1. Arkansas
   Alabama
2. Alaska
   Arizona

Elfapalooza, one of the world's largest congregations of elves, is held every year in Mobile, Alabama. Residents are trying their darndest to break the Guinness World Record for most elves in one place. To be counted, participants must wear both red and green and have pointy ears.

1. Wyoming
   New Mexico
2. California
   Arizona

Started by Earl Barnum in 1957, this popular yuletide tourist attraction has been a tradition in Chandler, Arizona for over 60 years. Construction on the "tree" begins each season in September with all sorts of folks pitching in to collect tumbleweeds.

1. Alaska
   Hawaii
2. Maine
   Louisiana

Orthodox Christians in Alaska attend a mass during which stars they have brought are blessed, and then they spend the next several days "starring" at the houses of their friends and families and neighbors, i.e. dropping by with their stars to sing carols and spread good cheer.

1. New Mexico
   California
2. Hawaii
   Louisiana

Christmas was first introduced to the Hawaiian islands in the 1800s by Protestant missionaries. It coincided with Makahiki, the traditional four-month New Year festival season, and the two become tied together. In modern times, Santa Claus is often seen in an outrigger canoe pulled by dolphins.

1. Florida
   Montana
2. Wisconsin
   Massachusetts

Many tourists visit Christmas, Florida during the holiday season in order to send greetings cards postmarked "Christmas." As of the 2010 census, about 1,150 people live there year-round. It's also the home to the world's largest alligator-shaped building.

1. Louisiana
   Mississippi
2. Missouri
   Tennessee

Louisiana's Cajun families living in the riverside communities light bonfires to guide Santa Claus (called "Papa Noel" in French) down the Mississippi. He's often depicted riding in a pirogue (a canoe) pulled by alligators.

1. Oregon
   Connecticut
2. Texas
   Michigan

At this remarkable attraction, visitors can take a ride in a real Model T Ford, watch baseball from 1867, order lunch from an 1830 menu, blow glass, watch workers in a smithy and observe the happenings on a working farm. The holiday season is a particularly enchanting time to visit.

1. Indiana
   Iowa
2. Illinois
   Idaho

The railroad operates out of Boone, Iowa and features various other special attraction rides for all ages. There's a "Pumpkin Special" Halloween ride, a Thomas the Tank Engine trip, tours to old coal mining towns and dinner excursions. Views along the way are spectacular.

1. Kentucky
   California
2. Pennsylvania
   Maine

On a traditional Maine holiday menu, you could see eel, lobster, seafood chowder, shrimp cocktail and more. A "Holiday Planked Pollock" recipe in the a Maine Department of Marine Resources pamphlet featured fish baked with mashed potatoes, stuffed tomatoes and cauliflower.

1. Nebraska
   Kansas
2. New Mexico
   New Jersey

Every autumn, "ristras" (chilis hung from strings to dry them out) can be seen around New Mexico. Come holiday time, ristras are made into wreaths, and the bright red color adds holiday cheers to doors and windows across the state.

1. Utah
   Minnesota
2. Ohio
   Mississippi

Popular across the American South, black-eyed peas are actually beans, and they're eaten at the new year in particular to bring good luck. This practice is said to date back to the Civil War, when Union armies raiding Confederate supplies left the black-eyed peas untouched, assuming they were just animal feed.

1. Mississippi
   Vermont
2. Idaho
   Missouri

The readings are a popular part of the month-long "St. Charles Christmas Traditions," which also feature a tree-lighting ceremony, a Santa parade, a production of "A Christmas Carol," evening candlelit processionals and more. Today, Missouri's capital is Jefferson City.

1. Rhode Island
   Alaska
2. Arkansas
   Kentucky

A traditional Kentuckian Christmas fruitcake recipe might call for flour, butter, egg yolks, raisins, pecans, candied cherries, nutmeg, brown sugar and (of course) the state's iconic whiskey variety, bourbon.

1. Washington
   Montana
2. Utah
   Massachusetts

The Bozeman Ice Festival in Bozeman, Montana brings together many of the best ice climbers in the world. It also features seminars, clinics, parties and an adventure/climbing-centric film festival that runs at the same time.

1. Wyoming
   Texas
2. Nebraska
   Idaho

The famed Buffalo Bill lived in North Platte, Nebraska with his wife Louisa in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, North Platte locals visit his old homestead during the holidays to drink hot cider, eat cookies and roast chestnuts.

1. Illinois
   New Jersey
2. Nevada
   Florida

In New Jersey, you can see Santa swimming with all sorts of sea creatures in the aquarium -- hat and beard and flippers and all! The Camden Adventure Aquarium also boasts the world's tallest Christmas tree, at 18 feet tall.

1. North Carolina
   South Carolina
2. North Dakota
   South Dakota

Chimney Rock State Park in North Carolina is replete with hiking trails, nature walks and gorgeous views. Visit in the summer for blooming flowers, in the fall for striking foliage or the holiday season to see Santa do what he does best, climb down chimneys.

