Family Christmas Vacation Ideas: 7 US Trips Kids Will Love
A Christmas trip with kids works best when the holiday is the destination. Pick a place that goes all in on the season, keep the days simple, and leave room for hot cocoa and early bedtimes.
These seven family Christmas vacation ideas cover snow, sunshine, train rides and theme park lights, so there is something for toddlers, teens and grandparents alike.
How to choose your family Christmas trip
Decide on snow or sun
Some families want a white Christmas with sledding and snowmen. Others want to swap the cold for a pool. Settle this first, because it narrows the list fast and changes what you pack.
Think about ages
Little kids love trains, lights and characters. Older kids and teens usually want something active, like skiing or hiking. If you are traveling with grandparents, look for places where you can stay central and avoid long drives each day.
Book early for the holiday weeks
The days around Christmas and New Year's are some of the busiest of the year for travel. Lock in flights, rooms and any timed tickets as soon as your dates are set, and check current schedules before you go since seasonal events change from year to year.
1. Williams, Arizona: The Polar Express and the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon Railway runs The Polar Express from the small town of Williams during the holiday season. Kids ride in their pajamas, sip hot cocoa, listen to the story read aloud and meet Santa when the train reaches the North Pole. It is one of the most beloved holiday train rides in the country.
Make it a bigger trip by adding a day at the Grand Canyon. The regular train runs from Williams to the South Rim, and a winter visit means quieter viewpoints and, with luck, a dusting of snow on the canyon walls. Our Grand Canyon South Rim itinerary shows how to spend a day or two there.
2. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee: Smoky Mountain holidays
Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas fills the park in Pigeon Forge with lights, holiday shows and seasonal food. It is a big hit with families because there is something for every age, from gentle rides to live music.
Next door, Gatlinburg feels like a mountain village at Christmas, with lights along the main street and cozy cabins in the hills. Spend a morning in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a short hike or a drive through Cades Cove, keeping in mind that mountain roads can close in winter weather.
3. Hershey, Pennsylvania: Christmas in Chocolatetown
Hershey turns the holidays sweet. Hersheypark Christmas Candylane brings lights, rides and visits with Santa, and Hershey Sweet Lights is a drive through trail of illuminated displays you can enjoy from the warmth of the car.
Do not skip Hershey's Chocolate World, where a short ride shows how chocolate is made and kids can try their hand at designing a candy bar. It is an easy, low stress day that works well even in cold weather.
4. Branson, Missouri: An Old Time Christmas
Silver Dollar City, the 1880s style theme park just outside Branson, hosts a famous Christmas festival with lights, a towering holiday tree and live shows. The craft demonstrations, like glass blowing and candy making, give kids something to watch between rides.
Branson itself is built for families, with a long list of holiday stage shows. Book one evening show and keep the rest of the trip loose so nobody runs out of steam.
5. San Antonio, Texas: Lights on the River Walk
If your family would rather skip the snow, San Antonio is a lovely choice. The River Walk is strung with lights for the holidays, and a river boat ride after dark is the easiest way for little legs to see it all.
Daytime brings mild weather for exploring the Alamo, the Spanish missions of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and the Pearl district with its shops and food spots. It is a relaxed city to wander at a kid's pace.
6. Orlando, Florida: Holidays at the theme parks
Walt Disney World decorates every park for the season, with giant trees, holiday music and seasonal entertainment. Epcot hosts a holiday festival with food and stories from around the world, and Magic Kingdom holds a separately ticketed holiday party on select evenings.
The week between Christmas and New Year's is famously crowded, so if your schedule allows, aim for early December instead. Pair a park day with a rest day at the pool so everyone stays cheerful.
7. Snowmass and Aspen, Colorado: A snowy Christmas in the mountains
For a classic white Christmas, Snowmass is the family friendly side of the Aspen area, with gentle beginner terrain, a well known ski school and lodging close to the slopes. Kids who do not ski can go sledding, take a sleigh ride or try snowshoeing.
Evenings in Aspen bring holiday lights downtown and plenty of places to warm up with a mug of something hot. See our Aspen ski trip planner for how to split your days between the mountains and town.
Tips for a smooth holiday trip with kids
- Travel on the quieter days. Flying on Christmas Eve morning or Christmas Day itself can be calmer than the days right before.
- Bring the traditions with you. Pack a few small gifts, stockings or a favorite holiday book so Christmas morning still feels like home.
- Plan one big thing per day. A train ride or a theme park evening is plenty. Leave the rest of the day open for naps, pools and snacks.
- Dress in layers. Even warm destinations get chilly after dark in December, and mountain towns can swing from sunny to snowy fast.
- Let everyone pick something. Giving each kid one choice on the itinerary cuts down on complaints and makes the trip feel like theirs.
Planning your family Christmas trip in Wander Off
Wander Off keeps the whole family on the same page. Create an adventure, invite everyone who is coming, and add the train ride, light shows and restaurants to the Plan tab by day so the kids can vote on their favorites. Book flights, hotels and things to do right in the app, and ask the AI Travel Concierge for ideas when you need them. Our family vacation planner page walks through it step by step.
During the trip, photos and videos land on the right day and place automatically, so the holiday memories sort themselves into a shared travel photo album everyone can enjoy. Make the adventure public afterward and other families can copy your trip for their own Christmas plans.
