The Best Winter Family Vacations Everyone Will Love

If hot cocoa on a chairlift and fresh-baked cookies waiting for you at the bottom of the mountain sounds like your kind of daydream, add Beaver Creek to your winter trip wishlist. This mountain village is a quick 20-minute drive from Vail, if you want to check out some of the iconic village’s draws, as well. The resort offers trails for all skill levels, making it an easy spot to bring the kids. Speaking of kids, there’s also a kids-only restaurant called The Ranch with an ice cream parlor. After you’ve gotten your fill of skiing, check out the movie nights, fireside story time, and ice skating.

If snow is not your idea of winter fun, head to warmer temps. There’s no better spot to soak in the sun than the Bahamas and they certainly know how to do family traveling right. Your kids will love The Cove at Atlantis, which is home to an 11-acre Dolphin Cay that’s full of marine animals. There’s also an adults-only pool for when you need a little break. And this is only one of many resorts in the area catering to families — you can’t go wrong with the Bahamas.

Skiing is, of course, a thing to do in Stowe, but there’s so much more than the slopes. Bring the kids to learn how to dog sled, visit a cider mill, hike, or eat your weight in ice cream at the Ben & Jerry’s factory. There are no shortage of luxe resorts in Stowe, as well, so you’ll never be sacrificing comfort for an abundance of kid-friendly activities.

The Quebec Winter Carnival is enough of a reason to pay a visit during the colder months with its impressive display of snow and ice sculptures. If you’re looking for more motivation, we’ve got one word for you: poutine. Never has there ever been a cozier food. If your family is adventurous, spend a night in the city’s Ice Hotel for an experience completely unique to the area.

The holiday window displays down 5th Avenue make this a holiday destination in itself, not to mention the centrally located Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Everything in New York City seems a little more magical once the snow starts falling. Not only is there a never-ending list of things to do, but there are also more luxe hotels than you could ever stay at in one lifetime.

December is one of the best months to visit Costa Rica, since the rain has slowed and the beach weather is in full swing. Head to Manuel Antonio to check into the Arenas del Mar, a luxury beachfront resort complete with private jacuzzis and a clifftop pool.

If skiing is the main attraction of your vacation, head to Breckenridge. This mountain town in Colorado has it all: snowmobile tours, dog sledding, skiing, body sledding, snowshoeing. Boredom will never be a factor here. One Ski Hill Place and Crystal Peak Lodge are two luxury hotels that will take care of you when you’re recovering from all of those winter sports.

Snowshoeing, distillery visits, hot air balloon rides — there is so much more to Park City than skiing. The Washington Schoolhouse Hotel was once, you guessed it, a school house and is now a luxury hotel in a truly unique setting. It’s location is perfect for those who want to ski on the nearby slopes, but also central to the city making it easy for day excursions for those skipping out on the skiing.

Winter is the perfect time to explore the United States’ national parks. Yosemite National Park is home to The Majestic Yosemite Hotel, which is the perfect spot to start your winter vacation (if you’re lucky, you’ll get a room with a balcony and some insane views). During the holidays, you can catch a performance of The Bracebridge Dinner, where you’ll experience a feast that transports you back to old England — something the entire family will never forget.

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to stand inside a snow globe, head to Iceland during the wintertime. Sure, the unpredictable weather makes it hard to justify a road trip, but sticking to Reykjavik has its perks. This is especially nice if you have older kids who can appreciate a cozy night in with a good book. And there’s a good chance you’ll catch the Northern Lights. For a luxe stay, check out The Konsulat or Hotel Borg.

Take a week out of your winter to explore a warmer destination — San Antonio never disappoints. From the San Antonio River Walk Hotel to the St. Anthony, there are plenty of luxe accommodations that will have you forgetting you’re in the United States (southwestern architecture can have that wonderful effect). Make tamales at La Gran Tamalada, see a performance of The Nutcracker, or listen to Christmas carols in the Natural Bridge Caverns 180 feet underground.

Christmas markets are a dime a dozen in this German city. You’ll never feel as festive as you will walking along the town’s medieval castle under a blanket of snow. The kinder market in downtown Nuremberg has all kinds of rides decked out in holiday decor, which is always a crowd-pleaser for the younger ones.