The World's Tallest Christmas Tree Is in a U.S. Forest-and the Only Way to See It Is On a Festive Train Ride

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas tree season, but some firs are bigger than others. The honor of the tallest Christmas tree in the world belongs to the California towns of Fort Bragg and Willits, according to a study that was shared with Travel + Leisure by Playcasino.com, which reviews the online casino industry. The area's more than 200-foot beauty is actually a living redwood, decorated by the Skunk Train, which transports passengers through the forest to marvel at the tree's sheer height."

"The two-hour Christmas tree train runs through Dec. 31 and includes the chance to sip "warm cocoa, snack on cookies, play merry games, and groove to cheerful tunes as the train winds its way through my forest home." Tickets start at $68.35 and include the option to upgrade to a "VIP" experience with advanced boarding, priority concessions, and a commemorative gift. Even dogs are welcome to indulge in the festive fun."

"The second-tallest tree was Rio de Janeiro's 197-foot-tall Árvore de Natal da Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, an artificial tree atop a floating platform in a lagoon, which is lit with 900,000 LED lights, according to the study. It delights travelers just as T+L named Brazil the destination of the year for 2026. That was followed by the 180-foot-tall artificial tree in Ermesinde, Valongo, Portugal, which sits in the middle of a park and is artificially lit."

A redwood over 200 feet in Fort Bragg and Willits serves as the world's tallest Christmas tree, decorated and showcased by the Skunk Train. The Skunk Train operates a two-hour Christmas tree ride through Dec. 31 offering warm cocoa, cookies, games, music, VIP upgrades, and dog-friendly access. Rio de Janeiro's 197-foot Árvore de Natal da Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas is the second tallest, an artificial floating tree lit with 900,000 LED lights. A 180-foot artificial tree in Ermesinde, Valongo, Portugal stands in a park and is artificially lit. Dortmund's nearly 150-foot tree features 138,000 LEDs, a 13-foot angel, and sits amid a market with 250 stalls. A steel-frame 148-foot tree in Vigo, Spain ranked fifth.

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