Favorite Wintertime Cities

BigDipper 80 · #1 Posted **Dec 24, 2020, 8:12 PM**

It's easy to fall in love with a city when the weather is balmy and the sun shines until 9:30, but there are many places that don't have the luxury of perfect weather year round. What are some cities that have truly embraced the cold-weather lifestyle and use the chilly season to their advantage? Whether it's an embrace of winter outdoor sports to great holiday celebrations to mastering the art of coziness, let's hear it for the cities that make the most of their snowy locations!

202_Cyclist · #2 Posted **Dec 24, 2020, 8:24 PM**

Burlington, Vermont. There are about six ski mountains within a one hour drive (including some of the best on the East Coast), some of the best craft beer available, great restaurants, and fantastic live music.

As an added bonus, Montreal, one of North America’s best cities, is only an hour and a half away.

the urban politician · #3 Posted **Dec 24, 2020, 8:31 PM**

Chicago.

.......you guys knew I’d say that. But it’s totally true

homebucket · #4 Posted **Dec 24, 2020, 8:41 PM**

Winter doesn't really exist in the Bay Area, but it's easy to get to Tahoe or Mammoth for weekend ski trips. That's where I've spent the majority of my winters. But they're not really cities.

In terms of other cities I've been to in the winter, I found Boston to be the most pleasant.

north 42 · #5 Posted **Dec 24, 2020, 9:41 PM**

It has to be Quebec City for me, just stunning when the old city is covered in a blanket of snow.

MolsonExport · #6 Posted **Dec 24, 2020, 10:21 PM**

Quebec City. Hands-down.

tumbler, pinterst, villedequebec.ca, tripadvisor

• Video Link

harryc · #7 Posted **Dec 24, 2020, 10:24 PM**

Madison Wi.

Hiking across the lake in the early morning to get to work - often a challenge in the blowing snow to keep my bearing and hit Memorial Union.

one very memorable morning I found the statue of liberty out there.

iheartthed · #8 Posted **Dec 24, 2020, 10:46 PM**

The most memorable for me was Berlin just before Christmas a few years ago. The Christmas markets are great there, and worth a visit. London is also pretty fun during the Christmas season.

It's on my bucket list to visit Scandinavia during the winter. If it weren't for the pandemic, I might have done it this year.

dc_denizen · #9 Posted **Dec 24, 2020, 11:43 PM**

the europeans do christmas really well. Americans, outside of WI/MN, just seem to want it to be over with quickly.

Atlas · #10 Posted **Dec 25, 2020, 12:42 AM**

If skiing is your wintertime activity of choice, Salt Lake City has about 10 ski resorts within an hour's drive. Also, downtown and Temple Square are very nice around Christmastime.

Wintertime shots

JManc · #11 Posted **Dec 25, 2020, 3:26 AM**

Any (intact) small town in New England or Upstate NY.

One of these days, I'd like to visit Harbin China and see the ice sculptures.

xzmattzx · #12 Posted **Dec 25, 2020, 3:38 AM**

I've rarely been to any "wintery" places in the winter. I've been in the Sun Belt in the winter, mainly.

One place that comes to mind when I think of a place that I enjoy in the winter is Ellicottville, NY. It's a nice little ski town in the mountains south of Buffalo.

Shawn · #13 Posted **Dec 25, 2020, 4:02 AM**

Quebec City is hard to beat, as far as North America goes. Montreal is pretty close.

For American cities, I'll second Burlington and throw in Portland. Maine does winter well in general, and Portland's Old Port neighborhood in particular is about as "magical winter brick-and-gas-lamp cityscape" as you'll find in the US. Boston's North End and Beacon Hill also have this vibe, but Boston on the whole can quickly deteriorate into "dirty road salt/sand-stained snow mound hell" fast.

If we're talking specifically Christmas, then I don't think you can beat New York. New York elevates Christmas, and Christmas elevates New York.

Obadno · #14 Posted **Dec 25, 2020, 6:40 AM**

Gotta Rep my Norther (actually middle) AZ

People dont think of us much for winter but we do a better job than most expect.

the urban politician · #15 Posted **Dec 25, 2020, 2:52 PM**

Pictures of snow isn’t “doing” Christmas

memph · #16 Posted **Dec 25, 2020, 10:35 PM**

I feel like Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa all embrace winter more than Southwestern Ontario/GTA.

benp · #17 Posted **Dec 25, 2020, 11:12 PM**

Canal Skate 2020 by bpawlik, on Flickr

Henry by bpawlik, on Flickr

Unfortunately no skating or big Christmas markets this year.

But we did get our white Christmas today!

SFBruin · #18 Posted **Dec 27, 2020, 2:15 AM**

I visited Minneapolis in February once, and though that it was really pretty with the snow and the trees.

Chicago is pretty too, but doesn't get enough snow imo to be considered the prettiest in winter.

James Bond Agent 007 · #19 Posted **Dec 27, 2020, 8:48 PM**

Duluth?

JManc · #20 Posted **Dec 27, 2020, 9:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFBruin

I visited Minneapolis in February once, and though that it was really pretty with the snow and the trees.

Chicago is pretty too, but doesn't get enough snow imo to be considered the prettiest in winter.

Snow in cities tends to be brown, slushy and nasty unless they literally just had a snowstorm.