Pennsylvania Resort Named One of the Best in America

While travel season is usually in the summer, the holidays obvious bring a lot of travel to Americas and those around the world. That said, it's not surprising that there's an uptick in resort bookings over the holidays. Well, one Pennsylvania resort has been named one of the best resorts in America. This is when it comes to "action-packed mountain resorts," according to a new list.

The list comes from Good Housekeeping's new 2024 Family Travel Awards. Of the awards, Good Housekeeping states, "Our team of travel agents, editors, engineers, scientists and product analysts thoroughly evaluated each submission, focusing on attributes such as quality, convenience, value, sustainability, inclusivity and more." They also "enlisted the help of over 100 travel testers to try out the gear and services while visiting cities, resorts, attractions and other destinations to help us choose these standout winners."

So, which Pennsylvania spot is one of the best mountain resorts in America? It's the Poconos, with Good Housekeeping deeming it, "Nonstop fun in the Poconos." They say nobody will ever get bored here, but the magazine recommends the area for the holidays. "Whether or not Mother Nature comes through with snow in the winter, Woodloch makes its own so wanna-be sledders and snow tubers won't be disappointed," they explain. "Holidays usher in guest favorites like a Gingerbread Wars contest and a Yule Log Hunt."

One of the other other top spots in the Northeast was Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York. Of Mohonk, the publication raves, "The Victorian castle resort on a private glacial lake is an all-inclusive, so let their fairy godmothers of sorts guide you through a jam-packed lineup of activities that families can do together (like archery in the forest or ice-skating in an open-air stone pavilion) plus a supervised nature-focused program for kids ages 4 to 12 at no extra charge." Find more here.

Christmas is a time to visit family and friends and get away from the daily grind. The holidays can be a wonderful time, but they can also be very expensive. From buying lots of Christmas gifts for family and friends to having to pay for plane tickets and travel, holiday expenses can really add up. But, the good news is that there are some affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S. that are available for a good deal. Even better, Pennsylvania has one of the most affordable Christmas vacations in America.

One good thing about traveling during the winter months is that it's often the off-season for popular vacation destinations. Of course, the holidays are a busy travel time. That makes late December a difficult time to find a deal for travel. But, if you don't mind the cold and snow, some northern areas of the U.S. offer very good deals. That's true even during the Christmas season.

Some tips for finding a good deal for holiday vacationing include searching a lot of booking websites, comparing different hotel dates to find the most reasonable ones and finding bundle deals. Also, keep your eyes open for special deals on resorts and hotels that are just opening. That's because sometimes, during those opening months, new vacation spots try to attract a loyal clientele by offering special deals. One more tip is to search for airfare rates individually even if you are traveling as a couple or a group. If you put in a search for a group of tickets, the algorithms will often leave out information on one or two cheaper tickets being available. They'll just send you a group of tickets, sitting together, all at the same price. So, you might get a deal if you search for one ticket, instead.

So, what are the best affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S.? Here are some popular spots that won't break the bank.

Frankenmuth, Michigan, is the self-proclaimed Christmas capital city of the world. Okay, so many argue that Strasbourg, France, takes that honor, but Frankenmuth is close, and it's a lot cheaper to get there. No passport needed. The villiage's Franconian-style architecture has given it the loving name "Little Bavaria." Frankenmuth is also home to the world's biggest Christmas store.

You might never guess, but Las Vegas, Nevada, is a great spot for an affordable holiday trip. Think about it. Most people wouldn't think to go to "Sin City" for Christmas. Of course, it's much less the "sin" part these days, as Las Vegas offers fun activities for the whole family.

Charlotte, North Carolina, is a great spot to visit in the holiday season, because it's not as crowded as other times during the year. It's also less expensive to visit during the holidays and offers beautiful decorations during Christmas. Don't forget the many holiday markets.

Fort Myers, Florida, is a popular destination for snow birds. But, that's doesn't mean to skip it during the holidays. If you want to get away from the snow and ice, Fort Myers offers a great escape over Christmas and for prices that are more reasonable than in many other areas of Florida.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and it offers a beautiful view of snowy hills and Amish country. It's a very old-fashioned type of town, making it a charming winter getaway. There are plenty of fun, holiday-type things to do in Lancaster that won't break the bank.

Boston, Massachusetts, gets cold in the winter, but it also has that classic Christmas charm. It's a big city with a smaller city feel during the holidays. What's more, it's a more affordable winter vacation destination than many other areas, and you won't have the fight the crowds.