Best Winter Vacations Inside and Outside of the United States

Everybody seems to take vacations in the summer, but why not go in the winter? Rates for beach vacations are usually cheaper during the winter months. Plus, if you live in cold snowy climate there are plenty of warm places to escape to and if you live in a warm climate and want to experience a winter wonderland there are many places to go. Also, beaches, resorts, and places like Disney World are a lot less crowded during the winter months. So, why not save money, avoid crowds, and experience completely opposite weather? Not sure where to go?

Inside the U.S.

Hawaii: You will still be in the United States, but it will feel like you're in a different world.

Las Vegas: Sin city! Warm desert weather, and enough casinos, restaurants and shows to see to last you a lifetime.

Colorado: Who hasn't heard of Aspen? Colorado is great for skiing and snowboarding.

Maine: Another great place for skiing, enjoying snow, and enjoying the wildlife and scenery.

Florida, Miami, Orlando, Florida Keys: There are so many good choices.
Plus, you can go to Disney World with the kids.

California: There are endless possibilities of things to do in California.

Vermont: Yet another amazing place for a ski trip.

Alaska: You can see the Northern Lights and go dog sledding.

Outside the U.S.

Caribbean: There are different Caribbean islands you can choose from or you can take a cruise to this beautiful destination.

Brazil: Be surrounded by an exciting culture and enjoy the sun.

Australia: Go down under, you can shop, surf, and don't have to speak a completely different language. Plus, who doesn't want to see kangaroos and koalas.

Canada: More specifically Mout Tremblant, the perfect place for skiing and snowboarding.

Sweden: If you want a vacation that surpasses all vacations you've ever had, a vacation that you can brag about for years, go to Sweden and stay in the Ice Hotel. It is built every year out of snow and ice. So many people put a lot of time into building it and it is something you have to see to believe.
Mexico. It's warm and fun, need any other reasons to go?

Winter Family Vacation Ideas

A couple specific places to go during the winter for a family vacation are Great Wolf Lodge or Walt Disney World. Great Wolf Lodge has a dozen locations so you might not even have to travel far from home depending on where you live. The indoor water park resorts are in Niagara Falls, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, Washington, Kansas, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Virginia.

If you live in a state that gets a lot of snow during the winter and you need a break from it, take a trip to Florida. It will be warm and Disney World is less packed in the winter. Plus, you can go to a beach while in the Sunshine State.

Another great winter family vacation idea is to go on a cruise. You can go on a Caribbean cruise. Winter isn't hurricane weather and the water tends to be a little more calm. You won't have to worry about bad weather, you can sail into a warm beautiful location. Cruises usually offer all kinds of fun things for family members of all ages.

If you want to see more snow during a winter vacation you can do that too. If you have older children or teenagers they would probably love to go snowboarding or skiing. There are so many states that have great resorts for doing so. Colorado, Vermont, Maine and so many more. These states have amazing scenery and you may even be able to do things like go dog sledding.

Wherever you decide to go this winter, you will probably have a lot of fun. Winter vacations are sometimes cheaper than vacationing in the summer. Ski resorts probably won't be because the winter is their money-making season, but warm weather resorts should have lower rates. If you take a winter vacation over your kids' winter break from school, they won't even get behind on any schoolwork.

Cheap Ski Deals Make Winter Less Tedious

There is nothing more exhilarating than getting out in the fresh, crisp winter air and skiing or snowboarding your cares away, at least for a while. Unfortunately, at full price, skiing is not inexpensive. Add in the cost of transportation to your favorite spots and lodging and food, and you can spend a lot of money. Searching for cheap ski deals really makes sense, and there are some good ways to save if your time frame is flexible and you are willing to search.

If you plan on frequenting your favorite nearby mountain all winter, it certainly pays to consider a season pass. While the initial price tag will seem high, repeated usage can make it one of the cheap ski deals in your area. Of course, this assumes that you will actually get out there on the slopes as much as you hope you can. Every mountain offers its own cheap skiing. There may be a mid-week day that offers two tickets for one price, or a discounted lift ticket day each week. Prices will also be down during off season rates, which means early and late season, but expect them to rise on peak times, usually around vacation times. At least one Vermont resort hosts a mid-week day in which Vermonters can ski at a discounted price.

Since transportation can be a hindrance for skiers, many resorts include ski deals that discount either your airfare tickets or your lodging package if you book enough people for enough nights. For example, in Colorado, one resort offers one free airline ticket for every two purchased as long as you book lodgings for three or more skiers. Combining lift tickets and lodgings as a package deal can also make for cheap ski deals, but you need to be careful about black-out dates when deals are not applicable. At Jackson Hole, you can ski free when you book a room.

Most ski resorts try to cater to all demographics. Some, like Squaw Valley let children under twelve ski or snowboard for $10.00. College students can ski Monday-Thursday for $49.00. There are often cheap ski deals for military service people, disabled, and senior citizens. Of course, if you are able to get to Europe, you can take advantage of last minute ski deals being offered by various resorts. Winter seems much less tedious when you have a sport to enjoy during those snowy months. Skiing offers fresh air, exercise, and as much excitement as you desire. Finding cheap skiing is definitely worth the time and effort to make your favorite winter past time affordable.

Top 10 Winter Getaways

Summer is typically the season that everyone thinks of when planning their vacations. But why not dare to be different and take a winter vacation getaway instead? If you are a skier, snowboarder, or just someone who enjoys the winter months, a winter vacation may be just what you have been looking for. There are plenty of spots around the world that make spectacular winter getaways.

