These are the top cold- and warm-weather destinations around the United States.
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A winter vacation is a great cure for the letdown that often comes after the holidays and the "winter blahs" that start as the season stretches on. Yet everyone has a different idea of what a perfect winter vacation entails. Some want to ski or at least savor all that goes with a snowy environment — think cozy fireplaces, hot cocoa, mulled wine, crisp air, and mountains draped in white. Others want to avoid the cold at all costs, lounge in the sun, and swim in warm tropical waters.
To help you decide what kind of trip is right for you, here's a look at our top 13 winter vacation ideas for destinations around the United States. These are our favorite places to go in the winter, whether you're looking for the perfect winter wonderland or prefer sandy beaches to snowy mountains.
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Jackson Hole, Wyoming
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With an average of 458 inches of snowfall each year, the ski resorts here — the two most popular being Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King Mountain — attract lovers of the sport. You'll also find other winter-weather activities like snow tubing, snowshoeing, ice skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and backcountry skiing. Snowcoach tours to nearby Yellowstone National Park make it possible to explore the area in a comfortable and warm vehicle, offering access to Old Faithful, bubbling mud pots, and wildlife. For another exciting winter adventure, snowmobile tours are offered in both Yellowstone and the even closer Grand Teton National Park.