Looking to go on a holiday getaway? Check out these five towns within driving distance of Northern Virginia that are full of festive charm.
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Drive time from Dulles: Approximately 4 hours
Get to the “Switzerland of America” without long flights or steep prices. Jim Thorpe is a Poconos town that earned the nickname for its alpine atmosphere — think winding, narrow streets and a combination of mountain and river views that give it the cozy feel of a quaint European village.
Many believe December to be the best time to visit this Pennsylvania gem. It’s the perfect destination for a romantic weekend or a trip with the kids in tow. The town’s tourism agency puts together Jim Thorpe’s Olde Time Christmas on weekends from December 6 through 21. The free, family-friendly festival transforms the downtown area into a nostalgic winter wonderland with carolers, musicians, shopping deals, horse-and-carriage rides, a gingerbread house contest, and more.
Through December 24, the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway offers a “Santa Claus Special” train ride where guests can share their wish list with Santa aboard the trains, mingle with elves who are handing out treats, and take festive photos, all while enjoying the beautiful Pennsylvania scenery. Holiday music plays on the 80-minute trip, which departs from the train station downtown.
Back downtown, shop for ornaments at the year-round Jingle Bells Christmas Shoppe, locally made finds at the Everything Nice Gift Shop, Irish imports at The Treasure Shop, and vintage jewelry and homewares at Dreisbach House. Grab a chai latte at the Harry Potter–themed Muggles Mug.
Stay in the center of the action at the Inn at Jim Thorpe, where spacious rooms have jacuzzi tubs and kitchenettes. Dine at the inn’s Broadway Grille, a restaurant and pub with live music, a fireplace, and historic Victorian balconies. Or stay at the Harry Packer Mansion Inn. With its ivy-covered walls, wood-paneled rooms, and Victorian Italianate architecture, it’s often cited as a visual influence for Disney’s Haunted Mansion attraction.
Lexington, Virginia
Drive time from Dulles: Approximately 2.5 to 3 hours
Walking Lexington’s historic Main Street during the holidays feels like stepping into a snow globe. This Shenandoah Valley college town, with its centuries-old brick storefronts and Victorian facades, leans into its storybook appeal. Buildings and streetlamps are festooned with wreaths, garlands, and lights, and it offers extended shopping hours, caroling, and themed events throughout the season.
Holiday events kick off on November 28 with a Candlelight Processional & Tree Lighting led by Santa and Mrs. Claus. The following week brings more cheer with the Lexington Christmas Parade, which lights up downtown with floats and marching bands. On December 12, shoppers can check items off their list while they enjoy entertainment by the Dickens Carolers.
Lexington’s Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop adds to the magical atmosphere. At Natural Bridge State Park, the Festival of Trees event runs November 28 through January 1. Local organizations decorate themed trees, and visitors “vote” by placing donated goods like nonperishable food beneath their favorite. The park also hosts Luminary Nights on select December evenings, with holiday lights, campfires, and carriage rides.
Or you can stay cozy in your car for the Drive-Thru Holiday Light Display at Glen Maury Park beginning December 1.
Stay at The Georges, a charming boutique inn with Southern bistro-style dining and piano bar entertainment at Haywood’s restaurant and cozy fireside cocktails at lobby lounge Taps. Sip small-batch brews at downtown Heliotrope Brewery or head out to Devils Backbone Brewing Company’s Outpost Taproom & Kitchen off Lee Highway for award-winning Vienna lager and mountain views.
Cape May and Smithville, New Jersey
Drive time from Dulles: Approximately 4 hours
New Jersey’s most romantic beach town, Cape May, goes full-on Christmas movie during the holidays. Victorian bed-and-breakfasts and luxury hotels put up thousands of lights. Holiday shoppers walk Washington Street Mall seeking goodies from local boutiques. Couples sip seasonal cocktails and snuggle up by the fireplace in cozy restaurants and bars, while family-friendly activities like Santa brunches and holiday markets ensure the kids feel welcome as well.
