These 4 vibrant American cities should be your next winter getaway, according to Delta

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After summer beach getaways and colorful fall splendor, not everyone has enough PTO to make money.

That said, Delta counts on easily accessible cities that are suitable for both short stays and week-long holidays, even in winter.

Ranging from America’s most famous icons, a trendy, vibrant capital city, and the Pacific Northwest’s most striking urban playground, there’s no shortage of great cities to explore once the holidays come to a close.

In fact, January is one of the most underrated times of year to visit the following 4 cities, as crowds are virtually spread out and rates often drop, saving you some serious money!

New York City: visit after the New Year’s scandals

Why would you visit a place where adults gather in a freezing crowd and habitually wear diapers as if it were completely normal? Sounds really nice…

New York City is pure madness during the holidays, where the famous Rockefeller Tree becomes a human traffic jam, and the even more famous Times Square turns into a waiting room as pent-up tourists wait for a ball to drop, with false promises that they’ll finally get a gym membership.

January can be cold, but it may be one of the best times to enjoy the ‘City That Never Sleeps’.

Whether it’s snowy walks through Central Park, end-of-year sales in renowned shopping streets or New York’s epic restaurants where you can actually make a reservation, don’t. sleep on the “Big Apple” as your next winter adventure, whether you’re hopping in and out or planning to stay for a while.

Seattle: Rain, rain, go away…

The downside is that in the middle of winter, Seattle’s infamously moody weather is a factor for tourists who may want to soak up the sun before visiting.

However, you might say that taking a light jacket and umbrella is worth the trip because you won’t find crowds of people.

You can easily snag a seat at one of Seattle’s many beloved restaurants, or be first in line for the famous fish toss at Pike Place Market.

Seattle may be stunningly beautiful and great for exploring the great outdoors, but January shifts to Seattle’s impressive museums, sensational food scene and fun café culture (almost as if you were in Europe).

There’s also no shortage of luxury hotels on a budget. The 4 stars Edgewater Hotel costs just $160 a night in January, located right on the waterfront for scenic views without getting soaked.

Austin: BBQ, live music and the great outdoors

We at Travel Off Path almost put Austin on our list of Memphis alternatives, but the truth is that the vibrant capital of Texas is too unique to compare.

Proudly a “weird” city with its only fair competition being Portland, Austin stands alone as a genre in its own right, despite not quite having the small-town feel it used to have given its exponential growth in recent years.

Delta recommends a three-day trip this winter where you can treat yourself to mouth-watering brisket and other smoked treats, endless live music shows throughout the city, and even fun outdoor adventures in largely mild weather.

Austin is known for its “300 days of sunshine,” but if it changes your mind, it happens can be even grumpier than Seattle (check the weather forecast).

Whether you love nature, indulge in local art and food, or just want to see if the world-famous 6th Street lives up to the hype, Austin makes for an unforgettable winter getaway.

Los Angeles: experience an icon without the crowds

There is no right or wrong way to experience LA. It’s such a huge city, it’s impossible to tackle everything in one trip, whether you’re going all touristy down Hollywood Boulevard, hanging out with celebrities in Beverly Hills, going out in one of the many cultural districts like Koreatown, or visiting underrated waterfronts like Marina Del Rey, all we can say is good luck with the traffic!

That said, there are many facets of LA that live up to the hype: most of the beaches here really have that quintessential SoCal vibe you see in the movies.

Delta again recommends a three-day trip, which is plenty of time to see the main sights and relax on the beach in a city known for year-round sunshine, especially since there are no crowds this time of year.

Sam Sears

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.