Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features.

Please select your date of birth for special perks on your birthday. Your username will be your unique profile link and will be publicly used in comments.
Narcity Pro

This is a Pro feature.

Time to level up your local game with Narcity Pro.

Pro

$5/month

$40/year

  • Everything in the Free plan
  • Ad-free reading and browsing
  • Unlimited access to all content including AI summaries
  • Directly support our local and national reporting and become a Patron
  • Cancel anytime.
For Pro members only Pro
Summary

One of the world's best places to spend Christmas is near Vancouver and it's holiday magic

"It's like living inside a magical snow globe!" ✨❄️

Leavenworth Reindeer Farm. Right: Town of Leavenworth, Washington.

Leavenworth Reindeer Farm. Right: Town of Leavenworth, Washington.

Editor

This little town just four hours outside of Vancouver transforms into a magical Christmas wonderland every year, and it was just named one of the best places to spend the holiday.

Think snow-dusted streets that look like they were plucked out of Europe, horse-drawn sleighs, dreamy storefronts, and even a reindeer farm to add a little extra holiday magic.

Enter Leavenworth, the charming small town in the heart of Washington state, tucked away within the Cascade Mountain's snow-capped peaks.

Known for its festive magic, it's no surprise this spot made it onto Condé Nast Travelers' recent list of The Best Places to Spend Christmas Around the World.

Alongside European towns with traditional holiday markets and wintry escapes, this small town is a quick getaway across the border for Vancouverites.

The town was modeled after German alpine villages, so walking through it you'll feel like you've been whisked away to Europe. The town gets fully decked out with decor and lights, and lots of Christmassy fun.

The annual Village of Lights: Christmastown starts on November 28 and kicks off the holiday fun, with events like Christmas carolers, visits from Santa, light displays, and even chestnut roasting.

The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm is also nearby, so you can meet Santa's helpers in real life.

You can also just stroll around town though, stopping to try out some of the tasty treats from local bakeries, get a drink, and do a little holiday shopping.

Grab your passport and get ready to head across the border, because visiting this town during the holidays is well worth the four-hour journey.

Explore this list   👀

    • Editor

      Morgan Leet (she/her) is an Editor for Narcity Media Group. After graduating from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, she jumped into fulfilling her dream as a journalist, merging her passion for travelling with writing. After working in the print media world on Canada’s East Coast, she joined Narcity with a move to B.C., drawn to the beauty of Western Canada. Since then, she's documented her experience moving to Vancouver, covering everything from local events to bucket-list travel destinations across Canada's West Coast.

    More people are leaving Ontario than anywhere else in Canada and here's where they're going

    Ontario and B.C. are out — and one province is in. 🧳✈️