How to Plan a Magical White Christmas
Family Christmas Travel Guide: How We Planned the Perfect, Magical White Christmas in Park City
Have you ever dreamed of a White Christmas? Growing up in Australia, it was something I could only imagine – snow gently falling outside, twinkling lights, and cozy family moments, just like in the Christmas movies. Sadly, after losing both my parents, Christmas at home never felt the same.
I wanted to create magical new traditions for my own family, so with my husband and our twin girls, we started travelling at Christmas. Over the years, we’ve celebrated in Bali, the Caribbean, Disney World, New York City, and most memorably, Park City, Utah, where it actually snowed on Christmas Day.
Why We Chose Park City
My dream had always been New York City, but after lots of research, I learned it’s not common for it to snow there on Christmas Day. I still wanted to soak up the festive spirit, so we spent a few days in New York first, enjoying the Rockefeller Christmas tree, the holiday windows at Macy’s, and even hot chocolate and cookies with Santa.
A highlight of our visit was seeing the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall with the Rockettes – an unforgettable experience full of music, dancing, and holiday magic. The atmosphere in the city at Christmas was absolutely incredible. From there, we made our way to Park City, and it was pure magic.
Creating Our Own Winter Wonderland
To make it feel like Christmas, we bought a little real tree and lights from Walmart to decorate our room. The entire town looked like it belonged in a picture book, covered in sparkling snow. We’re not skiers, but there was still plenty to enjoy – snowmobiling, dog sledding, and ice skating were highlights. The cold was intense, minus 16 degrees that went straight to the bones, but nothing compared to the magic of waking up on Christmas morning to falling snow. We rushed outside with the girls to build our very first snowman together – an experience I’ll never forget.
Over the years, we’ve also developed a love for the ugly Christmas sweater, as you can see in our photos! It’s become a fun tradition and a way to add even more holiday cheer to our travels.
Plan Ahead for Christmas Travel
Christmas is the busiest time of year to travel, so early planning is a must. Flights, accommodation, and activities fill up fast, and prices climb the longer you wait. I always suggest booking as early as January for December travel. Restaurants and hotels often have special Christmas Day menus, which also need to be reserved in advance if you don’t want to miss out.
Don’t Forget the Presents
One of the challenges of travelling at Christmas is handling gifts. I’ve always felt the holiday itself is the present, but I still like to bring a few small gifts from home or plan a shopping stop while we’re away. We often give our girls gift cards too – it’s fun for them to have their own spending money to choose something special during the trip. The key is to keep it simple and practical.
Other Ways to Spend Christmas
Another of our favourite Christmas holidays has been on a cruise. There’s no cooking, cleaning, or stress – just time to relax together as a family. With so many food options, entertainment for all ages, and ships decorated beautifully for the season, cruise lines know how to make Christmas extra special.
Travelling at Christmas
Travelling at Christmas does require organisation, patience, and flexibility, but the rewards are priceless. For us, these holidays have given our girls magical memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s the greatest gift of all.
Are you dreaming of your own white Christmas or a festive family holiday escape? Let’s chat and start planning your magical Christmas adventure today.
