Unforgettable Winter Sports Getaways
Dec 14, 2021 | Aon
Not everyone is dreaming of warm sandy beaches during the long winter months. If an activity-packed winter wonderland is your idea of a perfect destination, you’re not alone. And there are so many places to experience your favorite winter sports. Here are five of our favorites:
If you want the full Winter Olympics experience, go to Lake Placid, New York. Home of the 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid goes beyond great skiing with bobsledding, snowshoeing, dog sledding, ice skating, tobogganing, ice fishing and more. Top off your stay with a trip to the Lake Placid Olympic Facilities & Museum to learn more about the “Miracle on Ice” – the U.S. hockey team’s surprise victory over the Soviet Union – and other memorable moments from the games.
If you’re bringing the kids, head to Whistler, British Columbia. The family-friendly Canadian destination offers plenty of places for the younger set to learn to ski and snow board as well as enjoy fun activities like winter tubing, ziplining and snow cat tours. And when mom and dad are ready for a little downtime, the region offers a wide range of childcare options – from kid camps to babysitting services.
If you’ve never seen Asia in the winter, set yours sights on the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China. Now the world’s largest ice and snow festival, the event features massive, awe-inspiring ice and snow structures and more than 400 activities ranging from Alpine skiing competitions and ice soccer to speed skating and even ice mini golf. Harbin also offers a bonus for architecture lovers – an impressive collection of Russian-inspired buildings.
If the food is as important as the powder, Dolomites, Italy is the spot for you. Located two and a half hours from the Venice airport, the region excels in regional dining. Featuring traditional northern Italian cuisines, like hearty pastas drizzled in butter and local polenta, meals in the Dolomites will more than make up for any calories you might have burned off on the slopes. And be sure to try a bombardino, a mixture of eggnog, brandy and espresso topped with whipped cream – it’s sure to warm you up apres ski.
If you’re a daredevil, try Chamonix Vallee Blanche in France. This famous 12-mile off-piste route features a heart-stopping vertical descent of nearly 9,000 feet. An accessible trip for most intermediate skiers – accompanied by a mountain guide, it also offers incomparable views and a true sensation of being in the wilderness.
The Aon Travel Takeaway? “Winter vacations offer a unique way to see the world and experience the great outdoors,” says Beth Godlin, president of the Aon Affinity Travel Practice. “If your cold weather journeys are taking you beyond U.S. borders, make sure to check current visitor entry requirements to make sure they are no surprises when you arrive at customs.”