Winter is coming, and so is all the fun that comes with it. But what is winter without travelling to charming and cosy holiday wonderlands? Snow, Christmas trees and lights, and lovely vintage shops with handcrafted goods make winter magical. And let’s not forget about fun activities you can do when the snow starts to fall!

Yes, winter has a lot to offer, but what precisely that will depend on the place you will visit. This article explores some of the smaller places in the US that you will want to see after reading it. Forget about the concrete jungle - winter is an ideal season to disappear in the cosiness of fairytale-like towns surrounded by spellbinding nature and smells of homemade sweets!

Leavenworth, Washington

If you’re looking for the best weather places to live in the US, Leavenworth may not be ideal, but this snow-covered, Alpine-style town turns into a magical place. You can see Christmas decorations and glowing holiday lights everywhere, and let’s not forget the festive German fare during the winter.

In its Bavarian village, you can find unique holiday shopping venues where you can buy traditional gifts like cuckoo clocks, nutcrackers, beer steins, and music boxes. What’s more, speciality shops offer cheeses, sweets, and meats you can enjoy with your family or friends.

There’s also a Nutcracker Museum in this cute town, boasting the foremost collection of nutcrackers in the world. It also has a museum store where you can get your hand-carved nutcracker.

Leavenworth doesn’t fall short when it comes to winter activities either. There are snowy mountain trails with opportunities for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing. But if you’re looking for something less adventurous, you can always go sledging at a local park.

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Also known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria, Frankenmuth boasts about everything you’d associate with the Christmas season, despite its small size. It has the world’s largest Christmas store, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, boasting over 50,000 trims and gifts.

During the holiday season, the Frankenmuth Farmers Market becomes a traditional German ChristKindlMarkt, offering locally made gifts, baked goods, trinkets, and much more.

In Main Street are over 150 trees wrapped in holiday lights shining warmly. Meanwhile, the centre features a fantastic 40-foot Christmas tree lit with 23,000 synchronized lights, bursting into a light and music show.

Stockbridge, Massachusetts


Located in the Berkshires Hills of western Massachusetts, Stockbridge was made famous as an idyllic winter town thanks to “Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas”, a painting by Norman Rockwell.

Unsurprisingly, the town is home to the Norman Rockwell Museum, displaying the artist’s work. You will also find his Stockbridge studio, which he conveyed to the museum in 1976.

The town still has some vintage feel, and its small-town charm is sweetened by a shopping centre with old-fashioned mercantile stores, antique shops, rare-book shops, and coffee roasteries.

Burlington, Vermont

Burlington has a quintessential New England charm, a flourishing food scene, and easy access to pristine slopes, so it’s no wonder tourists flock to this town each winter. There’s ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, featuring interactive, child-friendly exhibits, located in an impressive glass-walled building.

Besides its thriving craft beer scene, this charming town offers many family-friendly places and activities, such as Lake Champlain Chocolates offering free weekend tastings. And if you’re up for some action, there’s a ski resort, Smugglers’ Notch, where you can enjoy the fun with your family.

Camden, Maine

In winter, Camden transforms into a snowy wonderland where you can enjoy Nordic and cross-country skiing, hiking, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice-climbing, and ice-skating on lakes, ponds, or rinks.

From the Camden Snow Bowl ski area, you can catch breathtaking ocean views and enjoy different trails and a unique toboggan chute that will take you to Hosmer Pond.

If you love history, visit Camden’s High Street Historic District. You can see 19th-century homes and the Camden Public Library with an open-air amphitheatre. There’s also a magical 1830s lighthouse on nearby Curtis Island.

Jackson, Wyoming


With the alluring ski resorts, the Teton and Gros Ventre mountain ranges rising in the distance, and eclectic bars and galleries in Teton Village, Jackson is an ultimate postcard of a winter town.

There are numerous ways to enjoy simple seasonal delights, from a memorable aprés-ski meal at The Kitchen to cookies and hot chocolate at Persephone Bakery to sleigh rides in the National Elk Refuge.

After hitting the slopes, head on to Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa in Teton village to get a soothing massage and enjoy the perks of being alive.

Georgetown, Colorado

Georgetown started as a late-19th-century silver mining town. It boasts enduring Victorian architecture, creating an enchanting holiday atmosphere. During December, this small town transforms into a 19th-century Christmas market with roasted chestnuts, horse-drawn wagon rides, holiday shops, and much more.

Covered with snow and decorated with glowing lights and winter greenery, the town’s outdoor marketplace boasts handcrafted ornaments, gifts, decorations, antiques, art, rare books, home goods, clothing items, and jewellery.

Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Santa Rosa Beach offers the ideal atmosphere to fight the winter blues with its year-round sunshine, emerald waters, and powdery sand beaches. Whether you want to embrace the great outdoors with horseback riding, stand-up paddle boarding, or hiking at Point Washington State Forest or search for holiday gifts at charming antique and pottery shops, there are plenty of ways to pass the time in this cute town.

The eye-catching coastal scenery along the Panhandle is even more fascinating at the WaterColor Inn & Resort. There, you can enjoy canoeing, kayaking, and biking. And let’s not forget colourful beach-side cocktails and sushi at one-site dining venues, the Beach Club Grill and The Gathering Spot.

Lake Arrowhead, California

Also known as the Alps of Southern California, Lake Arrowhead is located around 90 minutes east of LA in the San Bernardino Mountains. You will find Snow Valley Mountain Resort, where you can enjoy various snow activities.

If you visit this town during the holidays, you’ll have a lot of wintery fun on the lakefront in Lake Arrowhead Village proper. This includes watching nightly tree lighting, carolers, fife-and-drum bands, and Santa himself.

If you’re up for an adventure, head to Skypark at Santa’s Village. You can enjoy biking, climbing, hiking, ziplining, archery, and axe-throwing.

Girdwood, Alaska

Girdwood is a prime ski destination in the Chugach Mountains along the south-central coast. Choose from various winter sports, including Nordic skiing and snowboarding, before taking a rest in the cosy Alyeska Resort. From there, you can access the slopes and a ski rental shop or go on a snowmobile tour.

Once you’re done with wintery activities, head to one of Girdwood’s comfy bars and restaurants to warm up.

Winter Wonderland Awaits You


After reading this article, you’re likely more than eager to escape into the vintage towns packed with Christmas spirit, majestic mountains, and homemade goods. Winter wonderland awaits you in these charming small places.

All you need to do is book your holiday and enjoy. From skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and ice-skating to warm bars and restaurants, winter greenery, Christmas lights, and locally-made meals, winter offers numerous enjoyable things. It’s the season of the soul, so go ahead and feed it!