What to see? Where to road trip to? Where to find that holiday spot that makes you all warm and fuzzy inside? We here at Cloud 9 Magazine have you covered with our 9 Hot Spots for the Holidays:
(A reminder: With the current COVID situation, things, especially events, are less than certain, please visit website links for updated info)
- Lancaster, PA -Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Lancaster County, PA is a wonderful place to spend the holidays. With a strong Dutch and Amish community, Lancaster comes to life each holiday with a special old-time feeling. The Christmas Tree lighting includes a “Tuba Christmas” serenade. There is a Dutch Winter Wonderland featuring lights, rides and treats! Or how about a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” on the Strasburg Railroad train? Want to learn more about Christmas in Amish Country? Click here.
- NYC- Times Square– Ice skating, snowfall, Macy’s, lights, Broadway, Times Square, the Rockefeller Center. Everyone should do Christmas in New York City once in their lives. It really is the best time of year to visit. New Year’s Eve is the other, but, Christmas holidays are less crowded and more magical.
- Boston– Christmas in Boston? Sure! Listening to holiday music by the infamous Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra is just one of the highlights of Boston’s Theatre District. A trip to Boston Common and Faneuil Hall Marketplace is sure to brighten your holiday. Or maybe a Christmas Eve boat tour around Boston Harbor is just what you need to get you in your holiday mood. No matter what it is, you can find it in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Baltimore– Baltimore comes alive during the holidays. The Old Tyme Christmas Celebration at Fells Point features a Reindeer Run Pub Crawl featuring over 20 Pubs. A strong German heritage in the city is shown as you feel may times like you have traveled back in time. The German Christmas Village at Inner Harbor is always a popular spot.
- Providence, RI– Providence, Rhode Island is one of those big towns with a small-town feel. Steeped rich in our American history, Providence is perfect for a weekend shopping trip in some of their holiday filled neighborhoods. And the Mayor allows free 2-hour parking during the holidays in many neighborhoods. Walking the city’s Mile of History on a snowy afternoon is sure to put you in the mood. Warm-up afterward with a pint at the legendary Murphy’s.
- Morgantown, WV– West Virginia loves its lights and its mountains. And when you put them both together, you get some of the largest and most amazing displays in the whole country. About an hour outside of Morgantown in Wheeling, West Virginia at the Oglebay Resort is one of the most infamous Christmas light shows in the country. The Winter Festival of Lights spans 300 acres along a 6-mile drive. It is considered a top Christmas spot by the American Bus Association, and was featured on the Travel Channel. In total there are 9 huge light Festivals within driving distance of Morgantown. (see video above).
- Pittsburgh, PA– The Steel City has a softer tone when the holidays hit, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania knows how to do Christmas. There is always skating at the Ice Rink at PPG Center. Or, for those looking for a sweeter experience, there is the Annual Gingerbread House Competiton. But a trip to Pittsburgh wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Pittsburgh’s Crèche, the only Nativity Scene replica approved by the Vatican.
- Nantucket, Ma –Â The Nantucket Noel begins the day after Thanksgiving and goes until the New Year. The small island off the Massachusetts coast has a “Weekend Stroll” that is a Victorian style Christmas Festival and will be held this year from November 28th – December 6th, 2020.
- Brooklyn, NY–Â Getaway from Times Square and do the 3.5 hour Brooklyn Christmas Magic Tour. You will roll through Dyker Heights where the Christmas light competition is fierce among neighbors. You stroll under the Brooklyn Bridge and get a great shot of the Manhattan Skyline.
No matter where you go…who you are with…it is Christmas. It’s been a tough year. Enjoy the holidays. Be thankful. Be kind. Be grateful.
