Best winter trips for 2014

Portofino may be the jewel of the Liguria Riviera, but neighboring Santa Margherita Ligure is anequally captivating--and more affordable--gem. Ensconced in a rocky inlet on the Gulf of Tigullio, thesmall, relaxed resort town enjoys mild winters--ideal for strolling past the gleaming yachts andcruisers moored in the harbor, touring the terraced gardens of 16th-century Villa Durazzo, andhiking the mountain road to Portofino for lunch (and for the spectacular coastal vistas along theway).

7.&nbspWinter Wolf Viewing, Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park

Kat Gebauer/Green Kat Photography

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What to Eat or Drink: Sample some of the smaller restaurants off the main square and near the port.La Paranza serves the day's fresh catch (clams, mussels, squid, sardines) paired with homemadepastas (try the gnocchi) and desserts. At about $40, the three-course set menu is extremelyaffordable by Riviera standards, and filling, too.

When to Go: December-April is dry season, which typically means little or no rain. SUP Camp weeksare offered monthly (more weeks may be added), December-April and July.

When to Go: February and March are when the ice typically is thickest and most ice-related toursare offered.

Surfers and expats have discovered Costa Rica'sPacific Nicoya Peninsula, yet the Nosarabeaches--Playa Guiones, Playa Pelada, and PlayaNosara--remain relatively undeveloped anduncrowded. Each beach has its own personality.Low-key Guiones is an expat community andsurfing hub. Rocky Pelada is a favorite withlocals. Black-sand Nosara is isolated, accessibleonly by fording a river. Sign up for a weeklongNosara Paddlesurf SUP (stand-up paddle) Campto explore this idyllic section of the Costa Rican coastline.

Where to Eat: After yoga or a SUP excursion, recharge with a banana nut butter smoothie at theHarmony Hotel Juice Bar. The hotel incorporates ingredients grown at its farm into many menuitems (try the arugula avocado roll in the main restaurant) and plans to open an al fresco SushiLounge in 2014. At lunch, pair a healthy veggie wrap with a scoop of homemade "coffee to wake thedead" ice cream at Robin's Café & Ice Cream in Playa Guiones. For sunset views and fresh fishtacos, head to the beachside La Luna restaurant in Playa Pelada.

Some of Vietnam's best beaches are on heart-shaped Phu Quoc island, making them closer toCambodia than the Vietnamese mainland. Located in the Gulf of Thailand just off the Cambodiancoast, Phu Quoc once housed the so-called "coconut tree prison" (now a museum), where Vietcongprisoners of war were held through 1973. What's bringing international travelers and, so far,restrained development to Phu Quoc today are its warm, turquoise waters; secluded, deep sandbeaches; and lush, mountainous interior (protected as a national park).

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Cultural Tip: Indoor spaces (restaurants, shops, cafés) tend to be smaller and more intimate inParis than in the U.S. Instead of complaining about the tight quarters, embrace the coziness andesprit de corps--and remember to use your "inside" voice.

Bruno Morandi/Getty Images

3.&nbspPhu Quoc, Vietnam

Check out more information for these destinations and the full list of awesome winter trips.

When to Go: December-March; Les Soldes, January 8-February 11; several Christmas markets(including Champs-Elysées, Saint Germain des Prés, and Montmarte) remain open throughJanuary 5 or 6.

1.&nbspParis, France

5.&nbspSanta Margherita Ligure, Italy

Cultural Tip: Most restaurants and shops in Nosara will accept both U.S. dollars and Costa Ricancolones. Prepare to pay in cash since some restaurants don't accept credit cards or add on a usagefee.

When to Go: February and March; February 2, International Half-Marathon of Two Pearls

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There's no reason to hibernate this winter when there are new beaches, slopes, sports, and festivalsto discover.Â

4.&nbspLake Baikal, Siberia, Russia

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Photo Gallery: Winter in the U.S.

When snow blankets the nearly treeless LamarValley, it's easier to spot Yellowstone's elusivewolves--and their bison and elk prey. Watchfulwinter visitors to this remote wolf territorytypically are rewarded with multiple wildlifesightings. A pending proposal to remove thegray wolf from the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService List of Endangered and Threatened

Wildlife, however, could impact future winter wildlife viewing. Observe and learn about the wolvesthis season during a multiday tour like the Yellowstone Association Institute's Winter Wolf Discoveryor Natural Habitat Adventures' Yellowstone Wolf Quest.

Steven Gillis HD9 Imaging/Alamy

How to Get Around: Irkutsk is the closest airport to Lake Baikal's more developed western shore.The most scenic, albeit slower, route to Irkutsk is via a private or regularly scheduled Trans-Siberiantrain. Book passage through a reputable tour operator like MIR Corporation or Lernidee Trains &Cruises. From Irkutsk, it's about an hour and a half by marshrutka (fixed-route minibus) toListvyanka, the lake's main western shore tourist village.

