Picture this: You’re a busy, big-city dweller returning to your small hometown to save your parents’ beloved Christmas tree farm.
Maybe you have a holiday market meet-cute with a gorgeous stranger who turns out to be part of the royal family. Or you’re forced to team up with your childhood enemy to win the town’s annual Christmas-themed contest.
Whatever holiday movie storyline strikes your fancy, there’s one place in Wisconsin perfect for living it out, according to HGTV’s 2025 list of “50 Favorite Small Towns To Visit for Christmas.”
That would be the village of Kohler in Sheboygan County, home to about 2,200 people and about an hour’s drive from Milwaukee. Kohler is a regular on “best of” lists for its small-town charm and luxury offerings, last appearing on HGTV’s Christmas destinations list in 2023.
Why Kohler was named Wisconsin’s top Christmas destination
HGTV describes Kohler as a “snow-draped, shimmering backdrop for winter … plucked from the pages of a holiday movie.”
Visitors can escape from the cold at the Kohler Waters Spa, a five-star luxury spa inside the American Club. The historic resort has long attracted high-profile visitors to the village. HGTV also recommends trying out winter surfing on Lake Michigan in nearby Sheboygan. Peak surf season runs September through March – make sure to wear a wetsuit.
Other holiday activities in Kohler, Wisconsin
HGTV’s list only skims the surface of what Kohler has to offer around Christmastime. Here are some other favorites:
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Waelderhaus Gingerbread Festival: From Nov. 28 through Dec. 30, see hand-crafted gingerbread houses and original sculptures made by local schools and community groups. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday-Friday. Holiday musical performances at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. 1100 W. Riverside Drive, Kohler. kohlerfoundation.org/waelderhaus/annual-gingerbread-festival
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Frozen Fairways: The iconic Blackwolf Run golf course transforms into a seasonal delight, offering ice skating, sledding, a hot chocolate bar, holiday light displays and more. It runs Thursday through Sunday beginning Dec. 4, with complimentary access for overnight resort guests, $15 for a day pass for visitors 13 and up, and $10 for those ages 3-12. Children 2 and under enter for free. https://www.kohlerwisconsin.com/explore-more/activities-and-events/frozen-fairways
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Winter hiking at Kohler-Andrae State Park: While it’s not technically in Kohler, there’s something magical about a winter walk on the sand dunes along Lake Michigan. Vehicles can enter for free with an annual state park sticker or pay $13 for a day pass ($3 for those 65 and older). https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/kohlerandrae
Best Christmas destinations across the Midwest, according to HGTV
If you’re willing to drive a little, here are other Midwest spots featured on HGTV’s Christmas destinations list:
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Stillwater, Minnesota: Outside the Twin Cities and on the banks of the St. Croix River, Stillwater’s Hometown for the Holidays offers a gingerbread house contest, Victorian carolers and a visit from Santa.
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Pella, Iowa: Pella, a town steeped in Dutch heritage outside Des Moines, “creates a captivating setting for beautiful light displays and traditional Dutch festivities,” according to HGTV.
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Frankenmuth, Michigan: Visitors can experience Christmas in Frankenmuth, about 90 minutes north of Detroit, with a singing Christmas tree, ice skating, and the area’s Bavarian-style architecture draped in its holiday best.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kohler among top small towns in US to visit for Christmas, HGTV says