Snowy Christmas without skiing

[Surelyitscoffeetime]

After such a grey Christmas as always, I really fancy a proper snowy Christmas somewhere. We don’t ski (done a few times, never again!) so a ski resort doesn’t appeal. Has anyone got any good ideas on where would be nice to go?

Murren in Switzerland...

Photo taken on Monday

Zell am See has a bit of skiing but it’s not dominated by snow sports like other places, and there’s plenty of other things to do. The whole town is stunningly magical at Christmas and there’s a light trail along the lake shore. The star advent market in Elisabethpark goes on until the very end of December and there’s a very unusual tradition on Christmas Day itself https://www.zellamsee-kaprun.com/en/service/blog/christbaumtauchen~9093 There are a couple of places nearby to get sleigh rides. We did this one https://www.zellamsee-kaprun.com/en/poi/horse-drawn-sleigh-rides-and-carriages-hollwerth~2147

We went to Chicago for NYE once and it was wonderfully snowy. A lot of the northern part of the US and Canada will have proper snow.

Finland. It's all about Santa before Xmas. It afterwards the snow is still there and there is husky sledging, snowmobiles, tobogganing, snowy walks, etc. and possibly the northern lights.

I was going to say Finland, it's just utterly stunning in the snow!

Iceland or Aviemore? DH and I went to both pre-covid and there was snow everywhere. Mid Dec in Reykjavik and for NYE in Aviemore.

Reykjavik has museums, the Northern lights, blue logoon, tours and lots to see an do- the snow is a bonus. In Dec though, the days are very short- light at 11am and dark by about 3pm. Everything was still open though, so didn't feel like the dead of night.

Aviemore, we stayed in a house which backed onto a a forest area. Red squirrels are SO cute and would come into the garden! We did attempt to go skiing, but it snowed so heavily, they couldn't clear the roads. There might be non ski options though like tobogganing etc. Some lovely shops in Aviemore to wander about in.

Thanks for your suggestions all. Lots of reading to do!

The Cairngorms/Aviemore area is gorgeous when it’s snowing!

We went to Geneva one Christmas- it was snowy and beautiful! Trips into the mountains to see stunning winter scenery but also the beautiful city (plus very expensive shop windows to look in) so felt we had the best of both.

Were considering a train holiday eith i'n the alps or in Scandinavia.

Colleague of mine who can't ski any more went to Norway- dog sledding, frozen lakes, absolutely glorious as she told it!