15 Beautiful Cities I Would Visit for Winter Vacation

     I love, love, love vacations. Maybe too much. I am obsessed with the idea of waking up in a luxurious, yet unfamiliar place, ready for a day full of exciting activities. Maybe I'll be relaxing on a sandy beach or skiing down a snowy mountain. Hiking through a cold rainforest or standing at an observatory deck in a skyscraper. Travel is full of so many possibilities and exciting new places! When my teacher suggested writing about winter vacation spots, I was ecstatic! This is what I do in my free time. I plan trips I will probably never go on. But it is so exciting! I cannot wait for you to read this. I'm excited for you. Anyways, enough with all the excitement and on with the article!

    I have compiled fifteen places that I think would make amazing vacations, each for their own reasons. Some have snowy and cold climates while others have warm and sunny climates, so lots of options. Some are cheaper while others cost more, and some have lots of tourist attractions while others are more about relaxing. Honestly, most of these aren't very realistic since they are out of the country, but they are so beautiful I had to add them. I've never been to any of these, but they look so wonderful and inviting...so, let's begin with a location in the United States...

15. Orlando, Florida

Orlando is known for being the home to Universal Studios, Disney World, and Epcot as well as many other amusement parks, shopping malls, and golf courses. This paradise would make a great winter vacation for many reasons! Obviously, all the theme

parks really make it great, but there are so many other

things, too! Although Orlando doesn't have a beach, it is still quite warm, staying at around seventy degrees during the winter. Sometimes it might rain, but even then it is still quite pleasurable this time of year, making it perfect for some family fun! If it is humid, don't worry, there are tons of waterparks instead of beaches. Orlando also has a great amount of resorts and Airbnb's.
                                                                                            14. San Juan, Puerto Rico

    San Juan is a city full of history. San Juan is perfect for all people, it has the perfect amount of history and relaxing beaches. As one of the oldest European-founded cities in the Americas, there is lots of old culture, but it also has adapted to the newer, modern ways which makes it a fun city to visit. There are lots of things to do, including rainforest hikes, museums, luxurious beaches and more.

 

                   13. Lienz, Austria

Lienz is a small little town in Austria near the Swiss Alps. This would be the perfect escape into a cold, snowy atmosphere. A winter vacation for those of you who love skiing! Not only that, but Lienz is also home to a crazy mountain coaster. Lienz really is the perfect vacation for adrenaline junkies. 

                            12. Tulum, Mexico

   When you think about visiting Mexico, I'm sure you think about visiting cities like Cancun, Cabo, or Mexico City. But when I saw pictures of Tulum, I fell in love! Clear blue skies, trees, and those turquoise waters?! Too pretty. Tulum is also very small, which makes it a great place for just simply relaxing on the beach! There are lots of swimming holes, or cenotes, too, so maybe head out for a hike in the forest and a swim in its clear water. Or scuba dive in them! Another good part about Tulum? It's not just a bunch of resorts along the beach. Tulum also has a number of unique places to stay...like treehouses. Hungry? Take a food tour for some delicious, authentic food from Mexico. Why visit the packed, expensive, and overrated cities when you could visit this gorgeous paradise?

                          11. Mudhdhoo Island, Maldives

    When it came to picking my eleventh vacation spot, I knew I wanted it to be in the Maldives, but where? There are so many islands in the Maldives so which one should I pick?  After a lot of research, I picked Mudhdhoo Island...what a name! I really only picked this island because of a specific hotel, which is pretty much all the whole island is. The hotel is extremely pricey at $512 a night. Sheesh! That's why this one is really unrealistic, but the Maldives are still a great island to visit on vacation. The hotel, Dusit Thani, has amazing rooms right on the crystal water! There are also spas, restaurants, and recreation centers. Not much else to do on the island though...except relax on the beach.

                                                                                                        10. Highway 1, California

    I know what you are thinking...wow, how magical, a highway! But seriously...this highway IS magical! Come on, look at that picture! Highway 1 is a highway that runs along the California Coast. It goes from San Fransisco to Los Angeles, and is known for its awesome ocean views. There are lots of hotels and campsites along the highway, and that is one reason why I think this would make such a good family road trip. Stopping every few hours at the beach, for food, or at an attraction, etc. Plus, amazing views!

            9. Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos

    I love Turks and Caicos. Just from the pictures, it looks so...majestic. The waters are such a good color! The beaches look so soft! The palm trees are an amazing color of green...it just seems like all the colors are ten times more vibrant. The resorts here are top notch...I mean infinity pools, spas, and all the things. Not into the hotels? Try a vacation home! Luxury vacation homes line the canals...speaking of canals, most of these homes have docks, meaning you can schedule a boat to pick you up from your own dock. Not only is it so beautiful here, but there are also so many cool things to do:  snorkeling, museums, and shopping.

