The Best Places to Travel to IN THE WINTER

PC: Pinterest

I just found out that our company is giving us five days off between Christmas and new years. As you can imagine, my mind immediately started to ring with ideas of places I could travel to. Should I go back to the mountains of Austria for a little ski escape (by the way, I just wrote about all the essential ski items to pack over at Travel & Leisure!!)? Or maybe go tropical, and visit my parents in Hawaii? After a lot of consideration, I decided against both. I’m just going to rest for the holidays to fully get back in touch with my soul. NYC is one of the biggest holiday destinations, after all, so while my sister, roommate, and partner all leave the state for Christmas, I’m going to stay right here and enjoy all that New York has to offer during December, with myself.

But if you’re just itching to get out, then I figured I’d share the list of places I considered escaping to. New York is nice and all, but there are certainly other cities that have perfected the winter wonderland scenery. I’m going to keep this as a winter-themed travel story, so if you’re looking for more of a tropical getaway, let me direct you to here!

Tromsø, Norway

Tromsø, Norway is considered the "Arctic Capital”, and the best place to view the northern lights. Surrounded by impossibly beautiful nature, paper white snow, and a quaint little town, it’s the definition of a winter wonderland.

Salzburg, Austria

Let me say one thing: Austria KNOWS how to do Christmas. The markets, the mulled wine, the decorations… it’s truly a beautiful experience. You’ve got the alps in the backdrop and beautiful shops to browse around… what more do you need?

Banff, Canada

I’ve heard a lot of great things about Banff, Canada, for a while but I’ve never been. You can skii, enjoy a nice cabin, and see some incredible natural views in one go.

Val d’Isère, France

Right at the border of Italy and France lies this vacation destination called Val d’Isère. It’s a popular spot for skiers and snowboarders, mountain trekkers, and aprés-ski lovers. You can enjoy a nice cheese fondue while getting cooked in your outdoor hot tub at Chalet Pelerin.

Alaska, USA

Have you ever woken up, gotten on a sled, and allowed a pack of wolf-like dogs pull you into the sunrise? Me neither, but you could! In Alaska. Just make sure to pack TONS of warm clothes as this winter is not for the frail-boned.

St Moritz, Switzerland

St Moritz, known as one of the most luxurious (and therefore esspenssyy) destinations in the Alps, is one of those places I can only hope to visit one day. Everything that Switzerland is known for — great food, incredible scenery, and old-money luxury — accumulates here in St. Moritz.