Midwest Cities Ranked Best for a Magical Christmas Getaway

There are a handful of elements a city or village needs to have for me to consider it a great "holiday town."

Warm and festive vibes throughout the community with lots of lights and decorations, holiday markets, caroling, the smell of peppermint and hot cocoa, and a big jolly Santa who has a real beard. That's what makes a great Christmas town in my opinion.

My Favorite Towns for a Magical Holiday Getaway

Before we reveal the list from House Beautiful of Best Christmas Towns in the USA for a Magical Holiday Getaway, here are a couple of my favorites.

Cedarburg, Wisconsin

Recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the prettiest towns in America, Cedarburg goes all out for Christmas and was chosen by Readers Digest as one of the best Christmas towns you should visit at least once.

Woodstock, Illinois

Groundhog Day isn't the only holiday this town is getting worldwide recognition for. Woodstock was ranked by Only in Your State as one of Illinois' 11 most enchanting Christmas towns where you can "get in the holiday spirit with a Christmas Parade and Cookies & Milk with Santa, caroling, carriage rides, and a Christmas Tree Walk."

Best Towns in the Midwest for a Magical Christmas Getaway

With "gorgeous scenery, adorable inns, and one-of-a-kind small-town spirit," these Midwestern villages and cities made the Top 30 in America for a Magical Winter Getaway.

(14) Clifton, Ohio

Clifton's magic comes out around Christmas with a 100-foot "waterfall" of twinkling lights, a miniature village, a Santa Claus museum, and more than 4 million red and white lights.

(28) Branson, Missouri

Branson is an iconic location any time of year, but during Christmas, they crank it up a notch with more than "700 decorated trees during the holiday season" and they also have "6.5 million Christmas lights throughout Branson's Silver Dollar City theme park"

(29) Santa Claus, Indiana

This Indiana town was named after St. Nick and has a holiday-themed amusement park, but it doesn't have to be close to December 25 as they celebrate Christmas year-round.