Fitness
5 Winter Wonderlands Perfect For Non-Skiers
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When I broke my collarbone skiing last winter in Switzerland (clearly jinxing myself in the gondola up the slopes that morning by bragging to my friends that I’d never broken a bone), I was at least in a good place for enjoying winter’s beauty. Even without skis.
My arm was newly slinged after a (surprisingly reasonable) visit to the Swiss ER. But luckily, there were still plenty of winter wonderland-genre activities for me to enjoy in the adorable mountain town of Grindelwald, where my college friends and I had decided to ring in our 50th birthdays together.
I hung up my skis for the week and rode the train up from the town through the snow-covered mountainsides to reach Jungfraujoch, the highest altitude train station in Europe at 11,332 feet, from where you can see the Aletsch Glacier up close and wander through the glowing rooms of the Ice Palace, carved right into glacier ice. Come evening, we’d decamp for fondue at the cozy little restaurant at Bussalp (where my friends sledded on wooden toboggans back down to town as I boarded a bus).
No longer able to ski that winter, it occurred to me that there are probably plenty of towns that are true winter wonderlands for non-skiers. Read on for a few of my favorite winter escapes where you don’t need skis or a snowboard to have fun.
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth, Washington
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January and February tend to be the snowiest months in this Bavarian-themed village in the Cascade Mountains, about 117 miles east of Seattle. Alpine vibes abound in Leavenworth, whether you’re trotting along on a one-horse open sleigh through fields blanketed with the white stuff, riding a sled or tube down the hills at the Leavenworth Golf Course or visiting the Nutcracker Museum to get into the holiday spirit. For something with more adrenaline in these snow-covered surroundings, consider taking a snowmobiling tour to a scenic viewpoint overlooking Lake Wenatchee and the ridges of the Cascades.
For a cozy stay: Icicle Village Resort fits the bill for a multi-generational stay, with its Alpine Spa, wine-tasting room, heated pool and restaurant serving German specialties like bratwurst and schnitzel.
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Kalispell, Montana
Kalispell, Montana
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Just 32 miles from the entrance to Glacier National Park, Kalispell is a charming mountain town that’s big on western appeal. Brimming with restaurants (try the lodge-like Montana Club for great burgers and steaks, right along Main Street), bars and boutiques, downtown is a short drive from Whitefish Mountain, too, where you can skip skiing in favor of activities like dog sledding, ice skating and snowshoeing tours. Rangers even lead guided snowshoe walks within the national park from mid-January through mid-March.
For a cozy stay: Right along Main Street, the historic Kalispell Grand Hotel has been welcoming guests for over a century and offers a free continental breakfast along with afternoon cookies and popcorn.
Sunriver, Oregon
Sunriver, Oregon
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The snow-capped peak of Mt. Bachelor lures skiers and snowboarders to Central Oregon’s Cascade range to schuss down the flanks of a dormant volcano. And you can be based where there’s plenty more winter fun in store, too, when you target a vacation at Sunriver Resort. When the snow falls, the resort’s 34 miles of dedicated (and mostly flat) cycling trails are ideal flat biking terrain. Come afternoon and evening, everyone gathers in the resort’s main village to ice skate atop the outdoor, covered rink and to sip hot drinks fireside. Other activities include being pulled by sled dogs across snowy high desert terrain with a professional mushing team at the lead and exploring some 500 miles of snowmobiling trails in the area.
For a cozy stay: Choose from rooms with fireplaces in Sunriver Resort’s main lodge or opt for one of many vacation homes and cabins for rent with their own hot tubs to enjoy under the towering Ponderosa pines.
Ouray, Colorado
Ouray, Colorado
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A favorite destination for ice-climbing on frozen cascades from mid-December through mid-March, this gorgeous Colorado mountain town along the scenic Million Dollar Highway offers plenty of soft-core winter wonderland fun, too. You can dip a toe into skiing without getting too vertical by riding the town’s free rope tow up Lee’s Ski Hill, with its gentle slope down. Nearby Vinegar Hill is closed to vehicle traffic from mid-December to early March so everyone can toboggan on the beloved local sledding hill. And it’s free to ice skate at the town’s outdoor rink. Warm up from the elements in the natural geothermal waters of the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, tucked into the canyon’s snow-covered walls.
For a cozy stay: More mineral hot springs and a 108-degree-Fahrenheit vapor cave for relaxing await guests at Wiesbaden Hotel & Spa, a historic, alpine-style lodge just a short stroll from breweries and restaurants.
Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua, New York
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New York’s scenic Finger Lakes region, formed by retreating glaciers during the last Ice Age, brims with atmospheric towns on its shores. And Canandaigua, on the northern edge of the lake of the same name, is one of the cutest among them. Every year, during a weekend in late-February, the Fire & Ice Winter Festival takes over downtown with ice and snow carving displays, fire shows, live entertainment and appearances by sled dog teams. When the snow falls, the open meadows of Ganondagan State Historic Site are idyllic terrain for snowshoeing.
And every February, the Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum offers sleigh rides through its 12-acre property.
For a cozy stay: Barrel saunas with lake views make for an inviting winter warmup for guests of the splurge-worthy Lake House on Canandaigua.
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