Tired of spending Christmas in the same place every year? Luckily, if you’re planning on spending Christmas in the USA, there’s an array of great locations to choose from. Why not try somewhere different? A private jet, with its shorter runway requirements, can fly to the airport you choose, so forget airline limitations! Get closer to your destination, leave from closer to home, and start Christmas stress-free.

We look at the top Christmas destinations in the US for families, couples, winter sports and Christmas on the beach.

Best Places in the US to Spend Christmas for Families

Here are two cities guaranteed to make Christmas magical if you have a young family.

Orlando

Orlando is a fantastic place for families at any time of year. It’s home to Disney World, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, SeaWorld, Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort and Legoland Florida, and has great weather. Not surprisingly, it turns things up a notch at Christmas! At Disney World, the daily Christmas parties start in early November. Every evening, expect fireworks, parades of Disney characters in holiday attire, cookie-and-cocoa hunts, shows, music, and of course, magnificent lights and decorations. Not to be outdone, other theme parks offer their own holiday celebrations: festive food, films and flotillas, Christmas shows, gigantic Christmas trees and giant floating balloons. Truly dazzling!

If you’re within a few hours of Orlando, King Air turboprops or light jets such as the Beechjet 400A are ideal for your charter.  For larger family groups or those travelling further, choose a midsize jet such as the Hawker 800XP (seating 8) or large jet like the Challenger 604 (seating 10). Orlando Executive Airport and Orlando International Airport are 3 and 8 miles away respectively.

Chicago

On a par with New York for Christmas spirit (and a giant tree!), Chicago has the advantage of being less crowded—ideal for kids. The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, including the largest night-time parade in the US, starts before Thanksgiving. Morton Arboretum’s ‘Illumination’ Chicago Botanic Garden’s ‘Lightscape’ isn’t to be missed, and Lincoln Park and Brookfield Zoo also have wonderfully festive decorations and lights. 

If ice-skating is a festive must-do, head to the outdoor rink at the Millennium Park, the Skyrink at the Peninsula Chicago Hotel and the skating ribbon at Maggie Daley Park. You can also skate indoors at Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier, with its magical interactive light displays—ideal for chillier days. Other indoor attractions include:

  • the Thorne Miniature Rooms at the Art Institute, decked out for the holidays

  • Christmas Around the World at The Museum of Science and Industry, with 60 trees showing how holidays are celebrated in other cultures

  • Christmas shows such as the Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol at local theaters.

Finally, don’t miss the wonderful traditional German Christkindl Market in Daley Plaza. The children can visit Santa and enjoy the attractions, while the adults can shop and sip their glühwein.

Chicago Midway International Airport and Aurora Municipal Airport are both around 9 miles away. For small groups and journey times of just a few hours, the Learjet 35A is a popular choice for Chicago flights. The Global Express is ideal for extended family groups and longer flights, as it’s an ultra-long-range jet carrying 14 people.

Best Places for Couples to Go for Christmas in the US

Our favorite places for a romantic Christmas in the US. Get ready to snuggle up and spend quality time together!

Washington D.C.

Washington offers not just one, but two giant trees. The National Christmas Tree in President's Park near the White House has ornaments decorated by artists across the country. It’s lit by the President and First Lady every year. The tree inside the Library of Congress is also an amazing spectacle. The other site for beautiful Christmas décor is Union Station, with its Norwegian-style Christmas decorations, food stalls, and ice sculptures.

Outdoors, visit the Downtown Holiday Market, with over 70 stalls. It offers souvenirs, gifts, live music, and carts selling hot food like churros or barbeque dishes to keep you warm! Indoors, attend one of the National Cathedral’s Christmas Concerts or book to see the Washington Ballet’s outstanding annual performance of The Nutcracker.

Ronald Reagan National Airport is Washington’s closest, but private jets can also land at Leesburg Executive Airport, Manassas Regional Airport and Dulles International. For couples, light jets like Citation CJ3 and Hawker 400 XP are ideal. Live several hours away, or need to bring the family along? Choose a Hawker 800 XP or Learjet 60 midsize jet or the Falcon 2000EX Easy large jet.

New York

New York is one of the top Christmas destinations in the US, and there’s a good chance you’ll get a White Christmas! We suggest you:

  • marvel at the giant Christmas trees at the Rockefeller Center and Washington Square Park

  • take a bus tour of the lights

  • visit Bronx Zoo to admire animals in the daytime and festive illuminations at night

  • book tickets for Radio City Music Hall’s legendary Christmas show

  • view the illuminated city from above at the Empire State Building

  • admire lavishly-decorated stores along Fifth Avenue as you buy gifts and treats

  • take a tour of the filming locations of New York’s most famous festive films, such as Elf and Miracle on 34th Street

  • take a Cocoa and Carols cruise along the Hudson

  • skate at the numerous ice-rinks

Add holiday-themed parades, shows, concerts, ballets and even cocktails, and of course the wonderful New Year celebrations, and you can’t go wrong. Plus, many places in New York are open on Christmas Day itself, giving you plenty to do after you’ve opened the presents! 

