If you’re like me and your body tenses up at even the mention of snow – you’re probably searching for the ultimate winter escape far away from the cold.
Or, maybe you’re a wintertime addict and can’t get enough of the white powder and freezing cold air.
Still – whether you love the sun or love the snow – there are some places you should avoid visiting during the winter months. Here’s why.
Worchester, Massachusetts
Did you know Worchester was named the worst winter holiday destination in all the U.S.?
Yikes.
Also nicknamed the “snowiest city” in America, residents in Worchester typically experience roughly 40 inches of snow by mid-January…
… and an average of 51 inches for the entire winter.
Count me out!
Sure, they’re equipped to deal with snow, so the roads aren’t too bad (like they are in D.C. when it so much as even flurries) – but it’s still cold, wet, and miserable.
Save your trip for the summer when all has thawed out – and let the locals deal with the wintery mess.
Hell, Norway
This tiny tourist village may be fun to visit in the fall during their world-renowned music festival…
… but in the winter months, this place becomes a ghost town – and for very good reason.
Hell freezes over (literally) – making this town one of the coldest places on earth with temperatures as low as −13°F during the winter months.
I think I’ll pass.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Alaska is beautiful in the summer – but some folks prefer to beat the summer crowds and enjoy the sites in the winter months.
While you can have a pleasant experience in Alaska during the bitter cold months (if that’s your thing) – I still recommend avoiding Fairbanks.
Fairbanks is cold.
And I’m not talking wear-a-hat-and-scarf cold…
… I’m talking cold-that-could-kill-you cold.
There’s a reason Fairbanks was listed as the coldest city in America.
Fairbanks has actually seen temperatures fall to a record-breaking –66°F!
The Zebra reported:
“With a minimum average temperature of about minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit, Fairbanks takes the cake as the coldest city in the U.S. The northernmost major city in Alaska, Fairbanks has seen record cold temperatures reaching minus 66 degrees in the past.
Unlike other major Alaskan cities, Fairbanks sits below sea level in the Tanana Valley. Due to its low-lying location, the city receives limited sunlight and little warmth from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Alaska.”
Sounds miserable!
And hey – we’re not knocking these cities altogether – they’re great places to visit during the summer months.
But unless you’re a glutton for punishment – I’d stay clear of these cities during the winter months.
(h/t Proud American Traveler)