The USA’s Most Festive States

The states in the U.S with the most Christmas spirit

At The Family Vacation Guide, we know just how magical Christmas is for families. Whether that involves some festive baking, visiting an ice rink, organizing a trip to Disneyland at Christmas or putting up the decorations together. There are plenty of activities to help get you in the Christmas spirit.

Of course, some families love to get away for the holiday season. We understand that it’s important to keep the whole family entertained whilst on your Christmas vacation, so we’ve found the most festive places to visit during the holidays.

The states with the most Christmas spirit

For those who love the Christmas period and vacationing in equal amounts, it’s important to get a good balance when searching for a place to spend your festive break. 

You want to be able to relax, while also enjoying lots of Christmas activities with the family. That’s why it’s important to choose a place that has lots of festive spirit, whether that’s snow, ice skating rinks, or markets and festivals.

We looked at which states in the US have the most Christmas spirit.

1. Maine – 7.22/10 overall score

Maine is the state with the most Christmas spirit, scoring 7.22 overall.

The state gets 61.8 inches of snow per year, it has 0.73 ice skating rinks and 1.68 festive events per 100,000 people, throughout the Christmas period. Maine also has 25,490 Google searches for the term “Christmas trees” and 8,335 festive hashtags on Instagram.

2. Vermont – 7.1/10 overall score

Coming in second is Vermont, with an overall score of 7.1.

The state receives an average of 81.2 inches of snow per year, and has 0.77 ice skating rinks and 0.93 festive events available per 100,000 people. Vermont also has 10,930 Google searches for the term “Christmas trees” and 5,072 festive hashtags on Instagram.

3. Alaska – 6.9/10 overall score

In third place is Alaska, with a score of 6.9 overall.

Alaska receives 74.5 inches of snow throughout the year and has 1.9 ice skating rinks and 1.49 festive events to choose from, per 100,000 people. The state also received 9,240 searches for the term “Christmas trees” on Google and features in 2,049 festive hashtags on Instagram.

The states with the highest average snowfall in December

One of the best things about the festive season is, of course, the snow. There’s nothing better than building a snowman together or having a family snowball fight. 

We took a look at which states across the US get the highest average amount of snowfall throughout December. 

1. New York – 66.4 days / 123.8 inches of snowfall on average

For families who love playing out in the snow, then New York is the perfect state for you to visit!

New York gets an average of 123.8 inches of snow over 66.4 days throughout the year, this is 32.4 inches more than the next snowiest state.

2. Wyoming – 36.7 days / 91.4 inches of snowfall on average

Wyoming is also a great place to visit for snow lovers during the holiday season.

The state gets an average of 91.4 inches of snowfall within 36.7 days during the year.

3. Vermont – 54.4 days / 81.2 inches of snowfall on average

Vermont is also a great option for those hoping to experience a white Christmas.

The state gets an average of 81.2 inches of snowfall spanning over a total of 54.4 days out of the year.

The states with the most ice skating rinks

Whether you can manage to skate effortlessly around the ice, or you’re more of a clinging-to-the-edge sort of person, it’s always fun to take a trip to a skating rink during the festive season.

We looked at which states across the US have the most ice skating rinks available, both in total and per 100,000 people.

1. North Dakota – 21 ice skating rinks / 2.62 rinks per 100,000 people

The best state to visit with your family if you’re a fan of ice skating is North Dakota. 

The state has 2.62 skating rinks per 100,000 people, with 21 rinks in total. One of the best rinks, which is perfect for families, is the seasonal ice skating rink located in Roosevelt Park, Fargo.

2. Alaska – 14 ice skating rinks / 1.9 rinks per 100,000 people

Another great option for ice-skating lovers is Alaska.

The state has 1.9 skating rinks available per 100,000 people, with 14 rinks in total. Anchorage, the state’s largest city, has six ice skating rinks alone.

3. Massachusetts – 109 ice skating rinks / 1.53 rinks per 100,000 people

Massachusetts has plenty of choices when it comes to ice skating rinks.

The state has 1.53 skating rinks available per 100,000 people, with a huge 109 rinks in total. 24 of these rinks are seasonal and are located in areas such as Boston, Salem, and Cambridge.

The states with the most festive events

One of the best parts of the lead-up to Christmas is all of the festive events that take place. Whether that’s taking the children to meet Santa, visiting a market and trying lots of delicious food, or attending a Christmas craft fair, there’s something for all of the family.

We took a look at which states across the US have the most festive events taking place, both in total and per 100,000 people.

1. Wyoming – 10 festive events / 1.73 events per 100,000 people

Wyoming has 1.73 festive events available per 100,000 people, with 10 events in total.

Visitors can attend the Holiday Craft Fair in Lander on December 10 or for those who are big Western fans, you can visit the Cowboy Christmas Market, which is taking place December 10-11.

2. Maine – 23 festive events / 1.68 events per 100,000 people

Maine has 1.68 festive events available per 100,000 people, with 23 festive events in total.

Visitors can go and admire the lights at Boothbay Harbor between November 19 – December 31, experience Christmas by the Sea in Camden between December 2-4, or watch the Christmas parade in Wells on December 11.

