When we think of vacations in winter, we all have that picture-perfect image of a getaway in a cozy mountain town where we catch up on our to-be-read list, drink our drink of choice, and do not move unless we want to. Well, make that winter vacation a reality and get cozy in the best mountain cities and towns for a weekend — or a week — away from home. Whether you want saunas or skiing, or are on the West Coast or East Coast, we have the snowy vacation spots you’ll want to check out, thanks to a new analysis from Shane Co.
If what to do is more important than where to go
Some people are all about what there is to do and the itinerary rather than the actual state they go to. That’s fine with us.
If the nightlife is the life for you, visit these cities
Some cities have the dining and drinks experience nailed. There’s nothing like enjoying a cocktail while it looks like you’re inside a snow globe.
- Asheville, N.C.
- Burlington, Vt.
- Vail, Colo.
If snowy activities mean the most, these cities will keep you busy
Some people thrive in feet of snow and want nothing more than to ski, sled, or snowboard the days away.
- Park City, Utah
- South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
- Truckee, Calif.
If you want the winter experience more than anything
If you are looking for a winter escape, the weather is sort of the main attraction. If you want to enjoy the white stuff, these are the cities for you.
For the best winter weather
If enjoying winter to its fullest is on your list of things to do, pack up your things to visit these cities.
- Park City, Utah
- North Conway, N.H.
- Estates Park, Colo.
For the best winter views
From sprawling mountain town views to picturesque village squares, some winter getaways look straight out of a Hallmark movie.
- Park City, Utah
- Asheville, N.C.
- Breckenridge, Colo.
When the budget needs to be watched
We want to get away, but our wallet says that place will be the backyard. If you need to stretch a budget, these cities will treat you right, with the lowest nightly Airbnb rate.
- Davis, W.Va. ($186/per night)
- Custer, S.D. ($186/per night)
- Bar Harbor, Maine ($189/per night)
The best overall in the U.S.
Maybe we saved the best for last, but when you combine everything – winter activities, dining, weather, nightlife, and views, the top three cities have a little bit of it all, so no one gets bored.
- Park City, Utah
- Jim Thorpe, Pa.
- Truckee, Calif.
There’s still time this season to have a gorgeous mountain view as your vacation home base. Forget about overcrowded beaches and long lines at amusement parks. Winter sports are better anyway, and the gear is much cooler. These mountain towns are the best spots for your winter getaway, so pick one soon before the snow melts and you have to wait until next season.
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The best of Canada
When you’re planning a winter mountain town getaway, you don’t have to restrict yourself to the U.S. Canada, our neighbor to the north, has some amazing mountain towns and winter activities, and is fairly easily accessible either by air or driving. While there are plenty of amazing areas for winter in Canada, arguably the two jewels in Canada’s winter crown are in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper and Banff.
Jasper
Just a four-hour drive from Edmonton, Jasper has a more laid-back vibe than its neighbor to the south, Banff. Jasper has no shortage of hotels and lodges where you can have a drink by a roaring fire, and if you want to get outside, you can head to Athabasca Falls for Nordic skiing or if you’re feeling adventurous, go ice climbing in Maligne Canyon.
Banff
It’s possible to do a getaway in both Jasper and Banff since the towns are just a three-hour drive apart via the incredibly scenic Icefields Parkway. Banff, which is an easy 90-minute drive from Calgary, is the spot to go for nightlife, with an incredibly diverse dining scene and beautiful old-school hotels like the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and the Fairmont Banff Springs, which was built in the late 19th century and is known as “Canada’s Castle in the Rockies.” Banff has plenty of outdoor activities as well; it was the first ski resort in the Canadian Rockies, with several world-class ski areas right nearby.
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