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Most People Stay Home In February—These 9 U.S. Destinations Are The Reason You Shouldn’t
February can feel like the month that time forgot. The holiday sparkle has been packed away, yet the first signs of spring are still stubbornly out of reach. It is a peculiar, in-between time, a stretch of days that often brings a collective sigh and a deep-seated urge to hibernate until the sun decides to show up for work again.
But to write it off is to miss out on some of travel’s best-kept secrets. This is the month when the world exhales, the crowds vanish, and you can finally hear yourself think.
Deciding to travel in February is a statement. It is choosing to either embrace the lingering chill with gusto or to stage a full-scale rebellion against winter and flee south. And there is a certain magic in heading for the airport while everyone else is hunkering down, a feeling that you’ve discovered a cheat code for a better month.
A trip now is not just a vacation; it’s a strategic move to recharge and explore before the year picks up its relentless pace.
The world keeps turning, even in the quietest months, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t turn with it. So let’s take a look at some of the incredible options that are perfect for a February visit.
For Those Who Crave The Cold In February
If your idea of a perfect day involves seeing your breath and you believe hot beverages are merely a delivery system for warmth, then lean into the frost. Winter isn’t just a season in these places; it’s the main attraction.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks in February isn’t messing around. This is the kind of cold that feels like a dare from the universe. But for those who answer the call, the rewards are epic.
You’re practically on the doorstep of the Arctic Circle, giving you a prime spot for viewing the aurora borealis. And the long, dark nights of February offer a fantastic canvas for the northern lights to do their ethereal dance, though they are notoriously fickle performers.
Temperatures can cheerfully plummet to -20°F, a crispness so intense it makes your teeth ache. But this extreme chill is precisely what allows the World Ice Art Championships (which often begins late in the month) to showcase sculptures of unbelievable intricacy.
When you feel you might actually turn into a human icicle, a trip to Chena Hot Springs is in order. There is a special kind of joy in soaking in geothermally heated water while your wet hair freezes into a gravity-defying sculpture.
You might also catch glimpses of dog sled teams mushing through the snow, training for grueling long-distance races like the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest. It serves as a handy reminder that the locals, both human and canine, are built a little tougher up here.
New York City, New York
Here’s a little secret: February is when New Yorkers get their city back, and they’re willing to share it with savvy visitors. The holiday masses have departed, which means you can walk through the city without feeling like a salmon swimming upstream.
You might even find a hotel room that doesn’t require taking out a small loan. Hotel rates often hit their annual low point this month.
Better yet, the city’s Restaurant Week frequently extends into early February, giving you a chance to sample fancy prix-fixe menus at restaurants that are usually out of reach for us mere mortals.
When a fresh coat of snow blankets Central Park, the city’s frantic energy quiets down, and it becomes a peaceful, monochrome escape. You can lace up your skates at Wollman Rink, gliding beneath the towering skyline and pretending you’re the star of your own movie.
Should the wind start to feel personally offensive, world-class museums like the Met or MoMA offer a warm and surprisingly uncrowded refuge. You can contemplate a masterpiece without a forest of phones blocking your view.
It’s a quieter, more genuine New York, but a word to the wise: always assume that slush puddle on the street corner is a portal to another dimension. It’s always deeper than it looks.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Seeing Yellowstone in the summer is great, but seeing it in the winter is like being let into a secret, magical world. Most park roads are closed to cars, so access is limited to snowcoaches and snowmobiles, making the experience feel wonderfully exclusive.
The park’s famous bison herds gather in the geyser basins to stay warm, their coats frosted with ice as they stand like ancient statues in the billowing steam. It’s a photographer’s paradise (assuming your camera battery doesn’t immediately surrender to the cold).
Old Faithful continues its punctual performance, but in winter, the scalding water erupts into the frigid air and crystallizes into a glittering cloud of “geyser rain” before it even hits the ground.
Winter is also the undisputed best time for spotting wolves, especially in the Lamar Valley, often called the “American Serengeti.” The wolves’ dark coats create a stark contrast against the snow, making them far easier to see than during the summer months. You can spend hours peering through a spotting scope as a guide explains the complex social lives of the resident packs.
Don’t forget about the thermal features. With their bizarre colors and sulfurous smells (which the cold air thankfully dampens a bit), they are even more dramatic against the snowy backdrop.
Big Sky, Montana
If your definition of happiness involves pointing a pair of skis down a very large, snow-covered hill, Big Sky is your kind of place. With over 5,800 skiable acres, it lives up to its name, offering some of the most expansive terrain in North America.
The sheer scale of the resort is its superpower; it swallows crowds, meaning lift lines are a rarity. This is fantastic for getting in runs, though less so when you have a spectacular wipeout with no one around to appreciate your form.
The resort’s crown jewel is the Lone Peak Tram, a ride that takes you to the summit at 11,166 feet. The panoramic view from the top is both breathtaking and slightly terrifying, spanning across three states and two national parks on a clear day.
February reliably delivers cold temperatures and consistent snowfall, keeping the slopes covered in fresh powder.
The resort is all about the mountain experience, forgoing the see-and-be-seen attitude of other high-end ski towns. So people come here to ski, not to parade in designer gear.
