Winter Getaways: Beach, Snow, Cabin? Sun, snow, cruise, or city? Our annual family guide for 2026-27
Even with inflation and soaring gas costs, you can get away without busting the budget this winter. That said, almost half of Americans worry that inflation will spoil their winter travel plans, according to a recent WalletHub survey.
It’s not surprising, with airfares and gas prices up dramatically since last year. No wonder so many families are opting to drive rather than fly. Holiday airfares are at a 10 year high because of rising jet fuel costs stemming from the War in Iran. Besides increasing fares, airlines have cut some cheaper routes and tackled on more surcharges. With a family of four or more, and with gas averaging well over$4 a gallon across the country, it is a lot cheaper to drive, especially these days.
We all know how important travel is to families. Kids are only this age once; You want to celebrate milestone birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other events as they occur. That’s probably why despite financial pressures, nearly a third of Americans value winter travel as a worthy expenditure.
We don’t want any family to go into debt for a much-needed vacation. That’s why we are going to offer a dozen affordable ideas with a couple of once-in-a-lifetime trips as well.
First, a couple of tips to save money. You can opt for vacation closer to home. Split a vacation rental with friends or family (as long as you get along) and you will not only save on lodging but food costs and childcare.
Book a Black Friday deal. Typically, they are offered Thanksgiving weekend and into the first week in December. Just make sure to read all of the fine print!
Travel places off season—Europe in the winter, for example, is not only cheaper but far less crowded and you won’t need to worry about terrible heat.
Protect your trip with travel insurance in case someone gets sick or injured or a family emergency keeps you home. Some policies insure kids free. (Check www.insuremytrip.com or www.squaremouth.com to compare.)
Here are a dozen options:
1. A World of Winter Discoveries with CroisiEurope
Winter brings a different kind of magic to the water. With CroisiEurope, the season offers everything from Europe’s sparkling Christmas markets to the inviting landscapes of the Canary Islands.
Embrace the holiday spirit on a river cruise through Alsace and along the Rhine, where festive stalls, seasonal treats, and illuminated streets create a storybook setting. Christmas and New Year’s cruises offer more ways to celebrate, pairing discoveries ashore with the pleasure of traveling by water.
Prefer a milder escape? Discover the Canary Islands aboard La Belle des Océans, exploring volcanic scenery, coastal towns, and distinctive island cultures. Or experience Italy’s coastal beauty on a winter sailing aboard La Belle de l’Adriatique.
Whether your ideal winter getaway includes browsing Christmas markets or discovering Atlantic islands, CroisiEurope offers an inviting way to explore. Unpack, settle in, and let each destination bring a fresh perspective to the season.
Check out the latest deals. 2027 early booking discount extended. Explore winter itineraries at croisieuroperivercruises.com.
2. American History Comes Alive in the Historic Triangle of Virginia
The Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown provides a mix of activities sure to inspire, excite and make memories merry and bright during the holidays and all winter. Brimming with charm and known for its historic attractions, guests will also find an array of upscale spa, shopping, golf, and dining options to enrich the travel experience this season and beyond. From November 5 through January 4, visitors can stroll through glowing trails at the Winter Lantern Festival at Jamestown Settlement and be wowed by 1,000 handcrafted lanterns illuminating three unique themes: Christmas, Jamestown Settlement, and America 250.
Holiday happenings also include the beloved Busch Gardens Williamsburg Christmas Town, running November 13 through January 3 and The Grand Illumination at the Governor’s Palace and Capitol on December 5, 12 and 19.
Families planning a winter stay can also sign up for the mobile-exclusive Historic Holiday Pass, running from Black Friday, November 27, through December 31. Passholders receive special discounts at participating restaurants, lodging properties, shops, and attractions.
3. Park City UT has reinvented
From silver mining to skiing and now to a year-round destination, Park City has reinvented itself with a focus on food and the arts. There’s fun outdoors in winter as well as the rest of the year. Three local restaurants earned a place in the first MICHELIN Guide to cover the American Southwest.
The Chef’s Table Festival which featured more than 70 global chefs in August 2026, will return in the summer of 2027. y Handle, which served seasonal American food, Matilda, a locals’ favorite for wood fired pizzas, and The Nelson Cottage by High West in a historic setting, each earned MICHELIN Recommended status. This is a distinct recognition. Reserve ahead.
