Not everyone thinks of tropical beaches and palm trees when imagining a perfect honeymoon. For some, falling snow and mountain adventure are even more romantic than cocktails on the sand. Here are a few of the most stunning winter honeymoon destinations that will actually make you excited to zip on your winter coat and head out into the snow.
Banff, Canada
Banff is a perfect winter playground. It's got powdery snow, stunning mountain views, and more apres ski options than you can count on two hands. Banff's town center (which is located within Banff National Park) is only a short 90 minute drive from Calgary and is surrounded by dramatic Rocky Mountain peaks, glaciers, and glacial lakes.
During the winter, there's no better place for snow-seekers. The area has three ski resorts -- Sunshine Village, Ski Norquay, and Lake Louise Mountain Resort -- and one lift pass allows you access to all three. Banff also is home to luxurious resorts (like the Banff Springs Fairmont and the Sunshine Mountain Lodge) as well some of Alberta's finest restaurants and spas.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt is the home of the world famous mountain the Matterhorn. It may not be the tallest mountain the world, but its name is known by anyone who has visited one of Disney's amusement parks. Instead of lurching around corners on a fast moving roller coaster, you'll enjoy skiing, ice climbing or snowshoeing by day and rich meals of Swiss fondue and fine wine by night. Zermatt is easily reachable via Geneva, Zurich, or Milan.
Japan
Since spring is Japan's big tourist season, traveling here in the winter could offer much in the way of authenticity and cost savings. In addition to enjoying Tokyo without the throngs of tourists, experiencing Japan's winter will be unforgettable -- some of the world's largest snowfalls ever recorded were here in Japan.
Every February in Sapporo, winter is celebrated with the annual Sapporo Snow Festival where enormous snow and ice sculptures of important people and buildings take over the town. In Toyama, 60-foot snow walls line the Tateyama Alpine Route and turn the highway into a surreal snow canyon. And in Nagano, you can ski the slopes that dazzled the world in the 1998 Winter Olympics.
San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
If you're planning a summer wedding but longing for a winter honeymoon like these, you don't have to wait for next season -- San Carlos de Bariloche experiences winter during our summer. Located in the southern foothills of the Andes, this lakeside town is reminiscent of Switzerland, offers Argentina's signature Italian cuisine, and does it with plenty of South American charm.
After stopping by Bariloche's main square to loaf around with some of the town's most adorable Saint Bernards, take a gondola ride to the top of Cerro Otto for a panoramic view over Lake Nahuel Huapi. For some backcountry and resort alpine skiing, Cerro Catedral is the best place to go. And for some luxurious out-the-way relaxation, spend a night at the Llao Llao Hotel and Resort on a quiet inlet of the lake.
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