6 Blissful Winter Vacation Destinations for Families That Don’t Ski

Everyone’s talking about Christmas…But have you considered a winter vacation?

After the Christmas holidays have passed, it’s so easy to just hunker down at home, avoiding the chilly winter weather and dreaming of your distant summer break ideas. But don’t pull out those comfy sweats just yet!

Pack up your bags, don’t forget your winter boots, and get ready for a winter vacation. We suggest you make the most of the cold rather than wait for it to go away.

This year, we’ve decided to embrace the season by sharing the top winter family vacations for people who aren’t necessarily skiing aficionados.

Whether you’re used to taking a few quick weekend getaways or a full week’s vacation over the winter period, this time of year offers plenty of fun opportunities to do different activities with your family.

The best part is that winter is also off-season, so some of these locations offer budget-friendly prices for the entire family. If you don’t mind some chilly weather, your wallet will thank you, and you can check off some of your bucket-list destinations.

So without further ado, here are our 6 favorite winter vacations the entire family will love!

Lake Tahoe, California

The laid-back vibe in this area makes this winter vacation feel especially welcoming to families with kids. Accommodations are top-notch but not in a snobby kind of way. And the rooms at the Ritz are more than ample enough for a whole family to share.

The hotel has many dining options, and kids are welcome at even their signature restaurant, Manzanita. But why are we really recommending this hotel?

The can’t-miss highlight for families in winter at this location is “Marshmology,” a daily afternoon s’more tasting by fire pits. And let’s be honest. The sugar rush is always a welcome, delicious treat after a long day in the snow.

For those who want to remain OFF the slopes during their winter vacation, you can take a short trip aboard the Highlands Gondola to visit the Village at Northstar.

It’s home to multiple restaurants and numerous non-ski activities, including ice-skating, bungee trampolines, and even a relaxing movie theater.

Breckenridge, Colorado

At 9,600ft above sea level, this winter vacation destination is one of the highest resort areas in the entire state of Colorado. It gets about 300 inches of snow in the wintertime, and the snowclad mountains provide a spectacular view.

You have the option of going on a hike and bike, or even opt for dog sledding, whitewater rafting, and historic and ghost tours that can be an exciting experience!

Go on your winter vacation during January to relish the astounding display at the International Snow Sculpture Championships. And if all that isn’t enough, some of the most beloved winter activities in the area include sledding and tubing.

So grab your saucer, sled, or any other type of glider, and check out Carter Park, Frisco Adventure Park, where you’ll be greeted by three lanes of different difficulty levels, Copper Mountain Tubing Hill, and Adventure Point at Keystone Resort.

Williamsburg, Virginia

Virginia’s Colonial Capital isn’t just for visiting in summer. Whether you’re looking for shopping, museums, live theatre, outdoor fun, or quality dining while on winter vacation, the Colonial Gardens in Williamsburg is an ideal getaway of all that Williamsburg has to offer in the winter.

You can go ice skating at Liberty’s Ice Pavillion or even spend some time outdoors bird-watching at New Quarter Park.

Another great activity you can do is to go back in time through colonial history at the Colonial Williamsburg Museum, where “Midwinter Stories” are presented on the Governor’s Palace outdoor stage during the winter.

You can also go horseback riding through the scenic, historic trails of Carlton Farms. The Colonial Gardens Bed and Breakfast is a fantastic place to enjoy a cozy winter vacation.

Choose to stay in one of the upstairs rooms, and you’ll even get to relish in a crackling fireplace to keep you warm!

Woodstock, Vermont

Woodstock is a quaint and charming village. It’s the ideal New Egland winter getaway that’s not centered around skiing.

We recommend staying at the cozy Woodstock Inn, which sits right in the center of town with its locally-made flannel blankets, wood-burning fireplaces, and fresh-baked cookies every afternoon.

The Nordic Adventure Center offers families who like to keep active the chance to go snowshoeing and fat tire biking on 30 miles of perfectly groomed trails. And don’t worry about the snow.

Fat tire bikes are designed with thick tires that will specifically allow you to pedal directly on the snow. A visit to the Billings Farm and Museum, Woodstock’s fully operating Jersey dairy farm, is a “Must-See.”

And be sure to cuddle up with your loved ones under a blanket as you ride in a horse-drawn sleigh.

Brainerd, Minnesota

Minnesota’s winter playgrounds include the Baxter, Brainerd, and Brainerd Lakes Areas. This year-round Minnesota family option offers various winter activities for everyone. The frozen Minnesota landscape looks like it was taken out of the pages of a Nordic fairy tale.

Old-fashioned activities like broomball and bowling on the pond, ice fishing on Gull Lake, bonfires with S’mores, and horse-drawn trolley rides should delight your children.

This is snowmobile country, and Cragun’s has a designated track and miniature snowmobiles for children. But the area has much more to offer your family or group even when the weather turns, including three of Minnesota’s finest indoor water parks.

The Three Bear Water Park, the Paul Bunyan Water Park, and the Rapid River Lodge serves up wonderful memories every year to thousands of its visitors.

Want to stay warm somewhere other than a water park? Several of the hotels in the area have indoor pools and hot tubs to help you relax and melt away the cold!

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

A visit to this location in the Great Smoky Mountains might just be the perfect family trip for a winter vacation because it offers lots of seasonal activities for everyone to enjoy.

You’ve got the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show, Winterfest, the Festival of Trees, and the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade. There’s even the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks if you can time your trip to spend the New Year celebration here.

Throughout the early part of December, you can be a part of the Annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade, when the streets are completely packed with different floats decorated with lights, large balloons, marching bands, dancers, and various holiday characters.

So be sure to bring your camera for this one! And if you have younger children with you, they’ll truly get a kick out of the Gatlinburg Space Needle and the popular Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

We hope you enjoyed reading about all of these gorgeous winter vacation getaway options. Be sure you let us know in the comments if you decide to visit any of them or if you have an inside scoop on another great place you think our readers should visit.

But that’s not all! We’ve got many more great ideas for you to choose from if you’re planning your next trip. We highly recommend you check out: 7 Breathtaking Small Towns to Visit in Winter