It’s time to dive headfirst into the holiday season, and these dreamy U.S. Christmas towns make for the perfect road trip from Vancouver, for all those looking to take the Christmas magic up a notch this year. From German villages to snowy small towns, these spots are dedicated to bringing the holiday spirit to life.
The cross-border towns aren’t that far either, some even making for ideal day trip destinations.
If you want to feel like you’re roaming the streets of a Hallmark Christmas movie this year, map out your routes to these magical little US Christmas towns.
Leavenworth, Washington
Drive time from Vancouver: About 4 hours.
Why You Need To Go: This small town will whisk you away to Germany with its Bavarian architecture and picturesque scenery. Set in Washington state this town is tucked away in the Cascade Mountains, and it comes alive during the holidays.
Thing horse-drawn sleigh rides, street carolers, streets framed with twinkling lights, and even reindeer at the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm. Every year the town celebrates the Village of Lights: Christmastown, with enchanting light displays, a massive tree, and live music. Add in the hot cocoa, pretzels, an gingerbread factory here and you’ve got a Christmas dream come true.
Snoqualmie, Washington
Drive time from Vancouver: About 3 and a half hours.
Why You Need To Go: Want a quaint Christmas vibe? Go to Snoqualmie and breathe in the charming small-town festive cheer.
The town has its annual Winter Lights event on December 7, when they light up the tree, have Santa pay a visit, and have live music to enjoy. It’s a holiday movie vibe here brimming with charm, from the light displays to the holiday train rides into the historic Downtown area. The Salish Lodge and Spa is also here, which is a stunning getaway into nature if you want to wind down on your weekend adventure.
Bellevue, Washington
Drive time from Vancouver: About 3 hours.
Why You Need To Go: This town has a Christmas parade that will blow you away, with dancers, drummers, and holiday floats. The best part is that it’s every night at 7 p.m. from November 29 to December 24, so you can make sure to catch Snowflake Lane. The nightly parade is also free, so it can’t get much better!
Garden d’Lights is also a stunning holiday light show here, where you can wander through half a million dazzling lights, running nightly from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. from November 15 to December 31.
Bellingham, Washington
Drive time from Vancouver: About an hour and a half.
Why You Need To Go: Right over the border this is the perfect escape for Vancouverites not wanting to go too far from home. Their annual Winterfest runs from late November to the end of December and has horse-drawn carriage rides, Christmas markets, and of course stunning festive decor. The Fairhaven neighbourhood has cobblestone streets that will make you feel like you’re in a European town during the holiday season.
Spokane, Washington
Drive time from Vancouver: About seven hours.
Why You Need To Go: Although a further drive than the other towns, a visit to Spokane during the holidays is well worth the journey. Enjoy the snowy setting with skating, twinkling light displays, and local shopping. It’s beautifully decorated and goes all out for the merry vibes, putting local businesses at the forefront.
Port Townsend, Washington
Drive time from Vancouver: About 3 and a half hours.
Why You Need To Go: This place is all about old-school charm and offers a holiday experience on the coast instead of in the mountains. They have a Victorian Yuletide Festival when their Main Streets businesses deck the halls for the season and offer holiday shopping campaigns – perfect for gift shopping. Hundreds of lights dazzle the community here, along with the community tree, a heated tent, community events and even a Gingerbread Contest from December 1 to 8.
These US Christmas towns make for the perfect getaway spots, to embrace the holiday season and get into a festive mood. Happy road-tripping!
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