Weekends and holidays fill first. The Nelson Cottage serves a tasting menu only, so plan for a longer evening. Leave the car. Park City’s free transit system connects Main Street, the resorts, and many neighborhoods. MICHELIN is just one lens. Park City’s dining scene runs as deep as the snowpack, find excellent dining options, breweries, and casual fair throughout town. Explore Park City’s Official Visitor Guide and Explore Park City restaurants before your visit.
4. Stowe VT PLUS Lake Placid NY
Winter at Topnotch Resort in Stowe VT works for every kind of snow lover, including the ones who’d rather watch it from a hot tub. The AAA Four-Diamond resort sits on 120 acres at the foot of Mount Mansfield, between downtown Stowe and Stowe Mountain Resort, with a shuttle to the slopes during ski season. Mountain Ops, the on-site outfitter, has rentals, gear and clothing for a variety of winter activities, the Equestrian Center nearby offers sleigh rides, and guests can take lessons or play a round of tennis or pickleball at Topnotch Tennis Academy. Back at the resort, relax by the lobby fireplace, enjoy the indoor pool and Jacuzzi and the heated outdoor adult pool and Jacuzzi, or book a massage or treatment at the Topnotch Spa. Meals at The Roost and Flannel come with views of Mount Mansfield. Winter packages pair a stay with an experience, whether it’s time at the spa, a family getaway, shopping in Stowe village, or pampering the family dog. The Ski & Snowboard package includes two consecutive days of
Lake Placid NY lives up to its Olympic reputation every winter, and High Peaks Resort puts guests right in the middle of it on the shores of Mirror Lake. Once the snow arrives, Guest Services lends out complimentary snowshoes, and every stay includes access to groomed cross-country ski trails at the Whiteface Club & Resort’s Nordic Center. Across the street from High Peaks, frozen Mirror Lake turns into a winter playground for skating, pond hockey and dog sled rides, and the slopes at Whiteface Mountain are a short drive away. It’s a 10-minute walk to the Olympic Center, with plenty of shops, cafés and restaurants along the way when a break from the cold is needed. Back at the resort there are two indoor pools with hot tubs, a lobby fireplace, local favorite Dancing Bears restaurant, and board games in the Lake House Great Room. Seasonal packages add extras like an extra morning on the slopes with guaranteed late checkout, breakfast, dinner, and perks for traveling pups.
5. Holiday lights into the new year
Many holiday light displays, performances and parades typically kick off Thanksgiving weekend (many begin Nov. 25, 2026) and end around New Years Families often make it a tradition to visit a seasonal display at a zoo, botanic garden, or theme park before the holidays. However, some displays last into the New Year and beyond when crowds are less and the whole family is ready for another holiday!
The Denver Botanic Gardens Blossoms of Light, for example, lasts until Jan. 10, 2027. The Cave of the Mounds Holiday Light Show in Wisconsin, the Midwest’s underground cave light show, lasts until January 31. Disneyland and Walt Disney World holiday festivals last until Jan. 6. Pigeon Forge, TN, gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and home of Dollywood, boasts what may be the longest holiday celebration — Winterfest, with 5 million lights and lasting until mid-February. Dollywood earns kudus for its own massive Christmas lights exhibition and holiday shows.
6. Ireland Is Having Its Winter Moment
If experiencing St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland is one of your bucket list items, there’s no need to wait till March. The Emerald Isle is riding a surge of popularity this winter due its temperate climate year-round, gorgeous scenery, welcoming locals, and moderate prices. No need to worry about the rain in winter — it falls when it does because that’s the Irish way. Instead, book a small town stay in Galway for authentic holidays and enjoy the many festivals and cultural events. If you’re not familiar with Ireland’s second largest city on the western Atlantic Way, families love its place by the sea, live music, friendly pubs, and student energy.
Eyre Square, a public green dedicated in 1710 by Mayor Edward Eyre, is the site of the annual Christmas Market as well as the three-day Saint Patrick’s Festival. From Nov. 6 to Dec. 31, indulge in special baked treats, mulled wine and warm lagers while listening to live music, similar to other European Christmas Markets. (See the lineup featured on CroisiEurope river cruises.) What’s special in Galway is the charming Santa train, vintage midway rides, and 100-foot-tall Big Wheel for birds-eye views of the fun, open through January.
