1Best Winter Escapes in the USA

Looking to get out of the house but can’t afford anything too exotic?  If you’re looking to experience a new American wonderland to explore, then fret no more, dear reader.  Here you’ll find a seasonal trip for any kind of winter wanderer.  Here are the best winter escapes in the USA.

1.  Ride a train ride through Alaska

image courtesy of alaska.org

The popular Alaska Railroad runs from Anchorage to Fairbanks all year.  Hop aboard the warm Aurora Winter Train and see the wild moose and clear blue skies through the train’s large windows.  Stop in Fairbanks and visit the Aurora Ice Museum.

This is reportedly the largest year-round ice environment on the planet.  It was made with over 1,000 tons of snow.  Put on your free parka and have a drink at the bar.  Spend the night under the glow of the aurora borealis at the Winterlake Lodge.

2Road-trip down Oregon’s scenic coast

The 363-mile scenic stretch of Oregon coastline is one of the state’s “Seven Wonders.”  This scenic trip will take you from Astoria to Brookings and all the quirky coastal communities in between.

See sea lions at popular Shore Acres State Park, watch the jellyfish dance at the awesome Oregon Coast Aquarium, and don’t miss the nine-miles of coastline in incredible Ecola State Park which comes complete with massive coastal mountains, and the now famous Indian Beach which was the location of legendary La Push Beach from the torrid Twilight movies.

3Visit San Antonio River Walk and see the show in Texas

Come the close of November, millions of lights light up the famous San Antonio River Walk.  From November 30th through December 18th riverboats gather to fill the air with merry music from Latino ensembles, folk groups, and bell choirs.

Here you can explore the 18th century San Antonio Missions, browse boutiques, and cozy cafes on the lovely cypress-lined River Walk.  Be sure to sample the local Tex-Mex cuisine too.

Enjoy a plentiful plate at popular Cured, on splurge a little on a complete 10-course meal at Mixtli Mexican Culinaria.

4Visit Washington, D.C.

This is the U.S. Capitol, and it’s a great place to get closer to political history.  Visit the monument-punctuated National Mall.  See the White House and the Lincoln Monument.

Visit the National Museum of American History, and the largest of all the famous Smithsonian institutions and the planet’s largest collection of memorabilia from famous aviation history, the National Air and Space Museum.  Dine at the PINEA.  Spend the night at the impressive W Hotel Washington D.C.  Have a nightcap at the POV rooftop lounge which overlooks the Washington Monument.

5Attend the Sundance Film Festival and stargaze in  Utah

Park City is the place to be every January.  That’s when numerous directors, filmmakers, and assorted Hollywood hotshots attend the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival.  This is the biggest independent film festival in the entire country.

If you can’t get front and center seats at this event, no worries.  Park City is great for stargazing.  You’re bound to spot a celeb or three in the eclectic galleries, quaint boutiques, and boisterous bars along historic Main Street.  Be sure to visit Deer Valley Ski Resort too.

6Soak in New Mexico’s soothing natural hot springs

Veteran visitors often call New Mexico an oasis of outdoor adventure.  The state has five national forests, 17 national monuments and parks, and over 300 days of sunshine annually.  Once you’ve explored these places, be sure to relax and soothe your muscles in the geothermal mineral springs there.

50 miles south out of Santa Fe,  you will find the rejuvenating Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa.  It’s surrounded by a verdant river valley, high desert mesas, and miles of hiking trails too.  Don’t miss Taos Pueblo either!

7Go whale-watching on the island of Hawai

i

Between the months of December and May, the majestic humpback whales migrate to the islands of Hawaii.  It’s here that they breed and then nurse their children in the shallow, warm water.  You can escape the winter cold and have a sunny getaway during the peak season from January 1 through the end of March.

Experts say that one of the best places on the planet for whale-watching is in the Auau Channel between Lanai, Molokai, West Maui.  You can book a cruise at most of the state’s harbors.

8Learn about the Navajo Nation

The indigenous Navajo Nation spans 27,000 square miles into Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.  The Anasazi people’s legacy can be found in museums, national monuments, and tribal parks.  Visit the rugged canyons of the Navajo National Monument.

It is here you will see the prehistoric sandstone villages carved into the very alcoves and carefully marked with rock art.  Travel southeast to the well-known Canyon de Chelly National Monument.  The Indigenous ruins there date from 2500 B.C.  Don’t miss the Navajo Interactive Museum and the Hubbell Trading Post either.

9Celebrate New Year’s Day with the mummers in Philadelphia, PA

Take to the streets of Philadelphia and party with the colorfully-clad mummers on On New Year’s Day.  Experience the revelrous annual Mummers Parade.  (For those not in the know, “mummer” is a French-derived word which means masking, miming, and folk play.)  Those in the know say this event is “the oldest continuous folk parade” in the US.  From Broad Street to JFK Boulevard thousands of celebrators line the streets to observe this unique explosion of color, dance, and music.

10See the winter wildlife in Yellowstone National Park

Founded in 1872, Yellowstone National Park’s frosty landscape is home to a surprising amount of winter wildlife.  There amidst the crowd-free dramatic landscape of colorful mineral pools, plunging canyons, dense evergreens, and steaming geysers, you can easily spot bison, coyotes, and elk.  Learn how the elusive gray wolf was reintroduced here and be sure to explore the quiet iconic winter vistas.  Be sure to see Old Faithful, one of the park’s most famous attractions too while you’re there as well.  (It can be a bit busy in the summer!)