4 Winter Wonderlands That Cost Less Than A Ski Trip

If you’re ready to grab your winter gear and celebrate the season in a snowy wonderland, but don’t have the budget for an expensive ski trip—think outside the slopes. In cities across the U.S., you can experience fun things to do in the snow and enjoy wintry landscapes without the high costs of a ski resort. Here are four of our favorite snow activities.

Lace your skates in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Test your skating skills outdoors at the Rothman Ice Rink in Philadelphia. The rink is located in front of Philadelphia's historic City Hall. Photo credit: Center City District

Known as the City of Brotherly Love’s centerpiece, Dilworth Park transforms into a magical wonderland each winter. Book your Philadelphia hotel and head over to the Rothman Ice Rink where locals and visitors glide and spin in front of the backdrop of the historic 1901 Philadelphia City Hall building. The rink opens in mid-November and welcomes skaters through mid-February. Admission is $13 to $15, including skate rentals—but coming equipped with your own skates knocks $10 off the price.

After your icy workout, warm up with a tour of Philadelphia City Hall, one of the world’s largest municipal buildings. Its famous 27-ton bronze statue of William Penn atop the clock tower stands complete with an observation deck where you can take in a stunning panoramic winter view of the city. Tickets range from $4 to $15, and children under 3 are free.

Go sledding in Chicago, Illinois

Go sledding and enjoy city views during a winter visit to Chicago.

Head to Chicago, home of the Bears, for a windy City-style winter adventure. Near Soldier Field on Museum Campus Drive, the Chicago Park District maintains a 35-foot-tall hill—creating powdered faux snow when necessary—manicured especially for sledding. Depending on the weather, sledders are welcome from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

If you want to escape the bustle of the Windy City, visit nearby Swallow Cliff Woods. The park is best known for offering an intense climb up a 100-foot-tall bluff. That steep hill translates to some of the best sledding in the county come winter. Swallow Cliff is maintained by the Forest Preserves of Cook County, a governmental conservation group that shapes a total of nine sledding and coasting spots around Chicago. The hills require a minimum snowfall to operate, so be sure to check in with the Forest Preserves before you bundle up for these epic snow activities.

Explore scenic gardens in Denver, Colorado

The Blossoms of Light display is an annual tradition at the Denver Botanic Garden. Photo credit: Scott Dressel-Martin, Denver Botanic Garden

Thousands of nature lovers migrate to the Denver Botanic Garden each season, but the winter months offer a special treat when you book your stay in Denver. While everyone else is hitting the slopes near the Mile High City, head over to the gardens for a magical experience where fountains freeze into dramatic ice sculptures and winter plant life thrives. When you get chilly, head inside the Orangery and Marnie's Pavilion. In January and February, you can catch the annual Orchid Showcase, which boasts hundreds of rare blooms. Admission ranges from $9 to $12.50, and children 2 and under are free. Note: there is an additional fee for the garden’s annual end-of-year holiday tradition, Blossoms of Light.

Take a countryside carriage ride in Asheville, North Carolina

Skip the pricey ski resorts in the Smoky Mountains and head to the winter wonderland that is the Biltmore Estate grounds.

The Smoky Mountains draw in droves of slope seekers each season. But head east and you can marvel at the Biltmore Estate’s snow-covered wonderland for a fraction of the cost of upscale ski resorts nearby. As if America’s largest home weren’t already magical any time of year, taking in the grounds of the impressive French Renaissance country estate from a horse-drawn carriage only adds to the romance. Tickets to board the 8-passenger wagonette—led by the estate’s Belgian draft horses—are $35 per person for a 30-minute ride; children under 5 are free, one per paying adult. Be sure to call ahead for reservations. To make sure you don't forget, you may want to do it right after booking your hotel in Asheville.