The French town of Colmar—which is located in the Alsace region of France—is a dreamy village full of peaked roofs and placid canals. Starting in late November, Colmar hosts one of Europe’s most beloved Christmas markets. The Colmar market is divided into 6 distinct Christmas markets where visitors can sip on mulled wine, view a…
If the Christmas spirit ever overtakes you at the height of summer and you’re unable to travel to the North Pole, consider visiting the quaint town of Frankenmuth. Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland — which is the world’s largest Christmas store — is open year-round. Frankenmuth is known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria, so the Bavarian love of…
Germany is home to a handful of walled medieval towns that have withstood the test of time, but Rothenburg ob der Tauber is beyond a shadow of a doubt the most charming village of them all. In addition to strolling along quaint cobblestone streets and admiring red-roofed buildings, travelers can explore the town’s unique history…
A historic battleship isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when most people think of Christmas, but the USS Wisconsin in Norfolk, Virginia, hosts an annual event known as Nauticus’ Winterfest on the Wisconsin that transforms a decommissioned battleship into a hub of holiday cheer. Initially constructed in 1941, the USS Wisconsin saw numerous…
For at least a few hundred years, Cajun communities in Louisiana have gathered to light huge bonfires near the levees that line the Mississippi River on Christmas Eve. No one is exactly sure how this tradition started, but most historians speculate that Catholics lit bonfires so they could find their way to Midnight Mass on…
In 1434, the Dresden City Council received the green light from the powers that be to allow a Christmas Market to take place in Dresden on Christmas Eve. The outdoor Christmas Market sold meats that revelers could purchase to serve on Christmas Day. Dresden’s Christmas Market was so successful that it ultimately became one of…
