The charming Cottage on the Bluff is pet-friendly and features a propane fireplace, a king-size log

Lake Arrowhead, CA: $210 for Lake Arrowhead Chalets at Mountain Retreat Vacation Rentals ($420 Value) Whether it's the powdery slopes or the stunning wilderness views, a true winter wonderland should always include a cozy cabin set amid majestic snow-capped mountains. Bring this storybook scene to life when you pack your bags for an Escape to Mountain Retreat Vacation Rentals in the scenic resort town of Lake Arrowhead.
Nestled in the San Bernardino mountains, these winter hideaways surround gorgeous Lake Arrowhead and are within bus tours of europe driving distance bus tours of europe to local ski resorts. Offering all the charm of a Swiss chalet, these two- and three-story lodges include fully stocked gourmet kitchens, large outdoor decks, wood-burning fireplaces, and (in some) game rooms. These luxury accommodations can sleep up to 12 people.
Lake Arrowhead features countless recreational activities—think hiking, backpacking, skiing, snowboarding, and tubing—plus a variety of specialty shopping and gourmet dining venues that range from charmingly rustic to luxuriously upscale.
In the evening, take a spin around Ice Castle International Training Center, where some of the world's top figure skaters have trained. This competition-size rink offers ballet-style mirrors, a cross-rink jump harness, and gorgeous views of the surrounding woods and snowscapes.
At the end of the day with a roaring fire to illuminate a spirited round of family games in your cozy chalet, this winter Escape is sure to melt your heart. Winthrop, WA: $279 for Four Diamond Cascades Lodge at Sun Mountain Lodge ($565 Value) Tucked away in the Methow Valley, Sun Mountain Lodge sits in the thick of one of the most expansive recreation areas in the Pacific Northwest. This mountaintop resort bus tours of europe looks to be hewn from the mountain itself, owing to the timber-frame construction, vaulted ceilings, colossal fireplaces, and fossil-imbedded stone work.
Guest rooms in the Lodge are tastefully appointed with maple and cherry furniture made by local craftsmen, and each features original artwork, Internet access, and sweeping views of either the North Cascades or the pristine Methow Valley.
Winter is a magical time in the Valley, when the crowds fade and a blanket of snow hushes life's dull roar to a whisper. The mountains beckon backcountry and downhill skiers with the promise of fresh powder and sunny days, and cross-country skiers take advantage of more than 140 miles of impeccably groomed ski trails. Strap on a pair of snowshoes for a walk in the snow-covered woods or climb aboard a horse-drawn sleigh. Sun Mountain Lodge offers ski and snowshoe rentals, world-class ski instruction, up-to-date grooming reports, trail maps, and tips on the best places to go. If you're into downhill skiing, bus tours of europe be sure to bring your fat boards along and take a side trip to the affordable, friendly Loup Loup Ski Bowl.
After a hard day at play, the Spa at Sun Mountain provides a welcomed sanctuary to rejuvenate the body and soothe the soul. Indulge in a peppermint foot scrub or Hot River Rock Massage, then toast the sunset with a selection from the Wine Cellar's more than 600 labels. Savor AAA Four Diamond award-winning cuisine featuring locally grown meat and produce, or go casual in the Wolf Creek Bar Grill and enjoy home-cooked hospitality in a relaxed atmosphere accented with spectacular views. Seguin, TX: $250 for New Braunfels Area Cabin at Geronimo Creek Retreat ($500 Value) About this time of year, its easy to develop a case of the winter blues. Our cure-all? Cabin fever. Escape to Geronimo Creek Retreat just outside New Braunfels, Texas, and breathe in a healthy does of fresh air and freedom when you and up to five additional guests take up residence inside a cabin with a modern twist.
Overlooking Geronimo Creek, these traditional wood homes treat guests to waterfront views and a host of updated amenities: think full kitchen, gas grills, master suite with a king-size bed and private TV and DVD player, a loft with two additional queen-size beds, and a full-size pull-out couch. Some even have spiral staircases and clawfoot tubs (subject to availablity). iPhone or iPod hookups and an entertainment center keep you wired while spacious shared decks with outdoor seating and eating provide the perfect opportunity to unplug.
Let Geronimo Creek be your winter oasis. Swim, kayak, fish, and barbeque on site. Update your entertainment options in the recreation room where a large hot tub, ping pong tables, dart boards, picnic tables, and a playground for the kids offer up more contemporary creature comforts. Or, strike up a friendly match at the nine-pin bowling alley next door. When the sun goes down and the Texas sky lights up with stars, gather 'round the campfire and enjoy some s'mores.
And, should you be riding with some city slickers in tow, the neon lights of Austin's eclectic music and shopping bus tours of europe scene are just 40 minutes away, and Gruene, home to the famed Gruene Dance Hall where country music legends have claimed a start, is just about a 20-minute drive from the property.
