I’ve been to all 50 states. Here are the 10 best ones to visit during the winter.

Although I dread New York City's 4:30 p.m. sunset in January, February, and March, the holiday lights that go up in December offset my seasonal blues.

Manhattan is wonderfully festive during the holidays, and visitors have endless options for activities. 

They can ice-skate beneath the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, shop at the Union Square Holiday Market, admire the elaborately decorated shop windows on the Upper East Side, or catch one of The New York City Ballet's annual performances of "The Nutcracker."

I also love to head east to Montauk's empty beaches or north to ski Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, home to one of the East Coast's greatest vertical drops. 

Although I appreciate Vermont's bucolic summertime beauty, I think it's at its best when the mountains are white with snow. Winter in Vermont is straight out of a storybook with quaint cabins, charming small towns, and rolling white hills.

The state has some of the largest ski resorts in New England, and I've made seasonal pilgrimages to various mountains including Stowe, Killington, Mount Snow, and Okemo — my personal favorite. 

These mountains are less steep than the Rockies. But in my opinion, if you grow up skiing in the East navigating the mountains' packed ice, you have the opportunity to be far better at the sport than those accustomed to more ideal conditions.

Colorado is a hot spot for skiing out West. It has over 25 ski resorts, and I've caught the first tracks in Vail, Breckenridge, Winter Park, and Aspen Snowmass, my all-time favorite. 

Aspen has a reputation for fostering a "ski-and-be-seen" ethos, but I celebrate its decadence and am partial to the champagne showers at Cloud Nine, the rowdy chalet atop Highlands Mountain. 

During my last stay at Aspen Meadows Resort, I realized that it's possible to just relax in nature there. It felt like a contained oasis of mountain views and aspen trees, even though it's a mere 1.6 miles from the downtown area.

Also in Colorado, Breckenridge's annual Ullr Fest is not to be missed. A celebration of the Norse god of winter, this festival features colorful costumes, shotskis, and Viking hats. When I attended, I was delighted that the enormous bonfire provided warmth even on the coldest winter nights.

I first attended Art Basel in Miami entirely by mistake because of a flight cancellation. The glitzy, over-the-top art fair lived up to the hype, a statement that also summarizes my thoughts about Florida in the wintertime.

It's somewhat of a cliché for northerners to fly south every December, hence their nickname as snowbirds, but there's nothing quite like a polar vortex to make you long for the Sunshine State. 

Speaking of snowbirds, winter is a spectacular time to go birding in Everglades National Park, the seasonal home to many American white pelicans.

Witnessing humpback whales' migration to the Hawaiian Islands is spectacular. 

I first spotted a humpback whale up close on a trip to Maui with my mother when I was 12. When I set out with PacWhale Eco-Adventures decades later, the experience was just as magnificent as I remembered.

Hawaii offers its own unique ambiance during the holiday season. The festive juxtapositions of seashell-adorned garlands and palm trees draped with lights make the state the closest you can get to paradise within the US.

Louisiana is one of my favorite states to visit in the US, and it comes alive in the colder months. I prefer the state's relatively mild winters, with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, over its sweltering summer days.

I'm also always down for a party. From the Cajun Festival of the Bonfires, when people light bonfires along the levees of the Mississippi River to light the way for Cajun Santa Claus, to Mardi Gras, the biggest celebration of all, there are events for revelers to enjoy all season long. 

The winter sun casts the swamps surrounding New Orleans in a golden light, and even though alligators hibernate, you can still spot them on warm days.

This Southwestern state's diverse climate is perfect for a winter road trip through deserts, valleys, and mountains.

The Enchanted Circle Byway takes travelers through a variety of epic ski destinations, including the popular Taos Ski Valley. Make sure you don't miss the Ski Torchlight Parade, one of the many annual events in New Mexico's ski regions. 

I love the wide-open expanse of Albuquerque, the city with the state's biggest population and most direct flights.

In the wintertime, you can begin your trip in this desert city before heading an hour north to Santa Fe, where you can experience the art scene and hit the slopes.

I love visiting South Carolina any time of the year, but my favorite memories in the state have always been in the winter. 

Perhaps it's because I'm unable to withstand Charleston's summer humidity, but regardless, my February trip to the Holy City was exactly what the doctor ordered two months into a New York winter. 

The city is at its most decadent around the holidays, when festive decor adorns the gorgeous cobblestone streets.

Lastly, a recent wintertime trip to Brays Island, with its Spanish moss and dockside sunsets, epitomized the romance and allure of Lowcountry living.

Yellowstone National Park may be most crowded and accessible in the summertime, but I prefer to explore the world's first national park in the winter, when I can snowshoe, ride in a snowcoach, or stay at Old Faithful Snow Lodge. 

Seeing Wyoming's desolate landscape covered in snow makes its grandeur and vastness all the more vivid. 

I also make an annual winter voyage out to Jackson Hole to hit the slopes, snowmobile in Grand Teton National Park, cross-country ski at Turpin Meadow Ranch, and go on a sleigh ride in the National Elk Refuge. 

My favorite perk of visiting Wyoming in the winter is that I'm less likely to encounter a grizzly bear. They can still pop up but are mostly hibernating, so we can enjoy the wilderness.

Charleston and New Orleans tend to get all of the attention, but travelers looking to fly south in the winter months often overlook Savannah. 

I've long been enchanted by the city's glamour, mystery, and charm, and, in my experience, the Hostess City of the South is at its most hospitable during the holidays. 

December is a wonderful time for visitors to experience the city by visiting the Savannah Christmas Market and signing up for the annual Holiday Tour of Homes. 

I also stumbled upon another Georgian gem during a previous trip to Aiken. Nestled in horse country very close to the Master's Tournament, this quaint city boasts a downtown area with gorgeous hotels and delectable food. 

This story was originally published on December 1, 2022, and most recently updated on November 26, 2025.