The 18 best winter vacations in the U.S.

Best snowboarding resort

Mammoth Mountain is truly the snowy playground that snowboarders dream of—it gets 300 days of sunshine and 400in of snowfall per year. Situated at 11,053ft above sea level, the winter wonderland has 3,500 acres of snowboarding terrain and its season stretches into July (yes, July). Off the snowboard, there’s also plenty more to do like snowmobile rides, gondola rides offering awe-inspiring views, snowcat tours, bowling and indoor golf.

Best family ski trip

This winter wonderland—widely regarded as one of the country’s top ski destinations—is the place to go for excellently groomed, powdery trails. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Vail makes its village extra special for families, think an ice skating rink, brightly lit decorations, a kid's snowmobile track, ski bikes, tubing lanes, and more.

Best small ski resort

Don't hesitate: This little-known locale is only getting more popular. Hunter Mountain is not huge, it's certainly not as challenging as an Alpine black run, or even as ridiculously wide as the runs at somewhere like Mammoth, but it's cozy, fun and if you stay at the Hunter Mountain Sanctuary, you can kick your boots off, enjoy a roaring open fire and gently sup a whisky or mulled wine, looking back at the mountain and the very runs you've just raced down. 

Best to try out curling

We mention a number of underrated winter sports on this list— from ice fishing to skiing via helicopter or even dog—but curling may be your most achievable new skill. You'll be a pro on the ice in no time with an intro course at the Utah Olympic Oval, just outside of Salt Lake City. Learn the basics of proper delivery, sweeping, and strategy. And, if you’re keen for more, follow it up with a night of Cosmic Curling (much like its bowling counterpart, it takes place in the glow of neon and black light).

Best romantic getaway

Jackson, located at the base of the spectacular Teton mountains in Wyoming, offers an outdoorsy winter escape that’s perfect for nature lovers. Check the itineraries of local resorts and ranches to see what’s up for grabs this season: think dog sledding, snow tubing, trips to local hot springs and even horse-drawn carriage rides throughout their properties.

Best secluded destination

While the peaceful coastal town of Nantucket is typically considered a summertime destination, it has a special sparkle in the wintertime when its chilly beaches take on a preternatural calm. It’s a good choice for a quiet, cold-weather getaway where tucking into a good book next to a kindling fireplace and sharing an excellent meal with good company rank high on the agenda. Ice skating is also an option this time of year.

Best for basking in hot springs

Taking a hot bath in winter is a simple pleasure, but Colorado takes it to the next level—bathe outside with views of snowcapped mountains in hot springs that bubble up all over the state. We like the convenience of Dunton Hot Springs, a glamping destination close to Telluride that turned a once-abandoned mining town into a rustic, luxe resort (complete with an Old West saloon and dance hall). In the winter, the resort offers a host of activities from heli-skiing to dog-sledding and ice climbing. But of course, you're here for the outdoor calcium bicarbonate hot spring pools—the perfect place to watch the snowfall.

Best spot to sport a bikini

If you want to skip out on ice skating, snowmen, and parkas this year, head down to Naples, Florida. Here, beaches beckon with average winter temperatures that hover around 76 degrees. It's the perfect time of year to go for sunset beach walks and explore the area's botanical gardens without breaking a sweat. Outdoor restaurants teem with patios and courtyards for afternoon cocktails and dining under the stars. 

Best for staying indoors

Sometimes going away in the wintertime means finding somewhere else you'd rather be stuck inside, and there's no better place for indoor pursuits than New York. You'll have your pick of heated museums, where you'll while away the hours admiring masterpieces spanning centuries and disciplines. In the evening, tuck into a world-class meal at one of New York City's best restaurants or—better yet—experience the pleasure of dinner and a Broadway show. Did we mention the subways are warm, too?

Best hills for tubing

If you’re looking to hit some serious hills, there's no place like Northstar after a snowfall. You’ll find slopes for tubing around the resort’s mid-mountain mark (near the express lift). Here, a 200-yard-long, J-shaped tube slide features three whole whoops. But if one hill isn't enough to satiate you, try Heavenly's epic tubing area—it's 500ft long and has a 65ft vertical drop.

Best place to learn skijoring

It’s not an Olympic event anymore, but skijoring—in which cross-country skiers are tethered to an animal (usually a dog, though sometimes a horse), a snowmobile, or even a motorcycle and pulled for extra speed—is still tons of fun. The Anchorage Skijoring Club offers clinics, tours, and other events for beginners, as well as 5km and 10km races for more advanced practitioners. For a less formally organized outing, the Anchorage trail system has more than 40 miles of dedicated skijoring trails, plus a plethora of multi-use trails suitable for the sport (BYO dog).

Best place to embrace winter water sports

We'll just come out and say it: Cleveland is very cold in the winter. There's no sugarcoating it, but once you get past the temps, you can really embrace the winter weather in this bustling Ohio city. Lake Eerie welcomes the brave to surf its frigid waters or go fishing for walleye. There's plenty to do on dry land, too, including snow biking and snowshoeing. 

Best view from the ice rink

Sure, you can ice skate in the center of almost every city in the USA, or you can skate in the middle of one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world—seems like an easy choice, don’t you think? Head to Curry Village in Yosemite National Park for scenic ice skating with views of Half Dome and Glacier Cliff. 

Best for heli-skiing

If you have the money, this is probably one of the most badass stunts you can pull off this winter. Heli-skiing involves dropping from a chopper onto pristine, untouched powder—obviously, this isn’t for beginners. Head to Colorado where you can choose a single drop, a day pass, or a custom booking at Silverton Mountain Ski Area, or you can book a trip with Telluride Helitrax for helicopter-assisted backcountry tours of the San Juan Mountains.

Best star gazing 

Crab Cooker Hot Spring is a man-made rock tub with water piped in from a nearby mineral spring about 30 feet away. Make sure to go at night: not only is it hilarious fun to make your way over from the gravel space that doubles as a car park, but once you've exchanged pleasantries with those already present, stripped and got wet... the lack of light pollution here presents an unprecedented view of our own galaxy. It truly has to be seen to be believed. 

Best après-ski

If you've ever skied in Europe, you'll know what an essential element après-ski is to the day's affairs. A pint of French lager, pasta, fondue and finally a few shots of limoncello. They are all equally as important as the snow itself. While U.S. lager has a long way to go before it can compete with the French, if you're a cheese lover, Deer Valley in Utah, offers handcrafted cheese produced in the kitchens of Silver Lake Lodge by cheesemaker Corinne Cornet-Coniglio.

Best to try ice fishing

Don't turn up your nose at ice fishing—believe it or not, it can actually be quite thrilling. Try it at Lake of the Woods in Minnesota, one of the best ice fishing spots in the USA. Stake your spot with other die-hards on the frozen lake, cut a hole, and keep your eyes peeled for northern pike, saugers, walleyes, crappies, and more. In terms of gear, all you really need is an auger, a sled, an ice scoop, some ice rods, and a handful of jigs. Plenty of places in town are ready and willing to sell you some, so get ready to break some ice!

Best for the aurora borealis

The aurora borealis, or northern lights, are caused when energized particles emitted from the sun crash into the Earth's magnetic field, to put it simply. The rotation of the Earth, together with the movement of the molten metal core of the planet creates a magnetic field...and that's what protects us from deadly—yes, deadly—solar radiation. And that's what we see when the aurora borealis dances in the night sky. Without this magnetic field, very little life would survive.