Gatlinburg
#5 in Best Cheap Winter Vacations
Gatlinburg, Tennessee’s wintertime highs sit in the upper 40s and low 50s, meaning you can still take advantage of the town’s most popular attraction: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After entering the free national park, hike a section of the famous Appalachian Trail to Charlies Bunion, an outcrop with stunning mountain vistas, or trek the Rainbow Falls Trail for a chance to see the path’s namesake falls frozen over. When you need to warm up, head back to town to sample the local moonshine at Sugarlands Distilling Company or Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine for a small fee.
Merida
#6 in Best Cheap Winter Vacations
Hotels in Merida, the capital of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, can cost as little as $50 per night in winter, so you’ll have plenty of cash to indulge in the city’s offerings. Dive far back into Merida’s history while visiting El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya and the nearby Dzibilchaltún ruins, both of which explore local Mayan history for inexpensive admission fees. Meanwhile, in the heart of the city, you’ll find influence from Spanish conquerors at the free Catedral de Mérida. Don’t forget to explore Merida’s food scene at one of its markets or restaurants.
