Millions of people travel for Christmas with family and friends every holiday season. Be it across town, across state lines, or across the country, families are loading into trains, planes, and cars to enjoy the festivities. For many families, the week of or directly after Christmas means family vacation. Wondering which spots are the hottest family destinations for the holidays? You’ve come to the right place! We here at MomsTribute—a top spot for the best time management tips for busy mons with kids—have the inside scoop.

There are lots of amazing vacation spots for the winter months, with tropical locales being one of the best. You can always try out an island in the Caribbean, visit the Florida Keys, or even try Southern California.

Two of our favorite spots happen to be theme parks, and as you might expect they are both in the south (think of riding a coaster in the snow. Brrr!)

Dollywood Theme Park

Tucked into the beautiful Appalachian Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Dollywood is a top spot for families with kids. It has many themed lands including the Country Fair, Wildwood Grove, and Rivertown Junction. During the holidays, the park hosts the Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas. Smoky Mountain Christmas is an award-winning festival due to its fantastic family-friendly shows, millions of lights, ice skating, and festival food booths.

My family has visited during the holidays on numerous occasions, and we have never been disappointed! The sparkling lights, the fun and festive musicals, and the overall jolly atmosphere at the park is a 'Must See'.

One of our favorite restaurants at Dollywood is Aunt Granny’s, where home cooked comfort foods are served family-style. Another favorite is the Front Porch Café, and of course, we can’t forget the festival booths! They serve up treats like the Stuffing Stacker (turkey, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce) and the eggnog cupcake. There are so many mouth-watering choices it is always hard to choose.

Throughout the festival, kids can also meet favorite holiday characters from the beloved movie Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Of course, we can’t forget the amazing rides at Dollywood. Your kids will definitely want to fit in a few of those!

Walt Disney World Resort

One of our family’s absolute favorite destinations is Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Trust me when I say that no one does Christmas quite like Disney!  This resort has four theme parks, and each one does something special for the holiday season.

This amazing kid friendly venue showcases all kinds of magical treats for Christmas, including special parades, fireworks, shopping, character meets, light shows, and more. One example is the Festival of the Holidays at EPCOT (one of Disney’s 4 theme parks in Orlando). This park hosts the World Showcase, with pavilions for various countries around the world. During the holidays, each pavilion showcases holiday traditions for that country. Special storytellers share wonderful stories from that culture, and there are also holiday treats for foodies to taste test.

At Hollywood Studios (another of the four parks), guests can attend a special Christmas party, hear live holiday music, watch Christmas light shows, and eat tasty treats. And at Magic Kingdom Park, families can enjoy a Christmas parade, shop at Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, and even see (fake) snow down Mainstreet U.S.A.

Another family favorite during the holidays is visiting Disney Springs, which is Disney’s shopping district. Here you’ll find a holiday tree trail, and of course it is done up with all the Disney flair!

Families will still find all their old, familiar favorites that Disney is known and loved for, so if theme parks for Christmas are on your holiday wish list you’ll want to keep this destination in mind.

Cruising for Christmas

Another top choice for families looking to vacation over the holidays is cruising. Christmas cruises are a hot commodity, and every major cruise line offers them. These cruises generally sail to various islands in the Caribbean, which are always popular with families.

Regardless of which holiday destination you have in mind, your family is sure to have an amazing time if you’re together and focusing on the gratefulness you feel throughout the season. The Kid Friendly Venues app is always here to help you as you make choices for your family during the holidays and all year round. It’s free to download, and it will help you find top rated spots for kids. One of the best parts is the reviews from other working moms like yourself. And don’t forget! When you visit a location, you can also leave a review for others. After all, it is the season of giving!

As you load up and prepare to travel this season, we wish you safe travels and fun times to be had by all. Happy holidays!

Katie C