Galway is a perfectly walkable city. Bundle up to explore the Instagrammable Long Walk along the central River Corrib, past swans, fishing boats, and pastel-colored houses. Warm up from touching the medieval Spanish Arch and stone walls at the free Galway City Museum. Shoppers can stroll thrift stores along Market Street, drop into the free Claddagh Ring Museum, and learn the history of this unusual souvenir. Be sure to browse Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop before lunch at McDonaugh’s, the town’s most famous fish n’ chips pub. Drop into St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church and contemplate what Christopher Columbus saw when he prayed there in 1477. Save the Latin Quarter for a family visit at sundown.
7. A Texas Beach with A Colorful History
Corpus Christi, one of the largest cities along the Gulf of Mexico coast in Texas, is one beach that delivers history lessons as you stroll the waterfront. Start with that name: Corpus Christi. Spanish explorer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda discovered this bay and named it after the Catholic feast day in 1519. The city is still predominantly Hispanic, and local businesses such as oil refineries, a Navy base and the Texas A&M campus ensure a diverse food and cultural scene.
Despite ongoing drought restrictions, the glow from Tejano singer SelenaQuintanilla-Perez, a hometown hero, illuminates the winter season. The young popstar rose to fame performing a blend of traditional Mexican cumbia with funk and R&B — also called Tex-Mex music — with her brothers. At 16, she won the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist, recorded her first album, and went on to win Grammys and international acclaim. Visit her recording studio and the museum her family established there after her tragic death at age 24. (Watch Jennifer Lopez’ 1997 Warner Bros. biopic “Selena” to learn more about her.) Stroll the seawall on Corpus Christi Bay to visit the Selena Memorial Statue, also known as Mirador de la Flor. The life size bronze sculpture of the star is accompanied by a soundtrack in English and Spanish of her history and music. There are several other Selena monuments that fans love to visit.
The Art Museum of South Texas, the wonderful Texas State Aquarium and historic U.S.S. Lexington World War 2 aircraft carrier are among other Corpus family attractions.
8. Fun in the snow on a budget
If you want to maximize your bang for your vacation buck, opt for smaller resorts. For example, Ski Cooper in Colorado offers $35 lift tickets for kids and $59 for adults during the week—when neighboring Vail charges triple that or more. Score big this season at Aspen/Snowmass, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary Dec. 12 and 13 with $80 lift tickets. Consider Grand Targhee Resort and Snow King Mountain located near Jackson Hole though you might be able to get a $500 air credit, up to $2000 a family when you book roundtrip flights, lodging, and a qualifying activity through Jackson Hole Resort Reservations.
Look for kids-free deals. Ski.com has a comprehensive list. Keystone Resort in Colorado invites kids 12 and under to ski free when the family books a two-night stay through the resort. Keystone also is known for its giant snow fort at the top of the mountain and many complimentary activities. There are also state passport programs for elementary school-age kids offering free or deeply discounted lift tickets. They include The SKI NY Free for Kids Passport, The Ski Vermont 5th Grade Passport,
Each program is a little different and varies in cost though you don’t need to live in the state. The primary youth ski passport program in Idaho is the Ski Idaho 5th & 6th Grade Peak Season Passport, which gives fifth graders three free days and sixth graders two free days at 18 participating ski areas across the state.
The Ski Utah Passport gives 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students 3 days of skiing or snowboarding at each of Utah’s 15 participating resorts for a total of 45 days.
The Colorado Ski Country Passport is one of the broadest, $76 for 76 days on the slopes for kids grades k-6 with four days of skiing and riding at each resort.
To encourage families to visit smaller resorts, Colorado Ski Country offers a variety of Gems, passes to 10 Colorado resorts. For example, with the purchase of a Ski Country Passport for kids or a Gems Teen Passport ($210 for 2 full day tickets to 10 different resorts) Parents can get a Gems Parent Pass— $350 for20 days on the slopes, though you can only get one per household.
There is also a Gems Discount Card for $50 that unlocks deep discounts valid for two days each at Arapahoe Basin, Cooper, Echo, Eldora, Granby Ranch, Loveland, Monarch, Powderhorn, Purgatory, and Sunlight. Put them all together and it’s a great deal.
9. Book a cruise during wave season
Wave season — the time when big discounts flow in the cruise industry — runs from January through March, with some deals being offered earlier. This is when the cruise lines offer kids-free, cabin upgrades, all-inclusive packages, and shipboard credits, among the perks. “For travelers, it’s a great time to compare deals across a wide variety of lines, to see which deal is best for their needs,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic. (You will be able to find deals on www.cruisecritic.com) Each deal is a little different and won’t be available on every sailing or throughout Wave Season, as the cruise lines change up the deals. The best way to stay current is to follow on social media. And if you are new to cruising or planning a trip with extended family or friends, consider working with a travel advisor. You can find one who specializes in Cruises through the Cruise Lines International Association.
