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.

  • 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. She got her start working in the print media world on Canada’s East Coast, then joined Narcity with a move to B.C., leading the launch of West Coast coverage. Her focus now is managing a large group of freelance writers, bringing human-forward and opinion content to the site.

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