Places to Visit in the United States During the Holiday Season

Ice Sculpture at the Butler County Ice FestivalMegan Moves/YouTube

There are many great ways to get in the holiday spirit. Putting up decorations, listening to Christmas music, watching classic holiday movies. But there's something about visiting a place that is decorated for Christmas that puts you right in the holiday spirit! Today I will be sharing with you 5 places to visit during the holidays! And I'll be leaving my favorite place for last! So let's get right into it!

• An outdoor ice skating rink
• Ice skating indoors is always a fun activity, but finding an outdoor rink adds to the experience! Oftentimes, city's will set up their own outdoor skating rink in the middle of downtown. When coming home for the holidays, I love visiting downtown Pittsburgh and going ice skating outside at PPG place. This is a great activity to make an evening out of with family when everyone is home for the holidays! The Christmas music and decorations boost you into the holiday spirit while also showing off a different side of the city. So check out if your nearest town or city has an outdoor ice skating rink!
• A Ski resort
• If you enjoy skiing or snowboarding, visiting a ski resort is a great thing to do during the holiday season! There's something about visiting during the holidays that has a very nostalgic feeling for me. Sometimes the lodges will be decorated for the holidays, so you can enjoy the warmth indoors while enjoying hot chocolate! If the resort has cabins or condos for rent, booking one for a weekend would make a great getaway for the family!
• A Town or city light-up night
• Going along with outdoor ice skating, visiting a town or city that has a light-up night is a great way to get in the holiday spirit! Often times there will be a parade, local vendors, and lots of holiday treats! Not only do I love the festivities that come along with these events, but I also love how the light-up nights bring the community together by getting everyone out to enjoy the experience with friends and family! Research to see if your local town or city has a light-up night event!
• A drive-through light show
• If you can't find a light-up night to go to, research the nearest drive-through Christmas light show to see. This item is something that I personally have on the top of my Holiday bucket list for the year. Visiting a drive-through light show is a great thing to make an evening out of with the family! This is something people of all ages can enjoy. It's fun to see all of the Christmas lights and they can be quite impressive!
• A German-theme town
• When I think of the perfect place to spend Christmas, Germany is definitely a place that comes to mind! The architecture and landscape make for the perfect Christmas atmosphere! However, when living in the United States, it isn't very often I get the opportunity to visit Germany! However, the next greatest thing is to visit a German-themed town here in the U.S.! A quick Google search showed that there are a couple of locations throughout the U.S. that have German-themed towns. I had the opportunity over the summer to visit Leavenworth, Washington. This beautiful Bavarian Village is located in the mountains of central Washington. All of the town's shops consist of German-themed architecture and themes. The town was not only beautiful during the summer, but by looking at pictures, it seems to only get better around the holidays! The town gets decked out in Christmas lights, there's a Christmas market and other festive activities! So if possible, see if there is a German-themed town close to visit around the holidays!

Well, what did you think of the list? The holidays are one of the best times of the year and with lots to see and do, it's important to make the most of it! What are some of your places to visit during the holidays? I'd love to hear what you think in the comments!