20 Best Winter Destinations in USA
(1) Whitefish, Montana
Winter is the busiest time of the year in Whitefish, Montana. Every year in early December, the city departs for Central Avenue to kick off the winter festivities. Christmas Streak offers hot chocolate, snacks, caroling and activities for everyone in the middle of the main street. The Torchlight Parade is a Christmas Eve tradition for many families with good causes.
A trip to Whitefish is never complete without a day at Whitefish Mountain Resort. The endless slopes and a permeable mountain provide fun days for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. Three hundred inches of snowfall gives 3,000 scalable acres, 5 terrain parks, and 105 marked runs annually. The summit sits 6,817 feet and the base 2,353 feet below.
Watch the sunrise from the lakeside hot tub at Whitefish Lake Lodge. Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell is 19 miles, about 30 minutes drive. Air service includes direct flights to ten major cities, and rental cars and shuttles are readily available. Regarding accommodation, options are available for every taste in the resort and city.
(2) Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada
When visiting Lake Tahoe in winter you want to be more careful with your choice. The reason is that flights to Lake Tahoe in winter are more likely delayed or canceled due to weather. While SFO and Oakland are very much out of the ice zone because of the road. Those roads can be closed due to weather conditions.
When it is decided to stay in Lake Tahoe in winter, you will need to decide options. On a hotel with views of Lake Tahoe or one of the ski resorts in Tahoe. Jake on the lake is your best option if you want a great alternative to a meal with lake views. During summer it is always packed and reservations are required, but during winter you may not have nearly entire restaurant.
Another amazing thing in Lake Tahoe in winter is snowmobiling. Snowmobiling can be fun for the whole family with children. Lake Tahoe is one of the best places to ski and snowboard. There are 6 ski resorts in this area. If you are living in South Lake Tahoe then you can ski or snowboard in heaven, Kirkwood.
(3) Breckenridge, Colorado
At 9,600 feet, it is one of the highest mountain cities in Colorado. When the snow starts to accumulate, Breckenridge really feels like a winter wonderland. There is a reason that Breckenridge, Colorado is well known worldwide for winter sports enthusiasts.
With an average snowfall of 320 inches, most of it coming in the form of mild champagne powder. With such excellent weather and spectacular snow all winter, you will find skiing and snowboarding at the Breckenridge Ski Resort. The same deep powder and blue skies that pull downhill skiers to Breckenridge are an attractive location for Nordic skiing.
Breck has two Nordic centers, the Breckenridge Nordic Center and the Gold Run Nordic Center. Ice skating is a great way for families to spend time during their winter vacation in Colorado. The Breckenridge Gondola, also known as BreckConnect, is free to ride up and down throughout the year.
(4) Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite National Park is a true winter wonderland: granite walls, frozen waterfalls, fairy snow and grand vistas at every turn. While many roads and avenues are closed for the winter, Yosemite Valley is open year-round, at a lower elevation. For $ 15 you get rental skates and 2 hours of rink time at Curry Village Ice Rink.
There is also a fire pit in between laps to heat your hands. Warm tent cabins in Curry Village are glamping at their finest. Dewey Point is 7 miles from Yosemite Ski Area and the views of Yosemite Valley from above are amazing. Tunnel view is perhaps the most iconic scene in Yosemite National Park and is even more breathtaking in winter.
It is the best place to catch the winter sunrise giving the valley a purple and pink twist. In winter, especially with human-shaped icons hanging from the edges, the aponnel tunnel is extra. Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia is home to 75 gorgeous specimens of the largest tree species on planet Earth. Tire chains are often required for winter travel in Yosemite.
(5) Chicago, Illinois
Chicago has no shortage of events and activities that take place in the winter. You’ll find German-inspired Christkindlmarket casts at the plaza, as well as at the Caroling Cloud Gat. Other festive events include the Holiday Magic at the Brookfield Zoo, the Fantastic Mile Lights Festival and the Millennium Park Christmas Tree.
Two popular Chicago skating rinks that open for the winter season are the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink and the nearby Maggie Daley Park Skating Ribbons. Chi-Town Rising hosts celebrations held on New Year’s Eve with celebrity and musical guests and a countdown to midnight in the loop. The city performs in two parades (Chinatown and Uptown) as well as throughout the city.
Discover the beauty of winter in Chicago from above with the city’s two skyline attractions, 360 Chicago’s TILT and Skydeck Ledge. Also check out the Ledges at the top of the Willis Tower. Northerly Island is a peninsula near the Adler Planetarium and Soldier Field with walkways and spectacular views of the city.
