5 Must-Visit Cold-Weather Travel Destinations

Sometimes when you travel, all you crave is a warm climate where you can dig your toes into the sand and work on your tan. At other times, you have an urge to cozy up near a fireplace, stoking the fire, sipping a hot beverage, and watching the snow fall outside the windows.

When you get into the mood to travel in the winter, think about a destination that’s more fun and beautiful if you visit at that time of year. Here are five destinations that are all ideal for a winter vacation.

1. Lake Tahoe, California

Tahoe is beautiful and offers great outdoor recreation in the summer, but it’s absolutely breathtaking and chock full of opportunities for winter activities as well. Located about two hours north of Sacramento and on the border of Nevada’s northwestern state line, Lake Tahoe is an ideal winter-weather vacation spot.

Nestled in the mountains, Tahoe is surrounded by deep snow, evergreens, and blue and white mountains in the winter months. You can ski, ice fish, or just relax in an all-inclusive resort that boasts a full spa and amazing views of the setting.

2. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Did you know that Yellowstone National Park also provides tours during the winter season? Guides will take you out in large snow coaches with heaters and special continuous-track wheels designed for safe navigation on the snow-clad roads.

You can also choose the option of a snowmobile tour, if you prefer. You’ll see buffalo brushed with snow, wolves hunting in packs, steaming geysers defying the cold weather, and the famous Yellowstone Canyon dusted with a white mantle.

Traveling to the park during the winter can be a little tricky, since winter weather conditions may often force road closures. Try to plan your trip around a time when snowfall is at the minimum, so you can travel from the airport to the park without a hitch.

3. Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Regarded as a sister destination of Yellowstone, Jackson Hole is backed by the Teton Mountain range. You can often book double snow-coach tours to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole, and see the gorgeous sights at both locales in only one trip.

There’s also plenty of outdoor recreation that doesn’t include the inflated prices in cities like Aspen. You can go ice skating, snow tubing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and all the rest that winters in the mountains have to offer.

Don’t miss the horse-drawn sleigh tour of the National Elk Refuge. During the winter, herds of elk flock to a specific area near Jackson, and you can take a sleigh ride tour that brings you safely within mere feet of these majestic beasts.

4. Sun Valley, Idaho

Although the name Sun Valley brings to mind a warm-weather destination, the region is much better known for its winter recreation activities. If you visit during the winter, you’ll have every opportunity for outdoor recreation in the snow, from downhill and cross-country skiing to romantic sleigh rides through the mountains.

If wandering around quaint winter towns has more appeal for you, check out the many dining spots, coffee shops, and live music venues. The annual Symphony Festival takes place here in late February, and the Sun Valley Film Festival (one of the largest in the nation) follows shortly thereafter in March.

Don’t worry: There will still be sufficient snow for skiing during both festivals.

Sun Valley is a popular winter travel spot for celebrities who want to stay under the radar while they enjoy their vacation. In fact, several famous people own vacation homes in the valley that they visit throughout the year.

Their endorsement has led to Sun Valley having earned the title of the birthplace of destination skiing.

5. Quebec City, Quebec

The Quebec Winter Carnival is one of the biggest occasions in all of Canada. It usually takes place in February, when the temperatures are slightly warmer but the charm of Canadian winter hasn’t yet gone.

The carnival includes colorful night and daytime parades, snow sculptures, shows, skating, skiing, and more. There are plenty of places to shop, and dozens of coffee shops where you can warm up between events.

Book your stay ahead of time at the legendary Hotel de Glace, an incredible work of architecture made entirely of snow and ice. It even features themed suites.

The interior stays surprisingly temperate, though you’ll still want to dress warmly. There’s an outdoor spa and sauna where you can warm up if you have to. It’s the only ice hotel in all of North America, so vacancies disappear swiftly!

Who says you have to be sequestered indoors throughout the winter? These wonderful destinations are only five among dozens that prove there’s plenty of fun and adventure to be had, even when it’s freezing cold out.