Where to Stay: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is the only in-park winter lodging accessible by car andis only open December 20-March 3. A new winter shuttle service is available from Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport to the hotel.

Called the "sacred sea" by locals, Lake Baikal is the world's deepest and oldest (20 million to 25million years) existing freshwater lake. For intrepid adventurers equipped for a Siberian deep freeze(air temperatures can plunge to minus 40ºF) Baikal in midwinter is a roughly 12,200-square-milecrystal ice rink. Local outfitters like Baikal Explorer and Green Express lead Jeep, dog-sled, andsnowmobiling tours across the glassy surface. There's also ice diving, rafting (in sections that don'tfreeze), skating, and fishing, plus opportunities to volunteer with the Great Baikal Trail, a localconservation group. Environmental threats, including industrial pollution, prompted CondominiumFor Sale National Harbor MD World Heritage site designation for Baikal in 1996. A pulp-and-papermill built near the lake in 1966 closed permanently in 2013, but significant ecological threatsremain.

Where to Stay: Kandahar Lodge at Whitefish Mountain Resort is a comfortably elegant alpine innlocated on the free SNOW route, seven miles from Whitefish. The 50 rooms and suites, including sixlofts with full kitchens, are styled with warm cedar-and-pine architectural details. Spend the day onthe slopes, then ski back to the lodge to sip hot cider in front of the wood-burning, river-rockfireplace.

How to Get Around: In winter, the North Entrance (near Gardiner, Montana) is the only way into thepark by wheeled vehicle. Car travel is permitted on the park road from the North EntranceCondominiums National Harbor MD to the Northeast Entrance (closest to the Lamar Valley), butmud or snow tires or tire chains may be required. A limited number of guided commercial

snowcoach and snowmobile tours operate within the park. Winter Wolf Discovery and YellowstoneWolf Quest viewing tours include in-park transportation.

When to Go: The World Ski Joring Championship races are held January 25-26 (registration eventsare January 24), two weekends before the main Whitefish Winter Carnival, February 7-9.

6.&nbspNosara Beaches, Costa Rica

When to Go: December-March is dry season, with average daytime temperatures between 77° and82°F.

Where to Eat: Pull up a plastic chair and sit under the stars at the bustling Dinh Cau Night Market totry whatever local fishermen hauled in that day (sea urchin, prawns, clams, squid, scallops,sardines). Held most evenings near Cau Temple in Duong Dong, the market has dozens of stalls andis a good place to shop for souvenirs (although most items aren't produced locally).

2.&nbspWhitefish Winter Carnival World Ski Joring Championships, Whitefish, Montana

The Big Sky brand of equestrian skijoring (derived from the Norwegian snörekjöring or "drivingwith ropes") is wild, western, and guaranteed to get the adrenaline pumping. At the WhitefishWinter Carnival World Ski Joring Championships, horse (or mule) and rider teams pull daredevilskiers on high-flying runs around a snowy, 800-foot-long horseshoe-shaped course. Slalom gates,curves, and jumps increase the thrills--and the potential for spectacular spills.

When to Go: Winter Wolf Discovery trips depart December 22 and 29; January 5, 12, 19, and 26; andFebruary 2, 9, 16, and 23. Yellowstone Wolf Quest, March 1-6, 5-12, and 13-20.

What to Read Before You Go: Vietnam: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Whereabouts Press, 1996)features 17 stories by contemporary authors living in Vietnam and abroad.

Where to Stay: Built in 1903 and restored to its original splendor, the 84-room Grand HotelMiramare on the harbor-front promenade is old school Italian Riviera: white stucco; art nouveaufacade frescoed with trompe l'oeil and floral decorations; elegantly appointed interiors; and stately,

manicured gardens. Walk from here to Portofino (about an hour) or to the train station (about a halfmile).

This year's list of best winter trips is a global collection of the best editor-recommendeddestinations. Find the one that inspires you and start packing.Â

Rob Francis/Robert Harding World Imagery/Corbis

Paris is at its most Parisian in winter. Without the crowds, there's space to linger over a morningcafé crème and croissant at Le Bar du Marché and wander through the Louvre. The low touristseason means some lower rates too. Several museums and monuments offer free admission on firstSundays (November-March), and the first of the biannual Soldes (state-mandated, six-week sales)begins on January 8. The nationwide discounts (up to 50 percent or more in every store) aredesigned to make room for the upcoming season's wares. The sales return in June, but by then, sowill the crowds.