These cozy open-air street markets sell traditional holiday food and drink as well as Christmas crafts, ornaments, and toys.

CNN: Plan your holiday getaways now

The largest is Rathausplatz , an Austrian take on Santa's Village laid out around City Hall and a great destination for children, who enjoy all manner of Christmas Eve arts and crafts classes while their parents hurry home to play Santa.

FORBES: Travel

On the other side of the pond in Munich, travelers and locals alike look forward to the traditional crafts and hot spiced wine in the Marienplatz Christmas market.

CNN: Spectacular Christmas destinations

Now, with local unemployment nearing 14 percent, Spruce Pine is rebuilding around tourism and local crafts and is rebranding itself as the home of the perfect Christmas tree.

CNN: Transcript of May 'CNN Money Summit: Money & Main St.'