We all love them. Christmas just wouldn’t be complete without watching your favorite Hollywood classic Christmas movie. It may be warm out right now, but remember how cold it was last winter? Remember how nice it is to sit with a cup of cocoa and maybe a couple of Christmas cookies and watch one of your favorites? Even better, plan to celebrate the joyous holidays with a pilgrimage to one of your favorite iconic Christmas locations. You don’t even have to travel in December to put a little Christmas in your day!
Augusta, Kentucky
The Rosemary Clooney House museum in Augusta, Kentucky holds the largest collection of “White Christmas” memorabilia in the world, including costumes worn by the cast. This 1954 iconic Christmas movie is filled with such a talented cast, memorable music, special costumes – including one from the hilarious “sisters” performance you can see on display in the museum. Costumes sometimes are loaned out to other museums so there is no guarantee you’ll see a particular piece, but this museum well worth visiting and is full of memorabilia from her long career. You can visit Augusta and visit a museum dedicated entirely to this talented singer and actress on a river cruise that travels from Pittsburgh to Louisville aboard a picture-perfect paddlewheel ship. Contact us for details.
Spokane, Washington
The Bing Crosby Museum in Spokane is in the childhood home of Bing himself and contains many of his personal belongings donated by the ol’ Bing himself. Bing Crosby’s father and two uncles built the home in 1911 and it has remained in its original location for more than a century on the edge of Gonzaga University. The main floor houses the Bing Crosby Collection, which contains more than 200 items including gold records, trophies, awards, and an Academy Award given for his performance in “Going My Way” (1944). Read more about the museum on our sister site, Best of the Northwest. Visit this museum and discover more in Spokane on one of several cruises that begin or end in Clarkston, Washington. Most choosing this cruise will fly in or out of Spokane, the nearest large airport. Click here to see Columbia River cruises.
Cleveland, Ohio
The Christmas Story House in Cleveland, Ohio was used in the filming of the movie and is now a museum and perfect re-creation of this iconic holiday movie.See where Ralphie wished for his Red Ryder air rifle and see original props, costumes, and behind-the-scenes photographs from the movie. You can visit Cleveland on a Great Lakes Grand Discovery Cruise.
New York City
New York City Rockefeller Center Plaza has been a favorite spot for moviemakers throughout the years, including “On the Town,” “How to Marry a Millionaire,” and “The Godfather.” Yet when the holidays roll around, it is most famously known as the setting for the scene where Jovie and Buddy go to see the huge Christmas tree in “Elf” and where Kevin is reunited with his mother after yet another separation in “Home Alone II.” Enjoy a chance to experience this famous location yourself before you head off on a cruise on the Hudson River. See some Hudson River cruise options here.
