Best Christmas Vacations in the USA

Christmas is literally "the most wonderful time of the year". And what would make it even more memorable is a Christmas getaway at a good destination.

However, choosing a preferred vacation spot for the yuletide season can be a hassle. There are thousands of vacation spots present all around the world to choose from. Particularly in the USA, there are many vacation spots to choose from this Christmas. From gigantic Christmas lights in the center of the town to beaches, and more nature-friendly parks, here are the best locations for a vacation in the USA this Christmas.

Being the capital of the United States, Washington DC never runs dry of activities to engage in for the Christmas season. The highlight of the Christmas celebration in Washington DC is the National Christmas Tree lighting near the White House. It has been a tradition for about 100 years, where famous musicians and the spectacular light and the gigantic tree make Christmas memorable around Washington DC.

There are handmade Christmas ornaments present on the Christmas tree representing all the USA states and territories. Apart from the City Christmas tree, the Botanical Garden Tree, Capitol Christmas tree, and the National Zoo's festive lights are also beautiful sights to behold.

NYC, has numerous ice skating rinks, holiday-themed markets and beautiful decorations to give you the best Christmas feeling ever. The most famous sight to see in NYC is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The Holiday Train Show at the NY Botanical Gardens is also worth your time. Still not satisfied with these? The Bronx zoo gives you an ecstatic feeling like no other around Christmas time. It feels like entering into a Christmas wonderland. With brightly lit Christmas trees and classical carollers at every corner, it is bound to be a Christmas to remember.

Chicago is a very cold city, and it is an awesome place to spend the Christmas holidays. There is an official tree lighting ceremony at Millenium Park that comes up every year. Musical performances always go with the tree lighting ceremony. There are ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo and the Magnificent Mile Lights. The Magnificent Mile Lights has about one million lights beautifying Michigan Avenue. These lights illuminate and beautify the whole of the avenue during Christmas.

Those who have a thing for nature are not left out of the Christmas celebration either. There are nature-focused locations in the US for your ideal Christmas vacations.

Yosemite National Park, California, is usually known to be a summer destination. However, in winter, it is even more breathtaking. Winter in Yosemite features a calmer atmosphere due to fewer crowds. The Christmas experience, however, remains one of the best, regardless of the crowd. Ice skating, skiing and snowshoeing are some of the adventures available for your pleasure at the National Park.

When the Rocky Mountains of Colorado are concerned, you can never go wrong with your Christmas celebrations. There are lots of places to visit and fun activities to be carried out. The best part is that it can fit into any budget size. Beautiful mountain scenery, skiing and snowboarding down the slopes are certainly available for you. A visit to the four national Parks present in Colorado, winter hikes, a snowmobile tour and the famous hot spring are some of the highlights of Colorado.

Winter doesn't necessarily mean the beaches are closed and frozen. There are wonderful beaches you can visit for your Christmas vacation in the US.

Key West, and Florida in general, is one of the warmest places in the United States to spend Christmas. It has an average temperature of 67°F, the atmosphere is warm and dry, making it the perfect beach getaway. Exploring the coral reefs on the beach would have you snorkeling or diving right into the deep. Mangroves and manatees are also visible on a paddleboard or kayak. Perfect Christmas beach getaway? Key West is the place to be.

The island of Hawaii is an excellent place to spend the Christmas season. The island has one of the most popular areas for surfing in the world. A road trip across the North shore also reveals the beauty and uniqueness of the island. One of the most exciting sights to see is the Dole pineapple plantation. It is a beautiful place to have pineapple ice cream. You could also stand by and watch athlete surfers take on huge waves. This forms one of the best Christmas experiences ever.

Visiting the US just became easier with the introduction of the ESTA visa process. ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. It replaces the American express visa system for some countries. The ESTA sorts your entry through an online application process before your journey to the United States. The duration of this visa process is 2 years, during which you are allowed to travel to the US for pleasure or business purposes. It is valid if your journey does not last longer than 90 days (3 months).

The process is the brainchild of the Department of Homeland Security of the United States. It permits 40 countries access to the United States without having an official American visa. The application for ESTA is so simple. It can be completed within 20 minutes online. The 40 countries are: Andorra, Austria, Australia, Brueni, Belgia, Croatia, Chile, Chech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Island, Japan, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Malta, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Singapore, San Marino, Slovenia, Slovakia, South Korea, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, (only Taiwanese citizens with national ID number) and British citizens in the United Kingdom.