3. Alaska – 11 festive events / 1.49 events per 100,000 people

Alaska has 1.49 festive events available per 100,000 people, with 11 events in total.

Colony Christmas is a great place to take the whole family between December 9 -11. There are lots of events taking place throughout the weekend, including the Gingerbread House Contest, Cornhole Tournament, and Arctic Olympics.

The states searching for Christmas trees the most

One of the most important parts of Christmas is, of course, putting up the Christmas tree. Whether your family can manage to put the tree up in harmony or, like some families, you all end up in an argument, there’s no denying that it’s one of the most exciting activities during the festive period.

We took a look at which states across the US are searching for Christmas trees the most, whether that’s to purchase a new one or to get some decor inspiration.

1. Florida – 665,100 Google searches / 3,011.47 searches per 100,000 people

Storming its way to the top spot is the sunshine state of Florida, with the residents generating 3,011.47 searches per 100,000 people, with 665,100 Google searches for Christmas trees overall.

Although the state can grow a variety of Christmas trees, such as red cedar and spruce pine, it has been reported that it takes the trees up to six years to grow the ideal 6-8 feet tall.

2. New Jersey – 278,100 Google searches / 2,962.16 searches per 100,000 people

Coming in second is New Jersey, with 278,100 searches for Christmas trees on Google overall and 2,962.16 searches per 100,000 people.

It has been reported that there is only one Christmas tree farmer within the state who plants trees from seeds. New Jersey’s most popular variations of Christmas tree are Scotch pine and Douglas fir.

3. California – 1,180,500 Google searches / 2,951.61 searches per 100,000 people

In third place is California with a huge 1,180,500 Google searches for the term “Christmas trees”, equating to 2,951.61 searches per 100,000 people.

Despite its warm climate, California is home to the silvertip tree, which has been described as the perfect shape for a Christmas tree, due to its sturdiness.

The states appearing in the most festive posts on Instagram

People love to share snaps of themselves and their loved ones enjoying the festive period on social media, particularly Instagram.

We looked at which states in the US are appearing in the most festive hashtags on Instagram.

1. New York – 227,793 Instagram hashtags

As expected, New York tops the list with 227,793 results for the hashtag #christmasinnewyork.

It is estimated that around 800,000 people visit the Rockefeller Center every day during the festive period, to take pictures of the huge 82-foot Christmas tree and visit the seasonal ice skating rink.

2. Florida – 90,897 Instagram hashtags

Coming in second is Florida, with 90,897 results for the hashtag #christmasinflorida.

Although the state is known for its sunny weather, there are plenty of festive things to do. You can visit the small neighborhood of Christmas (yes, it’s a real place) and send your Christmas cards stamped with the Christmas postmark. You can also visit Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Tampa, or marvel at the Christmas lights at the Miami Zoo.

3. Hawaii – 40,997 Instagram hashtags

In third place is Hawaii, with 40,997 results for the hashtag #christmasinhawaii.

If you fancy a bit of an alternative Christmas, then visiting Hawaii in December is a great idea. Although you can still experience plenty of typically traditional Christmas activities, such as light displays, you can also expect lots of surfing, swimming, musical groups, and hula dancers.

Conclusion:

There are plenty of festive activities for the whole family to enjoy, no matter what state you choose to visit for your Christmas vacation.

If you’re looking for a guaranteed white Christmas, then New York and Ohio will provide you with the greatest opportunity to fulfill this wish. You may also see some snow in Oregon, in areas such as Mount Hood and Baker City, where you can do some downhill skiing and snowboarding.

If you fancy whizzing around an ice rink (or falling over, depending on your ability), then North Dakota, Alaska, and Massachusetts are great options.

If you’re wanting to visit some Christmas markets or craft fairs, then Wyoming, Maine, and Alaska have plenty of options to choose from.

No matter what your preferences are or what location you choose, you’re sure to find the perfect spot for your winter family vacation from this list.

Methodology:

Average snowfall  – we used Current Results to find out the average snowfall for the year, in both days and inches, for each of the 50 states. Due to the amount of normal snowfall varying across many of the states, a place has been chosen to represent each state’s annual snowfall.

Population – we used World Population Review to find out the population for each of the 50 states in the U.S.

Number of ice skating rinks – we used Fandom to find out the number of ice rinks within each state in the US, both in total and per 100,000 people. We did this by dividing the total number of ice skating rinks in each state by the population, before multiplying it by 100,000. This did not include any seasonal or temporary ice rinks which are unaffiliated with figure skating clubs.

Number of festive events – we used Christmas Market Guides to find out the number of festive events happening within each state in the US, both in total and per 100,000 people. We did this by dividing the total number of festive events in each state by the population, before multiplying it by 100,000. This did not include European-style markets.

Number of Google searches – we used Google Keyword Planner to find out how many times each state had searched for the term “Christmas trees” between November 2021 and October 2022.

Number of festive hashtags – we used Instagram to find out how many times each state appeared in a #christmasin…” hashtag e.g #christmasinflorida.  

Overall score – we ranked each state on the following factors: average snowfall, number of ice skating rinks, number of festive events, number of Google searches for the term “Christmas trees” and number of festive hashtags. We gave each state a normalized score out of 10 for each factor, before taking our final overall score as an average across all five factors.