Budget-Friendly Winter Getaways

These 12 destinations shine in the snowy season, with free outdoor activities, events and cozy places to stay that won’t break the bank

a man skiis down a mountain in santa fe new mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a winter paradise from about November through March, with an average of 32 inches of snow in town and up to 300 inches in its surrounding mountains.

Tourism Santa Fe

Kimberley Lovato,

AARP

En español

Published December 05, 2022

/ Updated November 13, 2024

The rising cost of taking a vacation continues to be a concern for travelers, and two recent reports from Expedia and Booking.com indicate that lesser-known destinations are gaining in popularity. An AARP survey concurred, hinting that going off-the-beaten path is a means to stretch travel dollars, with about one-third (29 percent) of those ages 50–59, 23 percent in their 60s, and 18 percent of adults 70-plus willing to do so. Going “off-piste” is a trend that’s estimated to continue into 2025, too.

With this in mind, we’ve plucked 12 of our favorite chilled-out (literally) domestic destinations that ratchet up hibernal merriment and deliver snow globe charm. While some people might prefer beach vacations when the mercury drops, we’re pretty sure you’ll enjoy the holiday glitter, icy outdoors, and seasonal community events these towns deliver, along with the warmth that comes from not freezing your funds. Note: Pricing is accurate at the time of publication.

Kirkwood Avenue is full of shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and performance venues.

Indiana Stock / Alamy Stock Photo

Bloomington, Indiana

Snowy rolling hills and ice-covered trees transform Bloomington into an urban winter wonderland, especially around downtown’s light-strung square and historic Monroe County Courthouse. Wander iconic Kirkwood Avenue, chock-full of shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and performance venues. Indiana University’s walkable, 1,900-acre campus is nearby, too, and home to one of B-town’s hidden gems: the world’s largest collection of mechanical puzzles — more than 35,000 of them — tucked inside IU’s Lilly Library.

Of course, no college town is complete without a good watering hole, and Crazy Horse is a local favorite thanks to cheap daily specials, including $3 house margaritas on Tuesdays and $3 mimosas and Bloody Marys on weekends. Get your live music fix at the famed Bluebird Nightclub, where artists rock out year-round and tickets run between $10 and $25.

If you prefer to immerse yourself in serene winter scenery, the Griffy Lake Nature Preserve has eight trails that are all less than 2 miles long. Ice sculpting, kids’ games and hot chili are in store for visitors to the free Freezefest, which takes place in downtown Bloomington from Jan. 23 to 25, 2025.

Stay: Showers Inn, within walking distance of Kirkwood Avenue, has 12 cozy rooms, some with fireplaces, plus free parking and daily breakfast. Rates start at around $119.

Be sure to check out skiing.

Jerry and Marcy Monkman/EcoPhotography.com / Alamy Stock Photo

Quechee and Woodstock, Vermont

Just 2½ hours from downtown Boston, these two historic villages, less than 8 miles apart, deliver double the opportunity to experience historic and picturesque New England charm. Stroll hand in hand along Woodstock’s Central Street, lined with clothing boutiques, art galleries and the Yankee Bookshop, where you can pick up a bestseller or browse the selection of vinyl records. On nearby Elm Street, family-owned F.H. Gillingham & Sons General Store has shelves full of locally made Vermont goodies, including cheddar cheese and maple syrup.

One of Vermont’s best-kept ski secrets is Ski Quechee, a forgiving family-friendly hill with full-day lift tickets for just $62 and half-day tickets (after noon) for $48 ($24 if you ski from 2-4 p.m. on Fridays to Sundays). Ten minutes from the village of Quechee is the Simon Pearce Factory Store, where visitors can watch glassblowing demonstrations or shop for finished goods and holiday decor at the flagship store in Quechee where there’s also a restaurant overlooking the Ottauquechee River. Before heading home, make sure to snap a photo of the area’s picturesque covered bridges.

Stay: The seven rooms at the adorable Village Inn of Woodstock are full of antiques, and a second-floor suite has an original woodburning fireplace. Best of all, a gourmet breakfast made with Vermont ingredients is included with the stay. Rates start at around $238.

a person skiis down a mountain in santa fe new mexico

There are ski slopes about 35 minutes from downtown.

Tourism Santa Fe

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Though the Southwest conjures images of scorching heat, Santa Fe, with its year-round sunshine and 7,198-foot elevation, is a winter paradise from about November through March, with an average of 32 inches of snow in town and up to 300 inches in the surrounding mountains. Skiing is a popular pursuit, since you can be schussing down the slopes just 35 minutes from downtown at family-friendly Ski Santa Fe, where weekday full-day lift tickets for older adults (ages 62 to 71) are just $76 ($16 for those 72-plus).

