Winter in New York can be enchanting, but everyone can use a respite. Allow us to humbly recommend these five escapes.
Costa Rica
A visit to Costa Rica can be a transformative experience in any season, but the winter months are the best time to visit. The country has something for absolutely everyone. Gorgeous, pristine beaches line the coast, while the expansive rain forests further inland play host to a diverse array of birds, reptiles, and monkeys. If you’re the adventurous type, your options include breathtaking hikes, world-class rock climbing, scuba diving, zip-lining, and white-water rafting to name only a few. And, if you’d rather just decompress and enjoy the sunshine, Costa Rica’s white sand beaches that border both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are as relaxing as they are stunning.
Maui, Hawaii
Maui is incontrovertibly one of the most beautiful places on the planet. The beaches that run along its coast framing the crystal clear water beyond are breathtaking and hypnotic. Home to the Wai’anapanapa State Park, which features transcendent fresh-water caves, dramatic and expansive cliffs, as well as the world’s largest non-active volcano, Maui is a nature lover’s paradise. Hiking, cliff-diving, and effortlessly drifting away in the sunshine are Maui specialties.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
The Amalfi Coast—located around the corner from Naples—is not as warm as Maui or Costa Rica, but it’s still a great choice for a winter getaway. Typically over-crowded in the summer months, the region offers winter visitors the opportunity to experience all it has to offer in a much more relaxed atmosphere. A visit to the Amalfi Coast in winter is less about lounging on its beaches—the temperature typically hovers around 55 degrees—and more about experiencing its stunning vistas and varied amenities. The region is home to incredibly beautiful and lavish hotels, elegant and sophisticated fine dining, and numerous festivals that are constantly running. A great place to unwind and relax, the Amalfi Coast offers up stunning scenery, incredible food, and a serene yet vibrant atmosphere.
Miami, Florida
For a sun-soaked—and convenient—winter escape that’s right around the corner, Miami is hard to beat. Home to gorgeous beaches, a vast array of culinary treasures, and an arts and culture scene that has exploded over recent years, Miami’s vibrant pulse is sure to invigorate even the most stressed of travelers. With its wide variety of prestigious art galleries, museums, and music and arts festivals, the neon-infused, pastel paradise of Miami is as diverse and exciting now as ever before.
Cape Town, South Africa
Winter in New York means summer in South Africa, and summer in South Africa is spectacular. In addition to an amazing array of fine-dining establishments and impressive wineries, the region also boasts beaches that are picturesque—and completely covered in brilliant white sand. There aren’t many beaches in the world where one could run across a penguin, but a stroll down to Boulders Beach—home to an African Penguin colony—is one of those places. Other local beaches offer their own distinct charm, and a few feature expansive views of the famous and stunning Table Mountain. Whichever sandy haven in Cape Town you choose, it’s bound to provide you with a unique and memorable winter getaway experience.
Photo courtesy of: ©iStock.com/Roberto A Sanchez