For a different kind of thrill, you can go dog sledding or take a sleigh ride to a secluded dinner, which offers all the rustic charm without any of the athletic effort.
For Those Desiring Sunshine Over Snowflakes
If the sound of an ice scraper on a windshield sends you into a full-body cringe, it’s time to escape. These next destinations have turned up the heat, offering a welcome dose of sunshine and a reminder of what it feels like to be warm in the midst of winter.
Tucson, Arizona
For anyone who has forgotten what the sun looks like, Tucson in February is a glorious reawakening. The weather is practically perfect, with daytime highs typically settling in the high 60s or low 70s°F.
It’s ideal for exploring the strange and wonderful landscape of Saguaro National Park. The park is home to the country’s largest cacti, saguaros that stand like silent, prickly sentinels across the desert floor. They seem to have their own personalities; some appear to be waving, while others look as if they’re guarding ancient secrets.
February also brings the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, an enormous event that sprawls across the entire city. It sounds specialized, but you don’t have to be a geologist to be impressed by shimmering geodes the size of armchairs and dinosaur fossils that predate your entire family tree by millions of years.
Tucson is also a designated UNESCO City of Gastronomy, a title it earned in part because its Sonoran-style Mexican food is exceptional. And you can enjoy it all on an outdoor patio without needing a blanket.
For a truly humbling experience, a nighttime visit to Kitt Peak National Observatory offers a jaw-dropping view of the cosmos, thanks to the clear, dry desert air.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans simmers with energy year-round, but February often sees it boil over into a city-wide spectacle.
This is peak Mardi Gras season (depending on the year), when the streets are awash in a dizzying frenzy of purple, green, and gold. The parades, organized by social clubs known as krewes, are the main event, rolling for weeks with elaborate floats and costumed riders.
You’ll find yourself shouting “Me, me, me” with surprising passion, all for a strand of plastic beads. It’s chaotic, loud, and utterly magnificent.
Even if you’re not there for the climax on Fat Tuesday, the city is a constant celebration. Music pours from every doorway on Frenchmen Street, where legendary brass bands and jazz ensembles hold court nightly.
The weather is usually pleasantly mild, perfect for strolling through the historic French Quarter with a warm beignet in hand. A word of caution: the powdered sugar is aggressive and will coat any dark clothing you’re wearing. It’s a rite of passage.
You’ll also need to try a slice of King Cake. If you’re the lucky one who finds the tiny plastic baby hidden inside, congratulations, you’re buying the next one.
Key West, Florida
When you’ve driven so far south that the road simply ends, you’ll find yourself in Key West. Geographically closer to Havana than Miami, this island city operates on its own laid-back frequency.
Stress seems to evaporate in the humid, salt-tinged air; being uptight here is simply not allowed. The Overseas Highway that gets you there is just part of the experience, a roadway that seems to float over impossibly turquoise waters.
February brings glorious weather (warm, sunny, and dry), making it perfect for snorkeling over coral reefs or simply enjoying the view from a boat.
A trip to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is practically mandatory. You’ll learn about the famous author, but the true stars are the dozens of six-toed cats who confidently roam the property as if they own it (come on, you know they do).
For the quintessential tourist photo, head to the Southernmost Point buoy, but go early to avoid the line. And as evening approaches, Mallory Square explodes into a carnival of street performers, from fire-jugglers to sword-swallowers.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu in February offers a perfect dose of paradise with a side of spectacular wildlife.
This is when humpback whales gather in the warm Hawaiian waters for their annual winter retreat to mate and give birth. You can often spot their spouts from the shore, but a boat tour provides an unforgettable, up-close look at these gentle giants as they breach the surface.
Over on the famous North Shore, the winter waves reach monstrous sizes, drawing the world’s most daring surfers. Watching them conquer waves the size of buildings is a mesmerizing and terrifying spectacle, best enjoyed from the safety of the beach.
For a dose of history, a visit to Iolani Palace is a must. As the only official royal palace on U.S. soil, it tells the fascinating and somber story of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s last monarchs.
Afterwards, you can refuel with a classic plate lunch, where a scoop of macaroni salad is a non-negotiable component, and head to the iconic Waikiki Beach. The ocean is even warm enough to swim without the shock of cold water, a simple pleasure that feels like a luxury.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
If you truly want to get away from it all, Big Bend is your destination. Tucked away in a remote corner of west Texas on the border with Mexico, this park is vast, rugged, and profoundly beautiful.
February is an ideal time to visit, as the brutal desert heat of summer has not yet arrived. You can tackle challenging hikes, such as the South Rim trail in the Chisos Mountains, for breathtaking views that seem to stretch on forever.
The landscape is a dramatic mix of deep canyons, towering rock formations, and arid desert that can erupt with wildflowers after winter rains.
Big Bend is also a certified International Dark Sky Park, which is a fancy way of saying the stargazing here is absolutely phenomenal. Away from city lights, the Milky Way paints a brilliant streak across the night sky, a sight so clear it feels almost unreal.
For a different perspective, you can take a canoe trip on the Rio Grande through the magnificent Santa Elena Canyon, paddling between sheer limestone cliffs that rise 1,500 feet on either side.
While out roaming the park, you might even see a roadrunner dart across your path, but you almost certainly won’t get a cell signal. In a constantly connected world, that might just be the park’s greatest feature.
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