From the spectacular shores of Lengthy Island to expansive mountain vistas of the Adirondacks to the gorgeous Finger Lakes, there’s extra to New York State than its massive metropolis.
The state is dotted with small cities that uniquely showcase its pure magnificence and variety, from New York’s picturesque waterfront small towns like Alexandria Bay to charming small towns in the Catskills. Lots of New York’s cities come alive in the summertime with quite a lot of enjoyable experiences, together with out of doors actions, festivals, and live shows.
Nonetheless, being one of the stunning states for winter, quite a few cities and sights are higher visited throughout the vacation season when they’re adorned with festive decorations and enjoyable vacation actions. Listed below are the perfect small cities for Christmas in New York.
Associated
7 US Cities That Feel Like A Small New York
New York Metropolis is a benchmark for cities worldwide, and a few really feel like smaller variations of the long-lasting megapolis.
8 North Pole
Go to the North Pole for its fabulous theme park, enjoyable vacation occasions, and out of doors winter actions
Santa at North Pole NY within the snow
To visit the North Pole, look no further than Santa’s Workshop in the Adirondacks, a year-round out of doors theme park, which is that this Christmas city’s signature attraction.
The theme park options Santa and Mrs. Claus, thrilling rides, exhibits, a Christmas Village, and extra. You’ll additionally discover quite a few enjoyable occasions within the park, together with the Yuletide Family Weekends, which takes place over 5 weekends earlier than Christmas, and incorporates a go to to Santa and different kid-friendly actions.
The city’s surroundings will get blanketed in snow in winter, and there’s loads of enjoyable to have outdoors, together with taking a gondola trip to the summit of Whiteface for stunning views.
7 Skaneateles
Go to this Christmas city for its annual Dickens Christmas Celebration, conventional actions, and distinctive procuring experiences
Nestled on the jap finish of the Finger Lakes, on the gorgeous shores of Skaneateles Lake, Skaneateles is among the finest small cities for Christmas in New York.
It gives one of the immersive vacation experiences within the US, because of its annual Dickens Christmas celebration, which includes Dickens characters interacting with individuals alongside the streets, amongst different enjoyable actions. The pageant begins the day after Thanksgiving and continues by way of December 24, each Saturday and Sunday.
The season additionally comes with distinctive procuring experiences and conventional occasions, like carol sing-alongs and horse-drawn carriage rides, permitting you to get pleasure from an unforgettable vacation expertise.
6 Aurora
Go to this city for its vacation decorations, kid-friendly actions, and scenic lakeside views
Knox Farm State Park coated in snow within the winter in East Aurora, New York State, NY, USA
Aurora, nestled on Cayuga Lake’s jap shore, within the coronary heart of the Finger Lakes area, is stunningly stunning, with a number of the most scenic lakeside views in Upstate New York.
It’s additionally recognized for its wealthy historical past, having been established in 1795, and a go to to one in every of its historic sights, together with the Aurora Inn, which was built in 1833, reveals how a lot it has stood the check of time.
Christmas is among the loveliest occasions of the yr to discover this distinctive city. The city is adorned with stunning vacation decorations and comes with loads of enjoyable kid-friendly actions, from watching holiday-themed motion pictures on the Aurora Theater to exploring the native retailers for distinctive Christmassy gadgets.
Associated
7 Small Towns With The Lowest Cost Of Living In New York In 2025
Searching for inexpensive dwelling in New York? Uncover charming cities with the bottom price of dwelling in 2025 and why they’re good in your price range.
5 Rhinebeck
Go to this city for its stunning Christmas decorations, vacation occasions, and winter market
Rhinebeck is among the most stunning small cities in New York State for Christmas, recognized for its walkable downtown with wonderful eating, procuring, and lodging choices. The city is a cultural mecca with loads of enjoyable cultural and artwork experiences, from artwork galleries to artwork performing venues.
It’s additionally a year-round out of doors house with a number of actions to discover, together with mountaineering and biking. When Christmas comes, this charming city transforms right into a spectacular wonderland, with stunning vacation sights and stunningly embellished streets.
The vacation season comes with enjoyable occasions, together with the Wonderland of Lights. Furthermore, the city’s Farmers’ Market hosts a winter market that’s held within the Rhinebeck City Corridor.