(6) Miami, Florida
Miami is the perfect place to escape the freezing cold of winter. There is something special about experiencing Miami in the winter, when everyone else in the house. Along with the great weather, you can also enjoy some great activities. Every December, Art Basel takes place in Miami. Miami has a thriving and cultural arts scene throughout the year.
Sculpture, painting, film, photography and installations by more than 4,000 artists will be on display in Art Basel. On the last Sunday of December, you can attend the King Mango Strut at Coconut Grove. It is a fun ‘celebration’ of the year’s events and a memorable way to mark the close of the year. One of the best things to do in Miami during the winter is to ring in the New Year, Miami style.
Miami is famous for its nightlife – so it’s a given that celebrating the New Year in Miami would be an incredible nonsense. There will be parties across the city – with a firework display above the bay, and the annual ‘The Big Orange’ at Bayfront Park. At Coral Gables, the sister festival Carnaval on the Mile is a bit quieter, but no less entertaining, with food, stalls and amazing Caribbean sounds.
(7) Key West, Florida
Key West of Florida is a magical island where anything goes as long as it is fun and peaceful. It is the last island in the Florida Keys, a chain of islands that extends south into the Florida Strait. Geographically speaking, the Key West is the southernmost point in the United States and is closer to Cuba than Miami.
Every year, Key West attracts over two million visitors. There are many places to celebrate the New Year in America, but none as strange and wonderful as Key West. As those in the northern states have to endure the harsh cold and terrible weather, the Key West is bathed in the hot sun, meaning you spend the early part of your day at the beach.
The party continues in the streets and bars till the wee hours of the morning. The annual lighted boat parade is an alternative to the West’s fun and festive lights and decorations. One of the things to be done in Key West is ‘Sunset Celebration’ in Mastory Square. Key West is the closest location to Dry Tortugas National Park, which is 70 miles in the middle of the sea.
(8) Asheville, North Carolina
Winter is the perfect time for a North Carolina mountain romantic getaway, including a valentine trip. Since the city is protected by the highest mountains in the eastern US, snow is often placed about 20 miles away on high mountain peaks and ski areas. The scenic I-26 interstate is located an 30 minutes north of downtown Asheville and offers skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing.
One of the biggest attractions in the area is the Biltmore Estate, and they do not close for the winter. In fact, their most popular event of the year runs through November December. Called the “Candlelight Tour”, this special annual tour brings guests to the famous house after dusk while it is lit with candles and decorated for the holidays.
The annual National Gingerbread House Competition is held from the middle of November to the end of each year at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. The Bent Creek area has great mountain biking close to Asheville, and even the Pisgah National Forest has more options just an hour away. Asheville takes pride in calling it “Bir City, USA” and local craft breweries reflect this. As the city approaches fall and winter, many breweries begin to produce their winter selections.
(9) Jackson Hole, Wyoming
From skiing to sleeve rides in Jackson Hole in the winter, snowmobiling and snow have plenty of wildlife to see. Skiing in and around tetanus falls well into the world-class category, with an average annual snowfall of over 500 inches. Snow King, better known as “Town Hill”, offers so much for such a small area. The lower 48 of the hill boasts one of the most frequent continuous pitches of any region, the top-down.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is the No.1 ski resort in North America. Rent a snowmobile or join an organization for guided half and full day tours. To enjoy the winter landscape and get closer to some species of wildlife, riding on horseshoe shackles is the most unique way. Dog sledding tours have a wide range of costs as they are very customizable, ranging from half-day to multi-overnight.
Day passes are available for the finished trail system of the Teton Pines Cross Country Ski Center, Grand Targhee Nordic Ski Area, and Trail Creek Nordic Center. With High Mountain heli-skiing your flight will take you to the mountains around Jackson Hole, where a guide will point out the best bowls, chutes and glides.
(10) Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone, with its hydrothermal features, lakes, waterfalls and wildlife, is amazingly beautiful and peaceful when blanketed with crisp, white snow. While exploring Yellowstone National Park during the winter months is a magical experience. It is important to understand that traveling in and around the park during this year requires more planning.
The park is open year-round to visitors, but one may have to book to visit the park. Both snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are great ways to experience Yellowstone’s backcountry in winter. The intimacy provides a less crowded park, when encountering wildlife with the elements of winter. There are plenty of places to stay in surrounding the park ranging from ranches and cabins to vacation rentals.
