When cooler weather arrives, most people don’t think about traveling or taking a vacation. That’s why I wanted to share 5 reasons traveling in the winter is amazing. For many people, traveling in the winter is not something they do or even think about. People usually tend to travel for Thanksgiving and Christmas to visit family, but not for a vacation.
Snow
Snow is beautiful, but not so much in Georgia. In Georgia, snow is a mess, and because most snow is icy, it is hazardous. So a great way to see some beautiful snow and enjoy it is to take a trip where snow is common. In places where snow is expected, they are prepared to handle the conditions it brings. If you plan a trip to the northern states or out west, you have an opportunity to go snow skiing on natural snow or ice skating on an actual frozen lake, unlike the fake snow or fabricated ice skating rinks. Cabins and lodges are also terrific destinations. You can stay in an authentic lodge built with natural wooden logs, not a hotel designed to look like a lodge (although those are also nice).
Smaller Crowds
You will find that it is not the peak travel season at many locations during the winter months. This means fewer crowds in many places. With some research, you can save lots of money by finding places to travel that offer discounts during the winter.
Escape The Cold
You can travel to warmer destinations if you are like me and prefer warm weather to colder weather. We have been on a cruise in January. It was perfect. When we left the house, the kids were wearing jackets and warm clothes. By the time we reached Florida, the kids had dug their shorts and t-shirts out of their luggage. It was a nice change of temperature. When we got to our destination in the Bahamas, the temperature was a sunny 80 degrees and was perfect. The kids even swam on the cruise.
Experience Seasonal Events And Foods
Traveling during the winter months does not take away from your experience in the least. Many places hold special events designed to bring in winter tourists. It may even enhance your experience and bring a different perspective than you would get during a peak tourist season. You may even have different types of foods available to try.
Make A Great Gift
Traveling makes a great Christmas gift. Every time we have asked our kids if they would rather travel than receive Christmas presents, they always choose a trip. I love giving my kids experiences over material items. Gifts tend to be forgotten, while experiences are lifelong treasures.
Being prepared is the key to having the best experience. Just like during the summer months, you have to prepare for traveling in the winter. You pack for the cold, just like you pack for the heat and the sun during the summer. Make sure to pack underclothes, boots, and warm coats. Although it is winter, make sure to take sunscreen and chapstick. And the best invention EVER is hot hands.
I have a bucket list that is ten miles long. Some of the things on my bucket list are wintertime-only trips. I want to visit New York in the winter (Thanksgiving or New Year or both), visit Norway and see the northern lights, take the kids to a Ski Resort, and see Paris in the winter.
Where do you like to travel during the winter months? What is on your winter bucket list?
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I agree traveling in winter can be nice. It took me a long time to warm up to the idea but once you get outside and start moving around, it actually is not that bad. We went snowshoeing about three years ago and enjoyed it thoroughly. Once things normalize, we plan on going again. May even throw in tubing and snowboarding. Look at me being all adventurous lolol. Great post.