One of the best ways to break up the winter blahs is with a getaway. Winter is a season people typically flock to tropical destinations, but there are some great places to visit in the Northeast. Whether you’re a winter sport aficionado or prefer to lounge fireside, there’s a Northeast destination for you. Here are the best winter getaways in the Northeast.
Lake Placid, NY
This small town nestled in the Adirondack Mountains is where your gold medal Olympic dreams can come true. The 1932 and 1980 winter games were held here after all! Lake Placid offers a great mix of winter sports options with small town charm. Whiteface Mountain, one of the highest peaks in New York, is the crown jewel of Lake Placid and offers skiing, snowboarding and Olympic history tours.
If shredding powder isn’t your thing, Lake Placid still has a lot to offer. The town’s main street is full of great shopping, dining and breweries. Two of New York’s premier luxury hotels are located here, Mirror Lake Inn and Lake Placid Lodge, both of which offer spa experiences.
Great Barrington, MA
Great Barrington is a charming town tucked in The Berkshires in Western Massachusetts. It’s a nature lovers town, and the Berkshire Botanical Gardens are located here as well as many hiking trails. Great Barrington is home to Monument Mountain, where it’s said Nathanial Hawthorne and Herman Melville went on a hike that inspired the genesis of Moby Dick.
Along with being a great destination for nature lovers, Great Barrington is also an ideal getaway for art aficionados. Artists and creatives have flocked there for years. The historic Mahaiwe Theater built in 1904 sits in the center of town and still hosts events, and art galleries dot the town’s main street. If you’re into winter activities, the nearby Butternut Mountain offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing for visitors.
Burlington, VT
Burlington is Vermont’s largest city. It’s a college town that offers a great mix of city and country activities, due to its location along Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains. Downtown Burlington is bustling, and just a short drive outside of town brings you to numerous hiking trails and ski slopes.
If you’re into beer, Burlington is the town for you. It’s packed with craft breweries! You could easily spend a day hopping from brewery to brewery. Some standout places to imbibe are Foam Brewers, Zero Gravity and Citizen Cider. There’s more than just great beer in Burlington, it’s a big foodie town as well. Lake Champlain Chocolates is a not-miss for artisan chocolates and a stroll up and down the pedestrian only Church street offers a variety of farm-to-table restaurants, cozy cafes and dive bars.
Newport, RI
Newport is one of New England’s most beautiful cities, and it looks great dressed up in white snow. While Newport is known as a summer destination, many of its popular attractions can be visited year-round. A tour of the city’s spectacular mansions is a must. Two of the most impressive, The Breakers and The Elms, decorate for the holidays. Continue your tour of Newport’s grand homes with The Cliff Walk, a 3.5 mile path with the ocean on one side and beautiful homes on the other.
Newport is full of cozy pubs, elegant bars and seafood heavy restaurants. A visit to the lobby bar at The Chanler is a great way to spend a chilly evening. The Chanler is an old mansion perched on a cliff and its lobby bar is beautifully decorated with a welcoming fireplace. Another cozy watering hole that’s a must-do is White Horse Tavern, America’s oldest tavern.
Portland, ME
Don’t fear the cold temperatures! Portland is known for fresh seafood and beautiful ocean vistas, two things that can be enjoyed year-round. Take advantage of winter’s low crowds to experience the award winning food scene. In the peak summer months wait times at Portland’s popular restaurants can exceed three hours, but that number is drastically reduced in the winter. Portland’s not-to-be-missed restaurants include the eclectic Central Provisions, meat forward Duck Fat and seafood heavy Eventide Oyster Co. If you’re a fan of sweets, a visit to the highly acclaimed The Holy Donut for a potato donut (yep, you read that right) should be on your agenda.
Something Portland does just as well as food is alcohol. The city’s full of award winning craft breweries, meaderies and distilleries. If you love craft beer, must visit breweries include Allagash Brewing Company, Bissell Brothers Brewing Company and Oxbow Blending & Bottling. Once you’re done eating and drinking your way around town, take in some classic Maine sights at Portland Head Light and the Portland Harbor, both look beautiful dusted in snow.
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