More than any other time of year, the holidays are for families. This year, treat yours to a special trip to one of these wonderful US holiday destinations.
New York, New York
Kick off the season in New York City at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If crowds aren’t for you, stay at one of the hotel’s on the parade route (The Ritz-Carlton Central Park, The Wellington, or Warwick New York) and watch from the comfort of your room.
Take the family ice skating at Rockefeller Center and see the giant Christmas tree – two great places for pictures. Shop for gifts, toys, and candy at Times Square and stop to enjoy the animated holiday-themed windows at the department stores. Then enjoy a performance of the Radio City Christmas Special featuring the famous high-kicking Rockettes. New York City is tough to beat when it comes to a fun holiday trip.
Orlando, Florida
Want to get away from the cold this year on a US holiday destinations? Orlando is perfect for families during the holidays. Walt Disney World is magical at Christmastime. Disney’s decorations, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Epcot’s Candlelight Processional are not to be missed.
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure also offer fun seasonal festivities for families. Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or join the Grinch for the Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular. And if you missed the Macy’s Holiday Parade, see more than a dozen of the huge balloons and over 15 floats that can’t be seen anywhere else.
Be sure to bring your swimsuits because Orlando has some of the best water parks in the U.S. Want a day away from the crowds? Head to Daytona Beach or Cocoa Beach for some surf and sand.
Chicago, Illinois
Christmas in Chicago can provide a white winter wonderland or at least a windy one. Choosing to rent a plane to Chicago will even give a more extravagant and relaxing vibe for everyone in your family. Kids of all ages will enjoy Chicago’s German Christmas market, Christkindlmarkt, filled with unique crafts and gifts, Disney subscription boxes, traditional toys, live entertainment and yummy German food and drink.
While there, take holiday family pictures in front of Chicago’s giant Christmas tree at Daley Plaza.
A great family outing is Christmas Around the World at the Museum of Science and Industry which displays more than 50 decorated trees and has performances by cultural dance and chorus groups.
Then light up the night at Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic. Decorated with almost a million lights, a laser show, storytellers, strolling carolers, and special holiday treats at the food stands, lots of indoor exhibits will be open to seeing the animals. And the Lincoln Park Zoo’s seasonal celebration, ZooLights, also is ablaze with lights, has a Santa’s Safari (photo with Santa and an exotic animal), giant snow globe balloons with holiday characters, ice carving demos, a Holiday Express train for the little ones, and lots more. Chicago’s zoos know how to celebrate the season.
Georgetown, Colorado treat your family with a snowy adventure on one of the US holiday destinations.
Step back in time to an old-fashioned Christmas in the quaint Victorian town of Georgetown. At the annual Georgetown Christmas Market you can buy one-of-a-kind homemade crafts and treats at the outdoor European market, try a bag of actual chestnuts roasted on an open fire, ride in a horse-drawn wagon through the snowy streets of the historic town, see St. Nicholas and the Santa Lucia Children’s Procession, and enjoy a day in a picturesque mountain town. It’s a truly memorable Christmas for everyone.
Written by DLX contributor Larraine Stacey.