It’s the holiday season; and with Santa Claus coming down the chimney, that means that the kids are off of school. Maybe everyone needs a change of scenery.

We’ve all been there! Sometimes we just need a break. That’s where the best Christmas vacations for families come into play. We’ve taken the hassle out of researching for the best places to be during the holiday break.

These are our top recommendations, broken down by categories for different types of families. Whether you’re planning for this month or next year, we’ve got you covered with tons of options for a wintery, wonderful vacation.

For the Snow Lovers

When it comes to the best Christmas vacations, the classics should always come first. Let’s start with proper winter destinations for the winter lovers.

Banff, Canada

It is no surprise that Canada would be a top location for families who want to enjoy the wonders of winter during the holiday break, and what better place than Banff.

Located in the heart of the Banff National Park in Alberta, you have your pick of sights to see, wintry activities, and holiday events.

Due to the town being nestled in the Canadian Rockies, you can’t miss the beautiful snowy mountain tops wherever you go.

Banff is a beautiful place to be during the months of December and January, especially for those who still want to enjoy a piece of Christmas excitement while being away from home.

Here are just a few of the incredible events Banff and the Lake Louise area have during the winter months:

• Hot Chocolate Trail: Get a cup of festive-themed hot cocoa from the cafes and restaurants located along the Hot Chocolate Trail treasure map. This event also promotes sustainability by encouraging you to bring your own favorite mug!
• Country Christmas Dinner: This event starts with a romantic sleigh ride to the Brewster Dance Barn from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Once at the barn, enjoy a night of live country music, line dancing, and—most importantly—a buffet fit for a king.
• SnowDays Festival: A perfect must-do event if you’re visiting in January, the SnowDays festival is a couple weeks of pure wintry fun. From life-size snow sculptures to a Play Zone of traditional Canadian games, the SnowDays Festival has everything a family needs to enjoy a snowy day outside.

Breckenridge, Colorado

While we’ve settled on Breckenridge in Colorado for another place families should check out, this list could honestly include the entirety of Colorado.

The capital of ski lodges, Colorado is an easy choice for families to spend quality time together while taking part in winter activities. And don’t worry.

If skiing seems too extreme for you, Breckenridge offers plenty of other events for you and your family to experience. Some examples include:

• Go dog sledding with the local Good Times Adventures company. Plus, who doesn’t love puppy kisses!
• Do some snowshoeing, the winter version of hiking. You can find the easier trails here.
• Take a ride on the Free BreckConnect Gondola over Cucumber Gulch and be met with a snack, hot drink, and ice skating opportunity at your final stop.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Next up, we have Jackson Hole in Wyoming. Besides seeing the beauties of both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, families can experience incredible encounters with nature amidst a breathtaking, snowy backdrop.

The skies are the limit when it comes to wildlife tours you can access in and around Jackson Hole. If you’d rather have some distance between you and the wild animals, take a trip to the National Elk Refuge north of downtown Jackson.

You can take the Refuge Road through the property for free, all while enjoying your favorite holiday tunes. Some other recommendations we have are:

• The Hot Springs: Just because you may love the snow, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a little bit of warmth! The thermal hot spring pools at Granite Hot Springs are naturally fed and accessible via snowmobile in the winter. How fun!
• Ice skating: Who doesn’t love a classic like ice skating? Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned skater, ice skating is a fun activity for all ages. They have both indoor and outdoor rinks.
• Snow tubing: The worst part about sledding or snow tubing is having to drag that heavy sled or flies-away-with-the-smallest-gust-of-wind inner tube to the top of the hill. Well, Jackson Hole has that already figured out for you. You can take a ski lift to the top and ride down the hill over and over and over again!

Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

It makes total sense that “The Official Hometown of Santa Claus” would be on our list. Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland is a Christmas-lover’s dream come true.

Not only can you stop by Santa Claus’ office and his village at the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi has tons of other holiday events for families to enjoy, like:

• Cross the Arctic Circle in Santa Claus Village and get a certificate for it
• Bask in the beautiful blue lights of the Polar Night
• Visit Santa’s Pets—reindeer, ponies, sheep, rabbits, and more—in Santa’s Village

Major tip: Book your activities in advance to ensure you get to do all the things you want to!

Bruges, Belgium

Winter Gloed, or Winter Glow, is the winter wonderland experience in Bruges, Belgium.

