While my family will happily bake and eat cookies any day of the year, we really ramp it up for our Christmas cookie baking. We host an annual Christmas cookie party every year, and it’s a tradition they look forward to almost as much as presents. Because they love to be part of the cookie baking process, we have amassed a ton of Christmas cookie recipes. They range from super easy Christmas cookies the kids could help make and decorate when they were tiny, up to more sophisticated Christmas cookie recipes their teen tastebuds love. 

We’ve tested out dozens of Christmas cookie recipes over the years, and these are our top ten: including our favorite never-fail, best ever Christmas sugar cookie recipe.

We’ve got more kid-friendly holiday treats, like these yummy Hot Chocolate Bombs, in our Guide to Easy Recipes for Kids, plus loads more Christmas fun for the whole family in our Ultimate Guide to Holiday and Christmas Activities.

One trade-off of living in sunny Southern California is that during the holiday season, it never quite feels all that seasonal. But just because we don’t have to wear scarves and shovel snow in November and December doesn’t mean that SoCal is lacking in abundant holiday charm. There are actually a few festive hotels and Christmas towns near LA that go all out for the season.

From the Central Coast down to San Diego County, countless hotels and resorts take the holiday spirit and crank it up to 10, more than making up for California’s balmy winter weather. Plus, many of these hotels are located in cities and towns that embody the winter festivities. Here are some of the best Christmas towns and festive hotels in and around Los Angeles—some are a bit of a drive, but all are well worth the trip.

If you’re a New York-area parent looking for magical, over-the-top holiday destinations within driving distance, look no further. We’ve rounded up Christmas towns near NYC where you and your kids can see incredible decorations, visit Santa, enjoy seasonal activities, and maybe even turn your trip into a memorable overnight getaway.

Read on for some of the most festive destinations in the northeast, and don't miss our Ultimate Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for all the seasonal fun close to home.

Can you believe the holidays are just around the corner?! Parents in the Orlando area, or those visiting Central Florida in December, looking for magical, over-the-top holiday destinations within driving distance, look no further! We rounded up places to take kids to see incredible decorations, visit Santa, enjoy seasonal activities, and possibly stay overnight for a holiday-themed getaway. With so many great Orlando Christmas events during the month of December, the most difficult choice you will have to make is deciding where to go!

Parents in the DC area (or visiting in December) looking for magical, over-the-top holiday destinations within driving distance—look no further! We've rounded up places to take kids to see incredible decorations, visit Santa, enjoy seasonal activities, and possibly stay overnight for a holiday-themed getaway.

These holiday getaways near DC offer all the sparkle and wonder of the holiday season. Families can enjoy twinkling trees, sparkling light shows, festive shops, and so much more.

Here are 10 festive hotels and Christmas towns near DC that will get the whole family into the holiday spirit. For more seasonal fun, from where to see Christmas lights near DC to the best Christmas events near DC, check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids.

Make some Christmas memories with a trip to one of these Christmas towns in Texas. 

Shop, visit Santa, and get into the holiday spirit with a trip to one of these idyllic Christmas towns.  

They say there’s no place like home for the holidays, but we think a special trip to visit a Christmas town can make the holidays even more magical and memorable! Several towns in Pennsylvania take Christmas celebrations to the next level, with over-the-top decorations, dazzling displays of sparking bright lights, and plenty of holiday cheer. We’ve rounded up the most exciting and enchanting Christmas towns near Philadelphia (plus some Christmas hotels if you’d like to turn your day trip into a holiday getaway), as well as seasonal Christmas Villages and Christmas Markets near home. So bundle up, grab some cocoa, put on some holiday tunes, and start making memories that will last forever!

Looking for more Holiday fun? Check out our Holiday Guide for more festive fun.