Christmas is a season when wishes come true, when children can’t contain their joy, and when the entire globe shines brightly in celebration. Start spreading festive cheer around your workplace. If it describes your home as well, now is an excellent time to begin decorating. Getting ornaments and hanging them up early helps us produce a visual message that the holiday season is already here. Request that your children make their own DIY decorations.
Put on your warmest jammies and settle in for the year’s most festive movie marathon. This is the ideal opportunity to take a vacation from your daily routine and spend time with your family. Allow children to vote for their favorite holiday films or TV episodes, and then tune in with hot beverages and delicious goodies.
Whether you live in a big metropolitan city or a small rural town, this is the time of the year when people decorate their homes and prepare for a season of joy, celebration, and family activities. This could mean going for an evening walk through the neighborhood to see the radiant holiday lights, building a snowman in the front yard, or sipping hot cocoa while watching the snow fall. It doesn’t matter where you live because many of these common pleasures are enjoyed by people in all areas around the country – or world for that matter!
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at a few cities along the East Coast of the United States to see how they celebrate the holiday season. If you’re local to these areas, or willing to take a day trip, then consider these spots for a festive day activity.
Read below on how East Coast cities get into the holiday spirit.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Source: visithistoricbethlehem.com
Whether you’ve visited Bethlehem before or want to go for the first time, the magic that remains in the air throughout the holiday season will leave you speechless. During the holiday season, Bethlehem is home to two fantastic shopping marketplaces. Visit the Christmas Huts on Main, an outdoor retail experience modeled after the German Weihnachtsmarkt on the city’s Main Street. Local sellers sell handmade and one-of-a-kind products from wooden huts strewn across the city. A number of tours are available in Historic Bethlehem to help you get into the Christmas mood. The Christmas City Stroll is a terrific option if you’re seeking for a quick yet comprehensive overview of the city’s historic heart.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Source: hylinecruises.com
Nantucket, Massachusetts will be forever reframed in your memory as a “holiday refuge” rather than a “summer getaway.” The picturesque location is transformed into a Yuletide fantasy from late November to January, and the month of celebrations is known as Nantucket Noel. Following a tree lighting and contagious caroling, iconic activities take place. The Nantucket promenade is probably one of the most anticipated events, as people dress up in Victorian garb and a European market sells traditional treats. Santa makes a boat sled stop to say hi!
Manhattan, New York
Source: travelchannel.com
New York City’s pride and delight, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, is a gleaming and magnificent icon of the holiday season. The trees change each year, yet the sense of awe remains the same. Every fantastic Christmas movie or memory we have appears to be linked to New York City. In addition to visiting the Rockefeller Christmas tree, you can spend an hour ice skating in the plaza rink located below the iconic tree. Afterwards, tour the plaza to see the wonderful decorations or stop by one of the many food vendors for something delicious to eat.
Another holiday attraction of New York City would be visiting Macy’s Herald Square to see the world-renowned flagship store. Built in 1902, this giant offers eleven floors of retail delight, which is perfect for holiday shopping ideas. If you have children, then you’ll want to take them to Macy’s Santaland which leads kids of all ages through a winter wonderland of sights and sounds until landing at the front door of Jolly Old Saint Nick. Your children will love having their photo taken with Santa!
No matter who you are or where you are from, there’s nothing like spending Christmas in New York City. Even if it’s just for a weekend visit. There are so many holiday sights and activities, offering fun for all ages. Once you experience Christmas in NY, you may want to make it your home! However, it will cost you – Manhattan real estate prices have reached an all-time high and this includes apartments. You can find out more about this if you just click here.
Manchester, Vermont
Source: travelandleisure.com
There is no better spot to spend the holiday season than in the lovely state of Vermont. There is so much fun to be had, from magnificent bed & breakfasts with winter sleigh rides to hitting the slopes with the whole family! As an added bonus, a percentage of the festival’s revenues will benefit the Vermont Foodbank, which will help local families in need have a more joyous holiday season.
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Source: aacamuseum.org
With a name like Hershey, you know they’re going to deliver on hot chocolate fantasies and holiday celebrations. Hersheypark dominates the neighborhood with its chocolate-themed
sweetness, and they go all out to pamper their visitors in December. Then, drum roll, dissolve into a million lights sparkling around coasters and nooks to collect chocolate delicacies. Children can visit reindeer stables to see Dasher and Dancer before they leave on Christmas Eve.
Orlando, Florida
Source: 407area.com
If you like festivals and parades then consider visiting the theme parks in Orlando, Florida for the holidays. While you probably won’t be building any snowmen or need hot cocoa to keep warm, spending the holidays in Orlando has its own attractive qualities. First of all, while it may not feel like winter because the weather is warm and sunny, the amusement parks will certainly make up for it with beautiful visual displays of fabricated snow to set the holiday mood.
As noted above, there are plenty of holiday festivals and parades every day at the different theme parks. For example, the Disney theme parks celebrate the holiday season for nearly two months. That means, you’re sure to see a number of amazing parades and celebrations during your stay.
