Our 50 Favorite Small Towns to Visit for Christmas

Practically every American town celebrates Christmas in some way, but these small towns all across the country stand out for holiday traditions and vibes that are worth a trip with the family. Yes, there are the winter wonderlands offering light shows, sleigh rides, holiday performances, caroling, parades and Christmas markets. But there are also small towns that include local traditions, too, like a parade with horses and hounds, lobster boat rides and an elf scavenger hunt. All promise to deliver a storybook Christmas filled with candy canes, hot chocolate and Santa.

Perched on the shores of the Gulf Coast, the tiny town of Fairhope plays host to Alabama’s most well-known Christmas parade: the Fairhope Magical Christmas Parade. Each year, the seaside spectacle highlighted by the annual Lighting of the Trees draws visitors from across the Yellowhammer State down to a small town where you’re nearly as likely to catch a lingering warm breeze as a kiss under the mistletoe.

There may be no greater holiday voyage than a trip to North Pole, Alaska. The legendary home of Santa Claus sits on the outskirts of Fairbanks, and it's filled with a winter wonderland pulled straight from childhood daydreams. In North Pole, visitors flock to the town’s Winterfest & Holiday Bazaar, headlined by ice carving, fireworks and the iconic Santa Claus House.

Known as a gateway to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff is a picture-perfect pit stop for winter travelers. Just north of town, the Arizona Snowbowl turns the San Francisco Peaks into a wonderland of skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and skating. Meanwhile, one of the West's most historic downtowns flickers with festive holiday lights, an annual parade and its own winter wonderland lined by saloons, breweries and a blanket of stars best viewed at nearby Lowell Observatory.