Traveling the Week of Christmas: What Families Really Want to Know (From a Family Who’s Done It)
Valcartier Vacation Village
Traveling during the week of Christmas can feel intimidating. Airports are crowded, prices can be higher, and traditions look a little different. But for our family, Christmas travel has become one of our favorite ways to celebrate the season.
We’ve learned that the secret is choosing destinations that fully embrace the holidays and offer a mix of adventure, charm, and downtime.
We’re a family with very different travel styles:
Bryan and the boys love skiing, snow tubing, ATVs, and anything adrenaline-filled
Callan gravitates toward Christmas markets, museums, and live entertainment
I love walkable towns, hiking, outdoor exploration, and cozy evenings
So when we plan Christmas trips, we look for places that offer a little bit of everything. Here’s what traveling the week of Christmas has looked like for us — and why we keep choosing it.
Is Traveling During Christmas Week Worth It?
Oh, absolutely — if you choose destinations that fully lean into the season and offer something for everyone in the family (including teenagers who may pretend they’re too cool for Christmas). One of our favorite things about traveling between mid-December and early January is that many of the experiences are only available this time of year — which instantly makes the trip feel extra special.
We also love holiday travel because we’re acutely aware that our time with our kids all under one roof is short. Between jobs, internships, and future families of their own, these windows to travel as a group of five won’t always be this easy. So we’re squeezing in as many shared memories as possible while everyone’s calendars still overlap.
One of our most memorable Christmas trips was Quebec City during the holidays. The city felt like a real-life snow globe. We spent our days snow tubing, skiing, and snow rafting, which was a huge hit with the boys. We even took curling lessons, which proved to be challenging and fun for all!
Walking through Old Town felt like being dropped into a small European city, with cobblestone streets, stone buildings, and Christmas lights everywhere. Callan loved browsing the Christmas markets, while the rest of us enjoyed simply wandering and soaking in the atmosphere.
We also visited Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, home to Montmorency Falls — an impressive 83-meter cascade, actually taller than Niagara Falls. Seeing it in winter, with snow and ice framing the falls, was unforgettable.
Trips like this remind us that Christmas travel isn’t about convenience — it’s about experiences you can’t replicate any other time of year. With a little planning, a dash of flexibility, and a healthy sense of adventure, we can’t recommend family travel over the holidays enough. Just remember to pack your patience — along with your winter coat and a sense of humor — and you’ll be rewarded with memories that last far longer than the holiday season itself.
Favorite Christmas Destinations We’ve Traveled as a Family
Over the years, we’ve learned that the best Christmas trips are the ones that fully lean into the season — lights, music, outdoor fun, cozy moments, and just enough magic to make everyone forget about the cold. These destinations have delivered every single time.
New York City
New York City really knows how to do Christmas — and it quickly became one of our favorite holiday trips. The city feels electric during the holidays — festive, fast-paced, and magical all at once.
One of our favorite trips included:
Ice skating at Bryant Park (the other park — not Rockefeller), surrounded by twinkling lights and holiday stalls
Catching a Broadway show — Rock of Ages — because Wicked was sold out!
Eating the best soup dumplings we’ve ever had in Chinatown (still dreaming about them)
Marveling at the Christmas lights in Dyker Heights
Taking in sweeping city views from the top of One World Trade Center, which never gets old
Wandering floor after floor of FAO Schwarz, where everyone suddenly turns into a kid again
And of course, standing shoulder to shoulder with thousands of others to marvel at the giant Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center — crowded, yes, but completely worth it
New York at Christmas is busy, loud, and unforgettable — the kind of place where you walk all day, eat everything, and collapse into bed feeling like you truly soaked in the season.
Quebec City, Canada
Perfect for families who want:
Snow activities like tubing, skiing, and rafting at Valcartier Vacation Village
Christmas markets and festive Old Town vibes
Curling lessons at Club de Curling Jacques-Cartier
A European feel without traveling overseas
Natural wonders, like Montmorency Falls
This destination checked every box for our family - nature, thrills, culture, delicious food, Christmas markets, and snow!
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Pigeon Forge goes all-in on Christmas, which makes it a fantastic holiday destination.
We’ve stayed in beautiful log cabins with mountain views, and some are even decorated for Christmas — lights, trees, and all. When you’re lucky enough to get snow, it’s pure magic.
Highlights include:
Hiking in the Smoky Mountains
The Hatfield & McCoy Christmas Dinner Show
Dollywood at Christmas, which is absolutely stunning with millions of lights and enough holiday spirit to convert even the biggest Scrooge.
Wandering The Island and Christmas Place
Indoor snow tubing
This is one of those destinations where every family member finds something they love.
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville was one of those trips that surprised us in the best way. We stayed in a holiday-decorated Airbnb and spent our days exploring the city and local attractions.
What made it special:
Visiting the Biltmore Estate, which does an incredible job with holiday decorations
Renting ATVs and driving through the snow (the kids loved this)
Finding a zip-lining experience even in winter
Cozy evenings with fires, s’mores, and hot tub time
Cold-weather trips always get bonus points from us when a hot tub is involved.