Take a wintry stroll along Canyon Road, a pedestrian-friendly stretch of former adobe homes that now house varied Santa Fe art galleries. Take a 2-hour Sense of Place Walking Tour of the nation’s oldest and highest capital city, offered daily at 10 a.m. for $30 per person. For a taste of some of Santa Fe’s stellar cuisine —and some dining-out deals — visit during Santa Fe Restaurant Week, usually held mid- to late-February.

Stay: Less than a mile from Santa Fe’s historic plaza, the 154-room Sage Hotel is a pet-friendly option, with complimentary amenities including a downtown shuttle, breakfast, guest laundry and Wi-Fi. Winter midweek rates start at around $85.

interior, The University of Michigan Museum of Art in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

The University of Michigan Museum of Art is a free museum on campus.

B.O'KANE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Ann Arbor, Michigan

The city of Ann Arbor, about 45 minutes west of downtown Detroit, is home to the University of Michigan, which means there is usually a lot going on — and not just on game day. There are several free museums on campus, including the University of Michigan Museum of Art, which houses a large collection of European, Chinese, Japanese, African and American art and hosts dozens of special exhibitions each year. Car buffs should motor 8 miles east to the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum, spotlighting Michigan’s auto-manufacturing history with displays of vintage vehicles ($5 admission).

Looking for some winter retail therapy? Ann Arbor’s downtown is made for walking, browsing and eating thanks to its abundance of independent theaters, shops, bars, breweries and restaurants (Main, State and Liberty streets are good places to start). Take a quick stroll through the Nickels Arcade, a covered mosaic-tiled shopping corridor listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and check out the calendar of events at Literati Bookstore and at the Michigan Theater, which hosts some free events.

At most downtown bars, you can count on daily food and drink discounts. If you’re in town on a Thursday, go to Good Time Charley’s for the $6 burger, fries and soft drink special. Locals don’t let a little cold weather stop them from enjoying the numerous surrounding parks all year long, and you shouldn’t either. Top among cross-country skiers and snowshoers is 439-acre Rolling Hills County Park, where the varied terrain and trails suit all levels. You can rent skis and tubes for $10 an hour.

Stay: In the heart of downtown (walkable to everything), the modern Exhibit A2 Boutique Hotel gives visitors a little more elbow room with nine apartment style suites featuring in-unit kitchens, laundry machines, and cozy seating areas. Starting at around $216.

Picturesque Decorah is a town of fewer than 8,000 people.

Kim Hanson / Alamy Stock Photo

Decorah, Iowa

In the northeast corner of the state in an area known as the Driftless (“a part of the country the glaciers missed,” according to Visit Decorah), this picturesque town of fewer than 8,000 people is just as beautiful in winter as it is in summer — though it requires a few more layers for an enjoyable stroll past the downtown district’s historic buildings on Main and Water streets that are home to restaurants, boutiques and bars. Decorah is also home to the country’s largest museum devoted to a single immigrant group, the Vesterheim National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, which holds more than 33,000 artifacts, folk art, tools and furnishings ($12 admission, $10 for 65-plus but free on the second Saturday of the month).

Winter sports lovers will appreciate Decorah’s proximity to classic track cross-country skiing on the Trout Run Trail, an 11-mile loop near downtown and along the Upper Iowa River. Don’t want to schlep your own gear? Head to Decorah Bicycles and rent a pair of cross-country skis ($15 for 24 hours) or ice skates ($10 for 24 hours), then walk to the basketball courts-turned-ice-rink at Carl Selland Wayside Park.

Cold craft brews are a year-round treat in Decorah, and Pulpit Rock Brewing Company has several on tap that are only $3 for a 4-ounce pour, making it easy to create your own flight. For some entertainment with your beer, head to Toppling Goliath Taproom on Tuesday nights between 6 and 7:30 p.m. for free games of bingo with prizes.

Stay: The historic Hotel Winneshiek has simple rooms and large suites perfect for families, and it’s within walking distance of shops, museums and galleries. Midweek rates start at around $139.

Bogart’s, a casual downtown eatery, draws a crowd for its signature margaritas.

Visit Montana

Red Lodge, Montana

Set against the Beartooths, Montana’s highest mountains, Red Lodge dishes out warm welcomes year-round, even during its snow-covered winters. Red Lodge Nordic has more than 9 miles of groomed classic and skate cross-country ski trails, with $10-per-day passes. You can rent equipment in town at Sylvan Peak Mountain Shop from $20 a day.

