Winter could be the best time to recharge your batteries and get away from it all. While most people are packing for warmer climates, some prefer sipping hot cocoa by the fire and enjoying the cold winter chill. If you’re looking for something different to do, a cold weather vacation might just be the thing for you. Skiing, visiting a hot spring, and hiking are just some of the things you can do. Here are some beautiful destinations in the country where you can relax and unwind away from the crowd.
- Colorado
When you’re looking for a quiet, scenic, nature-filled getaway, Colorado is the place for you. Here you can ski to your heart’s content as well as relax in its numerous hot springs. Make your way to the Rocky Mountain National Park and soak in Colorado’s natural beauty. From magnificent snow-capped mountain peaks, alpine lakes, and powdery trails, the Rocky Mountain National Park is the perfect place to be close to nature. It also has fewer visitors during the winter, giving you more room to roam and unwind. At the eastern edge of the national park is Estes Park, an enchanting town filled with cozy mountain-style cabins with fireplaces, private hot tubs. These cabins often offer breathtaking views of the park. Estes Park offers pristine scenic views and the sights and sounds of nature. If you want a bit of outdoor activities, you can go sleigh riding, snowshoeing or ice skating in Estes Park.
- Wyoming
Most visitors flock Yellowstone National Park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming during the summer months. This means that during the winter, you can have some peace and quiet. Here you can choose to stay at Old Faithful Snow Lodge or the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, the only two of the nine lodges that remain open during winter. Cuddle up under thick quilts in the evening and spend the day skiing across the park. The park offers miles and miles of trails surrounded by frozen waterfalls, mineral pools, and geysers.
- Alaska
Contrary to popular belief, Alaska comes alive in the winter. Winter is a special time for festivals, dog sledding tours, ski races, winter biking, ice fishing, bonfires, and northern lights viewing. You can even ski by the moonlight as Alaska has longer nights during the winter. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more relaxed vacation, you can opt to go on a cruise in a smaller ship. A small passenger ship is ideal for those who cherish peace and quiet. During this cruise, you will be treated to amazing views of untamed wilderness, including wildlife like bald eagles, and brown and black bears and more. Unlike a massive ship, a smaller ship can also take you to isolated inlets and remote bays where you can hike or fish.
So now you know where to go, start making plans for your mini winter retreat. Who knows, if you enjoy your vacation, you might start wishing it was winter all year.