10. Chasing the northern lights
Most everyone we met aboard Hurtigruten’s MS Trollfjord in Norway said chasing the Northern Lights was a bucket list trip.
We cruised up and down the Norwegian Coast, rushing to the deck when ever an announcement told us the lights were visible—even in the middle of the night. In between, we went dog sledding, visited an ice hotel with giant ice sculptures, sampled all varieties of Norwegian cuisine, watched the chef’s cooking demonstrations, toured the North Cape monument, famously the most northernmost point of Europe reachable by road, and visited with an indigenous Sami family who herd 1000 reindeer.
The Norwegian company Hurtigruten, in fact, offers a Northern Lights Promise with select cruises 30 per cent off: If they aren’t visible within sight of your ship during the auroral season, you will get a free Coastal Express voyage. The MS Trollfjord does a spectacular job showcasing Norwegian dishes available from local providers (halibut, herring, cod), local cheeses, dry-aged meats. There are deals with kids saving as much as half.
10. In the mood for romance?
Jet Blue has just announced a “Do Not Disturb” package with round trip flights from New York and a four-night cruise on Virgin Voyages March 4-8. There will be no children on the flight and Virgin Voyages is adults-only. It makes sense if you aren’t traveling with children, that you don’t want to be surrounded by other people’s kids. Sandals resorts are adult-only—a selling factor for many we learned visiting Sandal’s Dunn’s River. (Look for deals in Jamaica as resorts reopen after Hurricane Melissa last year.) Other all-inclusive hotel groups also have adult-only resorts such as Velas Resorts’ Casa Velas in Puerto Vallarta and Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas. You also will want to avoid traveling during traditional school vacation weeks.
Adventure companies like Backroads also offer adult-only trips, including several new itineraries in Ireland. Here’s how to find the perfect romantic getaway.
11. Have dog will travel
Four-legged guests these days are getting the hotel VIP treatment like never before. No wonder. According to data from the GlobalVetLink pet travel trends, roughly 78 percent of pet owners take trips with their animals every year. The majority travel by car but, according to the American Pet Products Association, of those who travel with their dogs, a growing number – 74 percent – have traveled by plane.
The majority of hotels now are dog friendly, from budget Red Roof Inn (first pet stays free) and Comfort Suites, to Hilton, Marriott and luxury brands, including Four Seasons and Fairmont. So are campgrounds, some offering dog parks. KOA’s 2026 Camping & Hospitality Report noted that more than half of campers and 60 percent of younger campers bring their pet. However, pet fees at hotels vary widely. Kimpton gets kudos from dog-family travelers because it doesn’t charge fees for four-legged companions. The pooches are even welcome at nightly wine receptions, and the concierge can provide a list of nearby pet-friendly restaurants, parks, and pet boutiques. On a recent road trip, we discovered BringFido.com was a great resource for finding pet-friendly places and comparing fees. PetsWelcome is another good resource.
12. Food glorious food
For many travelers, visiting a restaurant is a top activity, according to the National Restaurant Association. 79 per cent of those surveyed said they want to experience local cuisine and seek out restaurants known for the foods and flavors of their destinations. For families, food can be a delicious introduction to a new culture or region. Cruise ships and all-inclusive resorts are always good bets because kids and teens can sample as many dishes as they like. I’m a fan of food tours, like the one we did recently with Stretchy-Pants Food Tours. Companies, including Tours by Locals and Context Travel, offer all varieties of food-oriented tours whether you want to hunt for truffles in Tuscany, take a cooking class in a home in Rome or sample all varieties of tapas in Barcelona. Visit a local farmer’s market like the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market at the Ferry Building, featuring more than 100 vendors on Saturdays, or the century-old Pike Place Market in Seattle, which spans nine acres in the center of downtown and is famous for fishmongers tossing their fish high in the air.
There are plenty of food-oriented experiences and cooking classes on cruises, too. Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers the Culinary Arts Kitchen while Carnival Cruise Line offers Carnival Kitchen on select ships and Windstar Cruises provides Market Tours where a ship chef may take guests ashore to local markets to source ingredients for an evening meal. Holland America features complimentary cooking demonstrations that highlight regional specialties and interactive Culinary Shore Excursions in various ports. These days, thanks to platforms like Eat With and MealSharing you can arrange to share a meal with locals in their homes.