Viewing the Northern Lights is one of many travel opportunities that can still be enjoyed during the dead cold winter.
As Dean Martin famously sang: Baby, it’s cold outside.
The evidence is everywhere—from Niagara Falls, where record-shattering temps have turned the falls into a winter wonderland, to Boston, where various New Year’s Day events were canceled due to frigid temperatures. Winter has settled in with a vengeance.
For those rare (read: crazy) souls who enjoy winter, there are plenty of travel experiences and destinations that capitalize on the season’s charms. The opportunities range from winter festivals in Quebec to sled dog safaris in the American Midwest and beyond. Here are some the top getaways to consider if winter is your favorite time of year, according to the Associated Press.
See the Northern Lights
If you can’t get to Iceland, which is famous for its Northern Lights displays, consider spending a few nights in Chena Hot Springs, just north of Fairbanks, Alaska. Beyond viewing the legendary lights, winter activities in Chena Hot Springs include dog sled rides, snow machine tours and cross-country skiing.
Explore Ice Formations
Caves found on Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands are known for their otherworldly ice formations. If the ice on nearby Lake Superior gets thick enough, it’s possible to walk across the lake to explore the caves in order to observe the fantastical ice formations. To find out if viewing the caves is possible, contact officials at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Ice Climbing
For those who really love coming face to face with the cold, there’s ice climbing in Colorado’s Ouray Ice Park. The park is a manmade ice climbing venue located in a spectacular natural gorge that is within walking distance of the city of Ouray. The park is home to more than 200 ice and mixed climbs.
Sled Dog Safaris
Yet another outdoor activity that showcases the snow and cold in all its glory, dogsledding is an unforgettable experience. For a truly pristine and remote dog sled excursion, consider taking a journey with Tinja Myllykangas to Finland’s Lapland wilderness. You won’t find a much more picturesque, snowbound experience anywhere.
Yellowstone National Park in Winter
Yellowstone is wildly popular in the summer, attracting hordes of visitors. But come winter, the legendary park offers a truly unique and memorable experience as well, according to the Associated Press. Think: winter wildlife viewing, geysers steaming in the cold air and snowshoeing, among many other outdoorsy activities. An added perk of visiting this time of year—far, far, fewer people and plenty of available lodging.
The full list of winter getaways identified by the Associated Press can be viewed here.
courtesy= travelpulse.com
