Winter is the season of celebration. It’s the time of snowfall and sparkling lights, of Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s when much of the country is at its most spectacular. Yet you can also escape the cold to warmer destinations if you know where to look. The best winter vacations in the US run the spectrum from beautiful beaches to mountainous peaks. And of course, lots of snow.
Festive family vacations, romantic New Year’s getaways and much-needed early escapes from the drudgery of January and February. All are catered to in my rundown of the 13 best trips to take in the US this winter.
Best winter vacations in the US
- Key West, Florida
- Puerto Rico
- Big Island, Hawai‘i
- US Virgin Islands
- Nantucket, Massachusetts
- San Diego, California
- Orlando, Florida
- Lake Tahoe, California & Nevada
- Taos, New Mexico
- Mount Rainier, Washington
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
- Vail, Colorado
- Mammoth Mountain, California
The best warm winter vacations in the US
Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean you have to freeze your bones. There are plenty of US destinations with winter sun and warm temperatures on offer. Beyond the appeal of tropical paradises like Hawai‘i or Puerto Rico, you can even stay on the US mainland in sun-kissed Florida.
Key West, Florida
Best for: Winter sun without leaving the mainland
For winter warmth, there’s nowhere better in the mainland US than Key West. Swap cozy fires for sunny days and chilly hikes for lazing on the beach. With average high temperatures lingering in the 70s, you could spend much of the season in bikinis and boardshorts.
Of all Florida’s Keys, West is the farthest flung. Seven square miles of eccentricity and entertainment, its buildings and boats twinkle with festive cheer and warm welcome.
For beaching, Smathers Beach is popular but nowhere near as lovely as the sands of Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. Linger till day’s end for a spectacular sunset if you can’t face the crowds in Mallory Square.
Or follow a literary theme with a morning swim at South Beach, rumored to be Tennessee Williams’s preferred spot. After, head to Hemingway House for a stroll around his palatial Spanish villa and grounds. Round out the day al fresco at madcap Blue Heaven. Get your fill of classic Caribbean food in the garden where Hemingway once refereed boxing matches.
Puerto Rico
Best for: A short haul island escape
Tropical and temperate, Puerto Rico offers a blissfully warm winter vacation just a short hop from the US mainland. With temperatures hovering in the high 70s, its skies are clear, its seas sparkle and its forests bloom.
Kick off a stay in the capital, San Juan – one of the most walkable cities in the Caribbean. The colorful and historic Old Town is a deep well of gorgeous architecture and photo opportunities. It also happens to rub shoulders with some of the most electric and fun beach fronts you’ll find. The undeniable star of which is Isla Verde, the Copacabana of Puerto Rico.
The best beach buzz, however, can be found on the west coast at Rincón. Home to a thriving local and international surf scene, head for Domes Beach for big November waves. For something more sedate, try Steps Beach in the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve. Spend your days sunning yourself and searching for parrot fish and hawksbill turtles.
Big Island, Hawai‘i
Best for: Tropical beaches and warm temperatures
Winter in Hawai‘i sees the island experience dialed up to the max. Temperatures hover in the high 70s and low 80s. Big bright skies serve up amazing sunrises and sunsets. Warm beaches host huge celebrations to ring in Christmas and the New Year.
My pick is the youngest and largest of the Hawai‘ian archipelago, known as the Big Island. It’s also its warmest and most tropical during winter. The lush valleys along the Hilo and Hāmākua coasts to the northeast see plenty of rain but are tropical, exotic and stunning. There you’ll see pouring waterfalls, black sand beaches and taro farms. To the south, the incomparable Volcanoes National Park awaits.
The island’s warmer west side is dominated by the sun-kissed Kona district. Undoubtedly busier and more touristy than the east, the region is much more than its tourist trap town, Kailua-Kona. Explore coffee country, visit a beach and the marine reserve just offshore.
US Virgin Islands
Best for: Winter celebrations in your swimsuit
It may only be a few hours to fly from the mainland to the US Virgin Islands territory, but it feels like a world away. Especially in winter, when the temperatures seldom dip below 80° and the sun never stops shining.
The question then is which to choose? Truth is, if it’s purely blue skies, warm weather and postcard-perfect beaches you’re after, there’s little to choose between them. To avoid the cruise ship crowds skip Saint Thomas. Saint John should be your first choice if your idea of a great winter break is more forest hiking and wild swimming than cocktails on the beach.
For me the best compromise is Saint Croix, the largest Virgin Isle set far to the south. Here exists a lovely balance of nature and civilization. You’ll find some of the best diving in the Caribbean at Cane Bay Wall, easily accessible from shore but plunging more than 13,000 feet into the deep blue.
