From the top of Maine to the southernmost coast of Florida, destinations alongside America’s eastern seaboard are ready to provide all of the holly jolly experiences you crave. Read on for four festive cities you can visit this holiday season.
Ogunquit, Maine
December at Cliff House Maine is chocked full of holiday cheer. Guests can look forward to gourmet S’more bars, themed viewing of holiday classics like “The Polar Express“ and Christmas Cookie decorating. A partnership between the hotel and Nubb’s Lobster Shack offers a delicious and fun seaside escape, complete with a private igloo and curated menu of seasonal favorites.
Enjoy a cozy meal in a private igloo at Cliff House Maine.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
For those searching for the ultimate holiday travel experience, look no further than Portsmouth, NH. Visitors can finish up their holiday shopping tax-free at any of the local businesses along High Street, or head to Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth to shop among the wreath-lined streets. Celebrated for its distinct cuisine, Portsmouth offers culinary offerings at several of the most popular restaurants, including “12 Days of Christmas for Beer Lovers” at Row 34, and prix fixe menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at many of the celebrated haunts, like Anneke Jans.
Ice skaters enjoying Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth.
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk will host the second-annual WinterFest on the Wisconsin (aboard the Battleship Wisconsin at Nauticus), a truly spectacular light display with over 1.5 million lights illuminating the historic ship. This year will feature new holiday experiences including The Grinch and Santa sightings, live music, and a lighted boat parade on Saturdays. Joining Norfolk’s festive lineup of holiday events this year is the Virginia Zoo’s ZooLumination, bringing animals to life with the help of thousands of LED lights! The larger-than-life experience will feature 29 inflatable animal sculptures that come to life at night with a stunning visual experience.
Winterfest on the Wisconsin at Nauticus.
Charleston, South Carolina
For the perfect Southern holiday this December, visitors can stay in the city’s newest, luxury boutique hotel – Emeline or the brand-new 153-key Sweetgrass Inn at Wild Dunes Resort, located on Isle of Palms. From exploring Charleston’s historic homes decked for the holidays and driving through two million lights at the Holiday Festival of Lights, to watching the annual Holiday Parade of Boats in the Charleston Harbor, travelers can enjoy a number of festive events and activities all month long. Guests can also celebrate the season while visiting Charleston’s historic sites, museums and cultural organizations that comprise the Charleston Heritage Federation (CHF). In fact, the organization recently relaunched their Essential Charleston Passport online, offering visitors a digital ticket to travel back in time and discover the city’s cultural mainstays. The passport includes admission to CHF’s five remarkable historic houses, the country’s oldest landscaped gardens at Middleton Place, the oldest preserved plantation house at Drayton Hall and more, which will all be festively decked out for the holidays.
The festive streets of Charleston, SC.