When the weather outside is frightful, you can make your holidays delightful by visiting a seasonal event at a historic home. The ambience and warmth of carefully curated rooms in such places fill the air with happiness and good cheer.
What also makes the experience exciting is the wealth of options—whether you fancy a visit to an elegant mansion or prefer a walking tour of homes in a historic district, you’ll be sure to find something just right for you, no matter where you live in the country.
Here are just a few places that are scheduled to open their doors to holiday revelers.
Holidays at the Newport Mansions
Newport, Rhode Island
Scheduled dates: 11/20 – 1/9
The grounds of The Breakers, Marble House and The Elms are on dazzling display for the holidays. Among the outdoor cheer, twenty-eight spruce trees are adorned in lights—but that’s a mere preview for what awaits inside. Both houses feature thousands of ornate plants and decorations throughout, as well as the event’s standout attraction: a fifteen-foot-high tree made of poinsettias that’s the centerpiece of The Breakers’s Great Hall.
Click here for ticket info and the latest updates.
Christmas at Biltmore
Asheville, North Carolina
Scheduled dates: 11/5 – 1/9
Owned by the Vanderbilts and considered to be America’s largest home, Biltmore welcomes holiday guests with two breathtaking tours: Christmas at Biltmore Daytime Celebration (through 1/9) and Candlelight Christmas Evenings (through 1/8). In addition to being wowed by the decor inside, you’ll enjoy yourself at the equally impressive 8,000 acres of lit-up grounds and Antler Hill Village & Winery, which are both included with admission.
Click here for ticket info and the latest updates.
Stetson Mansion “Christmas Spectacular!”
DeLand, Florida
Scheduled dates: 11/1 – 1/22
This holiday season, self-guided tours are available at the Sunshine State’s first luxury home, which is also a private residence. You can enjoy the holiday cheer by visiting ten rooms split between the ground floor and second floor, along with the separate schoolhouse-turned guest cottage, at this decade-old event.
Reservations are required, so click here for ticket info and the latest updates.
Meadow Brook Hall Holiday Walk
Rochester, Michigan
Scheduled dates: 11/26 – 12/23
Holiday Walk, celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in 2021, is expanding across Meadow Brook’s Oakland University grounds with Winter Wonder Lights, a spectacular new light show. By day, Holiday Walk welcomes people to take a self-guided three-floor tour with over fifty trees on display. At night, the estate is filled with lights, music, and concessions as visitors explore the immersive Winter Wonder Lights experience.
Click here for ticket info and the latest updates.
L’Esprit de Noël Virtual Holiday Home Tour
Denver, Colorado
Scheduled dates: 11/19 – 12/31
Each year, a different neighborhood in the greater Denver area is featured on this tour to benefit the Central City Opera through L’Esprit de Noël. A single magnificent house was featured virtually in 2020, and the same holds true in 2021. Historic McCourt Mansion, built in 1888, is on display at this year’s event, which has been a central Colorado tradition for forty-five years.
Click here for ticket info and the latest updates.
The holiday season is one to treasure, now more than ever, and nothing quite beats being invited into fully decorated homes to experience them in all their festive grandeur. Be sure to check ticket availability for such events in your area—tickets sell out fast, and smaller-scale community events may only take place for a day or a weekend (and some may be virtual because of COVID-19 restrictions). No matter where you go, however, experiencing a holiday home is a surefire way to immerse yourself in the wonder the season has to offer.
Bright lights, candles in windows, wreaths, and lawn ornaments are the typical components of an exterior holiday decor formula. While the traditionally decorated home is warm and welcoming, you can achieve the same effect while putting a unique spin on your decor. The list below offers a few creative theme ideas for you to consider.
If your household has a favorite holiday film, you can take inspiration from elements of the movie and bring them right to your front yard. People driving by will delight in the nostalgia and humor of your home’s decor. The films below are full of simple elements you can replicate.
A Christmas Story
Take your home through a time machine with these whimsical touches. Purchase a replica of the leg lamp to place on your porch or in a front window, and make your own 1940s-inspired wreath with vintage ornaments and bows.
