Taking off Travel blog

The holiday season is in full swing, especially in those towns that look like they were built for Christmas (some of them were!).  Here are the top five picks for the best Christmas towns in America based on their look, feel, and, most of all, festive holiday spirit.

1. Solvang, CA
Located less than an hour away from Santa Barbara, the city of Solvang is not your typical California coastal town.  The architecture is modeled after traditional Danish buildings, giving tourists the feeling of Old World charm and quaintness.  During December, Solvang hosts a number of holiday traditions including the Olsen’s Gingerbread House, Danish Silver Gift-Giving, and caroling in Solvang Park.

All the winter festivities come after Julfest, the beginning of the holiday season.  Visitors from across the nation travel to Solvang to celebrate the holidays surrounded by Dutch-inspired architecture like half-timber buildings and windmills.

2. Leavenworth, WA
Modeled after a Bavarian village, Leavenworth’s city center is composed of Germanic half-timbers that house everything from quaint shops to modern Starbucks.  As snow starts to fall in central Washington State east of the Cascades, Leavenworth becomes a winter wonderland.  The city looks like something out of an Old World snow globe: horse-drawn carriages, sleigh rides, carolers, and lighting festivals are just some of the local highlights that visitors can enjoy.  Every part of Leavenworth is infused with holiday spirit: from the hotel accommodations to the restaurants in the town, guests can enjoy a thoroughly festive Christmas town.

3. North Pole, AK
Ever heard of Davis, Alaska?  Unless you lived in the Last Frontier State before 1953, your answer is probably no.  That’s because, nearly 60 years ago, Davis changed its name to North Pole, becoming a national sensation and holiday pilgrimage site.  The most iconic landmark in town is the 42-foot tall Santa statue that stands outside the town’s gift shop, Santa Claus House.  The store lies just minutes away from the Post Office; out of towners send their Christmas cards there to receive the local postmark so that their letters come from The North Pole.

4. Woodstock, VT
Modeled after the Oxfordshire, UK village of the same name, Woodstock has been lauded numerous times for its quaintness and picturesque design.  The village loves to kick off the holiday season in style with the Wassail Weekend, a festival steeped in the winter traditions of old England and the Norse countries.  Today’s festivities are somewhat more up to date, with a parade that features 19th Century period costume as well as Victorian holiday decor on display at local museums.  Plays, musicals, and poetry recitals round out the evening entertainment between late night shopping and enjoying the general splendor of the whole holiday affair.

5. Branson, MO
In a cozy corner of southern Missouri, the town of Branson stands ready to entertain and delight all comers.  From country music spectaculars to family-style jubilees, the city offers so much in the way of Midwest charm and spirit.  The highlight of Branson’s holiday season is their theme park, Silver Dollar City, all decked out for winter.  Lights and snow (sometimes real) edge every building; after picking up a roll filled with molasses, visitors can enjoy a staged shootout between the Hatfields and the McCoys.  Included with the cost of admission is a ticket to view the Marvel Cave, a cavernous subterranean expanse that digs 300 feet down into the limestone beneath the park.  (Image: Kathy McGraw)

Analise Marcus loves seeing how cities and towns across the country celebrate Christmas, whether the festivities last just the season or all year around. She enjoys using a promo code for Travelocity to save on all her holiday travels.

I love this time of year – Christmas trees, decorations, finding special gifts and spending time with family and friends. This year my relatives are coming to me, but if I were travelling, here’s the advice I’d give them.

Last Minute Travel

Planes and trains run all through the holidays, so if you don’t mind traveling on Christmas Day, you could save a fortune. Leave early Christmas morning, or late night on Christmas Eve and you could still be there in time to grab a turkey leg or some slices of roast beef. Plus, you won’t have to fight the hordes of people travelling at peak times. Read more »

As the festive season approaches, we decided to take a peek at some of the Christmas happenings in other parts of the world.

Italy

To kick this off, here’s a look at celebrations in Italy. Watch out for the three guys singing about pannetone.

Travel Italy Now-Christmas In Italy-TV Italy Telly-Rome Florence – Click here for more home videos

Read more »

What business travel gift will be in your stocking this Christmas?

Gadgets – don’t you just love ‘em? One of the great things about the holiday season is all the new gadgets that we’re hoping to get. If if you’re a frequent business traveler, anything that makes your life easier while on the road will be welcome so drop a hint to your nearest and dearest about these great stocking stuffers.

Boingo

The self styled world’s largest wireless network offers you easy access to a WiFi hotspot wherever you are for a reasonable monthly charge. Even better, you only have to remember one login, rather than coping with the intricacies of each hotel’s individual login system. It’s roaming without the high roaming charges and you can find a hotspot almost anywhere, as there are 100,000 to choose from. North American access is currently on special offer at $9.95 for three months, compared with a usual price of $21.95, while mobile access via your smartphone is $7.95 a month. For global access, it’s just $59 s month. Read more »