Anonymous wrote:The Willard DC

No, not exciting or Christmasy enough.

It is usually quite warm.

Anonymous wrote:New York. See the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Nutcracker, stay in a great hotel ...

This is fun for kids (depending upon their age). Will you need to prove vaccination though. Are tickets still available?

Plus, they can walk alot, which makes them tired/sleepy at night.

If I were you, I would do this, and take the train.

A close suggestion would be the Canaan Valley in WV though you might have a hard time finding a rental at this point. We went last year with kids 2 & 5 and it was wonderful!

Tons to do:

Timberline Ski resort

Canaan Valley Ski Resort: downhill skiing/tubing/snowboarding/some cross country skiing/snowshoeing/hiking

White Grass (cross country skiing, very fun, snow pile area for kids to hang when needing a break, local beer outside, fire pits, lots of friendly local people.

Blackwater Falls State park: amazing sled run (our favorite part!!!), can rent xc skis or snowshoes, snow hiking.

That's about 2.5-3 hours from DC.

Beyond that....Williamsburg is delightful, NYC is super busy but lovely, Lake placid may be a little too far with your range but is supposed to be one of the best spots for a snowy, christmas, hallmark-like trip. Personally, we are traveling to Quebec City by car and it's like Christmas heaven lol so we are pumped but you would want to go for prolly a week if driving as it is quite far.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was a 9 hour drive- but we spent Christmas in Vermont last year. Pure magic. Snow, sledding, sleigh rides, hot cocoa, cookies, snuggles, etc. It was perfect.

Where did you stay?

I also want to know!

We found an Air BNB in Rutland that was on a horse farm. I think you can probably find more cute/quaint (or luxury) places, but we thought it was a good location for the price point we needed. Our hosts shared locations for the best sledding hills, so we spent several evenings just letting the kids sled their hearts out. And walking around the farm in so much snow was a novelty for all of us. We were close to a resort that offered the sleigh rides and we went on several drives looking at lights and through the snow covered mountains. We watched a ton of Christmas movies- including White Christmas. I froze cookie dough before we left so it was easy to “make” cookies there. In some ways- it was really low key. Just so different from what we have here in DC.

Note that Vermont is not guaranteed to have snow at Christmas, especially in the central and southern parts. Cold rain is definitely an option!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was a 9 hour drive- but we spent Christmas in Vermont last year. Pure magic. Snow, sledding, sleigh rides, hot cocoa, cookies, snuggles, etc. It was perfect.

Where did you stay?

I also want to know!

We found an Air BNB in Rutland that was on a horse farm. I think you can probably find more cute/quaint (or luxury) places, but we thought it was a good location for the price point we needed. Our hosts shared locations for the best sledding hills, so we spent several evenings just letting the kids sled their hearts out. And walking around the farm in so much snow was a novelty for all of us. We were close to a resort that offered the sleigh rides and we went on several drives looking at lights and through the snow covered mountains. We watched a ton of Christmas movies- including White Christmas. I froze cookie dough before we left so it was easy to “make” cookies there. In some ways- it was really low key. Just so different from what we have here in DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was a 9 hour drive- but we spent Christmas in Vermont last year. Pure magic. Snow, sledding, sleigh rides, hot cocoa, cookies, snuggles, etc. It was perfect.

Where did you stay?

I also want to know!

Anonymous wrote:It was a 9 hour drive- but we spent Christmas in Vermont last year. Pure magic. Snow, sledding, sleigh rides, hot cocoa, cookies, snuggles, etc. It was perfect.

Where did you stay?

Anonymous wrote:Mohonk mountain house

THIS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disney

Disney is not 4-5 hours drive

It’s a quick flight. And, it’s magical.

Your definition of magical and my definition of magical live in two different solar systems.

+1 Haha, was just going to post the same thing.

Disney is most definitely NOT the answer to this question.

It was a 9 hour drive- but we spent Christmas in Vermont last year. Pure magic. Snow, sledding, sleigh rides, hot cocoa, cookies, snuggles, etc. It was perfect.

Anonymous wrote:We have no family to celebrate with this Christmas so I want to take the kids somewhere very over the top, like Hallmark channel Christmas worthy. Can you recommend anywhere within 4 to 5 hour drive?

Does this mean you want a small town that is decorated to the hilt and do Christmasy/winter things like:
Go sledding
Decorate cookies
Cut down a tree
Make Christmas ornaments and decorate the tree
Go caroling
Drink hot spice cider
Find a future spouse, preferably an old beau
Wrap homemade presents
Go to a tree lighting ceremony in the town square
Make a gingerbread house
Play board games
Go Ice skating
Have some hot chocolate
Shop at a Christmas market

What am I missing?

Oglebay

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disney

Disney is not 4-5 hours drive

It’s a quick flight. And, it’s magical.

Your definition of magical and my definition of magical live in two different solar systems.

The Willard DC

Anonymous wrote:Why is everyone responding with places in other states and countries?

4-5 hour drive = other states

A similar flight time = dramatically better vacation

Without a budget, this is just a travel wish list.