Best Small Towns For Winter Vacationing

If you want to experience a magical, snow-covered holiday season, you won’t want to miss out on one of these amazing winter destinations! From charming holiday retreats to Christmas towns, you’ll find the perfect destination on this list of the best towns for a winter vacation!

Leavenworth, Washington

Nestles in the Cascade Mountains, this Bavarian-style town embodies Christmas like no other. Walk the snow-dusted streets lined with beautiful timber-framed buildings. Stop by the Nutcracker Museum to over 6,000 crackers, some dating to ancient Rome! Tour the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm to feed and pet these majestic creatures. This town is home to charming, authentic artisan-owned shops where you’ll find some unique and wonderful gifts! You’ll also find a plethora of wonderful restaurants, microbreweries, and bed & breakfasts to choose from.

Ashland, Wisconsin

This sleepy town of 8,000 sits in the southern area of Lake Superior. Here you’ll have access to any and all manner of outdoor winter activities, from snowmobiling to cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and more. You’ll find plenty to keep the family active and busy! Nearby, you’ll find the Copper Falls State Park with some of the most beautiful frozen waterfalls, or you can head over to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore to explore the majestic ice caves.

Dahlonega, Georgia

Dahlonega is the embodiment of every Hallmark Classic Christmas movie. The town celebrates Christmas from November 29 through the New Year! You’ll hear carolers each evening, find Santa set up at the Visitors Center Plaza, and see stunning light displays on every street. Plan your visit around Christmas Parade days and stop by the mistletoe bazaar for some prime holiday shopping. Don’t miss out on the carriage rides and ugly sweater-themed wine tours!

Ogunquit, Maine

Bundle up before heading to Ogunquit! Spend your winter vacation enjoying the Christmas by the Sea festival! Take in the choir concerts, gallery tours, ornament-making workshops, and many other holiday events. You won’t want to miss the Ogunquit Ocean Rescue Polar Plunge event, where local first responders take a plunge into the freezing waters of Ogunquit Beach. This fund-raising event benefits Toys for Tots, so pitch in some money for the cause!

Saranac Lake, New York

Nestles in the Adirondacks, just 90 minutes from the Canadian border, you’ll find this tiny town and home of the Winter Carnival. This ten-day winter extravaganza focuses on winter sports, from artic golf to snowshoe softball and many more! Visit the Ice Palace, an actual life-sized castle carved from ice! Check out one of the three fireworks shows, one of the parades, and take a ride on the Adirondack Carousel.

Make your reservations early, or you’ll miss out on that magical, white Christmas!