74 Getaways to Make You Love Winter

One of the best things about being in Washington, DC, is how close it is to everything you’re looking for in a wintertime vacation: mountain trails, hot springs, ski slopes—even whales. Seek some respite from the cold with a long soak in some presidentially approved hot springs. The Jefferson Pools at the Omni Homestead Resort—located in the aptly named Hot Springs, Virginia—flow naturally from the Allegheny Mountains. Gather a group and head for the Blue Ridge Mountains for a cabin trip. Here, your escape is what you make of it, whether you hike Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park, go mountain biking or horseback riding, or hole up in one the area’s many lodges. If you’re looking for a more romantic Blue Ridge Mountain getaway, you can always spoil yourself with a stay in the foothills at the Inn at Little Washington. Though heading to the beach in the heart of winter might seem counter-intuitive, it’s actually the best time for a Virginia Beach getaway—if you’re hoping to spot some whales. The East Coast has been a little bit too warm for snow so far this winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go skiing at places like Wisp in western Maryland, Seven Springs in Pennsylvania, and Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia, among others. —Amy McKeever

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Winter in the San Francisco Bay Area means many things. To the north, it means a romantic, crowd-free weekend in wine country, and to the south, it means watching the wilderness in misty forests. If you head east, you’ll reach the best snow the state has seen in years. Calistoga is in the farthest, most intimate nook of Napa Valley, and here, the Calistoga Ranch is a discreet luxury resort tucked into a private canyon. Fort Bragg is a humble Mendocino town with the Inn at Newport Ranch, an adventure lodge situated on a 2,000-acre preserve. While crowds flock to Big Sur in the summertime, in winter, monarch butterflies migrate to the mist-shrouded coastal forest, California condors stretch their massive wings above redwood forests, and grey whales breach off the coastline. After years of warm winters and slushy snow, California finally has a snow season it can brag about again. The best place to get in on the powder? The Ritz Carlton, Lake Tahoe, a ski-in, ski-out resort that recently launched a weekend apres-ski program. And every winter the world’s best surfers travel to Half Moon Bay to shred big breakers at the infamous Titans of Mavericks big wave surf competition, which takes place between November and March. —Jenna Scatena

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In winter a weekend getaway is a vital window to the outside world—especially if you're in the compact streets of New York. It’s a short trip to the Hudson River Valley, where you can book a room at the Bear Mountain Inn, and either relax by its massive fireplace and enjoy hiking in Bear Mountain Park, or use it as a home base for trips to Beacon, the Culinary Institute of America, and Hyde Park. Or you can take the Long Island Railroad to Montauk, on the tip of the island’s northwest corner, to kick back at the oceanfront resort of Gurney’s and to walk through Montauk Point State Park. Boston makes a fine urban getaway, perfect for exploring its various neighborhoods and visiting the intimate and lovely Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. With two Winter Olympics to its name, Lake Placid calls itself—with good reason—the winter sports capital of the world, and it's the ideal place to hit the slopes and recuperate at the nearby eateries after. The French-speaking Montreal has much to explore in winter, much to explore in winter, from the recently redesigned Museum of Fine Arts to the mouth-watering Jean-Talon Market to the city's stunning churches. Travelers can also hop an Amtrak train and toward Philadelphia, where they can do a whirlwind exploration of the city’s thriving food scene, or head farther to Washington, DC, a dining destination in its own right, with world-class museums to boot. Finally, make like Bloomberg and splurge on a short plane ride to the mild, mid-Atlantic island of Bermuda, where sun and plenty of relaxation await. —Molly McArdle

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Boasting craft cider and excellent wines, cheeses and restaurants featuring local products, Prince Edward County is a food-lover's ideal getaway. East of Toronto on the shores of Lake Ontario, there are about forty vineyards to explore here. Most locals head out of Toronto and point their cars west toward Niagara-on-the-Lake. It's the picture-perfect postcard of olde Victoriana, with pretty boutiques and tea rooms. But if you're looking for a real sense of place, head an hour west of the city to Beamsville and the Twenty Valley for first-rate dining fresh from the surrounding farms. If you're looking for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking and a chalet vibe, head north to Ontario's largest ski resort, Blue Mountain, in the Collingwood area. The Bruce Trail is Canada's oldest and longest marked footpath, with access to the UNESCO World Biosphere designated Reserve, the Niagara Escarpment, which offers extensive trails for the serious hiker, cross country skier, mountain biker, or endurance runner. And while theater season has gone dark in Stratford, there’s still plenty to entertain, from romantic winter escapes at one of the town's many inns and spas, to beautifully prepared meals, live musical concerts, and gallery exhibits. —Mary Luz Mejia