Follow it with a night-time paddle through the bioluminescent waters of Salt River Bay National Historical Park. It’s only right to round out the day with an island tipple, courtesy of the Cruzan Rum Distillery.
The best winter vacations in the US by the beach
Beach vacations aren’t just for sandy toes and suntans. Some of my favorite beaches look their best in winter, fringed with frost, whipped by wild seas and giant surf.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Best for: Wild, windswept beach walks and serious surf
It doesn’t have to be hot and sunny for the best US beaches to shine. Nowhere is that more apparent than on the wild shores of Nantucket in winter. A summer favorite of rich society types, as the mercury drops and crowds thin, it adopts a tranquil beauty.
Many of the mainstream facilities close down for the cold season, so beaches are quieter and feel more remote. At aptly named Surfside Beach, surfers dance along heavy winter waves.
The vast stretch of wildlife refuge that combines Coatue and Coskata beaches is never more alive. Stroll its miles of trails to explore the oak forests and red cedar savannah. Keep an eye out for harbor seals loitering in the dunes and marshes.
On clear days, windswept Madaket Beach witnesses the most spectacular sunsets. Cozy up around a beachside fire, toast some marshmallows and watch another perfect Nantucket winter day pass by. Magic.
San Diego, California
Best for: Beachy bike rides and people watching
Ask a San Diego local and they’ll tell you the city and its beaches are at their best in winter. The weather is mild enough to deter all but the year-round swimmers and surfers from dipping a toe in. That means fewer people and more majesty.
Blacks and Torrey Pines are two of the more accessible cliff-backed beaches (though Blacks is still a challenge). They deliver on wild waves and rugged backdrops. Yet not far are the glistening city beaches, equally rich in surf and spectacle.
Rent a beach cruiser and ride the three-mile Ocean Front Walk from North Pacific Beach to South Mission Beach. Stop off along the way to shop its side streets and refuel in its many restaurants and bars. If you’re not too full, ride the beachfront roller coaster at Belmont Park. Take your time and don’t forget to people-watch – it’s like a human zoo of colorful characters.
The best winter family vacations in the US
Whether you embrace the weather or avoid it, the top US winter destinations offer a bit of everything. From East Coast theme parks to West Coast ski resorts, there’s something for everyone.
Orlando, Florida
Best for: Family fun and the world’s best theme parks
Winter can be a challenge with kids. Cold and wet weather often makes it hard to get out and cabin fever is something we all dread. Orlando is a great family destination year round, but in winter it really excels. No snowy chills, freezing storms or gloomy skies here.
Blessed with warm Floridian weather, its attractions are built with one thing in mind: family fun. Yes, there’s Toy Story Land and Disney World, the Universal Resort and Harry Potter’s Wizarding World. But there are also worlds beyond theme parks and roller coasters. The eye-opening Kennedy Space Center, lively Boxi Park, the nearby Everglades, and for a show, Cirque du Soleil.
Perhaps the best balance is Winter Park. Built for escapees of New England winters (hence the name), it’s a family friendly mix of entertainment and eating. Good shopping and great restaurants, parks and boating lakes, diverse museums and boutique hotels.
Lake Tahoe, California & Nevada
Best for: Embracing the cold on an outdoor family adventure
Lake Tahoe is a vast family-oriented natural winter wonderland. South or north, by the shore or up a mountain, there’s truly something for everyone whatever your age or interest. (As long as it’s outdoors.)
Some two dozen ski resorts are scattered around the lake. To the south, Heavenly Ski Resort is famed for its vertical drop and diverse runs for all levels. On its opposite side, Northstar is the complete family destination. Epic skiing, snowboarding, sledding and tubing, great ski schools, and some of the best hot chocolate you’ll taste anywhere!
The fun continues at shore level. Not least with an extraordinary road trip around Lake Tahoe’s 72 mile perimeter. Stop off for fishing and boat tours, stone skipping and wildlife watching. Don snow shoes to explore miles of trails and drink in the forest greens and luminous blues of Emerald Bay.
And if you’re there at season end, the Lake Tahoe Snowfest is a two-week celebration of all things snow.
Taos, New Mexico
Best for: An affordable family winter vacation
The magic of Taos is manifold. It is besieged by the majesty of its landscape and rich in the history of its Native American population. It’s also fantastically affordable with lots of free activities and lovely budget-friendly accommodation options.