1. Nevada
   Wyoming
2. Texas
   North Dakota

This festival takes place in historic Medora, North Dakota, featuring cowboy poetry readings, a cowboy supper and various other special meals, music, shows, Mass and more. The decor is western-themed, and the views of the area's buttes are stunning.

1. Nevada
   Arizona
2. New Mexico
   Colorado

The Ethel M Chocolate Factory in Henderson, Nevada provides visitors with one of the most interesting holiday outing experiences, combining sweet treats, festive lights and the unique beauty of desert flora.

1. Pennsylvania
   Ohio
2. Colorado
   Maryland

This spectacle can be beheld at the Clifton Mill in Clifton, Ohio. Although mills have been used since ancient times, the process of grinding grain was revolutionized in 1787 by Oliver Evans and his invention of the automatic water-powered gristmill. Modern mills are generally powered by electricity or fossil fuels.

1. Ohio
   Oklahoma
2. Alabama
   Georgia

Oklahoma is home to the Territorial Christmas, a festival that celebrates the state's Victorian history. Today, the annual parade is a major part of the festivities, with adorned cars, dune buggies and horses. It started out more simply, as a way to introduce the Territorial governor candidates.

1. Oregon
   Maine
2. Kentucky
   South Carolina

Portland, Oregon's boozy holiday celebration features over 50 exclusive beers and ciders available on tap for attendees to sample. They're served up in a heated tent under the city's giant Christmas tree.

1. Virginia
   Oregon
2. Pennsylvania
   Utah

The Amish are a group of Christians known for their simple living, strong work ethics and aversion to much modern technology. In Pennsylvania's Amish Country, Christmas is celebrated with the display of the elaborate star, the creation of religious tableaus and more.

1. Tennessee
   Kentucky
2. Alabama
   Georgia

Elvis' fabled mansion "Graceland" is decked to the nines every holiday season with a life-sized Nativity scene, hundreds of blue lights lining the driveway and abundant Presley family memorabilia. Visitors can purchase Christmas packages that include tours, CDs and a stay at Elvis' Heartbreak Hotel.

1. Alabama
   Virginia
2. Vermont
   Massachusetts

Although the hot and sunny south perhaps isn't the first region to come to mind when we think of the winter holidays, Christmas in Dixie actually preceded the white Christmases up north, at least from a legal standpoint. Louisiana and Arkansas followed suit a couple of years later.

1. Massachusetts
   New Hampshire
2. New York
   Pennsylvania

In 1967, Norman Rockwell painted "Home for Christmas (Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas)," immortalizing the quaint New England town. Today, residents and visitors celebrate the season with a a three-day festival of lights, holiday readings, caroling and house tours.

1. Washington
   Pennsylvania
2. Delaware
   Michigan

In addition to the milk toasts, children further honor their Scandinavian roots by dressing up as "tomtar," a type of mischievous imp or gnome associated with the winter season that must be offered food on Christmas Eve lest they cause trouble.

1. California
   Delaware
2. Missouri
   Utah

Hear "Handel's Messiah" and other Christmas traditionals performed in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Mormon capital of the country. The choir members are joined by hundreds of additional musicians, dancers, bell-ringers and actors.

1. Washington
   Maryland
2. Virginia
   Massachusetts

George Washington's Virginia home, Mount Vernon, is a fascinating holiday attraction. Enjoy conversations with period actors, fifing demonstrations and a holiday meal like one the first president himself would have enjoyed. And don't miss "Aladdin," the modern-day incarnation of the camel George kept around to impress his visitors.

1. West Virginia
   Georgia
2. New Jersey
   New York

West Virginia is home to a vibrant Italian-American community. The Feast of the Seven Fishes has its roots in southern Italy of centuries past, where Christians would eat seven different types of seafood, following an Italian Catholic tradition of abstaining from red meat on the eve of festival days.

1. Wyoming
   Alaska
2. Oklahoma
   Rhode Island

The collection is displayed at the Paul Smith Children's Village in the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. Most of the Santas are from the 20th century, and many are non-traditional depictions. They were collected by a world traveler named Thom Wise.

1. Oregon
   Nebraska
2. Minnesota
   Connecticut

This traditional Nordic fish dish has become common across Minnesota due to the state's large Scandinavian population. Lutefisk is a white fish that ends up with the consistency of jello after it's been soaked in water for several days and treated with lye.

1. Tennessee
   Arkansas
2. Missouri
   Hawaii

The Fairy Princess tradition started at Kline's Department Store in 1936, because its Jewish owners wanted to have a non-denominational figure handing out gifts. Young women dressed up as fairy princesses to give children toys from a secret treasure chest.

1. Vermont
   New Hampshire
2. Louisiana
   Georgia

About a dozen inns will participate this year. Patrons must be guests at one of the participating inns in order to be guaranteed admittance to the crawl. The event is popular because it allows guests to meet and mingle with guests at other inns.

1. Rhode Island
   West Virginia
2. South Dakota
   Arkansas

The Trail is in its 20th year. It brings together various communities across the state with a plethora of festivals, light shows, concerts, events and good cheer that take place throughout November and December along its course.