Magical Holiday Destinations and Activities for Families in 2020

We find so much joy in the classic holiday season with the cheery decorations, light-filled displays, charming villages, holiday markets, craft fairs, and even boat parades, that light up cities, towns, and waterways everywhere during the winter months.

As everyone knows, this holiday season is different from previous ones because of the global pandemic; there are restrictions on most gatherings, including visiting with family and friends, whether near or far.

Despite all that, there are still many ways to experience the magic of the holidays. If your family “pod” can travel, or just go outside in your own city, you can find a lot to do, see, and be a part of safely.

Just do a quick search online: there are hundreds of guides to activities, events and locations for kid-friendly holidays by the city, the country, and even across the globe.

In this post, we’ve curated a few of our favorite holiday guides for places to visit this year, or destinations to plan for in the years ahead. We had a lot of fun browsing all the lists, and we found that this is a great way for kids to learn about our fascinating world even if you are not able to visit in person.

What do these holiday celebrations mean?

From Christmas, to Hanukkah, to Kwanzaa, there’s a lot to celebrate! Here’s a list to explore from National Geographic Kids.

Which are the most magical holiday destinations for families—and what can you do there with kids?

1. 55 Best Christmas Towns to Put on Your Holiday Bucket List: City by city, they help you explore “what Christmas magic looks like.”
2. 19 of the World's Most Magical Christmas Towns: Check out this photo gallery of towns dressed up for holiday cheer!
3. Holiday Lights are everywhere – our annual family guide to the best and brightest: This list goes deep – you’ll find all kinds of family-friendly activities in cities across the U.S.
4. This one takes the cake, or should we say, “the icing on the Christmas cookie!”: Top 11 Things to Do in Rovaniemi – The Official Home of Santa

Make Magical Memories!

Whether you go — or stay — there are so many wonderful things to do even in these trying times. As always, when you’re out with your little ones, keep them close, give them a good view of things, and stay out longer with the Piggyback Rider collection of standing child carriers. It’s an easy way to make magical memories of a lifetime!