In the Taos Pueblo explore one of the oldest continuously inhabited villages in the US, home to the Taos Tribe for more than 1,000 years. A UNESCO World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark, entry for kids under 10 is free.
Beyond, the mountains call. If skiing is an option (book early before peak season hits), the Taos Ski Valley offers 110 trails covering all skill levels. Alternatively, the hiking is sensational, tramping through snow-covered forests to vast panoramic views. Look west and you may see the Rio Grande Gorge plunging into the earth – another natural phenomenon well worth exploring.
The best winter vacations with snow in the US
If we’re talking about classic winter vacays, there has to be snow involved. Tons of it falls across the US in the coldest months, so you have plenty of awesome destinations to choose from.
Mount Rainier, Washington
Best for: Myriad snowbound adventures
If you want snow certainty, Mount Rainier is the place to go. Historically, epically snowy, it sees hundreds of inches of the white stuff fall every year. That means the infrastructure is built to handle it, and it’s a fantastic place to indulge in snowbound fun.
There’s something to cater to every snow-based pleasure. Paradise is a great starting point, both for trailheads and summit hikes. Orientate yourself first at the Henry M Jackson Visitor Center before choosing your adventure. Ski, snowboard or horseback ride. Hang out with the reindeer and feed the elks. On weekends, join a free snowshoe hike with a park ranger.
Stay at the historic Paradise Inn, one of the great lodges of the west, for easy access to the trails. For a truly remote, wild winter experience, go winter camping in the northeast of Mount Rainier National Park.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Best for: Seeing nature at its snowy best
There’s so much snow in Yellowstone National Park come winter that most of its roads are closed. Instead, travel is over the snow on snowmobiles and snowshoes, horse drawn sleighs and skis – undoubtedly more fun.
No visit to Yellowstone is complete without seeing Old Faithful or the Canyon area. Join a snowmobile tour to see the geysers up close. Ensnared in snow yet still steaming ferociously, they’re a magical sight. Don snow shoes and take a trek to any of the Yellowstone waterfalls. Temporarily frozen in time and place by the cold, they make everything feel otherworldly.
If you do want to self drive, there’s one road that stays open all winter. Enter from the north entrance and you can pass through the Lamar Valley. Often busy with buffalo, these hulking furry masses paint quite the contrast to the blanket white landscape. Follow the road all the way to Mammoth Springs to see its gorgeous travertine terraces bathed in snow. When the chill sets in, bathe yourself in the natural outdoor hot springs.
The best winter mountain vacations in the US
What do you get if you combine mountains and snow? Pure unadulterated fun. Truth is, if the snow falls you’ll likely have a great time at most mountain resorts. These are two of the very best though.
Vail, Colorado
Best for: Backcountry skiing
If you’re heading to Colorado, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to the best winter mountain vacations. Aspen and Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Crested Butte – all epic snow-oriented options. But for the king of mountain resorts, it has to be Vail.
Despite sitting at the base of Vail Mountain, the town of Vail is still 8,000 feet above sea level. Above it, towering peaks encompass a massive ski resort. More than 200 trails and runs connected by some 30 lifts serve up terrain of every type. On the mountain’s west side, ski the seven legendary Back Bowls in a single day. It’ll likely be the best you’ll ever have on snow.
When it comes to après ski, Vail town is no shrinking violet either. A festive, wintry cluster of high-end hotels and chalets, shops, restaurants and bars. For families, an ice skating rink and kids’ snowmobile track.
Mammoth Mountain, California
Best for: Skiing (and après skiing) till you drop
Amid the trails and waterfalls that surround the town of Mammoth Lakes soars an 11,000-foot-plus lava dome mountain. On the slopes running up to Mammoth Mountain’s peak are 3,500 acres of America’s snowiest, funnest skiing and snowboarding.
For quieter trails and the chance to find some back country to yourself, go mid week. But Mammoth is actually best with the crowds. On the weekend, it fills with twentysomething Los Angelites there to ski, snowboard and party. Mountain restaurants spark to life, slopes buzz with ski groups and party goers. The atmosphere is electric but not out of control – it feels almost… Alpine.
To make the most of the area’s supermodel good looks, hop on a gondola. Views over the Sierra Nevada ridgeline, volcanic lakes and Inyo National Forest are crushingly beautiful.
Discover more of the best winter vacations in the US
I’ve only touched on my favorite places to visit in the US over the winter season, but there are plenty more destinations to explore. As fall ends, consider some of the best places to visit in November. If you love winter sports, visit Europe’s High Alps and Japan’s ski resorts. Or if you want to escape the cold, here’s where is hot in December.
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