Revealed the most festive towns for Christmas lovers
The most festive towns for Christmas lovers
Could you move to Bethlehem, Christmas or Jingletown? To get you in the festive mood, Chris Nye from Property Guides has picked four places with festive names and explains what it’s like to live in each area, average property prices and why these locations fully embrace Christmas.
Christmas, Florida
A small town of around 1,100 people in Florida, Christmas gets its name from Fort Christmas, which was built in the Second Seminole War. Army soldiers arrived in the area on Christmas day, hence the name, and a town has since built up around the fort. Street names in the town include Antler St., Bethlehem St. and Blitzen Ave.
You can visit Fort Christmas Historical Park, which has a full-scale replica of the fort, a small museum and restored traditional houses from the period, furnished with pieces to show what life was like in Florida from the 1870s through the 1930s.
Christmas is, overall, a quiet country town with only a few amenities and a tight community. However, it becomes busier in the lead up to Christmas when many use the town’s post office to get the ‘Christmas’ postmark. The Post Office usually embraces this and sometimes Santa is sitting outside, ready to stamp your Christmas cards and packages.
The town is located a short drive from Orlando and the Kennedy Space Centre, so you can easily reach it from Disney World or Universal Studios. Property prices are pretty reasonable here at an average of $289,000.
Sint Niklaas, Belgium
A medium-sized city and the capital of Belgium’s Waasland region, Sint Niklaas is a pretty place with a rich history and plenty to do and see. The main Church of Saint Nicholas, founded in the 13th century, gave its name to the city and still stands today.
Sint Niklaas is known for having the largest market square in Belgium, which hosts a huge Christmas tree during the festive season and in the spring, features the largest Easter egg in Europe. Long renowned for its textile industry, the city has plenty of brilliant architecture and museums.
The city also serves as a great starting point for some picturesque cycling routes and was awarded the title of Most Pedestrian-Friendly City in Belgium. Houses in the city centre are priced at around €300,000.
Jingletown, California
Despite the festive name, this neighbourhood is strongly associated with art rather than Christmas! Jingletown is an arts district in Oakland, California, on the banks of the Oakland Estuary. It gets its name from mill workers in the area who would jingle coins in their pockets after a week’s work.
It is a hub for sculptors, painters, photographers and musicians, and you immediately appreciate this simply by walking around and seeing the many murals and art installations on display. Many well-known artists began their careers here and still reside in the neighbourhood. The Institute of Mosaic Art was founded in Jingletown in 2005 and is the largest centre of its type in the United States.
Originally an industrial area, in 1998, the neighbourhood began a massive redevelopment, which included an award-winning affordable housing project that has helped to revitalize the community. Property prices here average at around $595,000.
Bethlehem, New Zealand
Bethlehem, on New Zealand’s north island, was originally an independent town and is now a suburb of the city of Tauranga. It was named by Roman Catholic missionaries who came to New Zealand in the early 1840s. The Maori name for this area is Peterehema.
Bethlehem is close to Mount Maunganui and Papamoa beaches. You can enjoy hot sands and cool waters overlooked by the stunning Maunganui Mount. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not climb the mount and relax in the hot pools at the bottom on your way back?
Like Christmas in Florida, Bethlehem’s post office becomes extremely busy during the festive months, with people travelling from afar to get the coveted Bethlehem postmark. The suburb also takes pride in the fact that it is the first of many Bethlehems in the world to see in Christmas Day.
Overall, Bethlehem is a brilliant location for families and retirees, with local markets, a shopping centre, plenty of nearby golf courses and beautiful parks. However, this great location means that property prices aren’t cheap! The median house price stands at $1,182,500 (New Zealand dollars).