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Sometimes it can be unimaginable to leave a city as lovely as Paris, but when the winter chills hit, a short escape can be the perfect chance to recharge. Take a care to the prim, beautiful town of Chantilly so you can pass through the spooky-but-peaceful Chantilly Forest before stumbling on the somber 11th century Cistercian Royaumont Abbey. Don’t miss the chateau in the heart of the village, perched magnificently on the edge of a fussy pond flanked by vast, manicured gardens that houses a massive collection of pre-modern oil paintings, all displayed in the crowded, colorful 19th century style. Just 45 minutes due south of Paris on a local commuter rail line (or an hour and a half by car) is another dauntingly impressive country castle, the Chateau de Fontainebleau, this one inhabited at one time or other by every royal dynasty in France. It’s huddled next to the somewhat weird Fontainebleau Forest, where, strung all throughout the conifers, there are lunar landscape-looking outcroppings of small boulders. Right in the middle of the forest is the kitschy, fantastic Savoyard restaurant Le Croix d’Augas, which comes complete with checkered tablecloths, taxidermy barn animals, and many kinds of boozy melted cheese, the perfect way to cap off your day à la campagne. —Alexandra Marshall

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Sydney enchants during the winter months, because it's summer Down Under. The city is marked by endless sunshine, sea breezes, and balmy evenings—but it's also the season when hotel rates spike, extreme heat waves occur, and many small-business owners take weeks off. Make a dash for the Pretty Beach House, located in bush land about an hour north featuring expansive suites with record players, cashmere throws, and alfresco plunge pools. The rooms are sumptuously appointed and the dining is world-class, but it's the location of Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley—in a remote corner of the Blue Mountains, three hours west of Sydney—that makes it a winning short-break destination. Sandstone escarpments loom in the distance, and kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats abound. Hunter Valley has long been known for its wine, but lately it’s come into its own with day spas, fine-dining establishments, and upscale lodgings. Mollymook is a sleepy seaside town that is attracting more visitors with growing places to stay, eat, and shop. The misty, elevated region of Southern Highlands offers quiet surprises—like rolling hillsides, unexpected patches of dense forest, and old-fashioned villages full of rural charm—as well as a cool climate. Melbourne is only a one-hour flight away and full of funky, artsy vibes, while New Caledonia, a special collectivity of France, is only a three-hour flight away but a dot in the Pacific high on subtropical serenity. —Dan F. Stapleton

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The winter in Portland is extremely static: gray, drizzly, cloudy, and 40-something degrees. For a little variety, you can watch the locals go windsurfing and kite boarding on the windy Columbia River Gorge (yep, even in the winter), while you stay warm and dry with the beer sampler at Full Sail, a brewery up on a hill that has great views of the scenery. Meanwhile, the Willamette Valley is home to some of the country's best bottles of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Set up camp in the comfy living room-style couches at Brooks Winery; once you’re relaxed, get a massage or the grape-seed facial The Allison Inn & Spa. The coastal town of Astoria, famous for its role in the movie The Goonies, lures visitors for its history and nautical charm. The sunny, snowy mountain town of Bend is home to great breweries like Deschutes, and you can ski or snowboard at nearby Mt. Bachelor. —Sarah Z. Wexler

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Even the most entrenched of urbanites want to take a short break here and there from London, and they’ve got several options for when they do. Brighton is a day trip so popular that it’s become known as London-on-Sea, and here you can walk for miles along the blustery seafront or wander the narrow streets of the Lanes, which are jammed with tiny clothing shops, antiques emporiums, and cafes. Amersham is a small market town with Historic Tudor and Victorian buildings, bustling independent shops, pretty scenery, and a veritable list of worthy attractions on the doorstop including the Chilterns Area of Natural Beauty and Roald Dahl Museum. Bath is rightfully famous for its glorious spa options that make it the perfect place to recharge, and if you’re still hankering for a city experience, the industrial Manchester now boasts avant-garde arts venues, first-rate museums, and hip neighborhoods full of independent shops, restaurants, and bars. For cozy pubs, roaring fires, and rollicking in the damp fields and vales, you can’t go wrong with a cold-weather getaway in the Cotswolds. —Emily Mathieson

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In high season, Miami is full of lively attractions, but even the best of this southern party town can have you craving some down time. Nearby escapes include Fort Lauderdale, now a multi-faceted, forward-thinking destination featuring sophisticated places to eat, drink, and stay. On the way to Islamorada you can stop at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center before heading into town, where a series of spa hotels and funky eateries will make you feel far away. Key West is increasingly artsy and sophisticated, with a monthly series of Historic House Tours to art exhibitions at The Studios of Key West, the elegant Café Marquesa at the circa-1884 Marquesa Hotel to Spencer’s by the Sea, located at The Reach, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. The crown jewel on the Gulf of Mexico coast, Naples is full of interesting attractions, including the Naples Botanical Garden and Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The old-line resort of Palm Beach isn’t complete without a visit to the first-rate Henry Morrison Flagler Museum or a stay at the Colony Palm Beach, fresh from a $14 million dollar “re-imagining” by designer Carleton Varney. —Tom Austin

