Frigid and fantastic
Tropical beaches might seem like the most inviting option for wintertime travel. That said, some northerly destinations offer festivities and attractions that make braving the cold worthwhile. Other places are not as frigid as their image suggests.
A select few destinations have become quite popular despite their sub-zero temps but, outside of festivals and major events, most don't make it to the top of travelers’ to-visit lists. This can be a positive. The weather keeps tourist sites uncrowded so that you won't have to share the picturesque views and snowy experiences with too many others.
Here are plenty of “winter wonderlands” that score when it comes to wintertime scenery and that are actually more accessible and comfortable than you might imagine.
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of Croatia’s most popular attractions. The 16 turquoise-colored lakes with their lush surroundings and fairy-tale-like waterfalls can get quite crowded during the summertime. The park is almost completely deserted during the winter. Tours still operate if the weather cooperates (this includes boat tours), but open hours are shortened during the cold season. In the event of heavy snowfall, which can sometimes occur during the winter in this part of the Balkans, Plitvice could close (though such closures are rare).
Plitvice certainly fits the “winter wonderland” definition if the weather is cold enough to freeze the waterways or, at least, the waterfalls that flow between them. Even if the temps are above freezing during the days, snow often covers the ground, creating Instagram-worthy scenes that make packing winter clothing and lacing up your heavy boots worthwhile.
Riisitunturi National Park, Finland
Riisitunturi is in the southernmost portion of Finnish Lapland. Its winters are defined by snowy weather and frigid temps. The rather remote national park draws hikers and photographers, not only because of the lack of crowds and opportunities for solitude, but because of the unique landscapes. Some of the scenes in these frozen boglands seem like they belong in a fairy-tale-fantasy. These otherworldly landscapes are created, in part, by the humidity in the area.
Despite its remoteness, Riisitunturi is quite accessible. Even in the winter, there are cabins and huts for hikers to stay in and groomed skiing and snowshoeing trails that pass through some of the most scenic areas in the park. Visitors are often enthralled with Riisitunturi’s “snow ghosts,” spruce trees that become completely coated in frost and snow, giving them a Dr. Seuss-like feel.
Tromso, Norway
Tromso is one of the northernmost cities on Earth. It sits more than 200 miles above the Arctic Circle at 69 degrees north latitude. This town of nearly 70,000 is a great place to see one the world’s most stunning visuals: the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). Tromso experiences “polar night,” which means that the sun never rises from mid-November to mid-January (although there is a kind of twilight even during midwinter). During this time, the city lights create a magical atmosphere.
The town is quite lively during the winter (the world’s northernmost brewery is located here), and the downtown area is extremely walkable as long as you perfect the “shuffle” that locals use to keep from slipping. Tromso is a tourist destination, not just for the Auroras, but also for activities like dog sledding, reindeer-drawn sleigh rides and the culture of the Sami people (native Scandinavians who have thrived in the Arctic for centuries).
Johnston Canyon, Banff, Canada
Johnston Canyon boasts a good trail infrastructure. Even stroller-pushing parents can access parts of the canyon during the summertime thanks to a series of trails and catwalks. The trek is quite a bit more challenging in the winter because of snow and ice. The reward for conquering the slippery path is an up-close look at some of the world’s most stunning frozen waterfalls. It takes about two hours, round trip, to visit the canyon’s two main falls, aptly dubbed “Lower Falls” and “Upper Falls.”
Nearby Banff features world class skiing and snowboarding, but some sportspeople skip the slopes and head straight for the canyon. When conditions are right, ice climbers can scale the frozen waterfalls. The Upper Falls are ideal for experienced climbers, but some outfitters offer guided excursions for novices who want to climb the falls in the Banff and Lake Louise areas. Even if you don’t scale the ice, you should consider wearing ice cleats so that you can deal with slippery conditions on Johnston’s trails.
San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
San Carlos de Bariloche, often shortened to Bariloche, is a city of about 100,000. It is in the foothills of the Andes Mountains and is surrounded by Nahuel Huapi National Park. Since this Argentine city is in the Southern Hemisphere, it offers a chance for a “winter wonderland” experience during the most common Northern Hemisphere vacation months of the year: June, July and August.
As a major tourist destination, Bariloche has a good infrastructure, not only for skiing on nearby Mount Cathedral, but for ecotourism activities. For example, the Challhuaco Valley is an ideal day-trip destination. It features wildlife viewing and skiing and snowshoeing treks in the winter. The mountain forests here are said to be especially attractive, as are the lakes that are fed by streams and snow runoff.
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