Helen, Georgia
Helen is proof that you don’t need a passport to feel transported during the holidays. It’s an easy drive for us from Florida, which makes it a stress-free Christmas getaway with no airports or long lines.
This charming Bavarian-style town sits along the Chattahoochee River and feels especially festive during the holidays.
Why we love it:
Over-the-top holiday decorations
Authentic German food (a personal favorite thanks to my German background)
Hiking at Anna Ruby Falls
A Christkindl Market if you visit before Christmas, which feels very similar to European Christmas markets
Helen is the perfect destination is you’re looking for old-world charm without breaking the bank.
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls at Christmas is perfection.
During the holidays, the area transforms into a winter wonderland with:
The Winter Festival of Lights, featuring millions of lights and animated displays
Seasonal events like the Poinsettia Show
Holiday markets in Clifton Hill and Niagara-on-the-Lake
Ice skating, winter wineries, and festive shows
You can still experience attractions like Journey Behind the Falls, and there are fireworks on weekends and New Year’s Eve.
How We Choose Christmas Trips That Work for Everyone
Planning a Christmas trip for our family of five is like trying to choreograph a holiday-themed circus — but somehow, we actually pull it off. Our secret? We include a little something for everyone.
For us, the perfect Christmas getaway is a mix of:
Outdoor thrills — think skiing, snow tubing, hiking, or zipping through snowy trails while Bryan and the boys cheer “faster, faster!”
Indoor fun — cozy nights in our Airbnb playing board games, puzzling our way through a 1,000-piece jigsaw (yes, every single trip), or testing out pool tables, arcade games, and hot tubs
Cultural adventures — wandering charming towns, Christmas markets, or museums, which Callan can’t get enough of
Nature escapes — from snowy parks to cascading waterfalls, we love a little fresh-air magic
We’re big fans of accommodations that double as a family hangout zone — a hot tub, fireplace, or even a game room turns into the ultimate headquarters for laughs, s’mores, and storytelling after a day of adventures.
Sometimes we fly, sometimes we drive. Sometimes we hop across the ocean to Europe; other times we stay close to home. Living in Florida, we love a cooler getaway — it helps us feel that holiday vibe. (Not that we mind another Christmas in the pool — though we suspect the kids wouldn’t exactly call that “festive.”)
At the end of the day, we’re drawn to what’s different — snowy countryside in Quebec, Bavarian-style streets in Helen, or twinkling Christmas lights in Pigeon Forge. The goal is simple: a mix of thrills, cozy moments, and family togetherness so everyone leaves with memories they’ll be talking about long after the tinsel comes down.
Christmas Travel FAQ
Is it better to fly on Christmas Day?
Often, yes. Christmas Day flights are typically less crowded and more relaxed since many families prefer to be home that morning. We’ve found it can be one of the calmest days to travel during an otherwise hectic week.
How early should you book Christmas travel?
For Christmas week trips:
Book flights 3–6 months in advance
Reserve accommodations as early as possible
Pre-book popular holiday attractions
Waiting until December usually means higher prices and fewer options.
What should you pack for Christmas travel?
Layers, layers, layers - especially for winter destinations. Winter trips require layers, waterproof shoes, and warm accessories. We also pack one festive outfit for photos, portable chargers, and snacks. If traveling somewhere cold, we prioritize accommodations with fireplaces or hot tubs.
Can you bring wrapped Christmas gifts on a plane?
Yes, but TSA may unwrap them. We usually skip traveling with wrapped gifts and focus on experiences instead.
Are Christmas markets worth visiting with kids?
Absolutely. Christmas markets offer food, lights, music, and festive energy that appeals to all ages, especially in places like Quebec City, Helen, Georgia, and European-style towns.
How do you plan trips when everyone wants something different?
We choose destinations that offer variety. Adventure for Bryan and the boys, markets and entertainment for Callan, and walkable towns and outdoor exploration for me.
Should you buy travel insurance for Christmas travel?
Yes. Winter weather, flight delays, and peak pricing make travel insurance especially valuable during Christmas week.
Final Thoughts on Traveling During Christmas Week
Christmas travel isn’t about perfection — it’s about creating memories that stick with your family long after the holiday decorations are packed away. Over the years, each of us has had favorite moments that make these trips special: Bryan loved riding ATVs in North Carolina; I adored the Christmas markets in France; Callan enjoyed the ice-skating and museums in NYC; Jake was psyched about the thrill rides at Dollywood; and Max got his adrenaline-fix while snow rafting in Quebec.
And for all of us together, the best moments often happen at the end of the day: sitting around a fire after a chilly day outdoors, laughing while roasting s’mores, or soaking in a hot tub after hours of playing in the snow. Those simple, cozy moments — shared warmth, laughter, and connection — are the memories we carry home with us every year.
Christmas trips aren’t about escaping reality — they’re about making the season unforgettable, together.
