TOP DESTINATIONS TO MAKE YOUR WINTER WONDERLAND DREAMS COME TRUE

Is there anything more magical than snow-covered trees, twinkling lights, rustic cabins, and charming villages? Those places that seem like they were torn from the page of a fairytale book. Where the cold doesn’t even bother you because your soul is warmed by the beauty of it all. If you want to be walking in a winter wonderland this holiday season, here are some top destinations that can make that dream a reality. We can almost hear the sleigh bells ring...are you listening?

LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON

source: instagram.com/visitleavenworthwa

Leavenworth, a quaint Bavarian village in the Cascade Mountains, is quite the adorable hidden gem — especially around the holidays. Every December, the “Village of Lights” shows off the half a million holiday lights that line the streets. With an annual Christkindlemarkt, a nutcracker museum, and even a reindeer farm, this place screams Winter Wonderland in all the best ways.

HALLSTATT, AUSTRIA

source: unsplash

16th century alpine houses line the shore of Lake Hallstatt in this small, enchanting town. It’s hard to find a more magical scene than the colorful, snow-capped houses and windy, quiet streets that look out onto the placid lake, where you’re likely to spot swans, by the way -- all set against the backdrop of Austria’s stunning Alps. It’s a wintery fairytale come to life.

LAPLAND, FINLAND

source: unsplash

The largest and northernmost region of Finland, Lapland is straight out of a storybook -- home to sled-pulling huskies and reindeer, the Northern Lights….and Santa Claus. That’s right, you can visit Father Christmas at his workshop. Take a sleigh ride through this unbelievably beautiful arctic wilderness, and you’ll feel ALL the festive feelings.

QUÉBEC CITY, CANADA

source: unsplash

In the winter, the streets of Old Québec transform into a picturesque holiday village. Blankets of snow, decorations everywhere, a Winter Carnival, and a German Christmas Market to boot. You can even explore the Hôtel de Glace, the only ice hotel in America. There’s no shortage of winter activities and events to enjoy as you wander Québec City’s wintery cobblestone streets.

WOODSTOCK, VERMONT

source: instagram.com/woodstockvt

Woodstock is perhaps one of the prettiest towns in New England, and it’s especially captivating in the winter. Known for its historic covered bridges and its Christmas-card worthy Woodstock Inn & Resort, it’s a true small town in every sense -- there’s not even one traffic light to be found. This mountain town is the perfect place to cozy up and take in the holiday magic.

by Carly Weaver

Carly, a New-Jersey-native-turned-Los-Angeles-local, has worked in digital marketing for the past decade doing everything from copywriting to creative production to brand strategy. But she’s always had three great loves: food, travel, and writing. That’s where Ogden Pacific comes in. 

All-time favorite travel story? That time she slept in a drawer in a Florence hospital. All-time favorite meal? Well, as a decidedly unemotional person she’s been moved to tears by a single bite of food more than once...so let’s not even go there right now. All-time favorite destinations? The Jersey Shore for Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream and pure nostalgia. The British Virgin Islands for endless crystal clear seas and some of the nicest people on earth. Montana for that clean, crisp, mountain air and $2 Moose Drools enjoyed over dive bar shuffleboard. And Italy for literally...every...single...thing. Including that bite of burrata she cried over.

She’s here to help inform you, guide you, entertain you, and inspire you to find your next all-time favorite trip. (And also to help make sure you don’t end up in a drawer while you’re there.)