Winter Getaways

Whether you want to embrace the season in cozy style or to escape its chill, these seven spots know how to do winter right.

BY CORINNE WHITING

Walk the beautiful beaches of Maui or the snowy trails of Leavenworth.

EMBRACE IT

LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON

Nestled in the Cascade Mountains in central Washington, Leavenworth brings a taste of Europe to the Pacific Northwest. This outdoor adventure hub, located two and a half hours east of Seattle, is known for its alpine architecture and German-inspired touches (think lively beer gardens and schnitzel-centric feasts). Turns out, it’s also an enchanting place to celebrate all things wintry, thanks to the Christmas Lighting Festival that illuminates the village most weekends in the month of December.

Holiday cheer comes in the form of musical performances from handbell ringers to Christmas carolers, visits from St. Nicholas, and a parade of costumed holiday characters from the Festhalle to the Front Street Gazebo. On Sundays, kids follow the Cookie Crawl map to score free sweets; all festival long, adults savor the tastes of roasted chestnuts and other snacks paired with warm spiced wine (served in the traditional glühwein tent). The village truly sparkles during afternoon lighting ceremonies on Saturdays and Sundays.

Leavenworth remains festively illuminated through Valentine’s weekend, with more than half a million twinkly lights decking the town. And every year on the weekend preceding Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Bavarian Icefest livens things up with ice carving demos, snowmobile sled pulls, ice fishing sessions, snowball tosses, the Stevens Pass playground, and more frosty fun, all topped off by a fireworks show. On January 25 and 26, the Timbrrr! Music Festival combines wintertime cheer with a weekend of sensational music. And, of course, this dreamy winter destination features any snow sport you can imagine, from sleigh and dogsled riding to tubing, snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing—perhaps rewarded with a cozy cocoa or hot toddy enjoyed by a roaring fire.

LOVE IT?

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DURANGO, COLORADO

The mountains are calling! In the largest town in southwest Colorado, Durango’s 18,000 residents relish their proximity to exquisite nature—set 6,512 feet above sea level in a region called the Four Corners, where the borders of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico meet. Adventurous visitors enjoy dogsled rides through the rugged San Juan Mountains, exploring the 1,700 skiable acres of Purgatory Mountain, and cruising across Mesa Verde National Park atop snowshoes or cross-country skis. (They love the sweet reward of dunking in natural hot springs afterward, too.)

Beginning in mid-November, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway brings to life beloved book The Polar Express with daily journeys to the “North Pole.” The round-trip voyage includes live readings of the book, so you can listen along to the story of a child’s Christmas Eve adventure as you savor your own magical experience with hot cocoa and other treats while the train chugs ahead to collect Santa. Once onboard, the jolly superstar visits each car, and chefs lead a caroling singalong during the return to Durango.

Later in the season, grown ups get a celebration of their own when the rambunctious (and sometimes risqué) Snowdown festival makes the most of Durango’s long, dark nights. For 40-plus years, the community has lifted any winter doldrums with this citywide extravaganza that includes more than 100 festivities. Mingle with friendly locals at events like the annual Parade of Lights down historic Main Avenue, cheeky adults-only fashion shows, winter sports competitions, irreverent Snowdown Follies performances, and entertaining beer dunks.

MCCALL, IDAHO

On the western edge of Valley County, situated two hours north of Boise, the resort town of McCall features smalltown charm and welcoming vibes. The former logging community, located on the southern shore of Payette Lake and near the center of the Payette National Forest, has evolved into an ideal winter destination for outdoor recreation, especially since it boasts one of the highest average snowfalls in the state.

Cozy up in a cabin for some holiday-time rejuvenation, or check out the region’s endless skiing options, like the popular slopes of Brundage Mountain Resort. To warm up and loosen any tight muscles, indulge in a backcountry soak at soothing spots such as Trail Creek Hot Springs, Gold Fork Hot Springs, and Burgdorf Hot Springs (accessible only by snowmobile during the winter months).

The community celebrates the snowkissed season during the annual McCall Winter Carnival. Inspired by the Payette Lake Winter Games, first held in 1924 when a train from Boise brought 248 visitors to McCall, the Carnival has evolved into an iconic Idaho gathering featuring live music, comedy shows, art auctions, snow sculptures, parades, snow bike races, and the Monster Dog Pull, where canine athletes race a short track pulling weighted sleds to see who’s top dog. Throughout the fest, vendors offer everything from food to artisan crafts, while skiers and boarders get their fix on nearby trails.