Home Alone
Copy Kevin’s genius contraptions to deter any holiday mischief in your home. Create a mock “Little Nero’s Pizza” box, and sit it on your porch with the label facing out. Fashion a fake getaway zip line made from rope, hang it from a window, and attach the other end to a nearby tree. Purchase a small Christmas lawn statue, and angle it toward one side like it’s falling over.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Take a cue from the Grinch and steal the show by creating a Whoville-inspired scene. Make a sign that says “Welcome to Whoville” to hang on your front door. Buy a Grinch cutout online, and connect it to a string of lights on your home so that it looks like he’s pulling them down. Hang oversized striped stockings from your porch railing or below your windows.
If traditional or eclectic decor isn’t your style, try a modern and minimalistic approach this season. The sky’s the limit to what you and your loved ones can create.
Monochrome
Decorate with items in different shades and finishes of a single color, such as green, white, blue, silver, or gold. For example, if you choose green, use garland without any added ornaments or colored lights, and then incorporate a few elegant green wreaths and a welcome sign with light green letters.
Abstract
There are no rules for what counts as a holiday pattern or color, so choose any that bring you joy. You can place a tree on your porch and decorate it with yellow and pink ornaments in mismatched patterns. For a less-is-more approach, focus on a few bold statement pieces in bright colors or big patterns and leave the rest of your home lightly decorated.
Are you craving a vacation away for the holidays, but you’re staying home to visit or host loved ones? Try transporting your home to the beach or the mountains with vacation-themed decor.
In the mountains
Create the ambience of a mountain getaway by incorporating lanterns, a plaid blanket draped over a porch chair, a bundle of firewood, and an old-fashioned wooden sled to create a lodge entryway aesthetic. Use a blank wood sign from a craft store, and decorate it with your family’s name; for example, “The Smith Lodge.” You and your guests will feel like you’re in a five-star ski resort.
By the ocean
Cowabunga! Celebrate the season in beachy fashion, even if you don’t live by the sea. Coordinate traditional elements, such as lights, with elements of the beach like shells and sunglasses. Buy plain shells from a craft store, paint them in your favorite holiday colors, and then glue them to an undecorated wreath, alternating between the colors. At the center of the wreath, hang a pair of inexpensive sunglasses. String some fake coconuts, and purchase a blow-up or a fake palm tree, if such trees aren’t native to your area, to wrap in lights. Now you’ve brought the feeling of the islands right to your home!
The hustle and bustle of modern life can leave you feeling drained. If you need a break, why not plan a vacation that allows you to disconnect? Whether you want to kick back in the snowy mountains or on a sandy beach, these remote destinations offer the rest and relaxation you’ve been craving, and each is perfect for a winter escape.
San Juan Islands, Washington
Located about ninety miles north of Seattle, the San Juan Islands provide plenty of activities for nature lovers. They consist of 172 individual islands, but only four are accessible to visitors: Lopez, Orcas, San Juan, and Shaw. The average temperature in the winter is in the upper forties, making this a relatively mild winter vacation destination. Whale watching is a must during your stay, with orcas inhabiting the surrounding waters year-round. You can also enjoy hiking, horseback riding, wine tasting, and visiting the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor. There are numerous places to stay on the islands; a quick search on Airbnb returns options ranging from glamping-friendly yurts to rustic cabins to waterfront cottages.
Mammoth Lakes, California
The natural beauty of Mammoth Lakes makes it a year-round destination, with highlights like Devils Postpile National Monument and the 101-foot-high Rainbow Falls. However, winter brings many additional opportunities to explore the area. You can enjoy skiing and snowboarding at Mammoth and June Mountains. Away from the slopes, visit the outdoor Mammoth Ice Rink, or enjoy a day full of sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. For a scenic tour of the area, hop into a snowcat, and head up to Minaret Vista. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, Mammoth Mountain RV Park is open year-round, with sites for tents and RVs, as well as rustic cabins. There are also various nearby cabins, chalets, and lodges to choose from, which can accommodate larger groups and offer access to electricity.
Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
Don’t let the name scare you away—Goblin Valley State Park in southern Utah gets its name from rock formations called hoodoos, known locally as goblins, that decorate the landscape. The scenery has an almost otherworldly feel and the park has even been featured in films like Galaxy Quest. During the winter, the temperature can range from the mid-forties during the day and dip into the teens at night, with occasional snowfall. Activities are plentiful: you can hike, mountain bike, or play disc golf by day. At night, you’ll have a front-seat view of the Milky Way due to the low levels of light pollution in the area. The park’s campground features twenty-five sites, including fourteen RV spaces and ten walk-in tent pads. You can also get cozy in one of the park’s two heated yurts, each equipped with bunk beds, furniture, an outdoor gas grill, and solar panels.
Marfa, Texas
If you’re not in the mood for snow, head to this small desert town in west Texas for a trip packed with art and nature. Located less than three hours southeast of El Paso, Marfa supports a passionate art scene. You’ll find the Chinati Foundation, a contemporary art museum, and Ballroom Marfa, an art space featuring the work of established and emerging artists, as well as musical acts. For a taste of nature, head outside of town to spot herds of pronghorn antelope, or make your way to Davis Mountains State Park for hiking, bird watching, and mountain biking. For lodging, you can’t beat El Cosmico, a bohemian-inspired space for glamping, that offers trailers, yurts, safari tents, and tepees for rent.
Door County, Wisconsin
Located just over forty miles from Green Bay, this northern Wisconsin county is on a peninsula that stretches into Lake Michigan. The beaches on the lake are stunning in the winter, with ice stacks and a dusting of snow that paint a winter scene. Door County offers plenty of winter activities, such as ice fishing, fat-tire biking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and snowshoeing. Some of the local state parks host candlelight nighttime hikes through the wilderness, which offer a relaxing and intimate experience. After enjoying the outdoors during the day, you can visit one of the area’s many breweries or wineries at night. Accommodations across the county are plentiful, with campgrounds, cottages, and cabins you can cozy up in.
Cayo Costa State Park, Florida
Head to this island that’s about twenty-three miles northeast of Fort Myers to escape the winter cold. The average temperature in winter ranges from the low fifties up to eighty degrees. Cayo Costa State Park provides a taste of off-the-grid vacationing, as the only amenities on the island are campsites and rustic cabins. The cabins each sleep up to six people, with three bunk beds, a table, and outdoor grills. There are no concessions, so make sure to bring everything you need with you. As for activities, you can enjoy shell-collecting (which is popular during the winter), fishing, hiking nature trails, and renting kayaks or bikes to get around the island. Cayo Costa and its surrounding waters are also home to abundant wildlife, including manatees, porpoises, and shorebirds, and nesting season starts in late winter.
Lake Placid, New York
This village in the Adirondack Mountains becomes a wonderland in winter. Lake Placid has numerous activities perfect for a winter getaway. You can enjoy the slopes at Whiteface Mountain or zoom down the Lake Placid Toboggan Chute. Lake Placid is also a must-visit for sports fans, as it was the location of the legendary “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Winter Olympics. You can also skate at the Lake Placid Olympic Center and tour the Olympic Jumping Complex. For your stay, relax at one of the cabins offered by Lake Placid Resort. Each one features modern amenities and has plenty of room for activities.
Perhaps the only thing better than a hearty holiday dinner is a delicious holiday breakfast. Waking up in the morning to something tasty baking in the oven can help set a merry tone for the rest of the day.
While your holiday breakfast should be special, it doesn’t need to be overcomplicated. After all, you need to save time for opening presents!
The sweet smell of cinnamon baking in freshly made dough is a gift in itself. This recipe takes classic cinnamon rolls up a notch by supersizing them, so you’re guaranteed to have enough to go around.
The casserole is a quintessential holiday food, but there are usually few deviations when it comes to what’s in them. This flavorful bake uses crusty challah bread and a blend of cheeses to create an irresistible dish your family will be requesting year after year.
Cinnamon rolls are a beloved treat, especially this time of year. But instead of serving pint-sized rolls, why not serve special, supersized ones? This recipe is perfect for feeding a hungry crowd!
Serves 6–8
If you’re a fan of the cheesy breakfast casserole, you are guaranteed to love this slightly more sophisticated version, made with three types of cheeses, spinach, and crusty challah bread.
Serves 8
