Another vote for Whistler - a couple days in Vancouver combined with several days in Whistler would be a nice vacation. Sun Valley would be another one as well as Telluride.
As much as Boston is a great place to visit, I would not recommend it as a destination in the winter. All the others season are a much better time to visit.
If money is no object…there is a teeny airport in Sun Valley. But the price to add on to fly there from almost anywheee is VERY high relatively speaking. And the airports to fly into otherwise are Salt Lake and Boise.
Fargo or Winnipeg? Hotels there will be inexpensive at that time of year, unless there is a regional ice-skating completion during your stay. By the time you return home, you’ll appreciate Texas even more, saving yourself loads of money next year when you decide to enjoy a “staycation” after all. That leaves you with more financial resources to spend on college costs!
Ok…thinking out of the box…what about Nashville?
I would be sceptical about snow for any ski destinations in the west (Co, UT, etc). We are still in t shirts and shorts in Utah.
How about Quebec?
It is very easy to get to the ski resorts in Colorado from DIA. Resorts Express (and several other companies) run shuttle vans to and from all the resort towns almost every hour. They pick you up at DIA and drop you right at the resort of your choice. Once you are in the resorts, there are buses around the towns and even between the towns (Summit county, or Vail/Beaver Creek). You could also fly into Aspen airport, or Steamboat Springs, or Crested Butte.
I’d go to Utah, and I’d go in January.
I’ve heard there is even a train that goes from Denver to the mountains for skiing (tho we’ve never caught it).
Last time I went downhill skiing (or tried to) we went to Deer Valley in Utah! It was so fun. My youngest D was in high school and we went in February during school vacation week.
@Sybylla Don’t they make snow out there? Killington, in VT, is open now and more soon to follow.
And in the New England flats, some might wear shorts any time it’s around 40. Lol.
The OP needs to do this vacation between 12-16 and 1/2 which will really impact airfare costs.
The 12/16 time period is when college students are traveling home from college. The following week is Christmas. And this vacation needs to end by 1/2 and New Years weekend is usually expensive travel time as well.
To the OP…any chance there is a getaway within driving distance of your home…l.that would just be a fun place to go to…and not be home?
Honestly I think the time period you are discussing is a hit travel time, and it maybe difficult to get affordable plane tickets for more than several people on this short notice…to the popular places folks are suggesting.
I’m not trying to be a Debbie Downer here… but we did a family vacation from December 26 to December 31 one year…and we booked it a full YEAR in advance.
Oh my goodness…I have never planned anything a year in advance in my life! I’ve always be a bit of a wanderer and spontaneous (or maybe impulsive I think my mother used to say)
Luckily it is only two of us and so airfares, although much higher than a few weeks later in Jan, still seem to be available.
I am realizing the logistics for a ski vacation are too frustrating for me to plan out for this trip. I want a stress free holiday!
Have resigned myself to looking at possible city vacations.
Since we do have two weeks I think I will also to fly to Houston and take a road trip back to Dallas with my daughter stopping in San Antonio to see the Riverwalk decked out for the holidays (we did a long weekend in San Antonio last fall which was wonderful but the pictures of their holiday decorations has stayed with me as a “want to see”) maybe stopping at some other locations along the way (suggestions?).we can then have a few days at home before we fly out for a getaway. Destination still to be determined.
New Bruensfeld (I’m sure I didn’t spell that right). It’s a neat town not far from SAN Antonio…originally a German settlement. Neat mining town. Fun little shops. We thought it was lots of fun!
“I would be sceptical about snow for any ski destinations in the west (Co, UT, etc). We are still in t shirts and shorts in Utah.”
One of my kids skied in CO last weekend. Limited trails but there is skiing now so no doubt there will be in Dec/Jan.
If you are still thinking about ski vacations, we spent a week right after Christmas in Lake Tahoe one year. Skiing was great, and it’s beautiful there.
@thumper1, that’s New Braunfels, Texas…Agree it’s a fun little town!
Thanks for the spelling correction! It was a fun little town.
To the OP…what about a little “resort” vacation in San Antonio. Since you don’t have to pay for airfare, maybe pick a nicer hotel. Do some spa visit. Go to some nice places to eat. And relax. Find a place with an indoor pool and spa.
There are two trains t0/through the Colorado Mtns. Amtrak goes through and has stops near ski areas (Frasier, near, but not in Winter Park and Glenwood Springs, about 40 miles to Aspen). There is also the Ski Train, which goes from Denver to Winter Park on weekends, but it is a day trip where you go up in the morning, ski, and return about 4 pm. Reservations absolutely required.
A one-of-a-kind great vacation starts at Miranda Gardens Resort (cabins) along Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt County, CA. It is so relaxing, and cozy staying in cabins with fireplaces, among the Giant Redwoods, Sempervirens. Our best family vacation started there, then drive south to San Francisco, Pacifica, Monterey and Carmel by the Sea. Stop in Big Sur overnight, then travel to Santa Barbara, and land in Santa Monica. Somewhere in there is Santa Cruz. Had such a fun time driving down Highway 101. 2 weeks is perfect. One of our most memorable, relaxing, scenic, awe inspiring Christmas vacation trips that didn’t involve swimming or skiing. Of course, we did tour some colleges, including Berkeley, Stanford, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Tech and Pomona. We’re East Coast people with 2 kids who went to a CT boarding school. Never thought I’d have one end up at Berkeley, and one at Pomona. Guess that trip made a big impression. Gotta say Big Sur was the most fun!
@Sybylla Don’t they make snow out there?
That is a sad answer to the lack of REAL snow LOL. But yes, they make it.