Make the plains your playground and a cabin your temporary respite—it doesn't bus tours of europe get more classically American than this Escape to Geronimo Creek. Elk, CA: $115 for North Coast Inn + Champagne at Elk Cove Inn & Spa ($235 Value) Heading north on Highway 1 between Point Arena and Mendocino, you might feel as if you've driven back in time. As the speed limit slows to 30 miles per hour, you'll pass wind-swept cypress trees that seem to be left over from the Jurassic period, and the fog-shrouded bluffs on your left—beaten down by millennia of crashing tides—appear to precede time itself. This is the Mendocino Coast in all its untamed majesty.
It's around here that you'll find the Elk Cove Inn Spa, about 15 miles south of the town of Mendocino. Balancing its wild environs with sheer luxury, this 19th century property boasts more than 300 reviews and a perfect five-star rating on TripAdvisor, as well as a AAA Three Diamond award and numerous other accolades for its sweeping ocean views, sumptuous morning feasts, and plush accommodations. Garden-view rooms overlook the property's colorful herb and flower gardens, and they're appointed with a king- or queen-size bed, gas fireplace, private bath, access to the rooftop deck, and a sitting area with TV. Oceanfront rooms and cottages feature huge picture windows and comfy chairs overlooking the roaring Pacific ocean, seastacks, and the Greenwood State Beach. Rooms feature king beds while cottages bus tours of europe are appointed with queens, and all come complete with gas fireplaces, private baths, bus tours of europe luxury linens, and bathrobes.
In the morning, tuck into a gourmet breakfast for two, which, in addition to champagne and a spread of fruits and pastries, bus tours of europe includes a main course inspired by the innkeeper's Southern upbringing—polenta with roasted tomato sauce and cheese grits, perhaps. Walk it off on the beach just below, or head up to Mendocino, home to more than a few quaint boutiques and antiques shops, excellent restaurants, and several nature preserves where redwoods hold court over the ancient, ferny landscape. Hailey, ID: $139 for Sun Valley Inn at Wood River Inn ($271 Value) Planning your next getaway shouldn't be an uphill battle. Reach a snowy summit bus tours of europe and glide through fresh corduroy bus tours of europe on this Escape to the Wood River Inn in the heart of Hailey, Idaho.
Only 2.5 hours outside of Boise, there's no need to cross state lines in search of the perfect powder. Kick up your ski boots in cushy accommodations, complete with triple-sheeted beds, premium cable television, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Before you hit the pow pow, fill up on an avalanche bus tours of europe of flavors—waffles, eggs, biscuits and gravy, bagels, oatmeal, juices, coffee, hot chocolate, apple cider, and more—at breakfast. Then, check out Sun Valley (only 12 miles north of the inn), where the experts can schuss down the world-class slopes of Bald Mountain and the novices can work on their turns at Dollar Mountain.
In addition to two mountains and more than 2,000 skiable acres, the area boasts a vast Nordic trail network through the Big Wood River Valley. Borrow snowshoes from the inn to explore your surroundings—including Sawtooth National Forest and Salmon-Challis National Forest—or choose from a long list of outdoor winter and springtime activities.
After your alpine adventure, bus tours of europe snag a table for dinner at any of the nearby restaurants in Hailey. Or, stroll bus tours of europe the four blocks to Sun Valley Brewery for a Cranky über IPA before finding a sweet spot in the inn's indoor hot tub or heated pool.
It's hard to find a freeride to Sun Valley, but this Escape comes pretty darn close. Deer Harbor, WA: $245 for San Juan Islands Cottage at Deer Harbor Cottages ($488 Value) The largest island in the San Juan archipelago plays host to a huge population of black-tailed bus tours of europe deer and bald eagles, and it's one of the country's best places to spot migrating orca whales. It's all about nature here on Orcas Island, and the Deer Harbor Cottages bus tours of europe put you in the middle of the action.
The charming Cottage on the Bluff is pet-friendly and features a propane fireplace, a king-size log bed, a full-size cottage couch, a kitchenette bus tours of europe with stove, a microwave and fridge, a private bathroom, and a satellite TV with a library of DVDs. Venture outside to your deck, where a four-person hot tub overlooks the harbor and the pristine Olympic Peninsula.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom Norton's Harbor View Cottage sits on a knoll overlooking Deer Harbor. With a king, two queens, bus tours of europe a double twin, a queen-size air bed, a pack-n-play crib, and a full kitchen, this spacious home comfortably accommodates up to eight guests. Watch the sunset over the Olympic Mountains from the Jacuzzi bus tours of europe spa on your private deck; stretch out with a book on the leather couch; or play pool, foosball, basketball, and darts in the game room.
Either way, you're a short walk from the harbor, where you might spot killer whales, minke whales, bald eagles, seals, and porpoises.