Travel Tips

Five Cities with Real Christmas Celebrations

Locations in this article:  New Orleans, LA

Christmas_townMore than 90 million travelers will hit the road this Christmas, but will their travels lead them to festive Christmas celebrations or just long lines to see Santa at the mall?  The good news is that some U.S. cities have really embraced Christmas spirit.

In Colonial Williamsburg, it’s all about history. Stroll the cobblestone streets and learn about early English Christmas traditions, hear carols in the historic church, and see bonfires ablaze.

Christmas is New Orleans is more family-friendly than you might expect.  The Celebration in the Oaks had more than 122,000 visitors last year. The 100-year oaks are covered in holiday lights and up to 48 restaurants in the area host traditional Reveillon Dinners, a French Creole holiday tradition.

At Silver Dollar City Christmas in Branson, Missouri,  it’s all about the spectacle. There are over 5 million lights (350 miles of lights), plus over 1,000 decorated Christmas trees, 250 Christmas trees around the Square alone. The daily Holiday Light Parade  has eight lighted, musical floats with 100,000 lights, plus 18 costumed characters.

Breckenridge, Colorado, isn’t just for ski bums. Can’t-miss moments include the tree lighting and the Race of the Santas. In addition to weekly events,  you can get 30 percent off skiing until then with a three-night minimum stay.

Thousands of miles from Europe, Leavenworth, Washington celebrates its Bavarian heritage all year round. This time of year, a Yuletide event honors the Winter Solstice with traditional dancers, music, and vocalists.

Watch all the best Christmas celebrations in Peter’s latest CBS This Morning report.

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