SDUEH

I have read all the older posts on this subject but would like a new perspective...

My husband & I do not ski. We want the traditional, small town activities DURING Christmas week - caroling, christmas trees, church service, sleigh ride, egg nog, fires, etc. without alot of tourists. Plus snow......

we visited woodstock, vt this summer - it was beautiful but not very hospitable.

a small inn or bed and breakfast in a small snowy town is what we're dreaming of.... any suggestions? what about your town? do they have activities during christmas week?

cheapbutnice

My favorite has always been Middlebury, VT but I would be afraid that it would be too quiet that week when the College is closed.We visited in early Dec. last year for a tree, etc. and it was beautiful.

zootsi

I live in a small town in western NH, and Christmas week is typically quite quiet. Of course nearly every church will have a Christmas Eve candlelight service, and there may be some farms giving sleighrides. A lot of towns do a tree lighting ceremony with caroling, but it's typically in early December. You might want to check out Grafton Vt, a tiny, isolated village that caters to visitors who want a quiet, small town Vermont experience.

beachgirl86

The town I grew up in, Rockport, Mass., sounds like exactly what you are looking for. They have a whole "Christmas in Rockport" schedule of activities (tree-lighting, caroling, reenactment of a Joseph/Mary/Jesus Christmas pagent, galleries with open houses, ice sculptures etc...) Good Luck!

shaz60

I can think of nowhere in New England that can guarantee you snow at Christmas and with it being on a Saturday this year, many people will be heading to the traditional winter hot spots on the kids vacation if you are planning on the week between Xmas and New Year's. That being said, you might have some luck in one of the small cities (more activities than small towns) such as Portsmouth, Concord, Portland, Burlington, etc. Have fun!

doc_

I grew up in Rockort as well. Fantastic around Christmas. Santa comes in on a lobster boat at the tree lighting, and the "pagent" is very Norman Rockwellian. They may even be serving alcohol in Rockport soon. So that will make things more interesting.

Beachgirl86..would that be RHS class of '86?

shaz60

Rockport sounds like it would be great but I don't think they will be serving alcohol before next spring at least. The vote must go before at least two more groups including the voters before it can be changed.

Jacqueline1212

Wonder if what you want really exists? Have lived in NE for 60 years and some towns have some but not all of what you want. Also, as previous poster said, weather could be anything. Warm and sunny, warm and rainy, cold and snowy, who knows. Mnay residents of NE towns travel that week because kids are out of school so tourist towns are full of, well, tourists. Non-tourist towns don't have many activities other than neighborhood stuff. Ski area towns will go all out to create the "right" atmosphere regardless of weather so they may be your best bet even if you don't ski. Research what they offer for the holidays. Having said that, I wouldn't spend the holidays anywhere else but in my home with a real Christmas tree that smells wonderful along with the homemade cider, eggnog, etc. Only thing is, I'm getting old and tired and am ready for a daughter-in-law to take over but don't have any! Know any good women??

beachgirl86

Doc -- Nope, actually I am RHS class of 96! Are you 86?

And, Shaz, I don't think it should matter if alcohol can be served yet or not. They can always bring their own wine/beer/etc to the Rockport restaurants that are open (much cheaper to do this anyways) and there are plenty of great restaurants in Gloucester for food and drinks.

gyppielou

Is anyone else having a Chevy Chase moment here?!?

shaz60

dear beachgirl
I also don't think it's makes any difference about the alcohol. I was just responding to doc's answer that there may be alcohol soon.

ediegirl

Newburyport, MA has a schedule of christmas events.

i'd be very surprised if Newport RI didn't have a schedule too...snow might be iffy b/c it's coastal, however.

good luck and let us know if you find it~

doc_

Beachgirl86...Yes I am.

bounty

I agree with the Rockport rec. Newburyport, although a city, has a small town feel to it. State St. and Market Square are decorated beautifully no matter what time of the year, but especially during the holidays.

Dreamer2

Sdueh,

The first thing that came to my mind from your description was Woodstock. I'm curious what negative thing(s) happened when you stayed last summer. Could you expand?

The problem with a lot of the towns with Xmas events is that they happen earlier in the month - not over the holiday (such as Kennebunkport's "Christmas Prelude" the first weekend of Dec). THat's why I agree that ski resorts would have more of what you are looking for during that week. But the prices will be crazy! And full of tourist/skiers. Make sure you don't accidently purchase a package that includes lift tickets!

Great Christmas atmosphere (carolers, sleigh rides, roaring fires, etc) would definitely be found at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, NH. If you want a small inn, rather than the grand lodge, they do have one on property, and it is a bit less expensive. The other ski resort we did one Christmas was the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. You'll be singing carols with "Maria!" There is also more "town" to Stowe than Bretton Woods.

Hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday!

SDUEH

Dreamer 2 :
thank you for your suggestions... in response to the woodstock question you posed - we went over the summer & stayed at a b&b. the town just felt a little stuffy....especially the woodstock inn. i guess this is the same in any town, usa.

from all that we had read about the town we envisioned woodstock to as a "norman rockwell" small town, usa with an overly friendly atmosphere (such as savannah, but with cooler weather). i hope you are not from woodstock - & that no one else reading this who may love woodstock takes offense. it is a beautiful city with many great qualities, but not what we were looking for. as another post said - what we want for christmas may not exist?

Dreamer2

No, I'm not from Woodstock, I just love it there. But now you have me wanting to go to Savannah! Maybe it's just a New England vs Southern personality thing. Where are you from?

zootsi

I must put my 2 cents in on Woodstock, since I live about 25 minutes away. Yes, Woodstock is charming and scenic, but it is an 'artificial' town, preserved by Rockefeller money. Locals look at it as a place where all the 'city folks' go for thier Vermont experience. That being said, if I were from the city, I would love Woodstock. However it's shops and restaurants are definitely geared to the upscale New York vacationer, and it does have a somewhat 'stuffy' feel to it. There are many small towns in this neck of the woods where the locals live and work, but they don't usually offer planned festivities for the holidays other than perhaps a tree lighting and hot chocolate & cookies social.

Krista

Probably no snow but here's a link to "Christmas in Newport".

http://www.christmasinnewport.org/

The mansions have activities and the historic neighborhoods are wonderfully atmospheric.

SDUEH

DREAMER2 - i live in florida, where hospitality does not abound. savannah is the best city i have ever visited in the us. go sometime. hopefully you'll fall in love with it too.

ZOOTSIE -
thanks for backing me up on woodstock. i knew there was something not quite right about the town but i just couldn't put my finger on it. your comments affirmed my gut reaction. i saw that you had a lot of posts in reposnse to the other new england christmas questions... where do you think would be a good place to head to for the week before or after christmas? small town events are great! we don't want crowds or commercial. thanks...