From the end of November to the start of January, this winter festival has experiences that will create unforgettable memories—especially if you log them in your ALLMYNE journal through the app!

Parents can have a drink at the Vorst Winter Bar while the kids enjoy some time on the floating artificial ice rink on the Minnewater (Lake of Love).

But that’s not all the Winter Gloed has to offer:

• The Light Experience Trail: Pictures of this experience don’t do it justice. The ten unique light installations invite you down a path through hidden places of the city.
• Christmas Markets: With two in the city center, these Christmas Markets are the perfect place to get souvenirs for your loved ones back home.
• De Warmste Week (“The Warmest Week”): During the week before Christmas, have fun listening to free concerts and live radio for when Bruges becomes the warmest city in the country.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

On December 7th this year, Lake Geneva is hosting its 49th Annual Electric Christmas Parade. Witness colorful lights, colorful floats, and colorful floats with lights during this giant parade on a Saturday.

But you’re in luck if you won’t get the chance to make it there in time for the parade. You can also visit during the last week of January for their Winterfest. 2025 will mark the town’s 30th Annual Winterfest, which includes:

• America’s Snow Sculpting Invitational
• The Downtown Ice Sculpture Walk
• Bonfires on the beach

If these options seem a little too laid back for you and your family members, then you’ll want to check out this next section.

For the Adventure Seekers

Next on our list of best Christmas vacations, destinations for adventure seekers.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

The first of two places to visit in Tennessee over the holiday break is Gatlinburg.

From arts and crafts shows to parades and fireworks, Gatlinburg is a great place for families to enjoy the holiday season. Other events in Gatlinburg during the winter are:

• Enchanted Christmas at Anakeesta: Experience winter cheer with hot cocoa, a family-friendly walk through the villages, and light displays along the way.
• Festival of Trees: This festival includes a craft area for children, a photo op with Santa, and tons of Christmas trees adorned with lights and ornaments.
• Winter Magic Tunes and Tales: Ready to get into the holiday spirit? This street performance festival has singers, dancers, and storytellers who do performances every day from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Townsend, Tennessee

What families report as being the less touristy and cheaper alternative to Gatlinburg, Townsend is another Tennessean gem for holiday retreats. Every year, they host the Winter Heritage Festival—so keep your calendars open in January for when they announce next year’s date! This festival has

• Demonstrations of pioneer survival skills
• Historic artifacts to see
• Education on pioneer weaponry and crafts

This is a great place for families who want to truly immerse themselves in the place they visit!

Kaikōura, New Zealand

Winter in America means it’s summer in New Zealand! Kaikōura has no shortage of adventures for you and your family.

You have your pick of scuba diving, visiting a lavender farm, and/or mountain biking the many local trails.

Get up close and personal with albatross, whales, and seals on one of their many excursions. This destination is perfect for families looking for something a little different, but still have the best Christmas vacations.

Arenal, Costa Rica

The Arenal Volcano National Park is definitely something to behold. While Arenal’s eruptive cycle seems to have entered a resting phase, you can still enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica.

Adrenaline junkies won’t be able to get enough of the adventures Arenal offers:

• Arenal Canopy: Zipline through the Costa Rican jungles on a two-hour tour. This is a family-friendly experience for people of all ages!
• Don Tobias Horse Tour: This horseback ride takes you on a three-hour journey through Arenal, giving you incredible views of the volcano along with rainforest immersion.
• Mistico Hanging Bridges: Take a walk through nature, observing hundreds of species of plants and birds in Mistico Park. Oh, and did we mention there are six hanging bridges along the way? Don’t look down!

Australia

As with New Zealand, December to February is Australia’s summer. This is the best time for thrill-seekers because of excursions like

• Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef
• A helicopter tour over Uluru and Kata Tjuta
• Swimming with great white sharks

The Poconos, Pennsylvania

There are tons of things to do in the Poconos, but the thing we want to bring your attention to most is the family-friendly Camelback Resort.

