Are you staying in town for Christmas, or are you going to take a real Christmas vacation--minus the Griswolds?

It occurs to me that I have never been in another city besides Owensboro on Christmas Day. It's never happened. We had family out west visit us over the holidays, but we never went out there. And, boy, did my sister and I want to go.

But we never have.

And that's likely very unusual. I'm sure there are lots of folks who have spent Christmas away from home. Usually, it's because of family, but it doesn't have to be.

THE TODAY SHOW'S TOP 20 HOLIDAY GETAWAYS INCLUDES SANTA CLAUS, IN

The Today Show recently offered a list of the 20 best places to visit during the holiday season. While many of them would also be fine destinations at any time of the year, a good many of them REALLY shine at Christmastime.

One of those locations--and it almost HAD to be on the list--is Santa Claus, Indiana. It would seem the reasons are obvious.

Now, of course, Holiday World isn't open during Christmas. (Remember when it was Santa Claus Land and it WAS?) But, as the Today Show notes, there's plenty to do, regardless.

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THE SANTA CLAUS CHRISTMAS STORE

I'd imagine by Christmas, you already have all of your ornaments and decorations selected and placed. But that has NEVER stopped shoppers from visiting the Santa Claus Christmas Store and loading up.

Sometimes when I've visited, I treat it as a photo op; the Christmas Store's enormous village collection makes for a perfect setting. It kind of looks like still shots from those old 70s-era animated holiday specials.

Dave Spencer/Townsquare Media
Dave Spencer/Townsquare Media
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THE SANTA CLAUS MUSEUM

The Today Show also takes note of the Santa Claus Museum where you can see tons of letters written to Santa over the decades.

THE SANTA CLAUS LAND OF LIGHTS

And although Holiday World isn't open in the winter, the Santa Claus Land of Lights IS and has become one of Indiana's and the tri-state's most popular Christmas traditions.

A big thanks to the Today Show for recognizing one of Indiana's most unique towns and one that absolutely should be on a short list of places to visit during the holiday season.

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