3 Incredible Winter Getaways To Inspire Your Vacation Plans

3 Incredible Winter Getaways To Inspire Your Vacation Plans

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While you might be used to taking your annual vacation during the summer months to enjoy the balmy air, the warm climate, and the sun’s rays, you might be looking to break the mold a little this year. Instead of checking yourself into an all-inclusive resort overlooking a crowded beach, gorging yourself on all sorts of sweet treats and cocktails, and sunning yourself around the generic kidney shaped pool, you might be keen to head a little more off the beaten track.

The easiest way to change up your vacations is to hot foot it to a new destination during a different season. Rather than pack your bags and catch a flight during the summer months, take a jaunt during the chillier winter months instead. This will open up a whole new world of destinations, activities, and accommodation that you can enjoy. If you want to immerse yourself in a new culture, sample the delights of new gastronomic cuisine and venture to off-piste shores, then a winter holiday could be just what you’re looking for. Take a look at these three incredible winter getaways to inspire your vacation plans.

Iceland

If you thought that Iceland was all Vikings, the Northern Lights, and a laid back and healthy lifestyle, then you wouldn’t be too far from the truth. In a country where over half the population believe in fairies, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this was a nation of eccentric customs and weird and wonderful people. However, venture to the Land of Fire and Ice, and you will be greeted with warm tolerant arms.

Iceland is the perfect place to get away from it all, enjoy some new culinary dishes and experience some of the world’s most awe inspiring geological phenomena. If seeing the Aurora Borealis is high up on your bucket list, then you could consider booking yourself on one of the many Northern Lights spotting tours on the island. The experts that lead these tours know the best spots from which to view the laser show in the sky. Alternatively, if you are eager to break away from the crowds, you can hire your own 4×4 to head out to the darkest corners of the island to pitch up and await the solar flares in the sky.

Hiring a vehicle on Iceland is a necessity if you wish to venture down to the Pingvellir National Park where you can straddle two different tectonic plates, head to the glorious Gullfoss waterfall or take in the harbor in the capital city Reykjavik. You might want to while away your days snowshoeing across a glacier, whale watching from a boat tour in the Norwegian Sea or people watching in a cafe in the capital city. Pickled herring, skyr, and cured shark are protein rich healthy foods typical of an Icelandic diet. Restaurants across the island serve local fayre as well as more international and gourmet cuisine. Iceland is the ultimate getaway for those travelers who adore the great outdoors and being inspired by awesome vistas and views.

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Finland

Forget Helsinki for a moment and consider the ultimate Finnish escape during winter time. If you are free in December, why not consider spending a little bit of your winter in Lapland to meet Father Christmas, feed Rudolf and the gang and enjoy toasting chestnuts over an open fire. Lapland is the winter paradise for little human beings who still believe in the magic of Christmas, Santa’s workshop and the elves conveyor belt of toys. You could be spending your days enjoying the snow-laden vistas, dog sledding through the Finnish forests and experiencing the Northern Lights from an alternative corner of the globe.

Venturing to the Arctic Circle over the festive period means the little people in your life can enjoy meeting the man in the red suit. They’ll be able to take a tour of his workshop, see the elves in action and take a ride on one of the pedigree reindeer. You can then retire to your log cabin in the woods. The isolation that a trip to Lapland brings means that your family won’t be reliant on social media, gadgets, WiFi, and gizmos. Your offspring will enjoy spending their days playing old school board games, enjoying home-cooked food and experiencing quality time together as a family.

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Isle of Skye

If you fancy heading to Scotland, the further north you can get, the better. For the ultimate Scottish winter break, head to the beautiful island of Skye. With more geological wonders than you can shake a stick at, delightful Scottish hospitality and beautiful lochs, this Scottish island looks like a postcard once the snow has settled upon the mountains.

If you love being outdoors and adore nothing more than hiking up a mountain, then head to the Trotternish Peninsula. Here, you won’t have to worry about seeing hordes of tourists as you will be getting off the beaten track to enjoy your own little piece of the Scottish countryside. The mountain trails are relatively untouched but are well marked to ensure your family’s safety. If a strenuous ramble isn’t your bag, you might be more eager to head to Fairy Glen. Just as its name suggests, this area is lush, green and fable-like. You can imagine elves, fairies, and imps enjoying the landscape and turquoise azure pools dotted around the hillside. The further you are able to walk up the fairy glen trail, the more sparkling and blue the waters become.

For the ultimate Scottish culinary experience, head to the Skye capital of Portree. This thriving little harbor town will give you the opportunity to go dolphin watching, sea eagle spotting and partake in some local delicacies at one of the many delis. Portree is bustling, thriving and has many authentic eateries where you can enjoy a delightful Scottish kipper and oatcake breakfast.

Winter doesn’t have to be a time to hole yourself up at home. Think a little more outside the box and consider using these ideas to inspire your next winter getaway.

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