Recommended by tons of families across the internet, the Camelback Resort has a little something for everyone. The Camelback Resort has plenty of adventures for kids young and old. These include:

• Mountain Coaster: As someone who has personally ridden a mountain coaster before, it is an incredibly thrilling experience and definitely something everyone should try at least once. Be sure to check the requirements for the ride prior to visiting!
• Skiing and Snowboarding: People with older children can enjoy skiing or snowboarding down the tall peaks of the Pocono Mountains, while younger families can have their choice of any of their 42 snow tubing lanes.
• Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark: Families can rent private cabanas, allowing for time with you and your loved ones. This waterpark has 13 different water slides! There are also kiddie slides for those with younger children.

For those of us who find the weather outside to be frightful, we want to get away to somewhere warm, sunny, and tropical. best Christmas vacations

If you and your family are missing the sounds of ocean waves, then this last list is for you.

For the Sun Bathers

Do you need to go somewhere sunny to have the best Christmas vacations? Here are a few suggestions.

The Cayman Islands

No snow doesn’t mean no holiday celebrations in the Cayman Islands.

Visit Santa’s House every Wednesday evening of December to get a chance to meet the big guy himself in Gardenia Court, or watch Christmas movies on the lawn of The Crescent.

Settle in along the beach during the Christmas firework display, or check out the Christmas decorations at the Botanic Park. No matter what you decide to do—even if it’s just relaxing in the sand—the Cayman Islands is sure to be the best setting for a winter get(far)away.

The U.S. Virgin Islands

No need for a passport when booking your holiday vacation this year.

Get your fill of Christmastime with palm trees covered in string lights and ornaments while you pass the time away sipping on rum punches and watching the children bury each other in the sand.

Also, what better way to experience Christmas than on the Pizza Pi, the world’s only sailboat pizzeria! Getting to see turtles while eating pizza? Sounds like a win-win to us!

Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas

Make sure you visit the biggest waterpark in the Bahamas, Aquaventure. This waterpark has a lazy river and dozens of swimming areas.

The Reef is extremely family friendly and is within shuttle or walking distance from all of Atlantis’ beautiful attractions. And if spa time is your idea of relaxation—makes two of us!—the Mandara Spa is the place to be.

Spend time healing from your hard work in the saunas or get one of their many treatments to help release all that back pain from hunching over your computer all day—guilty as charged!

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf Shores has plenty of features sure to wow the whole family. Some options available to you are:

• The Track Recreation Center: Home to go-kart rides, bumper cars, and mini golf, this thrill park is a great and inexpensive way to let the kids blow off some steam.
• The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo: Explore 25 acres of this beloved safe haven for animals of all kinds. You can even get the opportunity to feed some giraffes!
• Segway tour: These two-hour tours take you through the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Gulf State Park, allowing you to segway right through the forest, passing by alligators, foxes, and many other types of wildlife.

Puerto Rico

The best time to visit Puerto Rico for some holiday traditions is over Three Kings Day, which is the 6th of January.

Days leading up to Día de Reyes, children take part in a whole bunch of fun customs, like putting out a box of grass for the Three Kings’ camels who leave them presents.

Then, everyone gathers for lively music and delicious food like pernil, coquito, and tembleque. This is a great experience for families who want to experience other cultures’ ways of celebrating the holidays!

Cape Coral, Florida

Our final stop before it’s back to school is Cape Coral in Florida. Even though the weather cools down a bit during the winter, it’s still a huge hit amongst tourists.

But never fear! There are plenty of activities for you and your family to do. Check out the Murder Mystery Dinner Train that departs from Fort Myers.

They have a special Christmas-themed event, too! You can also mosey around the Cape Coral Historical Museum or Trent Art Gallery for a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of Florida.

Will You Be Home for Christmas?

Whether you plan on going as far away from your home as possible or cozying up on your couch to watch The Polar Express, the winter holidays are all about spending time with loved ones.

No matter where you decide to be for the winter break this year, you’re sure to make beautiful, unforgettable memories so long as you’re with the people you love most. And what better way to collect all your memories than with the ALLMYNE app.

Using the ALLMYNE journal feature in the app is easier than making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Download the ALLMYNE app today using the links below. Happy holidays!

Download the ALLMYNE app from the APPLE STORE or GOOGLE PLAY to seamlessly plan, capture, and share your travel journey with a global community of fellow explorers. Upgrade to our PRO subscriber level for even more perks, including audio recording in your journal, AI-powered location suggestions tailored to your interests, unlimited trip locations, and unlimited storage for all your travel memories. Download the ALLMYNE app now – the ultimate travel companion to enhance every step of your journey!