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Positioned at the gateway to the Rockies, Denver has plenty of weekend getaway options, from skiing to hot springs to train rides. The Victorian-era gem of Georgetown is worth a stop, especially if you're not itching for ski-in/ski-out—instead you can ride its Loop Railroad or go ice fishing, and explore the charming boutiques and bakeries in town. Aspen is high on diversions, from luxe hotels, first-rate shopping, and a thriving dining and nightlife scene. Salida, a small town a little more than two hours from Denver in Colorado's "banana belt," sports warmer temperatures, hot springs, and a beloved local dairy. Only an hour’s drive away, Colorado Springs has something for the whole family, like the Garden of Gods, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Manitou Incline. If you visit Minturn, a bus will take you to the Blue Sky Basin for skiing, or you can snowshoe at the Beaver Creek Nordic Center. The town’s Minturn Saloon is one of the state’s most authentic après ski watering holes. —Megan Barber

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While the northern hemisphere is wrapped up warm, it’s summer in the south, and therefore perfect timing to bail out of sultry Buenos Aires to the beach, the river, or a swanky country estancia. There’s the laid back Paraná Delta, a watery, subtropical wonderland that houses the Delta Eco Spa, jungle-style lodge of Le Becasina, and activities like canoeing, trekking, horseback riding, and bird-watching. Pinamar has cool Atlantic breezes, pine forests, and miles of sandy beaches; Pinamar Norte is a mecca for kite surfers; the best polo matches are found in Lobos; and Cañuelas will give you a dose of traditional Argentina with luxury trimmings at Puesto Viejo. Finally, there’s the gaucho capital of San Antonio de Areco and the riverside beaches, vineyards, and smart lodgings in Carmelo, a sleepy farming town. The toughest part will be deciding what to choose. —Sorrel Moseley-Williams

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Winters are fairly mild here, so it's the perfect time to explore a different Dutch city. Rotterdam features the 17th century Delfshaven port and museums like the Kunsthal and Boysmans van Beuningen, as well as the funky Markthal market. Maastricht is a quaint medieval town, while Groningen is youthful and happening, thanks to its ancient but still vibrant university. If nature is what calls you, head for the unspoiled Schiermonnikoog, part of the Wadden Islands and a national park, or the pristine landscape of Hoge Veluwe National Park. —Jane Szita

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Thanks to Atlanta’s generally mild winters, taking a quick vacation this time of year is painless (no snow to shovel or icy roads to navigate) and perfect (crisp enough to need a jacket, but not so crisp you want to stay indoors). The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, in Greensboro, Georgia, is famous for its world-class golf courses, sanctuary-like spa, winding nature trails, and the chance to eat outside in an Adirondack chair by your personal bonfire. The Chattahoochee National Forrest is home to Len Foote Hike Inn, a tucked-away eco lodge only accessible by a five-mile hike. The mountaintop village of Highlands, North Carolina, is referred to as the Aspen of the East and is high on charm and upscale boutiques and lodging. Athens, Georgia, offers plenty of funky culture for a small city, while Adairsville’s Barnsley Resort will let you luxuriate in its bucolic but sophisticated setting. —Allison Entrekin

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There's no antidote to the post-holiday blues quite so potent as a weekend escape from the grid, and these options are all a short drive from Philadelphia. New Canaan, Connecticut is an old-world charmer; the Roger Sherman Inn offers guests elegant digs in a historical landmark property near the center of town. Use it as a jumping off point to peruse the downtown, shopping, gallery hopping, and eating well along the way. If your idea of a perfect weekend has to include a ski run or two, head to Blue Mountain, a less-crowded alternative to the popular Jack Frost/Big Boulder resorts in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. Many local hotels offer ski and stay packages at this time of year. In Hershey, you can find a bevy of irresistible deals at the Hershey Lodge or Hershey Hotel, including spa treatments that incorporate the area’s most famous export, chocolate. Tucked among the pine trees of Cook Forest, Gateway Lodge offers guests an elegant and intimate setting that has the feel of a bed and breakfast but the amenities of a luxury resort. And Asbury Park, New Jersey, lively and diverse shore town, is packed with great restaurants, live music venues, a hopping boardwalk, and regular cultural events. —Megan Ritchie Jooste

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