The holiday season is the perfect time for an extra special family getaway- and a chance to create some memories with your loved ones! Whether your family dreams of snowy adventures, festive, busy days, or a warm weather escape, we can help find that perfect destination! From enchanting winter wonderlands to sunny beaches adorned with holiday lights, these ten must-visit Christmas vacation spots promise unforgettable experiences for families of all ages. Pack your bags and prepare to make this holiday season your most magical one yet!
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Gaylord Resorts
Gaylord Resorts are a small chain of resorts with with 5 locations around the US (and a 6th opening in 2025 in southern California). And they celebrate Christmas is a major way with ICE, an indoor ice experience with a different theme every year and at every resort- this year includes Polar Express, Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. In addition, some locations have a Christmas Cirque show, family Christmas activities like gingerbread house kits, smores, Christmas scavenger hunt, Mrs. Claus stories, and tubing. And, of course, all the resorts are decorated exquisitely, and all have fantastic water park pools.
Gaylord Resorts are a great destination for a Christmas family getaway. And while Gaylord Resorts are extremely kid-friendly, they aren’t the kind of resort that feels like its made ONLY for kids (i.e. the kind of place that adults hate). With good food, a great pool and hot tub, a spa, and a beautiful, upscale ambience, this is getaway the whole family will enjoy!
Oregon Coast
Looking to try something new this Christmas? The Oregon Coast is a fantastic family vacation destination for families to take in the sights, relax, and, enjoy food and each others company.
Extra bonus- Mid-December to Mid-January is when as many as 20,000 grey whales migrate south to the Baja Pennisula. This is perhaps the best time for whale watching on the Oregon Coast, with so many whales around that they can be seen from the shore. And even from the shore, these giant animals are quite a sight to see, and is an incredible and unique Christmas experience.
The Oregon Coast is a great family vacation destination because it feels like such a relaxing break from the rush of day-to-day life, but there are still tons of fun activities for families with kids! A favorite is the Garibaldi Candy Cane Train Ride.
Check out our Oregon Coast Vacation Guide here.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful, walkable city that has a ton of great family-friendly Christmas activities. Our favorites is Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge because it’s such a unique experience and one of the best Christmas lights displays we’ve every seen. While many Christmas events can start to feel a little stale- if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all- Canyon Lights feels like nothing else you’ve seen before.
Other kid-approved activities include Grouse Mountain Peak of Christmas, Vandusen Garden Festival of Lights, Flyover Canada Christmas, and Bright Nights at Stanley Park. Plus Science World and Granville Island, which are great kid-friendly spots year round, will do some special Christmas activities.
For those looking for a skiing or snow activities, Grouse Mountain is just a 15 minute drive. Or, take a day trip up to Whistler– about 2 hours north.
Also, check out our favorite Vancouver Christmas events and Magical Christmas Weekend in Vancouver Itinerary.
Whistler
Whistler Village is adorable and filled with a million things for families to do, including skiing (of course), ice skating, tubing, snowshoeing, ziplining, and more! So even if your family doesn’t ski, Whistler can be a fantastic winter destination for all ages. Plus, there are tons of Christmas activities like Santa visits, Christmas crafts, live shows, Christmas snacks and drinks, and a Christmas maze!
Whistler Village is extremely walkable, and small enough that you’ll never feel like you are far away from the action. But large enough that you’ll always be able to find something to do- even just walking around the village and taking in the sights is so much fun!
The Westin Resort Whistler is a great family friendly hotel with beautiful pools, easy access to everything in the village, and they do a great job decorating and making the place a little extra magical around the holidays!
Leavenworth, WA
This adorable town in the Cascades, just 2 hours from Seattle, is Bavarian themed, and totally transforms itself into the most magical Christmas town! Leavenworth is famous for its Christmas lighting ceremony, which occurs every evening at dusk. But its not just the lights that make it special- there are constant caroling musical performances, sledding right in the middle of town, a Nutcracker museum, sleigh rides, a alpine coast, tons of unique shopping experiences, and just an all around magical Christmas feel!
The town itself is located in a beautiful destination, with beautiful snowy mountains surrounding the town, and a Icicle running through it. For adventurous families, winter hiking and snowshoeing are amazing and usually rewarded with some pretty breathtaking views.
The Enzian Inn is a great choice for a Christmas vacation- its centrally located right in the action of downtown Leavenworth so you can easily see the Christmas lights. Plus it has a heated pool and hot tub, and included breakfast buffet.
Check out some of our favorite wintery things to do in Leavenworth.
