Less-Crowded Cities in the West to Visit in Winter

While Park City and Phoenix are the West’s cold-season darlings, there are plenty of under-the-radar cities that also have loads to offer come winter. From Sedona, Arizona, to Ketchikan, Alaska, here are eight urban centers that are ready to entertain, but without the crowds.

Port Townsend, Washington

Located on the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend features a perfect blend of waterfront and mountain scenery. Winters are relatively quiet, making it a great time for taking in the city’s Victorian architecture or strolling the eight-mile-long Larry Scott Trail, which runs along the shoreline of Port Townsend Bay and provides sweeping views of Puget Sound. Spend an afternoon browsing downtown’s many art galleries and antique stories, including Gallery 9, brimming with everything from turned wood to painted silks, and the Port Townsend Antique Mall—a two-story space that’s home to over 40 dealers. Finally, linger over a plate of crab cakes and a pint at Sirens, Port Townsend’s waterfront gastropub.

Ashland, Oregon

Visitors flock to Ashland for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which runs annually from March through October. However, the winter months in this southern Oregon city are just as enticing and much quieter. Whether it’s practicing your best pirouette at the seasonal Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink or snowshoeing in Grouse Gap Sno-Park (located near the summit of 7,534 foot-tall Mt. Ashland), greater Ashland has many ways to enjoy the outdoors. If it’s warming up indoors that you’re after, the city’s ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum offers dozens of interactive experiences, from building with LEGOs to a pendulum that paints. Get cozy with almond croissants and Stumptown coffee at Mix Bakeshop, and don’t miss the city’s First Friday Art Walk, an evening of open galleries and studios, as well as live music, that takes place year-round.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Despite being a year-round destination, Las Vegas tends to see fewer visitors in the winter, making it an ideal place for an off-season city break. Stroll The Strip, or head over to Fremont Street’s Downtown Container Park, an open-air shopping and restaurant hub created out of stacked shipping containers. Snack on comfort foods like tacos and grilled cheese, shop for beaded bags and cowboy boots, or catch a weekend magic show. Just a 16-mile drive west of downtown, the sandstone cliffs of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area provide an easy reprieve from the bright lights of Vegas, as does the city’s Springs Preserve, where you can wander aimlessly among native desert plants or embark on guided garden tours.

Napa, California

When the vines are bare you can expect more intimate wine tasting experiences at places like Brown Downtown Napa and the avant-garde Artesa Vineyards & Winery, where you can sip samplings of Cabernet Franc while savoring hillside views. The free Napa Lighted Art Festival illuminates downtown with a dozen innovative art sculptures from mid-January through mid-February. Warm up at the Oxbow Public Market, a community gathering spot brimming with delicious foods, including Argentine empanadas and wood-fired pizzas topped with smoked mozzarella and extra virgin olive oil.

Kanab, Utah

To avoid the horde of visitors in Park City, opt for Kanab instead. The state’s southern adventure capital lies just seven miles north of the Arizona border and allows easy access to some of Utah’s most scenic vistas—including the steep red cliffs of Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park’s spire-shaped rock formations—as well as its top hiking trails, which tend to host fewer trekkers come January and February. With moderate temperatures and often sunny skies, Kanab makes it easy to stay a while. Spend an evening around a campfire taking in the stellar night sky, marvel at film sets used in Planet of the Apes and Point Break at the Little Hollywood Movie Museum, or swing by the long-running Rocking V Cafe for juicy burgers and spicy polenta bowls.

Sedona, Arizona

Tucked among red-rock buttes and pine forests, Sedona is synonymous with serenity. But it’s during the winter months when you can most feel like you have the place all to yourself. Days are typically crisp, cool, and sunny, and the prices are often more affordable, making it a wonderful season to settle in for a day or two. Set out on a guided horseback ride, play a round or two of golf, or hike the 1.2 mile Cathedral Rock trail for panoramic views of some of Sedona’s most impressive sandstone towers. For comfort food with a twist, try The Hudson (their bruschetta is a local favorite).

Helena, Montana

Montana’s capital city is an excellent winter option for those looking for a quiet escape. Spots like the free Holter Museum of Art, where you’ll find an array of artworks ranging from historical to contemporary, and The Myrna Loy—a former county jail that now hosts concerts, comedians, and independent films—provide creative ways to keep warm when the temperatures drop. Greater Helena offers near endless outdoor play, including skiing and snowboarding at the family-owned Great Divide Ski Area (a 23 mile drive northwest of downtown), snowshoeing among Douglas fir and lodgepole pine in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, and marveling at larger-than-life murals in downtown’s Rodney Street Arts District.

Ketchikan, Alaska

Set within a temperate rainforest along Alaska’s Inside Passage, Ketchikan tends to see milder temperatures than much of the state. This means that while other travelers are heading north for cross-country skiing and dog-sledding, you can have this vibrant artistic hub in large part all to yourself. Stroll along the city’s historic Creek Street boardwalk and keep an eye out for bald eagles overhead. Peruse shops like Fish Creek Company, stocked with everything from bolo ties to hand-painted cedar paddles, and Sam McGee's, featuring Made in Alaska products like salmonberry jams, fireweed honey lip balms, and laser etched magnets. When your stomach rumbles, dig into plates piled with poutine beneath a stamped tin ceiling at 108 Taphouse. Ketchikan’s annual Wearable Art Show, which highlights some of the region’s most remarkable artisan talent, takes place near the end of January.