It may be freezing out but that doesn’t mean you can enjoy a winter getaway.
FamilyFun magazine has created a list of the best winter getaways in North America for families to explore ranging from the mountains of North Carolina to the streets of Quebec, winter festivals offer a feast of frozen delights: snow sculptures, ice palaces, winter-and winterized-sports (think: snow golf and snowshoe softball), along with light shows, fireworks, torchlight parades, and seasonal treats like maple taffy on snow.
12 Winter Getaways
1. Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Saranac Lake, NY (Jan. 31–Feb. 9)
Try snowshoe racing or cross-country skiing; enjoy concerts, dances, and parades; and watch the fireworks over the awesome Ice Palace at this 117-year-old festival. visit saranaclakewintercarnival.com for more information.
2. Lake George Winter Carnival Lake George, NY (February weekends)
This lakeside celebration features beach bonfires, ice-diving demos, hot-air balloon rides, a giant snow slide, kite flying, and chili and chowder cook-offs. visit lakegeorgewintercarnival.com for more information.
3. Stowe Winter Carnival Stowe, VT (Jan. 18–Feb. 2)
Vermont’s best-known ski town goes all out with snow volleyball and golf, youth hockey and snowboard half-pipe competitions, ski racing, fireworks, and a kids’ carnival. visit stowewintercarnival.com for more information.
4. Montréal en Lumière Montreal, Quebec (Feb. 20–March 2)
This sprawling urban festival features light shows, guest gourmet chefs, life-size board games, a Ferris wheel, and a massive sled slide plus music, theater, dance, and circus performances. visit montrealenlumiere.com for more information.
5. Carnaval de Québec Quebec City, Quebec (Jan. 31–Feb. 16)
The world’s largest winter carnival boasts sleigh rides, snow slides, nighttime parades, an extreme canoe race, an ice palace, and more. visit carnaval.qc.ca/en for more information.
6. Winterlude Ottawa, Ontario (Jan. 31–Feb. 17)
Skate through downtown on a frozen canal, then check out the illuminated ice sculptures, annual bed race, the hockey classic, and the world’s largest snow playground. visit ottawafestivals.ca/events/
7. Saint Paul Winter Carnival Saint Paul, MN (Jan. 23–Feb. 2)
Go geocaching and thrill to fireworks, parades, hot-air balloon races, sled dog competitions, and the bouncing team’s aerial acrobatics. winter-carnival.com
8. Fur Rendezvous Anchorage, AK (Feb. 21–March 2)
Celebrate Alaska’s heritage with the Rondy World Champion Sled Dog Race, the Running of the Reindeer, the blanket toss, outhouse races, and the native arts market. furrondy.net
9. Winterfest Blowing Rock, NC (January 23-26)
Family-friendly activities abound, including ski and snowboarding lessons, ice carving demos, hayrides, bonfires, kids’ games and crafts, and the Polar Plunge. blowingrockwinterfest.com
10. Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival Steamboat Springs, CO (February 5-9)
Watch ski jumping, cross-country obstacleracing, and the Dog Dash; compete in shovel and three-legged races; and cheer on the Lighted Man as he sets off fireworks down the slope. steamboat-chamber.com
11. Snowdown Durango, CO (Jan. 29–Feb. 2)
Activities all over town mark this annual winter blowout, including a parade, costume party, doggie Olympics, waiter/waitress race, and music. snowdown.org
12. Whitefish Winter Carnival Whitefish, MT (February 7-9)
A lake plunge, torchlit parade, horse-towed skiing (ski joring), battle of the bands, and pie social are all part of this kid-friendly fest. whitefishwintercarnival.com
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom was not compensated for this post.
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