When the winter workload is at its heaviest, planning the perfect getaway can feel like the light at the end of a very long due diligence tunnel. And while sun and sand have their place, sometimes what you really want is a getaway that feels like a winter wonderland. These options take advantage of the season. Play your cards right and you’ll return to your office with an adventure you’ll be able to brag about year-round.
> Play it Cool in New York — Kick off the holiday season with a shopping trip that delivers great deals on the brand names you love. New York City’s newest offering includes a scenic ferry ride out to Staten Island. Empire outlets, the first shopping outlet to open in the five boroughs, includes popular stops like Brooks Brothers, H&M, Nordstrom Rack, Polo and more. Pack an extra bag for the trip home. You’ll need it. (empireoutletsnyc.com)
> Go for the Cold in Colorado — Skip the ho-hum vacations and opt for a bespoke adventure instead. Choose the Ski Adventure from Four Seasons Resort and Residences and you’ll head to both Jackson Hole and Vail. The adventure pairs luxury hotel stays with NetJets private charters for a fully customizable itinerary. From fittings for custom handmade skis to a private wildlife safari (starting with an aerial tour of the Teton Mountain Range and continuing by snowmobile in the most secluded pockets of Yellowstone), to a private bourbon tasting, you can mix and match options to create the kind of winter getaway you’ve always dreamed of. (fourseasons.com/netjets/ski-adventure/)
> Get the Full Winter Package in Fairbanks — Imagine the look on the faces of colleagues when you return from mushing a team of huskies across the Alaskan wilderness with the photos to prove your prowess. And that’s just the beginning. Explore Denali National Park and Preserve (pictured above), make your way across the Arctic Circle, or take the family and show them where Santa lives at the North Pole. If temperatures dip a little lower than you’d like, simply warm-up in an Alaskan hot spring at the end of an adventure-filled day. It’s the Alaskan way. (explorefairbanks.com)
Heather Greenwood Davis is a lawyer, a contributing editor to National Geographic Traveler, and a columnist for The Globe and Mail. Reach her at [email protected].