If work is quickly becoming little more than an office space to daydream about your worldly travels, it’s time to scratch the itch. Pick a destination, and schedule a vacation for this winter. But before you go jetting off, take a look at how you spend your time and get to know yourself a little better, to figure out where to go. After all, there’s no time (or money) to waste on a trip you’re not sure you’ll love.
Do you consider trips a moment for new adventures, or total relaxation? Not sure if you’re all about the museums, or if you’d do better with a food scene? A good place to start is looking at what’s important to you on a daily basis. Find the home habit that describes you best and check out our recommendation for a winter getaway you’ll love so much, the office will never get you back.
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You always have music on You’re that friend that has the decked-out stereo system and the record player. Or maybe you’ve got an arsenal of guitars perched at the ready around your house. If so, use those personal days to go listen to some killer live music. And what better way than a fantastic lineup at the music festival of your choice? |
Most people associate festivals with summertime, but there are actually plenty of options to choose from if you’re looking to attend one January through March. For a warm destination, check out the Cayamo cruise festival, which departs from Miami, Florida February 3rd and travels to St. Croix and Antigua before arriving back in Miami on February 10th. This year’s lineup includes the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, blues singer Mavis Staples, Boston-born band Lake Street Dive, and R&B artist Anderson East, among others. If you’re the kind of winter person who loves the cold (we don’t understand it, but we accept it,) look in to the WinterWonderGrass Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The bluegrass and folk festival features artists like Margo Price, Greensky Bluegrass, and Molly Tuttle, and honestly, the mountain scenery doesn’t get more idyllic for jamming to Americana tunes.
You refuse to turn on the heat
Used to being frozen 24/7? Take it one step further and visit Quebec, Canada for their 2020 Winter Carnival. Main attractions include a 300-foot-long tubing incline, ice sculpture workshops, and concerts and night parades. Make sure to schedule a visit to the Hôtel de Glace—a hotel made entirely of snow and ice. You can even spend a night in one of the themed suites, or just make it a day visit and try a cocktail from the Bar de Glace, served in a glass made of—you guessed it—ice.
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Your place always smells like a new recipe You’re adventurous with food, and your friends are always commenting on how yummy your place smells when they walk in the door. Isn’t it time you indulge your own olfactory senses with exciting new flavors? Our recommendation: eat your way through the diverse food scene in New Orleans, Louisiana this Mardi Gras. |
Whether you’ve got a sweet tooth or a penchant for heat, the Big Easy has you covered. Try Beignet’s (basically a French doughnut) at the iconic Café du Monde in the French Quarter or at Morning Call in City Park, then bring on the spice around dinnertime with a classic creole dish like Jambalaya, gumbo, Poboys, or a crawfish boil.
You're kind of a hoarder
This is a no-judgement zone, folks: we all have our fair share of laundry pile-ups and tchotchkes that just can’t be thrown out. But if your walls feel like they’re closing in, consider traveling to a place that’ll inspire you to start fresh with its pared-down simplicity: Stockholm, Sweden.
The key here is to pack light so you’re not feeling bogged down by all that clutter at home—and lucky you, because monochromatic black and white outfits are the typical modus operandi here. Don your black jeans, white shirt, and a black leather jacket or long cardigan and go for a walk to check out the modern architecture. Visit the Artipelag museum for world-renowned art and breathtaking sea views, and even stay at the IKEA Hotell in Stockholm. When you come back, you’ll have a new perspective on all the stuff—and maybe even feel inspired to take a couple trash bags and donation boxes and go to town on it all.
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You have original artwork all over the place Whether you’re a creator or a collector, look no further for a new muse than Santa Fe, New Mexico. It’s the oldest capital city in the United States, and one of the most highly concentrated areas for art galleries in the country. Walk Canyon Road, a half-mile strip housing over a hundred galleries, boutiques, and restaurants to get a taste, then visit the Georgia O’Keeffe museum for a deep-dive on the iconic modern artist. Or, for a wacky, interactive experience, visit House of Eternal Return, an installation created by art collective Meow Wolf, with the help of Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin. The installation takes visitors through an abandoned bowling alley that the artists have transformed into a sci-fi-like Victorian house, encouraging each person to explore as they please. |
You have original artwork all over the place
Whether you’re a creator or a collector, look no further for a new muse than Santa Fe, New Mexico. It’s the oldest capital city in the United States, and one of the most highly concentrated areas for art galleries in the country. Walk Canyon Road, a half-mile strip housing over a hundred galleries, boutiques, and restaurants to get a taste, then visit the Georgia O’Keeffe museum for a deep-dive on the iconic modern artist. Or, for a wacky, interactive experience, visit House of Eternal Return, an installation created by art collective Meow Wolf, with the help of Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin. The installation takes visitors through an abandoned bowling alley that the artists have transformed into a sci-fi-like Victorian house, encouraging each person to explore as they please.
Your home looks like a greenhouse
You might not be able to grow a forest in your home with the winter tundra rampaging outside, but you can definitely take yourself on a lush trip to Cape Town, South Africa. Our winter is their summer, meaning January through March is prime time to visit this adventurous city.
Have barrels of fun at one of the many wine festivals in February—the Grande Provence Harvest Festival in Franschhoek, just an hour outside of Cape Town, is a local favorite. Or go on a hike through a nearby conservation area such as Newlands Forest, where you’ll find rare and native plants like the indigenous fynbos.
