Christmas Travel Ideas for Great Memories

Change it up this year and create memories somewhere else!

Dec 15, 2025

Does your family travel during the Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays? We grew up in households that stayed home for the holidays, but holiday travel can be refreshing. Just think, less stress: no cleaning before, no house full of people, no cleaning after. Consider changing it up this year with these travel suggestions.

St. Augustine - Nights of Lights
This is where the historic city transforms into a glowing winter wonderland. Over 3 million white lights adorn buildings, bridges, trees, and landmarks throughout the city, honoring the Spanish tradition of placing a candle in the window during Christmas. The entire downtown area—from the bayfront to Cordova Street—glows nightly starting at dusk (around 5:30 p.m.).

St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights runs from November 15, 2025 to January 11, 2026, with a Kickoff Ceremony on Saturday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Plaza de la Constitución.

If you have mobility challenged folks in your group, you can do trolley tours, golf cart tours and even boat cruises or pirate ship cruises!

Pictures Courtesy of City of St Augustine

Franklin, TN - Charles Dickens Christmas

It’s officially called “Dickens of a Christmas”— and it’s a beloved Victorian-themed street festival held in historic downtown Franklin.  It takes place December 13–14, 2025.

This annual event, now in its 40th year, transforms Franklin’s charming Main Street into a scene straight out of a Charles Dickens novel. This is Middle Tennessee’s largest outdoor Christmas festival, drawing over 150,000 visitors in recent years.

The streets come alive with costumed characters from Dickens classics:
•  Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the Cratchit family from A Christmas Carol
• Fagin from Oliver Twist
•  Father and Mother Christmas handing out treats to children
•  Live performances by musicians and dancers, carolers, and interactive street theater

Shopping & Food:
•  Local vendors line the streets offering handcrafted gifts, holiday treats, and seasonal fare
•  Many downtown shops and restaurants participate with themed decor and specials

Family-Friendly Fun:
•  Activities for kids include craft stations, photo ops, and holiday games
•  The event is designed to be walkable and stroller-friendly, making it ideal for families

Asheville, NC - Christmas at Biltmore

Christmas at Biltmore 2025 runs from November 1, 2025 to January 4, 2026, and it offers a dazzling holiday experience at America’s largest private home in Asheville, North Carolina. This annual celebration transforms the 8,000-acre estate into a winter wonderland of lights, music, and timeless elegance. Here's what you can expect:

Daytime Celebration Highlights:
Over 100 hand-decorated Christmas trees, including a 35-foot Fraser fir in the Banquet Hall. 25,000+ ornaments, 100,000+ lights, and 1,960 live poinsettias throughout the estate. Seasonal décor inspired by mountain beauty, Ming Dynasty art, and Victorian traditions.

Candlelight Christmas Evenings Highlights:
A self-guided evening tour of Biltmore House illuminated by candles and fireplaces. Live holiday music, crackling hearths, and the scent of fresh pine evoke the estate’s first Christmas in 1895. Requires a separate ticket from daytime admission and must be reserved in advance.

Whether you're drawn by the grandeur of the decorations or the intimacy of candlelit evenings, Christmas at Biltmore is a feast for the senses and a cherished holiday tradition.

Mt. Dora, FL - Light Up Mount Dora

Mount Dora, Florida, is a charming town that transforms into a holiday wonderland during the Christmas season. Their Christmas events are a blend of community traditions and vibrant celebrations, making it a magical destination for the holiday season. Visitors can enjoy a variety of festive events and activities.

Some highlights:

• Christmas Light Displays - Mount Dora is known for its beautiful Christmas light displays, with Donnelly Park being the heart of the celebration. The park features trees wrapped in lights, walkways sparkling, and a warm, festive gathering place.
• Christmas Walk - The 33rd Annual Christmas Walk offers a magical evening filled with tradition and holiday cheer, including carolers, mime, stilt walking, juggling shows, and live musical performances.
• Family-Friendly Events- Christmas Parade through downtown Mount Dora, the Lighted Boat Christmas Parade on Lake Dora, and snow sledding at Elizabeth Evans Park are perfect for families.