Teterboro Airport is the closest executive airport. Other nearby airports are White Plains Westchester County, Farmingdale Republic and Islip MacArthur. Private jets often used for New York flights include the Hawker 400XP light jet, the Learjet 60 midsize jet, and the ultra-long-range Gulfstream GV, ideal for extended family with 13 seats.

The Best Place for Winter Sports at Christmas in the US

If snow is essential for your holiday, here’s our top choice for a winter-sports-filled white Christmas in the USA.

Aspen

Aspen offers a great range of winter sports, including snowboarding, downhill or cross-country skiing. You can also try curling at the Base Village Ice Rink. For skating, head to the Lewis Ice Arena in the Aspen Recreation Center, the Aspen Ice Garden in Shadow Mountain or the Silver Circle Ice Rink. Aside from winter sports, you can enjoy festive sleigh-rides and snowy hikes. Visiting local breweries and distilleries is a great way to get warm afterwards. In the evening, catch a concert by a big-name music star at the Belly-up venue. 

Need to spend a day or two inside?

  • Visit Aspen’s designer stores or its small shops selling handmade local items.

  • Explore the Art Museum.

  • While away a few hours at any of Aspen’s many excellent eateries and coffee shops. 

Aspen’s giant Christmas tree is lit on the first Sunday of December, while the 12 Days of Aspen Christmas festival lasts from December 20th to December 31st. Expect storytelling, cookie decorating, carol concerts, snowflake painting and more. You can also attend Ullr Nights at the Elk Camp in Snowmass, with its nightly bonfires and seasonal treats. This includes a ride on the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster (an 8-minute trip on a bobsled-style roller coaster track) and nighttime tubing. 

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) is just three miles from downtown Aspen. Travelling from close by with a small group? Helicopters, turboprops or the Phenom 100E very light jet are ideal. For larger groups and longer flights, choose a large jet such as the Gulfstream G-400, an ultra-long-range jets such as the Gulfstream GV, or an airliner such as the Embraer 120, which holds 30 passengers.

The Best Place for a Beach Christmas in the USA

Forget a white Christmas. What about a golden (and much warmer!) one?

Miami

Miami provides sun, sand and plenty of festive fun! In fact, there are so many festive attractions that we can only list the highlights: 

For adults: 

  • Holiday-themed pop-up bars and bar crawls (Santa hat or Christmas jumper essential).

  • Concerts by top music acts. 

  • Sophisticated festive balls, dinners and parties, including those held at the magnificent waterfront Deering Estate. 

  • The Gulfstream Park Village, illuminated by 250,000 sparkling lights, where you can shop, dine, enjoy Christmas hits, and watch a horse race.

For children: 

  • Santa’s Enchanted Forest claims to be the biggest holiday theme park in the world. It offers roller coasters, light shows, animal and magic shows, and much more!

  • Zoo Miami marks the holidays with animal-shaped lights, illuminations, carousel rides, carolers, and visits from Santa.

  • The Polar Express, with its onboard restaurants and performances, offers lots of surprises and a gift from Santa. 

  • Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens provides reindeer scavenger hunts, letter-writing to Santa, story time, hot cocoa with Mrs. Claus, meeting Santa, and a musical Tram Express ride. The highlight is the immersive, interactive Night Garden installation at the Gardens, with its trails, pools, sculptures, and amazing light show.

For everyone

  • Lincoln Road’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Parade offers holiday-themed crafts for kids, a parade featuring special guests, a dramatic countdown to the tree-lighting. You can also buy gifts and edible treats at the new Urbanspace Lincoln Road Holiday Market, which has musical performances and art installations to enjoy too.

  • Miami’s adaptions of The Nutcracker would be hard to imagine anywhere else, whether they feature pineapples or hip-hop dancers and rappers! Catch a show. 

  • The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade has beautiful illuminated boats, live music and fairgrounds. 

  • The waterfront winter wonderland at The Wharf has wonderful illuminations, activities, and refreshments for the whole family.

Miami Downtown Heliport is in the city center, and Opa-Locka Executive Airport and Miami International Airport are within 12 miles. For small groups and short journeys, a Beechjet 400A light jet is a good choice. For larger groups and longer journeys, a Learjet 60 midsize jets or a Global 5000 large jet are better options.

Start Christmas on the Plane with Paramount Business Jets

Have we helped you decide on your top US Christmas destination? Wherever it is, Paramount Business Jets can get you there quickly and efficiently. Leave the long queues behind and start Christmas the minute you board your luxurious private jet. Want a festive-themed in-flight meal or a limo to take you to your hotel? We can arrange it! Just give our friendly team a call on +1-877-727-2538 ext. 1 or email them at charter@paramountbusinessjets.com.