Winter is just around the corner and it has been a long year. Even as you enjoy the season and its unique adventures, a change of scenery is in order.
As with any vacation, budget is likely to be an issue. Where can you find a cold weather winter vacation without spending a lot of money?
WalletHub’s recent compares the most affordable and accessible metro regions, making this problem easy to solve. To rank cold-weather winter destinations, WalletHub compares data in six essential categories:
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Travel costs and hassle
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Local costs
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Attractions
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Weather
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Activities
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Safety
So, where are America’s best winter destinations for cold weather?
Atlanta, Georgia
While it may not immediately come to mind as a cold-weather region, the Atlanta metro area meets the definition of WalletHub’s study. The city is America’s top cold weather travel destination due to its pleasant weather and many attractions, including shopping centers, spas, food festivals and restaurants per capita. Many major cities offer direct flights to Atlanta at reasonable rates. You’ll find real winter fun at License to Chill Snow Island, with a giant snow tubing slide, an ice skating rink and an area for snowball fights.
New York, New York
With plenty of things to do and affordable direct flights from most major metropolitan areas, New York City is the next best winter destination for cold weather. New York offers many ice skating rinks, music venues, spas and affordable restaurants with at least 4.5 stars. You can spend days exploring the city’s iconic buildings, parks, museums and landmarks and still not see everything.
Washington, DC
Our nation’s capital finishes third overall for best cold weather escape. The area scores good marks in terms of travel costs and sightseeing. Local costs are also reasonable as there are many free museums and monuments to explore. Washington, DC, is the perfect winter destination if you love history and art. It houses the National Gallery of Art and a museum for almost everything. You’ll also find plenty of eateries, coffee shops and bars to explore.
Chicago, Ill
The Chicago metro area is the fourth best destination for cold weather. It ranks first in terms of attractions and scores well in terms of travel costs and winter activities. The city has open-air ice skating rinks, a delicious food scene and unique rooftop cocktail bars where you can eat in an igloo or try curling. Local parks offer sledding and snowshoeing. You will find numerous shopping centers, museums and excellent indoor botanical gardens. When Lake Michigan freezes over, the epic view is breathtaking.
Cincinnati, OH
The greater Cincinnati area is the fifth best winter destination for cold weather. It is for local costs first, cold weather activities third, and there are reasonable travel costs. The city offers tasty regional cuisine, unique neighborhoods, excellent museums and many local parks. Popular activities include:
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Ice skating at Fountain Square downtown.
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Skiing on Perfect North Slopes.
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Attending Kings Island WinterFest.
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Enjoy the glow of animal lanterns and more than 4 million Christmas lights in the .
Other winter destinations for cold weather
Which urban areas complete the top ten spots? Those destinations are St. Louis, Missouri; Denver, Colo.; , Pennsylvania; Boston, MA; and Kansas City, Missouri.
Tips to save money on winter travel
Guilt doesn’t have to accompany your winter vacation. Here are some money-saving tips.
Jesse Jones, Ph.D. – Outdoor adventure leadership; Professional Practice Assistant Professor, Kinesiology and Health Science, College of Education and Human Services – Utah State University, says, “Booking early and being flexible with dates are proven ways to save. For outdoor destinations, consider state parks or lesser-known national parks, which may offer lower costs than popular destinations. This winter, look to smaller mom-and-pop ski resorts like Cherry Peak in Richmond, UT, The Beaver Mountain Ski Area in Logan Canyon, or similar independent ski areas, for a truly magical ski experience. Plus, renting equipment like skis or snowshoes in advance is often cheaper than paying resort prices. Travelers can also look at bundled packages that include accommodation and activities.”
Yawei Wang, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Feliciano School of Business – Montclair State University, shares several ways to save:
“Be flexible with dates: Traveling during off-peak hours, such as midweek or outside major holiday periods, can lead to significant savings. For example, if you fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday instead of the weekend, the fares are usually lower. Flexibility with departure and return dates also helps find the best deals.
“Travel light: Airlines often charge fees for checked luggage, especially budget airlines. By packing smart and using carry-on luggage only, you can help avoid these extra costs.
“Book accommodations with kitchens: Renting apartments, vacation homes, or hotel rooms with kitchen facilities allows travelers to prepare some of their own meals. Avoiding eating out every day will significantly reduce food costs, which can be particularly high during peak winter tourism periods.
“Attend free activities and attractions: Many winter destinations offer free holiday-related activities, such as Christmas markets, outdoor festivals, ice skating or light shows. Planning activities that don’t require high entrance fees can help keep the travel budget in check.”
Embrace your cold weather escape
Many people think of warm-weather destinations when considering a winter trip. Still, a cold weather outing offers unique adventures and can be fun. It’s been a long year and you deserve a vacation. Instead of hibernating, make memories of a cold weather escape this winter.
Scott McConkey is a travel writer and founder of Miles with McConkey, where he provides travel ideas and travel guides. His wife Julie makes travel videos. They hope to inspire you to travel more.