Kick off the holiday spirit at the annual Christmas Stroll on Dec. 6 and 7, when a children’s story time brings cheer to little ones at Beartooth Books, an evening parade cruises down Broadway, and downtown shops stay open late. If you’re craving margaritas in winter, head to Bogart’s, a casual downtown eatery that draws a crowd for its signature drinks, ranging from the traditional to such specialties as jalapeño mango and sangria.

For downhill skiers, Red Lodge Mountain, just 15 minutes from downtown, offers 70 runs, spread over 1,635 acres, and a flex lift ticket (a few blackout dates apply) for one day of skiing during the 2024-25 season start from $60. Advance purchase is required.

Stay: The locally owned Pollard Hotel ticks the boxes for a historic stay in a western town, with midweek rooms from around $166. There’s also an onsite restaurant and a gym.

Leavenworth WA, with lighting decoration in winter.

A half-million lights cast their glow on Leavenworth from Thanksgiving until Valentine’s Day.

NATTHAPHONG JANPUM / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Leavenworth, Washington

If you’re looking for a small town that cranks up the holiday cheer all season long, the Bavarian-themed village of Leavenworth, in the foothills of the Cascade Range, rises to the top of the list. With a half-million lights casting their glow from Thanksgiving until Valentine’s Day, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve fallen into a snow globe. January is a great time to visit, when Winter Karneval skates into town with ice-carving contests, musical entertainment, and German-style food and drink seven days a week.

The half-timbered buildings along Front and Commercial streets house shops and restaurants, such as Colchuck’s, a family-friendly spot for pretzels dipped in cheese sauce and bratwurst cooked to perfection. For beer lovers, Stein will feel like home, thanks to its 55 taps pouring rotating styles and comfort-food pub grub.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, more than 9,000 nutcrackers, some dating back centuries, are on display at the Nutcracker Museum ($5 admission; $3.50 for age 65 and up). The Leavenworth Winter Sports Club, minutes from downtown, has two groomed downhill slopes serviced by rope tows. Lift tickets are $31 per day, $24 for adults 70-plus. Leavenworth is full of beautiful cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails, too, and there are plenty of places to rent equipment in town.

Stay: In the heart of town, just steps from tasting rooms, shops and restaurants, the Leavenworth Village Inn has 11 comfortable rooms and eight suites with jetted bathtubs and gas fireplaces. Rates start at around $169.

ice castles lit up with bright colors at night as people tour them

Ice Castles, which usually runs January through February, features artists who create massive structures and tunnels from tens of thousands of pounds of icicles.

Go Heber Valley, Utah

Midway, Utah

With its Swiss heritage, the charming city of Midway brims with European flair about 45 miles southeast of Salt Lake City in the Heber Valley. Winter is especially mesmerizing thanks to Ice Castles, a one-of-a-kind annual event (tickets are $26 on weekends, $20 on weekdays) that usually runs January through late February or early March (weather dependent). For the event, ice artists create massive structures, tunnels, fountains and slides from tens of thousands of pounds of icicles.

During winter, Midway’s Town Square is home to Utah’s largest outdoor ice rink, where adults can skate for $7, then warm up with hot chocolate and hot apple cider. Book now for a December North Pole Express excursion aboard the historic Heber Valley Railroad, departing from Heber City, less than 10 minutes from Midway. The round-trip journey takes 90 minutes and includes hot cocoa, chocolate chip cookies, Christmas carols and a visit from Santa.

Stay: Zermatt Resort’s decor delivers Swiss chalet vibes, as does the on-site restaurant, where you can share a fondue-for-two appetizer for $21. Rooms start at $178 per night.

bucks county playhouse in new hope pennsylvania

Bucks County Playhouse has welcomed legendary performers since opening in 1939.

Visit Bucks County by Kevin Crawford

New Hope, Pennsylvania

If you prefer browsing to bum runs for your winter getaway, head to New Hope known for its eclectic shops, waterside restaurants and historic sites. The Delaware Canal runs right through it, and photos and memorabilia inside the 19th-century Locktender’s House, open year-round, detail life on the locks. Seven miles away, Washington Crossing Historic Park marks the spot where Gen. George Washington crossed the Delaware River in 1776. From January to March, guides lead weekend-only tours for $7 per person; you’re free to explore on your own too.

Make sure to poke around New Hope’s downtown streets for pleasant surprises, including a slew of vintage shops like Sweet Marie and Loves Saves The Day, where you can snag souvenirs, clothing, and other curiosities.

Warm up your insides with flights of three whiskeys (from $30) and a menu full of small sharing plates at Nektar, across the street from the Bucks County Playhouse, which has welcomed legendary performers since it opened in 1939.

