Brains
Christmas time is the most festive time of the year, filled with bright lights, cheery songs, and jolly spirits. Who doesn’t want to take their families on a magical holiday trip to the snow, but where is the perfect resort for the most Christmas spirit?
Here are the nine most festive resorts around the globe for your Hallmark-Christmas vibe:
#9: Vail, CO
Vail, Colorado, is a fantastic place to spend Christmas, as they have tons of fun activities in their village as well as beautiful decorations that light up the night sky. Vail has a tree lighting ceremony at Lionshead Village in late November, which is a great sight to watch with family and friends. They also have tons of cute and cozy boutiques to shop at and pick out a spectacular present for your loved ones. Vail is a perfect town to ski and snowboard throughout the day and look at Christmas lights during the evenings and nights.
#8: Courchevel, France
Courchevel in France is known for its glamorous and luxurious experience, and it definitely carries on into the Christmas season. Courchevel has exceptional activities for children, such as a week of enchanted parades, where you can meet Santa and his musicians. There are also dance spectacles, treasure hunts, and workshops for children and parents to enjoy together. Courchevel is also one of the most colorful resorts, with multicolored lights rather than just white and red. All in all, if you are looking for a family-friendly resort, especially for young children, Courchevel is the ideal place to spend Christmas!
#7: Jackson Hole, WY
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR), Wyoming, lights up its town with brightness and Christmas spirit, both with lights and the people’s spirits. Jackson’s rustic, Western vibe gives it a unique feel, with a beautiful, dramatic flair of the Teton mountains in the background. The resort hosts a plethora of Christmas and winter activities such as sleigh rides, Santa sightings, and holiday entertainment, including the resort’s annual Christmas show at the Jackson Hole Playhouse. JHMR even has a list of Christmas activities available to the public. Jackson Hole is a great place to spend Christmas with family and friends.
#6: Chamonix, France
In Chamonix, France, the snowfall is always reliable, and you are guaranteed to have a steady base to ski and board on. The streets are lined with charming chalets, cozy cafes, and cute boutiques, all decorated accordingly for the Christmas season. Once you are done skiing and boarding for the day, you can relax with delicious French cuisine or enjoy the Christmas spirit with the town’s activities. They offer Christmas markets, a torch-lit descent for the public to watch, and visit the Montenvers Mer de Glace (an ice cave decorated with sculptures)! Chamonix also has free ice skating, which makes it perfect and kid-friendly!
#5: Megeve, France
In Megeve, there is not only festivities and skiing but also a touch of culinary blend to add to the traditional French Christmas magic. The cobblestone streets are lined with cute boutiques decorated to the nines, and in the town square, there is a giant tree elegantly decorated for all to admire. In Megeve, there are also many exciting and special events that you can participate in, like tasking fondue under a yurt, enjoying an aperitif in an igloo, or joining a snowball fight team/tobogganing team. Of course there are traditional Christmas activities as well such as horse-drawn carriage rides and hot chocolate. Universally, Megeve is a place filled with merry spirits, as well as new and old traditions alike, for all to join in.
#4: Zell am See, Austria
Christmas is a magical time at Zell am See in Austria. There’s an entire light park dedicated to breathtaking light figures that twinkle in the night sky. In Zell am See, you can experience Star Advent markets, filled with decorated stalls that all sell different items like regional cuisine and traditional arts and crafts, which create a jolly nighttime stroll after a long day on the slopes. Lake Zell is completely unique, as it reflects the light decorations like no other resort and is truly a sight to see. Overall, Zell am See is a perfect atmosphere for a unique Christmas filled with Austrian traditions!
#3: Whistler Blackcomb, Canada
Whistler Blackcomb, Canada, has the cutest little town, which transforms during Christmas into a winter wonderland with twinkling lights and festive decor. At Whistler, the village hosts entertaining activities like tours of light displays, ice skating, dog sledding, and even winter tubing. Whistler puts up about 350,000 lights for Christmas, making it one of the most festive places to be for the month of December. There is even bobsledding, for a fast-paced experience for those who enjoy a thrill. An annual “Dress Like Santa Day” is hosted, and the top 100 people to show up win a free lift ticket for the day! Whistler has the most amazing, towering pine trees that are decorated with festive lights and make the perfect backdrop for an evening stroll filled with Christmas spirit.
#2: Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt is known for its charming, car-free village at the base of the famous Matterhorn. At Christmas time, the whole mountain and village seem to light up with joy and merry spirits, with the streets decorated in fairy lights and the people having the time of their lives. If you want a guaranteed white Christmas, Zermatt is one of the snowiest places in Europe, so there are always good snow conditions during this time. In Zermatt, you can celebrate at the St. Peter Church, try raclette, fondue & other Swiss specialties, visit and shop at the “Bahnhofstrasse,” and even go hiking with huskies! If you are looking for a place to experience skiing, Christmas festivities, and culture, then Zermatt, Switzerland, is the place to visit for the holidays!
#1: Aspen Snowmass, CO
At number one is the infamous Aspen Snowmass, the most incredible and festive place to spend Christmas. Aspen goes all out for Christmas with their 12 Days of Christmas celebration, and its mall is filled to the brim with lights. Not only is the town decked out for the holidays, but there are also mountain activities like the torchlight parade and, of course, the classic Aspen snow. Everybody here is filled with merry spirits and participates in annual caroling, multiple Christmas tree lightings, and singing along to live music. There are the traditional horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice skating, and even snowmobiling for a different type of thrill. In Aspen, the trees, buildings, shops, and village are all filled to the brim with colorful Christmas lights and really embrace the Christmas spirit.
