The list highlights those communities that embrace their cool climates and offer residents and visitors a wealth of outdoor recreation, arts and culture, dining and entertainment options.

To narrow down the list, editors started by identifying those cities with an average temperature below freezing and an average annual snowfall over 25 inches. Editors looked for cities that offer an ample number of outdoor recreation options – cities near ski slopes or frozen lakes or with large open areas perfect for snowshoeing or snowmobiling.

John Hood, spokesman for Livability.com says,

“Winter can be a great time to travel because often hotels and attractions are more willing to offer discounts to get people in the door, but just because a city has cold weather does not make it a good winter vacation destination. We chose cities that offer the amenities tourists look for – good, local and independent restaurants, a thriving arts scene, nightlife, shopping, and plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities.”

When it comes to stone cold deals Casper offers a great winter vacation along with exceptional value. Casper's hotels, restaurants and most of the city's entertainment options are much cheaper than those in more popular winter playgrounds. The nearby Hogadon Ski Area features three lifts and 24 trails, and just minutes from downtown, the Casper Nordic Center offers 26 miles of groomed trails, 27 miles of back country trails and a lighted loop for night skiing. In town, the downtown historic district is filled with shops and restaurants and is a great setting for winter walks.

Top 10 Best Winter Vacation Destinations
1. Anchorage, AK
2. Spokane, WA
3. Minneapolis, MN
4. Traverse City, MI
5. Reno, NV
6. Waukesha, WI
7. Missoula, MT
8. Bangor, ME
9. Concord, NH
10. Casper, WY

We visited with Aaron McCreight, director of the Casper Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, about the article and Casper's profile across the nation.

For more on Casper be sure to visit casperwyoming.info.

 

 

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