Winter vacations don't have to be about snow—check out these perfect getaways

By: Gulnaz Khan | From: National Geographic

Winter may not be everyone’s favorite season, but with fewer crowds and serene landscapes, it could be one of the best times to travel. The key, besides the right winter wardrobe? Diving into adventures from coast to coast. Here are a few hot spots for embracing the cold.

Enjoy the light show in San Antonio, Texas

From late November to early January, millions of twinkling lights illuminate the San Antonio River Walk in a dazzling display. Riverboats carrying an eclectic mix of bell choirs, folk groups, and Latino ensembles fill the air with carols on evenings through late December.

See: When you’re not browsing cozy cafés and shops along the cypress-lined River Walk, explore south-central Texas’ colonial heritage at the 18th-century San Antonio Missions, the first UNESCO World Heritage site in the state.

Eat: Indulge in San Antonio’s famous Tex-Mex cuisine, savor a charcuterie plate at Cured, or splurge on a whopping 10-course culinary adventure at Mixtli Mexican Culinaria.

Fun fact: In 2014 Amazon named San Antonio the most romantic city in the United States, based on the city’s purchases of romance novels, relationship books, romantic movies, and music.