                                                                                                    8. Bora-Bora, French Polynesia

     Bora-Bora is a beautiful island located in the South Pacific Ocean. Not only does it have soft beaches, tall, green mountains, and clear waters, but also many other amazing things to do, and food! Snorkeling, jet skiing, and hiking are some of the things available as recreation on this island. There isn't much else to do though so this would make a great and short trip.

                 7. Oia, Santorini, Greece

    

    Oia is a coastal town on one of the many islands in Greece, Santorini. Oia does have a lot to do, but it is also sought after for its beautiful white homes carved along the cliffside. The hillside streets are filled with flowers and white cobblestone. There are quite a few museums in this city but one of the best attractions here happens to be the ruins of an old castle, right on the coast, which means it has great sunset views. 

                     6. Bali, Indonesia

    Bali may just be another one of those tropical islands, but this one has amazing, unique places to stay, like the picture to the left. The best thing about it...that alluring bamboo house comes with a small, private pool. There is also a nice bedroom, outdoor shower, a net to lay in, and more. Another upside, Bali is one of the cheapest islands in the world, making it pretty inexpensive once you get here!

            5. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Dubai...a city of modern architecture and luxury shopping. Also home to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. Dubai is a very young city, and was mostly desert just around twenty years ago. Its population growth is one of the highest in the world with seven times more foreigners than locals. In my opinion, one of the prettiest things to see in Dubai, other than the Burj Khalifa of course, is the Dubai Miracle Garden. The Miracle Garden is an amazing garden full of flowers, but not just ordinary flowers. Flowers in the shape of hearts, planes, animals and more! I think Dubai has a lot to offer and would be fun to visit.

                                                                                                                    4. Paris, France

     Paris is one of the most commonly known cities in Europe and I think would make such a magical vacation. Paris would be so exciting and fun to explore around this time of year, too. You'll have to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower and look at Paris from a different point of view. Try a macaroon or a baguette as well. French foods are so delicious! I think this has to be one of the places on the top of my bucket list. 

              3. New York City, New York

    New York is a pretty basic one, but I have always wanted to visit this city. Surprisingly, New York has a lot more to offer than you would think. One of the first things you need to do once in the city is hit up Central Park. The photo to the left says it all. You can go ice skating right in the middle of the cityscape! Hopefully, there will be snow to add to the experience. You must visit Rockefeller Center to see that ginormous Christmas tree, too. Especially at night to add to the vibe.

                   2.  Whistler, British Columbia

    Whistler is the ultimate Christmas town and the perfect place for a winter vacation! In 2010, the Winter Olympics took place right here! This makes Whistler very well known as a great place to ski and snowboard. Maybe head on a snowshoeing adventure, or explore the charming, chalet-style town. Not into a bit of exploring? Nestled into the bottom of the Blackcomb Mountains sits a group of luxurious ski resorts that would make an awesome place to sit down with a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa.  It would be great place to watch a Hallmark movie in a town that looks like one of the towns in a Hallmark movie!

1.  Leavenworth, Washington

I absolutely had to put Leavenworth on this list because it is too cute! It wins the award for cutest town in Washington in my book. Located in the Cascade Mountains, it is a popular destination for winter vacations. First of all, the picture below is one of the biggest reasons why. Leavenworth is a town full of Christmas cheer, which makes it perfect to visit during the winter! It is so adorable with all of its Bavarian style buildings and flower pots dotting the streets. First of all, there is a wide range of hotels in town and a bit farther out. All are pretty nicely priced, except for the snazzy resorts. For food, there are tons of options! From Barbecue to Italian, you can have all the delicious food you could ask for. Leavenworth is known for its yummy German food though, and this is a must try while here. Not only is there delicious food here, but there are so many awesome things to do, as well! To begin with, there are some great parks and museums that are around all year...but Leavenworth is magical in the winter and is when I recommend traveling there because there is so much more there this time of year! If you enjoy being athletic and like to ski or snowboard, there are many ski 

resorts nearby. Meanwhile in town, the Village of Lights is taking place. Activities like gingerbread house competitions, ornament making, and visits from Santa are highlights in this festival. But that's not all Leavenworth has to offer this time of year. There are also Christmas markets, reindeer farms, gingerbread factories, and sleigh rides. I could go on and on about Leavenworth and that's why I picked this one as my favorite out of all fifteen!

    I think Leavenworth would be the best winter vacation, in my opinion. Which one would you have picked? Each of them have good and bad things about them...but all of these locations have so much potential to make great memories.