5 Small Towns with Big Holiday Charm
The holidays are often filled with the theory that more is more. Instead, why not take this opportunity to step back from the season’s busyness and embrace simpler pleasures? Whether people prefer snow or sand, wine tastings or woodland hikes, these small-town spots ooze holiday charm and invite everyone to reconnect and recharge.
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1. Concord, Massachusetts
This New England town of just over 18,000 sits 20 miles northwest of Boston. Concord, MA, was established in the 1600s and has retained much of its historic architecture. Quaint and full of history, Concord’s visitors can journey back in time by visiting the Old North Bridge and the holiday-decorated Orchard House — the home of Little Women author Louisa May Alcott. The town was also home to Transcendentalists such as Henry David Thoreau, who found inspiration in the surrounding nature. On a short hike around Thoreau’s retreat at Walden Pond, take in the snow-covered landscape and absorb the simplicity of the natural world that meant so much to him.
Enjoy the “Winter Wonderland” celebration at the charming Colonial Inn or partake in a special holiday tea at the luxurious Inn at Hastings Park. Those lucky enough to visit on Christmas Eve may join in the town’s “Christmas Sing.” Everyone is invited to meet at the flagpole in Monument Square to sing traditional carols in the “spirit of peace and harmony.”
2. Woodinville, Washington
Woodinville is a picturesque, tight-knit community of 13,000 located 15 miles Northeast of Seattle with stunning views of the Sammamish River Valley. Known for its wine and recreation opportunities, this is the perfect place to slow down and savor the holidays. Miles of trails offer year-round biking and hiking. With over 100 wine, beer and spirits tasting rooms throughout the city, visitors can enjoy a Woodinville Wine Pass. For more classic family fun, visitors in early December may join in the merrymaking at the Woodinville Winterfest. Enjoy the town tree lighting celebration along with smores by the fire, candy cane hunts, wreath making and carriage rides.
The Willows Lodge offers an upscale retreat with farm-to-table dining and a spa. Holiday guests may consider the unique “Head to Toe Candle Massage” service. A skin-softening candle scented with pine and cedar will invoke the sensations of the Taiga Forest and be sure to soothe them. Within an hour’s drive, ski and snowboard enthusiasts can spend the day in the snow-blanketed mountains of the Northwest at nearby resorts such as The Summit at Snoqualmie.
3. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Beach lovers can spend a cozy holiday in this small town on the Monterey Peninsula. With a population of just 3,000, it is a haven for anyone looking for a peaceful retreat along the California coast. Famous for its fairytale cottages and charming village with extensive art galleries, it invites visitors to spend leisurely afternoons strolling the art-filled streets. In early December, Devendorf Park and Carmel Plaza kick off the holiday season with a festive evening of holiday tree lighting, music, treats and a special visit from Santa. In mid-December, the historic Carmel Mission Basilica tells the Christmas Story in three parts. The town’s beach location doesn’t exclude traditional winter activities. Try “Ice Skating by the Bay” in the Custom House Plaza.
Carmel is full of quaint boutique hotels like the dog-friendly Cypress Inn or La Playa Carmel, which have ocean views. Nearby, Pebble Beach Resorts offers luxury, legendary golf and a stunningly artistic gingerbread house display.
4. Canandaigua and Seneca Falls, New York
These spots in upstate New York offer stunning scenery, small-town charm and lots of nostalgia. Canandaigua’s name comes from the Native American word Kanandarque, which means “the chosen spot” — and it’s easy to see why. Its 10,000 inhabitants live within a picturesque small town in the foothills of the pristine Finger Lakes. The surrounding region offers award-winning wineries and gourmet restaurants, as well as 16,000 acres of forested land. Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum hosts the Canandaigua Christkindl Market each November. Here, holidays are celebrated with a traditional market and horse-drawn carriage rides. The Lake House on Canandaigua is decorated for the holidays and boasts the Willowbrook Spa Sauna for an adult retreat and nightly “Elf on the Shelf” options for families.
Only 45 minutes away lies the nearby hamlet of Seneca Falls. Perfect for a holiday day trip out of Canandaigua, this town is not only the home of the women’s suffrage movement but also the inspiration for Bedford Falls — the hometown of George Bailey in the holiday film classic It’s a Wonderful Life. As a result, this town embraces the true meaning of the holidays. Visit the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum, stroll across the bridge that inspired the pivotal moment in the movie and join in the annual movie festival that takes place each mid-December.
5. Dahlonega, Georgia
Just an hour outside bustling Atlanta is Dahlonega, a postcard-perfect town for the holidays. In fact, this small town of 6,400 residents is so classically cozy that it’s been featured in multiple holiday films, such as Hallmark’s Christmas in Homestead. Celebrating the holidays here is a season-long affair, kicking off with their popular “Old Fashioned Christmas” event that runs from the day after Thanksgiving to the beginning of January. Revelers can enjoy visits with Santa, carriage rides, live music, food trucks, a parade and the lighting of the town tree. During this time, Waffle’s English Tea Room offers a classic “Victorian Christmas Tea” in the stunningly decorated historic house. For a different twist on a holiday classic, take in a performance by the local Holly Theater where they do a live 1940s-style radio broadcast play of It’s a Wonderful Life. They also perform A Christmas Carol.
Mid-December offers special treats that will make visitors feel at home. The Christmas Market is a gift-giver’s dream. This fundraising event benefits children in the community and features the work of local artists and craftsmen, as well as homemade sweets. Those wanting holiday treats without the work can purchase an empty cookie tin and then fill it with homemade goodies at St. Luke’s Christmas Cookie Walk.