3 Florida Cities Make Top 20 Best Places For Christmas

ORLANDO, FL — Despite having palm trees on every corner and a less than remote possibility of a white Christmas, three Florida cities made the top 20 best places in the U.S. for Christmas celebrations, according to a new report by personal finance website WalletHub.

"Beyond ensuring its affordability, a successful holiday also hinges on a location’s Christmas-friendliness," WalletHub penned in releasing the study on Tuesday. "Typical Christmas activities include shopping, dining out and attending holiday events, so the availability of such options can make all the difference."

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Orlando ranked first in the nation as the best place for Christmas celebrations while Tampa and Miami ranked 18th and 19th respectively. See also Set Sail With Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade 2018

"Many people also are likely to attend church services, considering Christmas is a Christian holiday," according to WalletHub. "The more churches around, the less likely each is to be crowded."

WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on 31 key indicators of a festive and affordable Christmas. The website considered traditions, shopping and costs in ranking cities.

Other Florida locations didn't fare nearly as well in the ranking. St. Petersburg ranked 91st and and Hialeah finished dead last at 100.

If you're wondering about New York with its highly touted holiday traditions, the Big Apple ranked only third behind Las Vegas.

Click here to read the full report.

Florida may bring a less than remote possibility of a white Christmas, but the state is known for its many holiday boat parades like the Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. Photo by Paul Scicchitano.