Stay: Built in 1817 by one of New Hope’s founders, Olivia’s Bridge Street Inn has eight impeccably decorated and equipped en suite bedrooms and a cozy fireplace-warmed living room. The inn serves daily hot breakfast to guests and comes with one parking space. Rooms are from around $179 per night.

View of Clinton Square with the city Christmas tree at night in downtown Syracuse, New York

Clinton Square features an ice-skating rink and a Christmas tree.

DEBRA MILLET / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Syracuse, New York

Love everything about the snow? So does everyone in Syracuse. With an average snowfall of 128 inches a year — making it the snowiest city in the country — this town thrives in the winter. See for yourself at Clinton Square, in the middle of downtown, where a picturesque ice rink is framed by Syracuse’s architecturally eye-catching buildings ($5 admission; $3 for 55-plus; $5 for skate rental).

The Salt City Market food hall is the hot spot for tasting cuisine from all corners of the world at reasonable prices. Try a Bahn Mi sandwich ($11) or drop by on Fridays for a warm-you-up bowl of Pho ($14). ElleRae’s Taco has street tacos for just $3 and sides of chips and guac for $6, while the vegan pineapple fried rice at Firecracker Thai Kitchen ($15) is filling and flavorful.

In February, the annual Winterfest celebration embraces the wintry days and nights with fireworks, ice sculptures and free ice-skating. About an hour outside the city, the Osceola Tug Hill XC Ski Center has 100-plus acres of gorgeous trails. Rent snowshoes for $20 and cross-country skis for $25.

Stay: Best Western Syracuse Downtown Hotel and Suites is a 97-year-old hotel with 68 contemporary rooms and suites, each with a mini-fridge and coffee/tea station. A complimentary full breakfast is served to guests, too, and daily parking is $15. Midweek rooms from around $149.

Visitors can bundle up and stroll along pedestrian-friendly Washington Street Mall.

Alamy Stock Photo

Cape May, New Jersey

A trip to the Jersey Cape is a summertime must-do but the seaside town of Cape May is delightful during the off season, and especially during winter when there are no lines, empty beaches, easy parking, and cozy places to sip cocoa and sleep amid historic Victorian houses. The pedestrian-friendly Washington Street Mall and its surrounding streets harbor dozens of boutiques, antique shops, bars and restaurants. It’s a delight to bundle up and stroll, especially during holiday months when buildings, inns, trees and homes are lit up and decorated. If birding is your thing, join a winter Saturday bird walk with a naturalist for just $12. Be sure to book a guided tour (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday) at the Harriet Tubman Museum (closed in January), to learn about her inspiring story. The abolitionist activist spent time in Cape May during the 1850s, helping enslaved people escape from the South.

Stay: Book one of the 51 rooms and suites at The Inn of Cape May, a nearly 150-year-old white clapboard charmer on the beach. Cozy up on the porch to watch the sea, and cheer on your favorite team at Ocean 7 Restaurant for Game Day Happy Hour Specials (Sunday and Monday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.) such as $2 off beer, wine, and house cocktails, and a selection of $9 appetizers. Rates start at around $149.

A snow sculpting championship takes place in Lake Geneva during Winterfest, an outdoor festival. Here, visitors walk past “Veg-Hed.”

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Located 55 miles southwest of Milwaukee and 83 miles northwest of Chicago, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, sometimes called the “Newport of the Midwest,” is still active during winter. The only national snow sculpting championship in the United States takes place during the annual (Jan. 29 – Feb. 2, 2025) Winterfest, a free outdoor festival where you can view nearly 50 Instagram-worthy ice sculptures, listen to live entertainment, and enjoy bonfires on the beach. Meet your daily step count goals along the roughly 20-mile Geneva Lake Shore Path, open year-round, and admire the stately homes and views and wintery views. Or slow your stroll along Main Street in Lake Geneva’s Historic District, full of shops, restaurants, and cafes like Inspired, a place for coffee, tea and hot cocoa that trains and employs people with physical and developmental disabilities. Cast a spell over a cold night with a family-friendly show at the 175-seat Tristan Crist Magic Theatre ($48).

Stay: The spacious rooms at Comfort Suites Lake Geneva East make a longer visit easy thanks to premium bedding, coffee makers, microwaves, and refrigerators, as well as a complimentary hot breakfast and free Wi-Fi. Rooms start at around $94.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on December 5, 2022. It's been updated to reflect new information.

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Kimberley Lovato is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Travel + Leisure and Virtuoso: The Magazine, among others.

Budget-Friendly Winter Getaways

These 12 destinations shine in the snowy season, with free outdoor activities, events and cozy places to stay that won’t break the bank

​Bloomington, Indiana

​Quechee and Woodstock, Vermont