Winter vacations offer so many choices: do you say "bring it on", and do a snow holiday? Or escape the season, and head to sun and sea? Or maybe take advantage of Arizona's best weather months? See these and more, below...
1. Ideas for January and February
photo © Teresa Plowright
Winter carnivals, Chinese New Year, Black History Month, NYC, London at bargain rates...
2. Winter Festivals and Carnivals
Photo of Winter Wonderfest, courtesy of About.com's Guide for Chicago for Visitors.
In cold climates, winter festivals are a wonderful way to liven up the long months after the holiday season. Lots of towns and ski resorts have a winter bash, perhaps with snow-sculpting or ice-sculpting championships. Quebec City has a major Winter Carnival, and it's a true "Carnival", like the one in Rio: a celebration before the somber time of Lent begins (in the Catholic religious year).
3. Ski Resort Choices for Families - In Six Regions
photo © Teresa Plowright
Winter vacations in the snow are truly winter vacations, where you revel in the snow and the fun it gives. These days, even non skiers or 'boarders can have fun in the snow: snow-shoeing, for instance, or tubing, or trying the spa. Also, all resorts offer lessons for any age; it's never too late to learn to ski. All resorts offer kids programs; many have teen programs and nurseries too.
4. Dog-Sledding
photo © Teresa Plowright
A very fun type of outing. You can find dog-sledding opportunities these days in many snow vacation areas.
5. Dude Ranches
photo © Teresa Plowright
The winter months are prime-time for dude ranches (which generally close during the heat of summer-time.) Rancho de los Caballeros is an authentic "ranch resort" where guests can ride horses twice a day; golf, spa, and kids program, too.
6. New York Winter Vacations
Photo courtesy of Rocking Horse Ranch.
Ski resorts in the Catskills and Adirondacks; Rocking Horse Ranch - 500 acres with snow tubing, ice-skating, sleigh rides, skiing; Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Water Park...
7. More Winter Vacation Ideas by Region: Northeast US
photo courtesy of Smugglers Notch.
Great choices include family ranches and inns that are open year-round, with many outdoors activities; Smugglers' Notch family resort, known for skiing; resorts with indoor water parks.
8. Hawaii
photo courtesy of the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel.
Don't expect to find the all-inclusives of the Caribbean; instead, set your sights on: luxury resorts with special programs and features for kids; a good-value resort with creative kids' programs; Waikiki (-busy, yes, but lots of fun) ; or go the condo-rental route so popular with families.
9. Top Things To Do in Arizona
Monument Valley Tribal Park, left, is just one of so many places in Arizona with stupendous scenery (- including the Grand Canyon, of course.) Families can also explore Navajo culture, go rafting in canyons, try houseboating, dude ranches, Grand Canyon tourist railroad...
10. Mexico Winter Vacations
photo © Teresa Plowright
All-inclusive resorts are a popular choice for family getaways in Mexico, in several hotspots: tourist powerhouse Cancun; Mayan Riviera, south of Cancun, and offering many interesting outings, from Mayan ruins to a huge coral reef; Los Cabos; Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, on the west coast.
