Snow Mountains to Sunny Beaches

Winter season presents a rare choice for travel: snowy mountains or sunny beaches? The northern hemisphere of the globe offers the best white winter retreats, while the southern hemisphere shows off the best beach getaways. Here are 5 of the best destinations around the world for winter travel:

5. Lake Tahoe, California, USA

For a classic west coast winter vacation, head to Lake Tahoe where both California and Nevada share the lake. South Lake Tahoe offers a more commercial scene with big name hotels, casinos, and a good-time vibe. You can take in the views by the lake and head up to the mountain for a day of skiing. For a more exclusive snowy retreat, head up to North Lake Tahoe where it is a quieter setting to truly appreciate nature.

Snowy Lake Tahoe during winter months. The mountains around the lake offer some of the best skiing and snowboarding opportunities. You can even cross-country ski, snow show, or simply ride a sled on a down a little hill. Photo credit jcookfisher

 

4. Hawaii, USA

If you are looking for the beach and still want to stay within the U.S., head to another classic winter getaway – Hawaii. The islands’ beaches spoil you with warmth during the coldest months of the year. The popular choices are Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Travel to at least two of the islands to make the most of your trip.

Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu. The capital of the state offers a mixture of a laid-back city, mountainous hikes, and sunny stretches of beaches with some of the best surf spots in the world. Photo credit Edmund Garman

 

3. European Paradise in Palma de Mallorca

While the rest of Europe is either snowy and rainy, escape to Palma de Mallorca along the eastern coast of Spain. In Mallorca, also written as Majorca, you can enjoy the beach, the history-filled city center, and the mountainous regions featuring local produce like oranges, almonds, cheese, and wine. Truly an ideal and tasty destination for food lovers.

From the end of the old town in Palma de Mallorca out of the clear blue waters. Mallorca offers picturesque and stunning views throughout the entire island. Make sure to spend at least a few days on the island exploring the town, beaches, and mountain areas

 

Snowy Japan

For one of the ultimate snowy getaway, travel to Japan for the most incredible white winter scenery. On the coldest winter days, you can capture a snowy Kyoto. On clear sky days, you can see the glory of Mt. Fuji. And for fun in the snow, head up to Hokkaido in the northern part of the country for Japan’s most famous ski retreats, like Niseko and Sapporo.

Head up to the ski slopes. There are also winter sights where you don’t have to ski to enjoy the snow of Japan. Hokkaido is the coldest part of the country with snow days lasting well into the spring season

 

Beach Escapes in the Philippines

When it is cold and raining, you will likely want to escape from it all during your winter travel days. Head to Southeast Asia and the Philippines where the best months of the year to travel are December, January, and February. These are the coolest and driest months making this the optimal time to enjoy some of the most exclusive beaches in the world.

The waters in the Philippines turn extra gorgeous during the winter months (December, January, and February) when the skies are perfectly blue and the waters are crystal clear. The one downside is that it will be almost impossible to leave this paradise and back to the cold winter reality

 
 
 
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