Having a real Christmas tree in Los Angeles might make it feel a bit more like the winter holidays amid the always-sunny weather. Some of the more traditional Christmas activities, such as dashing through the snow or building Frosty the Snowman, aren't as easy to come by for Angelenos.

Selecting a Christmas tree, either by cutting it down yourself or picking out a pre-cut one, can be everything you've seen in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, minus the freezing eyelids. Take your family to tromp through the forest, locate the "perfect" tree, and tie it to the roof of your car for a victorious, pine-scented victory ride back home. Read on to find  the perfect place to secure the Christmas tree of your winter dreams (even better than sugarplums dancing in your head!)

Are you looking for other amazing Christmas traditions in Los Angeles? Find endless festivities in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families. Discover places for Santa photo ops in LA, glide into ice skating rinks in Los Angeles, climb aboard LA Christmas trains, and more. 

For many New Jersey families, cutting down a Christmas tree is an annual tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday season. If you're thinking of going the cut-your-own route this year, start your tree hunt by checking out this list of the best Christmas tree farms throughout NJ.

Many farms sell refreshments to keep you fortified during your search, and some also offer seasonal farm fun like Santa visits, scenic wagon rides, and marshmallows around the fire pit. Don't feel like cutting a tree down yourself? Most farms will cut it for you and take care of the drilling and baling.

Once you've checked that off your list, be sure to take a look at our write-up on where to take Santa pictures, and visit our Holiday Guide for New Jersey families for even more ways to celebrate the season.

Is there anything that smells better than a freshly cut Christmas tree from one of these local Christmas tree farms near NYC? Spark a new family holiday tradition this year and head to one of these cut-your-own Christmas tree farms within a 2-hour drive of Midtown Manhattan, so kids (and parents) can fulfill that lumberjack fantasy and still have time to deck the halls.

You can take in views of the mountains during a scenic visit to one of the nearby New Jersey Christmas tree farms, gulp down a FREE cup of hot cider at another Christmas tree farm in Westchester, or do a little birding at a Connecticut Christmas tree farm situated in an Audubon nature sanctuary. Nearby Long Island is packed with pretty family Christmas tree farms, too. Read on for our top 16 picks for the best Christmas tree farms near New York City for families.

Looking for more holiday day trips or fun ways to celebrate the season? Be sure to bookmark our Guide to Christmas and the Holidays for all our top picks.

"O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!" Find your holiday tree with the loveliest branches at one of the many Christmas tree farms that populate the areas surrounding Philadelphia. We're rich with farmlands and pick-your-own fun, so pack your bungee cords and hop in the car for this holiday day trip. It may even create a new holiday tradition for your Philly family.

Some of these local Pennsylvania farms offer additional family fun, such as crafts, cider and hot cocoa sampling, and other enjoyable (or yummy) treats. Looking for even more fun this season? Check out our Holiday Guide and our Events Calendar for the latest holiday happenings!

Just north of West Palm Beach on the picturesque southeastern side of Florida lies Martin County, nicknamed the Treasure Coast. And what a treasure it is, with clean public beaches, a children's museum, parks, restaurants, and fabulous resorts.

Communities like Stuart, Jensen Beach, and Hobe Sound have plenty of family fun going on, just at a quieter pace than their neighbors to the south, like Boca Raton and Miami. My family lives in the Palm Beach area, and we are frequently hopping in the car to visit Martin County's many attractions.

Here are 18 of our favorite things to do and see in Martin County, Florida, including great places to eat and stay. For more ideas on vacationing in the Sunshine State, check out our Florida Family Vacation Guide.

Some families in Boston create spectacular neighborhood Christmas light displays and holiday lights. Some of us leave the lights (and the glory) to the neighbors. Next time you have a free evening, pack some hot chocolate in a thermos, buckle up the kids, and visit these joyful dwellings. Between the beautiful lights and the charities that many of these families support with their efforts, It's sure to inspire holiday spirit—and maybe some ideas for your own house!

For more Christmas lights around Boston and the 'burbs, see our guide to the Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows. For more ideas for making merry, see our Boston Holiday Fun Guide.

The best neighborhood Christmas lights in Connecticut feature thousands of lights, stars, Christmas trees, cartoon characters and more. Connecticut neighborhoods go all out to create a flashy, bright and cheerful holiday light show, sometimes complete with music. This truly is some of the most wholesome (and yes, FREE) entertainment for the 2023 holiday season. Besides that, many of them are collecting cash and non-perishable food items for local charities. Special note: check social media pages prior to traveling to check their schedule, and find out the radio station you can tune to for accompanying music.

Planning your holiday get together with the family? Check  out these 20 Fun Christmas Games for the Whole Family.  And make sure to to check out our Connecticut Holiday Fun Guide.

Christmas lights shine brightly in New Jersey, and you can enjoy amazingly decked-out houses with stunning holiday displays throughout the state. There are many different ways to see Christmas lights—from walk-through spectacles at amusement parks to over-the-top drive-thru displays and private homes. There are even entire towns that go all out with holiday light installations!

These sparkling holiday spectacles—some of which feature more than 1 million lights—are sure to impress even the grinchiest member of your family. So bundle up the kids and head out to one of these illuminating local light shows before the sun sets on the Christmas season!

Check out our roundup of New Jersey Christmas towns that go all out for the holidays, and find tons more ways to be merry in our Holiday Fun Guide.