Is your ideal winter getaway in a warm tropical location? Or would you prefer a winter wonderland where you create your own cozy atmosphere? I'll help you plan either; I'll help you plan both! Whether you want to escape the cold or embrace it, head to these convenient destinations (among many!) in the U.S. during snow season.
Escape to Palm Beach, Florida for a warm winter holiday. If the winter chill wears on you, retreat to the land of endless summer: South Florida. December through February, temps average in the mid to high 70s. The powder-sand coast provides a place to relax, savor a Gulf sunset, and snuggle up by a beachfront fire pit. Palm Beach is an excellent choice for a couples-only break. Whether you choose a driving, walking, or biking tour, your tour guide might deliver details and scandals behind the gilded walls of Palm Beach’s beautiful homes. Or enjoy a two-hour narrated yacht cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway complete with snacks and cocktails as you float by more mansions. Explore the boutiques, art galleries, along with all the elements of a great beach vacation: gracious hotels, great shopping, relaxing spa treatments, fun tours, fresh seafood, and more.
Although the town is Palm Beach County’s most recognized destination, known for its famous locals and luxury lifestyle, surrounding towns such as Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Jupiter are worth exploring, too. Where to stay: Boca Raton Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort (above). Book through this agency, and through our affiliation you'll have access to amenities you'll miss if you book it yourself; perfect accents for your vacation.
Now to cool things down a bit, by heading north for some urban exploration. Newport, Rhode Island's historic mansions are the perfect place for winter weekend getaways. Newport buzzes with activity during summer's high tourist season from Memorial Day through Labor Day. However, during the destination’s unsung prime time, winter, a festive vibe infuses the city’s historic inns, colonial neighborhoods, and Gilded Age mansions. From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, poinsettias, wreaths, and Christmas trees festoon the famous summer “cottages” of the Vanderbilts and other wealthy families. When attention shifts to New Year’s resolutions, Newport hosts a mid-January Wellness Week with spa treatments, fitness classes, and healthy-eating workshops. In February, attend the Newport Winter Festival for a chili cook-off, concerts, and ice sculpting. Where to stay? There’s nothing more intimate than the 20-room The Chanler at Cliff Walk’s period suites, outfitted with in-room Jacuzzis.
Bonus: A Ski Retreat in Avon, Colorado For purists in search of a traditional winter getaway, The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch delivers. This 202-room ski-in, ski-out lodge sits on more than 1,800 acres of Beaver Creek Mountain terrain. Take advantage of the ski and snowboard school, as well as other handy services such as ski concierges and a ski-nanny program. For a change of pace, frosty fun also takes the shape of snowshoeing outings with the resort’s canine ambassador, Bachelor. Warm up afterward with a glass of Champagne next to a fireside bar. Or, the pinnacle of hygge: ride a horse-drawn sleigh to a turn-of-the-century log cabin to dine on bison chili and Colorado trout next to a wood-burning fire.
Arrival between now and January 2 (you'd better hurry!) lets you catch what' left of the resort’s 16 Days of Holiday Wonder. Highlights include holiday decor, a tree lighting, crafts, cookies, letters to Santa, and a New Year’s Eve party (my reason for bringing this up!).
'til next week.
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Contact: GLOBAL EXOTIC ADVENTURES - Juliet Weller, Founder