Sadly,
the annual Sinterklaas
has been canceled for 2024, with organizers citing funds and problem to find volunteers as the most important causes for canceling the occasion.
4 Saratoga Springs
This city for its enjoyable Christmas occasions and general vacation appeal
White canine operating on frozen Lake Saratoga in New York with its proprietor
One of many cutest small college towns in Upstate New York, Saratoga Springs is among the prime Christmas locations with plenty of enjoyable alternatives for the entire household.
One of many must-dos is the Victorian Streetwalk Weekend, which comes with a festive ambiance that’s merely laborious to withstand. It options Victorian-era costumes, twinkling lights, and carolers, giving residents and guests the proper alternative to get within the vacation temper.
One other must-attend vacation occasion is the Saratoga Festival of Trees, which fantastically shows embellished bushes and different holiday-themed gadgets for Christmas. Lighting celebrations just like the Saratoga Springs Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony with Santa are additionally must-dos. The city gives distinctive procuring, eating, and lodging choices throughout the vacation celebration as effectively.
3 Seneca Falls
Join Seneca Falls locals in celebrating their position within the Christmas Film, “It’s a Great Life”
Avenue in Seneca Falls, New York
Greatest acknowledged for its essential position in girls’s historical past, Seneca Falls can also be recognized for being one of the stunning trip spots in New York, and comes alive, particularly throughout Christmas. It gives loads of occasions and festivals, together with the annual It’s a Great Life, held on the second weekend in December, celebrating the city’s position within the film, It’s a Great Life.
You’ll have enjoyable experiences on the three-day occasion, together with a parade, interacting with the characters from the film, and the screening of the film. The entire downtown is embellished with twinkling lights and different Christmas decorations and there are many enjoyable actions for everybody to get pleasure from.
Through the Christmas season, you’ll be able to nonetheless benefit from the nice outside for enjoyable winter sports activities, like snowshoeing and ice fishing at Seneca Lake State Park.
It’s price noting that the Christmas Film,
It’s a Great Life
was by no means shot at Seneca Falls, however the city impressed elements of it. There are a number of similarities between this city and the fictional “Bedford Falls” the place the film takes place, together with the Bridge Avenue Bridge (It is a Great Life Bridge) design.
Whereas the pageant is held on the second weekend of each December,
the Wonderful Life museum
stays in operation all year long, and you may go to anytime to see the photographs and be taught tales from the film.
2 Cooperstown
Go to this city for its snow-capped landscapes, an opportunity to fulfill Santa and Mrs. Claus of their house, and a Christmas Market
House to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cooperstown really comes alive in winter with enjoyable actions within the close by pure areas, like Glimmerglass State Park.
It’s one in every of the cozy towns to snuggle up during a winter vacation in New York, because of its snow-capped landscapes, quaint Fundamental Avenue, which is stunningly adorned for the vacation season, and comfortable cafés that provide distinctive eating experiences.
It’s believed that Santa and Mrs. Claus stay in Cooperstown, in a cottage in Pioneer Park, and vacationers can go to them for enjoyable picture ops with the household. Moreover, Cooperstown boasts a Holiday Market and Stroll, a Christmas market, which glows with breathtaking twinkling lights and different Christmas decorations.
Associated
7 Wildly Underrated Small Towns In New York
Uncover New York’s best-kept secrets and techniques, the place historical past and nature converge to create enriching experiences.
1 Lake Placid
Go to this fairy-tale Christmas wonderland for its decorations, out of doors recreation, and Christmas occasions
Well-known for internet hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid is a premier vacation spot for winter sports activities fans.
Though it’s a fascinating out of doors vacation spot year-round, it shines extra throughout Christmas, when it’s remodeled into an absolute stunner, coated in snow, and embellished with twinkling lights.
Celebrations just like the Holiday Village Stroll, which is brimming with leisure, a beautiful culinary scene, procuring, and enjoyable occasions, assure unforgettable Christmas experiences. There are a number of out of doors winter adventures available as effectively, together with ice skating, canine sledding, and snowboarding.
The city’s Farmers’ Market hosts plenty of enjoyable occasions, from visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus to tree-lighting ceremonies.
Recent Comments