Freezing weather got you down? Why complain about the weather when you can revel in it? FamilyFun magazine has created a list of the best winter getaways in North America for families to explore!
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.
Sound cool? Check out the 12 festivals below to find your personal cure for cabin fever.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
ottawafestivals.ca/events/
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lots of stuff to do this winter. I must admit I am not a big winter person, but these all sound great! Where will you be?
photo credit*logos and pictures provided by festival websites
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