In today’s modern world, the issue of sustainability has taken center stage. Consumers are increasingly demanding more transparency about where their goods are coming from and how they are produced. These demands are now spilling over to the holiday season with consumers wanting to know where their Christmas tree was grown, how their candy canes were made, and much more.

You can combine this curiosity with your love of travel by planning a holiday road trip to immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas right at the source. Here are a few creative Christmas road trip destinations to add to your holiday itinerary this year.

Christmas Tree Farm

There is something special about choosing your Christmas tree straight from a farm. A visit to Cranston’s Christmas Tree Farm in Ashfield, Massachusetts is a great way to kick off the holiday season. A number of different experiences await you at Cranston’s. Adventurous families can choose to hike to the farm’s “North Pole” to enjoy sweeping views of Mount Monadnock and choose which of over 10,000 Balsam and Fraser tree you can cut down yourself.

You can also opt to stick closer to the heart of the farm and choose from more than 6,000 pre-cut Balsam, Concolor, Fraser, and Blue Spruce varieties in a number of heights. You can also find fresh Christmas wreaths and tiny tabletop trees to create holiday accents around your home.

Poinsettia Greenhouse

The Patterson Farm in Mount Ulla, North Carolina has all of your poinsettia and other Christmas greenery needs covered. While the farm is open year-round, the holidays are an especially festive time to visit Patterson. The farm’s “Holly Jolly Farm Days” special events feature photo opportunities with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and the Grinch.

Families with small children will appreciate the wagon rides, train rides, children’s theater performances, holiday themed crafts, and other festive winter activities. You will also be able to indulge in a cornucopia of delicious holiday treats as you pick out your poinsettias, and maybe even buy some home-made jams and jellies to take home with you.

Nutcracker Factory

There is no doubt that Germany is a special place to be during the holidays. Make it extra special by visiting the famous Steinbach Nutcracker Factory in Marienberg. This traditional nutcracker factory has been in operation for over 200 years, and is known for its attention to detail and the use of high-quality materials. These nutcrackers are far better made, and considerably more pricey, than the knockoffs you’ll find at certain holiday-themed stores in the United States.

For something closer to home, consider a visit to the Nutcracker Museum in Leavenworth, Washington. You’ll find more than 9,000 nutcrackers from various points in the history of the device, and from more than 50 different countries. Leavenworth itself is Bavarian-inspired mountain town awash in twinkling lights over the Christmas season, delivering a beautiful backdrop for your holiday road trip.

Candy Cane Factory

People of all ages will delight in a tour of Hammond’s Candies in Denver, Colorado. While the candy maker produces a variety of different sweet treats, the company’s iconic candy canes take center stage during the holiday season. Hammond’s candy canes are not your typical 12-in-a-box assortment you find at the local drugstore chain. These are gourmet candy canes, in a wide range of mouth-watering flavors, including cherry, plum, strawberry, wintergreen, caramel apple, apple pie, and root beer. Many of these flavors also come in old-fashioned spiral lollipop form. Hammond’s even makes candy canes filled with chocolate and sweet cream.

The complimentary tours of the factory are both educational and fun. They run every half hour, and they usually fill up, so reservations are strongly recommended. Be sure to leave time at the end of your tour to shop for all of your favorite treats at the factory store. In addition to the signature candy canes, you will find holiday lollipops, old-fashioned ribbon candy, snowy gummies, peppermint puffs, and a  chocolate counter full of your favorite sweets.

Glass Ornament Factory

Located in Corning, New York, he Corning Museum of Glass makes for an ideal day trip that the whole family will enjoy. This museum is more than just a place to appreciate the beautiful, delicate results of the art of glass blowing. You can also do some glass blowing yourself. For just $15, visitors can create their own glass Christmas ornaments under the guidance of professional glassblowers. After choosing your preferred colors, you will learn how to blow air through the blowpipe to create your own unique design. Here’s a keepsake that you can treasure every Christmas going forward as you remember your trip to the glass museum.

You Might Also Enjoy: Traveling Abroad for Christmas? Meet Santa Claus Around the World!

Alaska’s Christmas Factory

The winter wonderland of Palmer, Alaska is a magical backdrop for all things Christmas. One experience in particular that holiday merrymakers flock to is Alaska’s Christmas Factory, which is in fact more of an immersive theatrical experience than a factory per se. Guests at the Christmas Factory during any given December might choose among daytime or nighttime tours, with a special “Elf Elite” tour on the ten nights leading up to Christmas Eve.

Each experience includes hot chocolate with homemade Christmas cookies, photos with Santa, reindeer feeding and petting, a special toy-room keepsake to take home and enjoy, and much more. It is easy to get into the spirit of the season when you make a trip to Alaska’s Christmas Factory.