Hershey. If you are traveling before or during the Christmas season, consider Hershey, Pennsylvania as your vacation destination. The home of Hershey's candy, Hershey Park becomes home to Christmas Candyland, where over one million Christmas lights are put on display. Christmas Candyland typically runs for a month prior to Christmas.

Sweden. Located in the small riverside village of Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, Sweden's Ice Hotel is famous worldwide for great winter vacations. The hotel is created each winter out of 10,000 tons of ice from the nearby river and 30,000 tons of snow. The hotel features the famous Absolut Ice Bar, a winter favorite for the 21+ crowd.

Yellowstone. During the winter the Yellowstone National Park, a popular summer destination in the United States, offers Lodging and Learning programs where guests of all ages can stay at Yellowstone and participate in educational lessons during the winter. These programs offer a great way for visitors of all ages to learn about the beautiful and fascinating Yellowstone Park.

Wisconsin Dells. This small Wisconsin town offers a great winter vacation at the Great Wolf Lodge, home of huge indoor water parks. Great Wolf Lodge is a popular destination for families. Visitors of Wisconsin Dells get the best of both worlds with summertime perpetually recreated indoors and snow falling outdoors. Wisconsin Dells is located near both Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin.

New England. One of the most historical areas in the United States, New England is where the country was founded. In addition to the number of historical sites throughout the six states that make up the region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont), you will also find plenty to do in the winter months. Maine offers one of the nicest ski resorts in the country in Sugarloaf USA, or you can try the beautiful White Mountain area of New Hampshire where you will find a plethora of ski resorts and the historical Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern United States.

Orlando. If skiing is not really your thing and you are looking to get away from the snow for a few weeks then travel to Florida, one of the most frequented states in the US by vacationers each year. Walt Disney World offers discounted rates during specific periods of the winter months, considered the theme park's off-season. Not only will the parks and restaurants be less crowded than during summer or a school vacation week, but you will be able to enjoy the beautiful Florida weather during your stay.

Caribbean. Why not take a cruise during the winter months? Like Florida, a Caribbean cruise offers a change of pace from the snowy, cold winter months that you may be used to. Winter is typically a perfect time for a cruise because the weather in the Caribbean has calmed down. Summer is hurricane season, spelling trouble for cruises but winter is perfect for calm seas and a relaxing cruise.

Mont Tremblant. Located in the spectacular Laurentian Mountains of the Canadian province of Quebec, Mont Tremblant offers its visitors over 600 acres of land for skiing and snowboarding. Perhaps the best choice if you are looking to take to the slopes, keep in mind that the US dollar is worth more in Canada and can go further than it would on a vacation in the United States.

Alaska. If you are traveling with children, Alaska may be the perfect vacation choice for you. Offering everything from dog sledding, one of Alaska's most popular sports, to viewing the Northern lights, Alaska is one of the best winter vacation destinations. Although it is notorious for its cold, wintry weather, Alaska also holds a number of entertainment options that are likely to keep the whole family busy.

Lake Tahoe. For decades Lake Tahoe has been one of the top winter vacation destinations in the world. Located on the border of Nevada and California just west of Carson City, Nevada, you will find that Lake Tahoe has plenty of activities for everyone in the family. Lake Tahoe averages 360 inches of snow each year, making for a winter wonderland of fun on your winter vacation. There are a number of high quality resorts around picturesque Lake Tahoe and the Rocky Mountains make a fabulous backdrop for the perfect getaway.

This Winter You Should Consider A Vermont Ski Vacation

Every winter there are many people who like to travel to the ski resorts and ski the slopes. Mount Snow in Vermont is often referred to as one of the best ski resorts throughout the United States. If you are standing at the top of Mount Snow, you are 3600 feet above sea level and there is a 1700 feet vertical drop. The ski resort consists of 26 lifts total and over 135 trails. Each winter the resort is full of ski loving vacationers.

Many of them are families because the Resort has accommodations for all ages. There are designated areas for kids and childcare is also available. The children can learn to ski too because there are instructors on duty for group or individual training. Lessons are also available for adults. There are also discounts for families. If they choose to go in the middle of the week there are special deals for the family. There are also discounts if you go in January. There are Kids Ski & Learn Free weeks in January. This is one of their most popular deals for the family.

There are many winter activities at Mount Snow. Some of these are skiing, snow boarding, snowmobiling, tubing, snowshoeing, and even sleigh rides. There is a ski shop with all of the ski or other supplies you might need. There are restaurants, and bars for entertainment and fine dining. You can call for reservations and have an enjoyable vacation for the whole family. There are many vacation packages to choose from and there is one to fit your family's needs. Even if you go alone, you are guaranteed to have fun. There are so many things to do; the time will fly by before you know it. You will definitely want to return sometime. The customer service is very good. The staff at the resort wants to make sure everyone has an enjoyable time and they will help you any way they can.

There is a Grand Summit Hotel and Crown Club near the slopes, as well as a heated outdoor pool and other entertainment so there is never a dull minute while you are there. If it is fun and enjoyment you are looking for in the dead of winter, Mount Snow is the place for you. Relax, kick back and have an enjoyable vacation. It will be a memory for the whole family and not one they will soon forget. If you like cold weather and love to ski or just to get outdoors and enjoy the winter mountain air, you will want to consider Mount Snow for your next winter vacation. Do a little more research online and you can find out more about it. You will not regret the trip and you will want to return again and again.