Make lasting family memories with a stay at Congress Hall, an oceanfront resort that transforms into a winter wonderland with a working train, carousel rides on the lawn, Breakfast with Santa, red-and-white striped vendor tents, and elegantly festive décor. In December, the recently renovated La Mer Beachfront Resort celebrates the season with events including Nutcracker tea parties and a five-course themed feast inspired by the movie Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
For adults, Beach Plum Farm’s December family-style farm-to-table Holiday Harvest Dinners invite folks to make new friends in a storybook setting. Mingle at cocktail hour and take a hayride tour or candlelit stroll of the magical woodland property. Head to the bustling Washington Inn & Wine Bar for a family-style Feast of the Seven Fishes on December 17, and to The Ebbitt Room at The Virginia Hotel for seasonal eats in a restored 1879 landmark building. Kid-free for the holidays? Spend Christmas Day on the beach with The Virginia Hotel’s ’Twas the Night Before Christmas package (available December 24 to 28), where a stay features a candlelit Christmas dinner in a relaxing, adults-only setting.
Want even more seasonal joy? Add a side trip 50 miles up the Garden State Parkway to Historic Smithville, New Jersey, a restored Colonial-era village with cobblestone streets, footbridges, and more than 40 shops. From November 27 to January 6, its crowd-pleasing Light Show on the Lake features more than 120 floating Christmas trees made from lights synchronized to holiday music. Other entertainment includes an annual outdoor Dickens Fest featuring an original musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
Boonsboro and Williamsport, Maryland
Drive time from Dulles: Approximately 1.5 hours
A romance novelist returns to her home state and restores a crumbling inn on the town square. Doesn’t it sound like the premise of a holiday film? In the case of author Nora Roberts and her husband, Bruce Wilder, it’s a reality. They run the charming Inn BoonsBoro, an eight-bedroom boutique hotel with rooms named for iconic couples in literature. Across the street, at Wilder’s Turn the Page Bookstore, fans can buy signed copies of Roberts’ books (she’s written more than 70) and browse a wide selection that includes children’s books. Elsewhere in town, other treasures to take home can be found at shops including Gifts Inn BoonsBoro, Boonsboro Antiques, Olde Homestead, and Josie’s on Main.
The 2025 Christmas Celebration includes open-air carriage rides through the canal town and a Celebration of Trees held at Springfield Barn at Byron Park. At the barn, enjoy 150 trees decorated by local businesses and families, a light display, and wagon rides on select days in December.
In Boonsboro, Branded Chophouse has a popular weekend brunch with the option of bottomless mimosas. Go to Stone Werks Coffee + Sweets for coffee, cupcakes, salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and friendly service. In Williamsport, sate your craving for brisket and pulled pork at counter-service Still Smokin’ BBQ, or savor local beer and eclectic décor at Interchange Tiki Bar & Brewery.
Chesapeake City, Maryland
Drive time from Dulles: Approximately 3 hours
Home to several legendary racehorses, this Cecil County town pays tribute to its equestrian roots with its Poplar Hall Christmas Parade of Horses and Market on December 13. The morning begins with a meet-and-greet before the horses take to the streets in a grand procession featuring riding teams and ending in a carriage carrying Father Christmas. Pell Gardens Park turns into a European-style Christmas market filled with handcrafted ornaments, artisan treats, one-of-a-kind gifts, and selfie opportunities with Krampus. Come evening, the Candlelight House Tour invites guests to step inside the elaborately decorated private homes, historic inns, and churches of the brick-lined downtown.
Shops like The Mercantile at Back Creek (selling jewelry, pottery, and artsy finds) and Chesapeake Candy Works make any last-minute gifting needs a breeze. For dinner, settle in for steak and wine at Prime 225 or Italian food in a warm atmosphere at Vietri’s Cucina and Market. Several cozy, conveniently located bed-and-breakfasts include The Blue Max Inn, Inn at the Canal, and Ship Watch Inn (with canal-facing rooms) for an effortless festive getaway.
Feature image courtesy Lexington and the Rockbridge Area Tourism
This story originally ran in our December issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
