Head To This New England Destination For A Picture-Perfect Christmas Celebration

Christmastime in New England is magical. The region has been celebrating the holiday since the 17th century and is famous for its intricately decorated destinations and Yuletide celebrations. This includes Bretton Woods in New Hampshire, a must-visit for nature lovers and Christmas devotees.

Bretton Woods is located in Carroll, less than an hour and a half away from Concord, New Hampshire's capital. It's perhaps not as renowned as the state's other Christmas havens of Portsmouth and Jackson. However, it notably held The Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, which implemented global economic changes.

Bretton Woods is now primarily known as a skiing and winter vacation spot. It's situated within New Hampshire's White Mountains and is, in fact, the state's largest ski area. It's ideal for a white Christmas, especially if you and your family want to participate in snow-centered activities such as snowshoeing and tubing during the holiday season (conditions permitting).

Likewise, Bretton Woods is home to the iconic four-star Omni Mount Washington Resort. This is one of the only lodging and dining options in the area. The opulent hotel was constructed in the early 1900s and has two pools, a spa, a golf course, and more. It's also where a majority of holiday celebrations occur. As such, this is the place to visit and stay in Bretton Woods.

A December vacation at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods is a splurge. Guests can pay anywhere from $300 to over $1,000 per night for a room. That said, the hotel has various holiday experiences. Every year, the Omni Mount Washington Resort holds a tree-lighting ceremony for its 12-foot Christmas tree. The event, which will be held in 2023 on December 2, includes live holiday music and sugary treats and drinks (like cookies and hot chocolate).

The hotel takes things to another level regarding little ones. Each Saturday in December, sleigh rides with Santa take guests around the grounds of the hotel. Instead of a reindeer, the sleigh is pulled by a horse. The cost is $25 for adults and $20 for kids. Likewise, they have Cocoa & Cookies with Santa (hosted each Saturday in December). For $40, kids can spend quality time with Santa Claus, eat cookies, and drink hot chocolate with him.

In addition, the hotel offers elf-tuck-ins on select days in December. This is when an elf will come into your room and provide your child with cookies and a bedtime story. The cost ranges from $40 to $55 a child. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, guests can expect various activities such as gingerbread decorating, Christmas cookie decorating, games, movies, and more. Needless to say, the Omni Mount Washington Resort will provide a memorable Christmas experience for all.

Although you might not want to leave the Omni Mount Washington Resort, there are other things to do nearby. The Cog Railway in Bretton Woods is a train ride that takes passengers on a steep ride to the summit of Mount Washington. However, during the winter, the train only travels 4,000 feet to Waumbek Station. Once there, passengers can enjoy scenic forest views covered in snow during this family-friendly activity. Tickets range from $49 to $54 at the time of this publication.

If you prefer a holiday-themed train ride, check out the Santa Express Train at Hobo Railroad in Lincoln. Located about 35 minutes from Bretton Woods, the 80-minute train ride allows kids to interact with Santa Claus and snack on milk and cookies. The train runs through the end of November and on select days in December. Tickets range from $26 to $36.

Only around 30 minutes from Bretton Woods is the town of Jefferson, home to Santas Village (seen in the TikTok above). The theme park is a holiday wonderland with Christmas-themed rides and attractions. This includes the Skyway Sleigh, which provides aerial views of the park, and the Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree swing ride, to name a few. Another highlight? Santas Village has real reindeer that you or your kids can feed. At the time of this publication, tickets for Santas Village range from $19 to $52.