6 Cozy Winter Getaways in the USA
Some winter trips are about adrenaline. This isn’t that list. These are the places you go to sit by a fire with a hot drink, walk through a small town under fresh snow, and not check your email.
In this guide
Six getaways across the country, all of which do winter well, whether you ski or not. A couple of them are best in December for the holidays, the rest are good all season.
1. Stowe, Vermont
The classic New England winter village: a white church steeple, a main street of old clapboard buildings, and Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont, looming over it all.
Skiing at Stowe Mountain Resort is excellent, but you don’t need to ski to enjoy it. Go snowshoeing on the Stowe Recreation Path, take a sleigh ride at the Trapp Family Lodge (yes, that von Trapp family), and then sit in a pub with a Vermont craft beer. The Alchemist brewery is in town, and its Heady Topper is worth the hype.
2. Leavenworth, Washington
In the 1960s, a struggling logging town in the Cascade Mountains made a bold decision: it rebuilt itself as a Bavarian village. Painted facades, beer halls, wooden balconies, the lot. It’s a little kitsch and completely charming.
In December, the Christmas Lighting turns the whole town into a giant lit-up Christmas card. It’s the most popular time to visit, so book well ahead, or come in January for the snow without the crowds. About two and a half hours from Seattle, over Stevens Pass.
3. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe sits at about 7,000 feet, which means it gets real winters, with snow on adobe walls and the smell of pinon smoke from chimneys everywhere. It’s one of the most atmospheric places in the country in December.
On Christmas Eve, the Canyon Road Farolito Walk is the highlight. Thousands of paper-bag lanterns, called farolitos, line the walls and rooftops of the art galleries, and small bonfires keep everyone warm as they wander with a cup of cider. Ski Santa Fe is only half an hour up the mountain if you want to ski too.
4. Breckenridge, Colorado
Unlike plenty of ski resorts, Breckenridge was a real town before it was a resort. It was founded in 1859 during the gold rush, and Main Street still has a long row of Victorian buildings, many of them painted in bright colours.
Ski the mountain, or don’t. Ride the free gondola from town just for the views, go dog sledding in the hills, and wander the shops in the evening when the lights come on. FYI, Breck sits at nearly 10,000 feet, so take it easy on your first day and drink a lot of water. The altitude catches people out.
5. Jackson, Wyoming
Jackson is the town at the bottom of Jackson Hole valley, with the Tetons on the skyline. In winter it’s a real cowboy town under snow, with boardwalk sidewalks and the famous arches of elk antlers on all four corners of the Town Square.
The best thing to do here isn’t the skiing, though that’s world class. It’s the sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge, where thousands of elk spend the winter right outside town. You’ll be close enough to hear them. Afterwards, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar has saddles instead of bar stools, which is exactly as silly as it sounds.
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6. Galena, Illinois
The underdog of this list. Galena is a little 19th-century town in the hills of northwest Illinois, about three hours from Chicago, and most of it looks the same as it did in the 1850s.
Main Street is a curving row of red brick buildings full of wine shops, candy stores and cafes. Ulysses S. Grant lived here, and you can visit his house. In winter the town is quiet and pretty, the B&Bs are cozy and cheap, and there’s a small ski hill nearby at Chestnut Mountain.
It’s also the easiest trip on this list. No altitude, no mountain passes, no lift tickets. Drive out from Chicago on a Friday afternoon, check into a B&B with a fireplace, and spend Saturday walking Main Street and the river bluffs. The Mississippi is a few miles away, and on a clear cold day the views from the hills across into Iowa and Wisconsin are lovely.
Which one should you pick?
If you want snow and a proper village, Stowe. If it’s the holidays and you want lights, Leavenworth in December or Santa Fe on Christmas Eve, and those two are the most festive places on this list by a long way.
If you ski, Breckenridge or Jackson, though be ready for ski-season prices in both. And if you want something simple, affordable and a short drive from a big city, Galena is the honest answer. It won’t wow anyone on Instagram the way Jackson does. It will give you a very relaxing weekend.
Most of these work for two or three nights. Jackson is the exception: getting there takes effort, so give it four nights and add a day trip into Grand Teton National Park, where the snowy road to the park’s edge is open for wildlife viewing even in winter.
How to plan a winter getaway
Book holiday dates early. Leavenworth in December and Santa Fe at Christmas fill up months ahead.
Mountain roads can close during storms. Rent a car with four-wheel drive or carry chains, and build an extra day into your trip in case you get snowed in. It happens, and if you’re in a cozy town it’s not the worst thing.
Pack proper winter gear: a warm coat, waterproof boots, gloves and a hat. Even if you’re mostly by the fire, you’ll want to get outside.
Common questions
What’s the coziest winter town in the US?
Stowe and Leavenworth are the classic picks. Galena is the underrated one.
Do I need to ski to enjoy these places?
No. Every town on this list has plenty to do off the slopes.
When is the best time for a winter getaway?
December for holiday atmosphere, January and February for the most reliable snow and lower prices.
Which is easiest to reach without driving in snow?
Santa Fe, which has its own small airport, and Galena, which sits in rolling hills rather than the mountains.
Are these places expensive in winter?
Breckenridge and Jackson are pricey in ski season. Galena and Santa Fe are much more affordable.
