DESTINATIONS
The best destinations for winter vacations
Kristen Griffith
USATODAY
Nov. 14, 2018, 1:00 p.m. ET
The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is the second best holiday winter vacation destination. One of the annual attractions is the National Christmas Tree lighting on the Ellipse, just south of the White House.
JIM LO SCALZO, EPA-EFEIn fourth place is Cincinnati. Swan Lake during the Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo is one of the popular tourist attractions.
NONE, XXX CINCINATI ZOONew York was ranked fifth overall but it was No. 1 for attractions. One of its best-known winter attractions is the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
Brad Barket, Getty ImagesBoston was ranked sixth overall and seventh for attractions. Here, a sailboat at the Charles River Community Boating center is decorated with lights with the Prudential Building seen in the distance.
CJ GUNTHER, EPA-EFE
Minneapolis, at No. 12, has low travel costs and a slew of cold weather activities.
Christopher GreyIndianapolis, at No. 15, decorates for the holidays with The Circle of Lights downtown.
NONE, XXX INDIANAPOLIS CONVENTION & VI
At 17, Louisville, Ky., features what is considered the world's largest underground Christmas lights display.
Louisvillemegacavern.comBaltimore, ranked No. 18, goes all out decorating for the holidays. The area's display has become known as the Miracle on 34th Street.
Cal Crary
The Detroit region, at No. 22 overall, is the worst place for cold weather activities, but has low local costs to make up for it.
Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press
Albuquerque has the best weather out of all the 32 winter vacation destinations. It ranked 24th overall.
NONE, XXX New Mexico Department Of TouMilwaukee placed 25th overall and in the weather, cold weather activities and safety categories.
Darren Hauck, Getty ImagesThe sculpture of Arthur Vandenberg at Pearl Street and Monroe in Grand Rapids, Mich. is seen blanketed by snow. The Grand Rapids region is No. 26 on the list.
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