Puerto Vallarta
Ready to escape the cold and soak in some sun on the beach? Puerto Vallarta is a perfect Christmas destination for sun and fun, with beautiful kid-friendly beaches and temperatures reaching the mid-80sF. Puerto Vallarta celebrates the holidays in a big way with 9 days of Las Posadas, which celebrates the Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem with processions through town every evening followed by parties, big meals on Christmas Eve, and huge New Years Eve celebrations.
Extra bonus– gray whales head down to Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta in December for breeding and feeding, so you have a great change of seeing them on a Christmas trip!
We love Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa because its on a beautiful, swimmable beach, has a enormous pool plus a kids pool with waterslides, and tons of tasty restaurants. And for the holidays, the resort has a ton of of fun family-friendly activities to keep everyone busy.
Disney Parks
Christmas may be the busiest time to visit Disney Parks, but for good reason. Disney Parks are transformed for the holidays, with Christmas decor reaching every nook and cranny of the parks and hotels. Plus, there are tons of special shows and parades throughout the holiday season. Crowds are to be expected, but Disney does a great job of handling them with extended hours, increased staff, and Genie tools.
Every detail of Disney Parks is designed with kids in mind, including kids menus, rides for even the smallest visitor, character interactions, kid-friendly hotels, and amazing details throughout the parks.
So which park? I have to admit- we are a Disneyland family. We love that its smaller and more accessible so less planning is required and lines are generally shorter and Lightening Lanes easier to come by. And during the holidays, lines are definitely a consideration! But for Christmas, weather in Orlando at Disney World is tough to beat with averages in the mid-70s. The holidays are Disney World are just bigger with more parades, shows, after-hours events, etc.
Whichever park you chose, definitely book through Get Away Today– they always have the best deals and support to make sure you get everything you want!
Disney Cruise
Love the kid-friendliness of Disney Parks but hate the rushing around and crowds? Disney Cruises are another fantastic Christmas vacation idea for families. Very Merrytime Disney Cruises will be completely decked out in holiday decor, with holidays lights, trees, Christmas Disney characters, exclusive merchandise, and of course Santa. There are kid-friendly holiday parties, kids activities, and of course all the regular Disney Cruise stuff like amazing pools, world class kids club (that your kids will actually be thrilled to go to), themed restaurants and character dining, live shows, and even some adults-only activities for the when your kids do ditch you for the kids club.
Disney Very Merrytime Cruise are currently all in the Caribbean, which means you can expect sun and warm temperatures, with highs in the 80sF depending on which part of the Caribbean you are visiting.
Disney Cruises are set up perfectly for families, and really make family vacations easy with all-in-one booking and easy, included activities. Disney Cruises are top tier, with great food, great service, and so much entertainment. And Disney really knows how to make a kid’s holidays special – they add so many magical little touches that will feel so special to your kids, and the entire family!
Bozeman, Montana
Looking for a more authentic winter wonderland experience? Bozeman, Montana is a great destination for those who want a white Christmas! Its a cute town with a great vibe, and its a great jumping off point for tons of winter activities like skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing, or ice skating.
Bozeman has easy access to world class skiing at Big Sky Resort or Bridger Bowl if you prefer a more locals-only vibe. You’ll find great ski schools, if you are just learning, tons of spots to rent gear, dining, and more.
Another favorite activity- head to nearby Yellowstone National Park. There your family can snowshoe or snowmobile through the park in the quiet snowy days of winter for a truly unique Yellowstone Experience.
Or keep your trip budget friendly by doing some sledding and snowshoeing close to Bozeman on one of the many free sledding hills and trails. Then warm up at one of the amazing kid-friendly breweries or coffee shops.
New York City
New York City for the holidays is iconic. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is perfects the most famous Christmas tree in the world, and quite the sight to see! And who hasn’t dreamed of ice skating beneath it, or just taking a stroll through the plaza with a hot chocolate in hand.
Perhaps even more iconic for the kids is the holiday shopping in New York – FAO Schwartz, decked out for the holidays, is a dream come true for kids- and lets be honest, for adults as well. In much of the world, retail shops continue to close, and shopping is more and more online. But on 5th avenue, shopping in person is thriving and shops are beautiful, especially for kids!
The Nutcracker has always been a favorite holiday tradition for me. And the New York Ballet Company’s performance of the Nutcracker is generally considered the best in the US.
New York City has a million kid-friendly things to do around the holidays. Plus its so fun checking out all the Christmas activities made famous by so many Christmas movies (like Elf, Home Alone 2, Serendipity, Miracle on 34th Street).