When you think of getting away during the winter, do long stretches of sand and rum-based drinks with little paper umbrellas come to mind? Or are you one of those who embrace the weather, praying for sunny skies and fresh powder on the mountain? If you welcome winter for all of the recreational opportunities that the white stuff brings, have we got some getaways for you. These destinations welcome the season and give you a chance to make the most of the cold weather. See for yourself why you don’t need to spend time at the beach for a winter getaway you’ll long remember at these destinations.

1. Yellowstone Ski Festival

For more than 40 years, cross-country skiers have kicked off their season in West Yellowstone, Montana, on the famous Rendezvous Ski Trails at one of the largest ski gatherings in the country. At the Yellowstone Ski Festival, held just outside of Yellowstone National Park, more than 3,500 skiers come each year to take advantage of the 35 kilometers of rolling, groomed trails that snake their way through picturesque lodgepole pines and across windswept meadows. As if that wasn’t enough, the festival hosts series of Nordic clinics, races, biathlons, gear demos, an indoor ski show, and a huge variety of presentations and classes hosted by former Olympic athletes and lifelong Nordic skiers.
If there’s a question about cross-country skiing clothes, then the answer must be Rossignol’s Poursuite line. Made for women and men, they’re the best thing for Nordic skiers who don’t want to overheat in cold weather. The Poursuite Half Zip Top is a great option to help remove moisture during extreme effort while maintaining warmth.

2. Whistler World Ski & Snowboard Festival

Whistler does not need any help drawing visitors. With 36 lifts accessing 200 trails across 8,100 acres, the area has simply epic skiing and snowboarding. People flock here for a good reason—it averages more than 38 feet of snow a year. If you come early in the season, check out the Whistler Film Festival, which will give you plenty to do when you need a break from skiing. But it’s the late-season Whistler World Ski & Snowboard Festival that draws the most attention in April. What better way to send off the ski season in style than this event with free outdoor concerts, freeride championships, and even roller derby. Plus you can enjoy spring skiing at its best.
If you’re looking for the perfect pair of pants to wear while skiing or snowboarding, look no further than the midweight Mind Ride Pant by Homeschool. They’re good on their own in warmer weather and make a great base layer in really cold conditions.

3. Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt

The Grand Prix Ski-Doo de Valcourt is the world’s largest winter motorsport event. Held in Valcourt, Canada, about 90 minutes east of Montreal, the grand prix is a two-day event that attracts the top riders in North America. If it’s racing on snow, it’s here: snowmobile, motocross and ATV on ice and the road, snocross, you name it. There’s also food, music, and a family fun zone for the kids.
It’s cold up in the Great White North, so pack Carhartt’s Force Extremes Sweatshirt. Made for hard-working folks who work up a sweat in the cold, it’s the layer to have under a coat.

4. Bryce Canyon National Park

Words fail to describe the awe-inspiring beauty and fascinating juxtaposition of snowshoeing through Utah’s red rock desert. The shocking red towers, spires, and hoodoos stand in stark contrast to the blinding white snow and deep blue sky. It’s a photographer’s dream. Park rangers even lead full-moon snowshoeing trips after dark. In the winter, the park is hauntingly quiet and stunningly beautiful—and this is a trip never to be forgotten.
Cold feet aren’t just uncomfortable—they can be dangerous. Don’t take any chances. Pull on Point 6’s Ski Medium Socks to enjoy warm and dry feet all day long.

5. Sawtooth Outdoor Bonspiel

This is one of the most unique things to do this winter. You remember curling, right? That’s the sport that everyone gets enthralled by during the Winter Olympics. A bonspiel is a curling tournament, and they are usually held on indoor ice rinks. But this event in Stanley, Idaho, takes place outdoors on a frozen lake. The Sawtooth Outdoor Bonspiel takes place in January, where you can watch the action, such as it is, and enjoy the camaraderie of the sport. You can even take a learn-to-curl class while you’re there.
The town of Stanley is surrounded by hundreds of alpine lakes and the craggy Sawtooth Mountains, which feature 130 peaks taller than 9,000 feet. It’s also an outdoor mecca, with fat biking, snowshoeing, hiking, snowmobiling, downhill and cross-country skiing, and ice fishing. It’s an hour from Sun Valley’s world-class ski resorts and near several natural hot springs where you can soak cold, weary muscles.
It can get cold in Stanley, so be ready with First Lite’s Brooks Down Sweater. It’s super light, yet shockingly warm thanks to DWR-treated 800-fill down.
All of the clothing featured above is powered by 37.5 Technology, which moves moisture away from the body to help maintain the optimal core temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius and the next-to-skin relative humidity of 37.5 percent. It dries incredibly quickly—and it doesn’t get stinky like some other technical fabrics. Most importantly, it is not a coating or a treatment—it’s permanently embedded within the fiber so it never washes out. It’s the perfect clothing technology for active people who enjoy playing in cold weather. Fortunately, some of the biggest and most advanced outdoor brands have incorporated it into their product lines.
So while you spend your winter in search of fresh tracks and rosy cheeks, make sure to pack clothing made with 37.5 Technology. Time in the snow is much more fun when you’re not cold and wet.
Written by Shaine Smith for Matcha in partnership with 37.5.