ESCAPE IT

MAUI, HAWAI‘I

Sink into island time beneath the swaying palms of Maui—the second largest Hawai‘ian island is loved for its stunning beaches, sacred Iao Valley, and awe-inspiring views of migrating kohola (humpback whales). From December through May, thousands of whales travel here from colder waters to breed, calve, and nurse their young. Although December is typically the island’s wettest month, you’ll still enjoy some of the nicest Christmas Day weather to be found within the United States. (If you’re lucky, you may even glimpse a dusting of light snow at the summit of Haleakalā.)

Marvel at Lahaina’s giant banyan tree, illuminated throughout the season; tuck into delicious local fare at a festive luau; or experience the strolling carolers and hula dancers of Whalers Village. The Maui Arts and Cultural Center and historic Iao Theater (a Spanish Mission-style venue in Wailuku) present seasonal shows that blend holiday classics with local culture, while Maui Ocean Center revs up for its annual 12 Days of Fishmas extravaganza with underwater appearances by Scuba Claus, hula lessons, and other family-friendly activities. You can also watch Santa arrive in Hawaiian style—via outrigger canoe, of course—at spots like Polo and Ka‘anapali beaches.

LOVE IT?

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Feel the mesmerizing pull of the desert heat and the bright lights of Las Vegas. All year long this hub of entertainment and decadence draws revelers to its pools, casinos, theaters, and clubs, but it’s also an alluring place to celebrate the holidays in glitzy alternative style. It’s no surprise that this town goes big for the season, with venues along the Strip outdoing one another with dazzling adornment. Stages around town add Christmas-themed shows to their roster, and Cirque du Soleil productions reflect the hypnotic pull of the season.

Get into the spirit at another local strip: Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. You can take your own car on this drive-through light show, or let someone else do the navigating as you coast the track on the open-air Santa Tram. The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens mounts an impressive holiday display that fills the casino lobby with thousands of flowers, a towering tree, and supersized decorations. Take the whole family to experience Holiday at The Park; think live entertainment and festive decorations set up in the space by the T-Mobile Arena and New York-New York Hotel & Casino, adjacent to the Park MGM. When the clock strikes midnight, ring in the New Year with 300,000 of your closest friends. The Strip shuts down to traffic and throws a party like nothing you have seen before, creating New Year’s Eve memories to last a lifetime.

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

In any season, Santa Barbara lures visitors to California’s stunning central coast, where the Santa Ynez Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop. Downtown, white stucco buildings with red-tile roofs beautifully reflect the destination’s Spanish colonial heritage. Avoid the hustle of the holidays by settling into upscale yet laidback venues that showcase the region’s bounty of delicious wines and fresh, seasonal fare.

Surfers love coming here in winter months to avoid crowds, as they take full advantage of large swells (with a strong westerly direction) that arrive between November and March. It’s recommended that newbies first test the waters at Ledbetter or Santa Claus Beach; more advanced surfers ride the waves of the famous Rincon in Carpinteria. To immerse yourself even further in the area’s natural beauty, plan an excursion to the majestic Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary—often referred to as the Galapagos of North America.

This is also prime time for experiencing whalewatching wonder; during the winter months, Santa Barbara’s coastal waters provide passage for humpback, blue, gray, and killer whales. Nature enthusiasts also delight in the magic of monarch butterfly season. From mid-November to mid-February, head to The Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove to view hundreds of thousands of the bright orange beauties flittering about their natural habitat. Plus, the trails at nearby Ellwood Mesa offer the chance for a gentle oceanside hike.

LOVE IT?

The Palm Springs area is the perfect escape, whatever the season.

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PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

At the foot of the sprawling San Jacinto Mountains, sun-soaked Palm Springs invites guests to sink into its soothing desert rhythms. Part desert playground, part rejuvenating oasis, Greater Palm Springs brightens the season with Santa sightings, concerts, parades, and Christmas tree lightings (for which no bundling up is required).

Throughout December, Wildlights brings holiday-time animal encounters, more than a million twinkling lights, and meetups with Santa at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. The Temple Sinai of Palm Desert invites the public to celebrate Hanukkah during its Festival of Lights (think latkes, cocoa, crafts, and singing). And in this town of make-believe, you’re invited to stretch your imagination as you take in simulated nighttime snowfalls at The Gardens on El Paseo shopping and dining complex or while strolling North Pole Village at the City of Cathedral City Civic Center.

Get in the spirit at performances around town, including “Sounds of the Season,” presented by Palm Canyon Theatre, and “Colors of Christmas,” a holiday tradition at McCallum Theatre. This year’s production stars Peabo Bryson with a new lineup of stars that pull off an inspiring evening of holiday music and classics, all backed by a 12-piece band. On the other hand, if you’ve landed in Palm Springs with the intention of simply finding time to unwind, sink back into your poolside chaise with a cocktail in hand and think of all you are grateful for this holiday season.