The list includes destinations known for their culinary offers such as Prague, Montreal and Vail, Colo., and offers information on “20 awesome getaways for foodies, around the U.S. and the world.”

The survey, whose results can be found at http://blog.zagat.com/2012/12/20-awesome-winter-foodie-destinations.html describes Bethlehem's Christmas atmosphere as follows: “historic downtown area becomes a veritable holiday wonderland every December, with lights, wreaths, candles and carolers galore.”

The article also mentions Christkindlmarkt, where traditional German and Austrian dishes can be enjoyed while listening to live music and sipping beer from the new wine-and-beer tent opening this year.

The city's offerings of gourmet candy, cookies, nuts, bread, jams, honey and other locally made and imported goods to stuff stockings are also recognized in the article.

According to Zagat.com, the surveys were started as a hobby in 1979 and are “now the world's leading provider of consumer survey-based information for restaurants and other leisure activities.” Zagat's also provides input from a worldwide network of surveyors.