! During the months of November and December, numerous train companies offer young guests the opportunity to meet Santa in vintage passenger cars decked with dazzling lights and holiday swag. About Us | Contact Us | Sitemap; Home: Community Map: Search: Submit A House: About CCL: Press: Letters: Link to Us: Visitor Stats: Windsor, Sonoma County : Sorry - Due to new Google Maps Quota Limits, maps may not be working properly. Anyone who says Christmas isn’t magical in Southern California hasn’t had the pleasure of visiting these charming towns. Nov 19, 2019 - If are in the Golden State this holiday season, here are some of the best Christmas towns in California. The Best Christmas Towns in the United States ... this little town changes its name to Christmas Town USA. 4 guests 2 bedrooms, Cathedral City, Riverside County, California, Apartment It's hard to find a white Christmas here in Northern California, but McCloud is an amazing place to throw a snowball. Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! If you choose a bayfront vacation rental, you may even be able to enjoy this spectacular parade from your own balcony or deck. The Festival of Lights at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens treats you to the beauty of nature as well as a fun seasonal model train show. It's the world's largest Christmas store, so the town is … Take the kids to visit Santa in the village or at the Christmas tree lot, or go sailing with Santa on a lake cruise aboard Miss Liberty, Big Bear’s own paddlewheeler. 2 bedrooms, Apartment From parades of yachts adorned with holiday lights to charming villages with Old World charm, California offers a plethora of towns and cities perfect for a Christmas getaway. Where to fly: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Big Bear Lake’s charming village is patterned after an old-fashioned German town, so it becomes the height of Christmas when it’s decorated for the holidays. Settled in 1714 and located on the scenic Cane River, Louisiana’s oldest city will celebrate in style from November 23 to January 6. 6 guests Traditions abound, such as caroling by torchlight, a gun-salute display, and every home in the historic area lighting a candle in their windows—dating back to the days of the Founding Fathers. â Every year, countless people dream of a white Christmas.But, what if they didn't have to? With its gorgeous Christmas lights, … While Bozeman is predominantly known for their range of outdoor activities during the snowy season, there are also plenty of … While you’re in Orange County, plan a trip to Disneyland as well for the special Christmas pageants and the re-imagined holiday-themed rides. Each year, Solvang celebrates Julefest, a Nordic festival for the winter solstice, that features dancers, music, and a … Nearly 400 trees are adorned with lights that lead visitors on a picture-perfect tour of the quaint town. For the perfect small-town Christmas, look no further than Natchitoches, Louisiana. It’s a top choice for hardy hikers, mountain bikers, and rock-climbing enthusiasts. While there are tons of Christmas & holiday events happening all over California, Monterey is a great town to visit in December. Putting the two together, I was surprised to notice on a recent trip that Solvang also has a lot of decoration for Christmas, … If your idea of a great Christmas vacation involves lots of skiing, book your vacation rental in Mammoth. If that doesn’t give you a hint of the fun in store, nothing will! â Participants, including humans, dogs and ponies, are encourage to dress up. 6 guests It's hard to find a white Christmas here in Northern California, but McCloud is an amazing place to throw a snowball. California Christmas Lights and Displays Windsor, Sonoma County - The Best Christmas Lights and Displays from California. Take a Holiday Lights Tour to explore the Santa Ynez Valley, and don’t forget to take your kids to visit Santa. United States ; California (CA) California Travel Forum; Search. If you have an idea for an Only In Northern California story, email her at. 1 bedroom, Apartment San Francisco swaths itself in Christmas lights to celebrate the season, with City Hall and other municipal and port buildings turning red and green for the holiday. For more holiday splendor, take a ride on the Magic Polar Express Train in SoCal. â The highlight of the season in this oceanfront city is the Newport Beach Christmas Light Parade, a charming festival that brings hundreds of decorated boats, ranging from magnificent yachts to tiny kayaks, streaming through all of Newport Bay. Consider Christmas at the beach â Newport Beach, in particular. Newport Beach is also home to the fabulous shopping mecca of Fashion Island, which welcomes shoppers to visit Santa, admire its gigantic decorated tree, and get all their shopping done beginning in late November. Lake Tahoe is definitely one of the best places to visit in California in December, not least because the horse-drawn sleigh rides will definitely have you feeling Christmas-y! â California Christmas Lights and Displays Tracy, San Joaquin County - The Best Christmas Lights and Displays from California. Head to Union Square for ice skating under the stars and next to one of the most festive Christmas trees you’ve ever seen, then do your shopping at magnificently decorated stores, including Neiman-Marcus and Tiffany, before you wander back to your vacation rental to finish your wrapping. â Victorian Christmas … â McCloud is also a lovely winter retreat if you are looking for a place to play in the snow this holiday season. â The two main ones are the Pacific Beach Pier with its wreaths and tree (above) and the Manhattan Beach Pier with its tree made of lights. â Big Bear Lake is a wonderful destination when you want to get out of the SoCal sun and experience a white Christmas. 1Leavenworth, Washington. Hop on the Christmas Train (known as the Skunk Train the rest of the year) to enjoy a holiday trip through the redwoods. Take the kids to visit Santa in the village or at the Christmas tree lot, or go sailing with Santa on a lake cruise aboard Miss Liberty, Big Bear’s own paddlewheeler. A California gold-rush town located in the Sierra Nevada’s western foothills, Nevada City, a historical landmark, is an idyllic town brimming with charm. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. 4 bedrooms, Palm Springs, Riverside County, California, Apartment Northern California Christmas train rides are popular events that sell out quickly. Nothing says California Christmas like a visit to the beach. United States Forums ; Europe Forums; Canada Forums; Asia Forums; Central … You'll receive your first newsletter soon! 1 bedroom, House A California beach town isn’t typically the kind of place you’d expect to spend the holidays cozied up in a Victorian bed and breakfast, but this small town might do Christmas better than anywhere in the Golden State. The town of 18,000 celebrates the season with more 300,000 lights and 100 set pieces displayed along the banks of Cane River Lake, honoring the holiday and their Creole heritage. Instead of visiting a crowded city this Christmas, take a drive to one of America’s small towns that celebrate the holidays in a big way. Apartment In the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country lies the town of Solvang, which is patterned after classic villages found in Denmark, complete with windmills and plenty of Danish sweet treats in every bakery and coffee shop. 2. Christmas is a magical time of year and these picture-perfect towns offer unforgettable holiday experiences. Nov 19, 2019 - If are in the Golden State this holiday season, here are some of the best Christmas towns in California. 4 guests â â Jill is a freelance writer from a small Northern California town and lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains. 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