Non-guided snowmobile trips in and around Yellowstone National Park are available only to those who obtain a permit through the park’s unprofessional guided snowmobile access program. Permits are open to anyone 18 and older. Roads close to overrun travel begin in early March and open for regular vehicle travel in late April for weather permitting.
(11) New York City, New York
The winters in New York City include the months of December, January, and February. The coldest month in New York City is January, with an average daytime high of + 3 ° C, with the night dip to -3 to -5 ° C. The Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade is the iconic Thanksgiving experience in New York City, and it’s officially the beginning of the winter holiday season in the city.
Bryant Park also opens with a collection of Winter Village before Halloween. Holiday shops and some street food purveyors, an adorable wooden ice skating rink, which can be fully utilized. Inside the building, just in front of the upstairs cliff, there is a quick video showing how the Christmas tree is sourced in different ways and taken out every year by a team of experts.
The Nostalgia train travels along the F Line from 2nd Avenue to 125th Street once every two hours. The beginning of January is also the time of Jazzfest, a music festival that attracts NYC jazz musicians from all over the world. In New York, Lunar New Year is celebrated in Chinatown with a huge parade featuring lion and dragon dances, drum music, and martial arts performances.
(12) San Diego, California
If you’re looking for things to do in San Diego in December, check out the parade of lights. The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights has been a beloved local holiday tradition and it’s free. The parade usually starts at 5 pm. It begins about 90 minutes later on Shelter Island, passing the Seaport Village and the San Diego Marriott and Marina.
The sunsets of San Diego are memorable at any time of the year, but winter is even more special. There is no shortage of excellent vantage points in San Diego. But favorites include Torrey Pines State Park, George in the Cover in La Jolla, Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach, Mount Soled and Balboa Park. Ice skating is one of San Diego’s most loved winter traditions.
If you are visiting in December, be sure to check out Balboa Park December Nights when the park is lively with twinkling lights, holiday displays and unique food and drink. Torrey Pines State Park near La Jolla is the perfect place for winter hiking. It is crowd-free in the winter. Also, parking is very easy in winter.
(13) Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada
Death Valley is a driving park. The distances are very good and the roads are often winding and steep. There are plenty of places in the park at various places along the road. Although it is early morning cold, as in any desert, in January it warmed up well and made for the perfect hiking season. It is always sunny, however, be sure to bring a hat and sunscreen.
The view near the road overlooks Furnace Creek structures and the Stark Badland landscape is one that shows itself well. The Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes is an interesting, but slightly difficult, walk. There is no road in the dunes so if you want to go back to more ancient and higher dunes. The artist’s Palette Drive is a one-way drive away from Highway 190 on the east side of the park.
Death Valley’s real name is Badwater Basin. Being there in winter means that if you are ready to walk a mile or so by parking then you will get some water in it. And, if there is water, there can be a wonderful reflection of the Amargosa mountain in the east.
(14) Kauai, Hawaii
Kauai is definitely one of those holiday destinations that you can easily visit even in winter. In winter, Kauai is like a paradise on earth with its plush water trees and flowers, gorgeous waterfalls and landscapes. In addition, Kauai has a fairly stable climate throughout the year and the weather is not really much.
One of the most amazing sites of Kauai are large groups of hump whales that migrate to island’s waters. These whales return from the waters of Alaska to give birth to whales, which is really heart-warming to see. Winter snorkeling is one way to make the most of Kauai’s cold weather!
The northern edge of Kauai may have seen dangerous water during high winter surf, but its south side is certainly very calm during the winter months. Its south-coast coastline, Poipu Beach, is a beach that is famous for its gentle flowing waters. During this season on the north shore of the island one experiences erratic ocean currents.
(15) Mammoth Lakes, California
Known as the “Top of California” on the West Coast, Mammoth Lakes offers a wide range of winter activities. For expert skiers and snowboarders Mammoth Mountain can hit the slope in the ski area. Mammoth also has some of the oldest cross country / Nordic skiing in the world. For those of you who enjoy snowmobiling, the opportunities are endless from the mountainous areas.
Other winter activities include ice skating, ice climbing, family fun and snow play, fishing and photography. With more than 300 days of sunshine, and 400 inches of snow annually, Mammoth lakes are a winter destination. Cross country skiing is both easy and accessible. It doesn’t require a lot of gear.
There are miles of trails and skating lanes for Nordic skiers, between the Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center and the public Mammoth Lake Nordic Trail System. Inyo National Forest has an extensive winter trail system integrated into the surrounding mountains, forests and grasslands.
