There’s snow place like a festive town around the holidays, and Buffalo, New York, has that Christmas spirit in droves.
The upstate New York city was named the most Christmasy city in the United States by online crypto casino JB. The study, which the company shared with Travel + Leisure, lauded Buffalo for its hundreds of holiday events (up to 800) and typical December snowfall of more than 25 inches.
Hotel rates in the city typically run less than $170 per night on Christmas, according to the study, with the chance you’ll have snow on Christmas at a whopping 53 percent.
Among the celebrated festive events is the Buffalo Holiday Market, a European-style market featuring artisan crafts, local food, and the chance to visit with Santa. Travelers to the city can also warm up with Buffalo’s Tom and Jerry trail, a celebration of the classic rum-and-brandy infused drink similar to egg nog complete with more than a dozen different stops to sample it.
“About half of American families will travel to another city this Christmas, and many are still deciding where to go,” the company wrote in a statement shared with T+L. “What our study showed is that some unexpected places can really give you a great snowy Christmas experience, and could be well worth a visit. At the same time, the rankings show that popular destinations like New York are crowded for a reason too, and they truly feel cool during holidays.”
Coming in at No. 2 on the list of the most Christmasy cities was Aspen, Colorado. Boasting “the country’s heaviest December snowfall,” the study said the city typically receives 43 inches of snow in December with an 80 percent chance of seeing snow on Christmas.
Beyond top-notch skiing, Aspen features indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks and a festive four-day Wintersköl event complete with torchlight descents on Aspen Mountain, live music, bonfires, fireworks, and snow sculptures.
However, travelers who plan to head to Aspen should note the high cost of hotels. The study found the average price of a room on Christmas was $1,242.
Fellow ski town Park City, Utah, ranked third on the list thanks to the typical 31.1 inches of snow in December, 480 festive events, and less expensive average Christmas hotel rate of $686.
That was followed by New York City, which boasts an endless array of holiday cheer in the form of iconic ice skating rinks, festive holiday markets, renowned performances like the Radio City Rockettes, over-the-top department store window displays, and more. Minneapolis, Minnesota, rounded out the top five.
Of all 32 cities included in the study, Boston had the most winter holiday activities, including 12 Christmas villages and more than 60 ice skating rinks, while Fairbanks, Alaska, is your best bet for snow (the study said the city is pretty much guaranteed a white Christmas).
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