The Best Winter Vacation Destinations For People Who Don't Ski
By AIMEE LONG
Aomori is known as the snowiest place in the world, with up to 312 inches (26 feet) of snow every year, and in winter, it comes to life.
Aomori, Japan
Arrive on the high-speed train from Tokyo, then hop aboard the Tsugaru Railway, the annual Winter Stove Train, to enjoy wintry scenery and dried squid cooked on the train's stoves.
Visit the Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival, ride the Hakkoda Ropeway for a bird's-eye view of snow-encrusted forests, and warm up in the famous steaming onsens.
Straight out of a snow globe, Strasbourg's Christmas markets, held in the shadow of its behemoth gothic cathedral, are some of the most beautiful in Europe.
Strasbourg, France
One of the world's most magical Christmas towns, the romantic village also holds annual Valentine's Day events like a 24-hour ball, a love cruise, and wine tastings.
Snowshoeing and snowmobiling are great ways to immerse in the beautiful mountains surrounding Leadville and get to the nearby ghost town of Interlaken.
Leadville, Colorado
If you'd rather explore the rugged scenery while warm and cozy, hop aboard the Holiday Express for views of Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive in the distance.
Visitors can continue their winter revelry in town by ice skating under the stars, sledding, or sipping a craft beer at the Silver Dollar Saloon.
Toronto is a super fun escape for those who love the cold. Glittering skyscrapers, a frozen lakefront, and snowy greenspaces add to the icy ambiance.
Toronto, Canada
Ice skate at Union Station just beneath the iconic CN Tower, at the figure-eight rink at the Bentway, or on Lake Ontario. Take the ferry to Toronto Islands and go snowshoeing.
The Distillery Winter Village is one of the best winter hangouts. A huge Christmas tree presides over the festivities, with delicious food, handcrafted gifts, and twinkle lights.
With colorful, storybook squares and dense forests, Krakow is already a picturesque city, but its medieval center looks straight out of a novel when it snows.
Krakow, Poland
St. Mary's Basilica is one of Europe's most staggeringly beautiful cathedrals. Visit the Christmas markets and wander the Jewish Quarter, Kazimierz, bundled in your winter gear.
Polish food is made for long winters, so try some piping-hot pierogies, sip tangy borscht, or get stuck into a piping bowl of bigos, also known as hunter's stew.