The Best Cities in the US to Celebrate Christmas

As we count days before Christmas, everyone wants to plan something exclusive to make their holidays memorable. People have multiple choice of destinations where they want to travel and the bustling cities in the US provide the environment to celebrate holidays packed with the best nightlife, dining and shopping, attractions, and much more. Spending Christmas in these cities offers tourists an unparalleled travel experiences of America’s diverse urban landscape. If you are planning to visit the country during Christmas and looking for ideas on how to spend your holidays read on.

Kansas City, Missouri

Known for jazz, barbecue, and fountains, Kansas City is a creative community that prides itself on good times and the city’s friendly, fun-loving people.  As the Barbecue Capital of the World, it is known for its distinctive style of barbecue, characterized by its wide variety of meats, smoking woods and thick red tomato-based sauce. So, for a gastronomic adventurer looking to spend Christmas with good food, Kansas City should definitely be on their list. The city offers more than 100 barbecue restaurants from legends like Gates and Bryant’s to smaller, local favorites. With more than 200 fountains, it is also known as the City of Fountains, boasting more fountains than any other city, except maybe Rome. In addition, Kansas City is rich in African American culture and history and is home to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, as well as the American Jazz Museum.

Austin, Texas

Austin makes for the perfect Christmas getaway filled with food, music, and the space to spend time with friends and family during the holidays. The city has seen a dramatic urban transformation in the past years in terms of population, business, global exposure, and more. So, spending Christmas in this city only opens the doors to a global palate that will make your holidays all the more memorable. The city’s Indie music scene, buzzing tech scene, pleasant climate, and constant inflow of cultural offerings make it a popular destination to visit. The cherry on top is the city’s culinary delights including tasty tacos and mouth-watering barbeques. When you visit, be sure to visit the city’s historic capitol building and enjoy a stroll along Lady Bird Lake.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma, in the heart of the country, is famous for its combination of “cowboy culture,” and other more modern attractions. As a result, Christmas in Oklahoma City is a distinct confluence of culture, urbanization, and celebration. One can see real cowboys and girls wrangling and riding at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds. For a calmer experience, you can explore the state’s wild-west history at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Do not miss the Wheeler Ferris Wheel, one of the city’s newest additions. A historic Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel purchased on eBay in 2008 and then fully renovated, the Wheeler Wheel is operating at its new location in Downtown Oklahoma City. The Factory Obscura immersive art exhibit, created in partnership with more than 30 Oklahoma City-based artists, is another urban visit ideal for the Christmas holidays.

Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore has been shedding its industrial past to focus on an infrastructure that is more suitable for the demands of the modern world. Prior to becoming a major manufacturing center, the city used to be the second leading entry point for immigrants into the United States. Following yet another transformation, today Baltimore ranks as one of the coolest cities on the East Coast. Visit Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for shopping and nightlife or enjoy a sailing excursion on the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is a must-see on any East Coast vacation, with an expanding cultural scene, lively neighborhoods, and rising culinary expertise. As a result, the city exhibits a tie of culture, modern technology, innovation, and celebratory components all under one roof. Christmas in Baltimore will be one for the memory for sure!

Louisville, Kentucky

History, southern hospitality, and metamorphosis come together to create modern-day Louisville. Although it is not the first choice for many tourists visiting the US especially for Christmas, Louisville emerges with its own essence and charm to make your time there an unforgettable affair. Surrounded by natural beauty, Louisville is Kentucky’s largest city, home to both the Kentucky Derby and its star resident, Muhammad Ali. Here, you can sip some of the world’s finest spirits along the Urban Bourbon Trail, visit landmarks honoring some of history’s greatest influencers and dine at award-winning restaurants – all on the same day. When you visit, make sure you check out the race’s venue at Churchill Downs and then make a trip to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory where they still produce the famous baseball bat. Your trip is not complete without a stop at one of the many distilleries in the city for bourbon tasting.

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit in Michigan over the Midwest is another top pick for one of the best urban or city destinations for Christmas. If you visit Detroit today, you could stay in a hotel that used to be a Firehouse named Foundation Hotel or go to a nightclub in a former factory. In fact, the development of Detroit’s waterfront has seen the biggest change. The Detroit RiverWalk, formerly a patchwork of private homes and industrial structures, has evolved into one of the city’s most popular public areas. Despite Detroit’s continuous modernization, places like the Henry Ford Museum and the Motown Museum continue to give visitors an experience of the city’s deep and rich history. Thus, the experience is one that stands out from any other Christmas holiday that you have spent.