(16) Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
With over 4.6 million visitors in 2018, there are summer overflow crowds helping to make America’s third busiest national park. Hidden Valley former ski resort is located inside Rocky Mountain National Park. It ensures an adrenaline-pumping day of sledding or tubing that children and adults will love. You can rent slices or tubes at Estes Park Mountain Shop.
Backcountry hut-skiing has become extremely popular in Colorado, with huts often sold out months in advance. Rocky Mountain National Park is open year-round. Snow is generally present during those seven months, although with 300 days of sunshine. In winter Rocky Mountain National Park provides an epic backdrop for wildlife photography.
To the west of the park, the Caveneche Valley is famous for being a petting ground. Estes Park’s Winter Festival in mid-January is worth a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park this winter. The festival includes many fun activities including toboggan runs, ice skating, tasting award-winning chili.
(17) Midway, Utah
Most people in Utah know Heber Valley as a summer destination for all things outdoor. During the frosty winter months in the Heber Valley, millions of gallons of water and thousands of lights turn into a two-acre masterpiece with long spiers, attractive courtyards and awe-inspiring arches. Take a guided tour through Wasatch Mountain State Park.
Within a few minutes of Heber Valley skiers 21 chariots can be used in a 2,000-acre area of Deer Valley. Gondola access gives skiers the best part of Park City skiing without the hassle of downtown driving. The Midway Outdoor Ice Rink is the perfect family activity this winter. Open seven days a week and rentals available for every size.
The Midway Ice Castle is a handcrafted ice structure. The ice palace contains LED-night ice sculptures, snow thrones, ice carved tunnels and slides. Ticket prices vary from weekdays to weekends. Adults are $ 14 and children (4-7) $ 10 during the week. Weekend prices are $ 18 for adults and $ 12 for children.
(18) Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is a great place to stay and roam during the winter. It is full of winter activities during the colder months. Indoor and outdoor activities abound as the holiday season concludes. Check out the famous homes, fireplaces and indoor activities showcasing Charleston’s best winter. Charleston’s cold temperatures make it a favorite winter center.
Charleston Harbor Tours offers a 90-minute tour so that you can learn about the history of Charleston. Check out Deep Water Vineyards, Charleston’s only working vineyard and winery. It is worth a trek to the island of Varmala. Charleston has some regular winter festivals to keep spirits high. See the jazz or oyster festival in January.
The SC Aquarium has been a staple of Charleston for over 10 years. The Aquarium has over 60 exhibits filled with everything from fish bake to otter. You can visit Sea Turtle Hospital, where staff nurture and rehabilitate injured sea turtles before bringing them back to wild. The aquarium is a fun and informative way for both adults and children to beat the cold.
(19) Sedona, Arizona
The winter season in Sedona is considered December, January, and February. November is the tail side of fall and March is early spring. Lodging is the cheapest during the winter, where great bargains and special deals are available on hotels, motels, resorts. The winter in Sedona is the least crowded time of the year.
Holiday season is famous in Sedona, Arizona. Events such as the Red Rock Festival of Lights take place during the season. 6,000 lights on Tlaquepaque will meet you in the Holiday Spirit. Verde Valley Rail features a Santa Claus-themed train ride through the far Verde Valley, just about 20 miles away.
The snowbowl in Flagstaff is ideal for base skiing when it opens for skiing with snow. There are plenty of snow areas for children with gentle tubing hills. Many hiking trails in the Sedona area are pet-friendly, allowing visitors to explore the majestic forest with their four-legged friends. Popular options include the West Fork Trail, the Bell Rock Pathway, the route draw, all of which have great views.
(20) Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is known for amazing snow, many ski resorts and the best winter activities around. Snow tubing is a great adventure for those of you who stand upright on skis or snowboards. The most popular place to go for snow tubing is Solder Holo. For a 2-hour session, you can take full advantage of the 1,200 foot sliding lane and a new lift.
Salt Lake City offers many places to get your rocks to the ice rink, both indoor and outdoor. Indoor ice skating facility located 14 miles southwest of downtown Lake City. Used during the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Utah Olympic Oval is a great place to test your skills. For those who are a bit more adventurous, ice fishing is a great option for you.
Bear Lake, Strawberry Reservoir, and Eco Reservoir are all popular locations near Salt Lake City. Christkindlmarkt is a traditional German market held every December in Salt Lake City. Every year, the lights of millions of festivals are switched on the next day of Thanksgiving and lit until New Year’s Eve.
