Natives of the Carolinas already know how special it is to be home in North Carolina or South Carolina for the holidays. But thanks to a recent ranker compiled by Condé Nast Traveler, the rest of America knows the wonder of a Carolina Christmas, too! The publication recently published a list of 19 cities in the U.S. that are the Best Places in America to Spend Christmas. Two famously jolly Carolina cities are on the list: Asheville and Greenville – and the very best part is they’re only an hour’s drive from one another, making it very easy to visit them both on the same weekend or even the same day. Here’s a look at some holiday highlights from each city:

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What do you think about spending Christmas in the Carolinas? Have you checked out both of these wonderful Christmas locales and are the other additional cities in the Carolinas where you love to spend Christmas? Feel free to join the conversation in the comments!

Heat up a winter evening in Myrtle Beach with a Motown Christmas Show that is sure to delight you over the holidays with magical music.

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Christmas In The Carolinas

What are some Christmas towns in the Carolinas?
Even if the Carolinas are considered warm-weather destinations more than snowy Christmas towns, there are still many wonderful small towns teaming with holiday spirit. Here are a few Christmas towns in the Carolinas to put on your travel list:

  • Charleston, SC: Charleston gets pretty festive during the holidays with its Holiday Festival of Lights, which has been bringing smiles to visitors since 1990. James Island County Park gets a seasonal makeover with holiday decorations that will warm your heart with twinkling lights and holiday activities. One of the favorites each year is the replica of the iconic Arthur Ravenel Bridge, which is 30 feet tall and as long as a football field.
  • McAdenville, NC: Not too far from Charlotte you'll find this charming Christmas town in NC. You know that residents really get into the Christmas spirit when you walk down the street and just about every house is decorated with festive lights. The town's walkable Main Street and downtown area take part too with the annual tree lighting ceremony on December 1. There is also a Yule Log Ceremony and a Christmas Town 5K run.
  • Aiken, SC: The annual lighting of the town Christmas tree happens in early December on Newberry Street. It kicks off the holiday season with celebratory fanfare as the countdown to the lighting brings people to the downtown area. You can enjoy holiday music, festive foods, live performances, and visits from Santa. An extra special treat for kids of all ages is roasting marshmallows and creating s'mores over an outdoor fire.
  • Bryson City, NC: With beautiful snow-covered views of the Great Smoky Mountains, this charming town is the epitome of a Christmas town. Its 12 Days of Christmas celebration lights up the town with festive displays and holiday lights. You can even meet Santa's reindeer (kind of) at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center where there is a herd of elk. Or, visit Darnell Farm to pick out your Christmas tree - the old-school way.

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