It's inevitable.  Cold.  Snow.  Darkness.  Winter is here.  But that doesn't mean you have to wrap yourself in a blanket and stay on the couch for the next 3 months.  You can get out and explore some of the best winter towns in the country.

Illinois is home to two of the coziest winter towns in America with one of them being a top destination for you to enjoy the season.

The Coziest Winter Towns in America

A small-town Christmas display centered around the village gazebo
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A new study by the travel experts at New York Travel Guides, a travel website, ranked the 110 coziest winter towns in America for a magical getaway. The team of New York Travel Guides collected data to compare 575 small towns. The small towns were compared across 3 categories: (1) popularity during winter with the general public and photographers, (2) cozy weather, and (3) cozy activities and atmosphere.

The top cities in the country are places you might expect with a few other Midwest cities making an appearance.

10 - Stillwater, Minnesota
9 - Petoskey, Michigan
8 - Frakenmuth, Michigan
7 - Portsmouth, New Hampshire
6 - Lake Placid, New York
5 - Aspen, Colorado
4 - Vail, Colorado
3 - Stowe, Vermont
2 - Breckenridge, Colorado
1 - Leavenworth, Washington

The Coziest Winter Town in Illinois

Winter park in snowWinter park in snow
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There are other top spots around the Quad Cities.  In Illinois, coming in at number 42 is Woodstock.  While Iowa has three cities on the list of best in the country including, Decorah at 110, Fairfield at 106, and Pella at number 27.

But the best in Illinois is Galena ranked number 20 on the New York Travel Guides list as they say,

With a lot of things to do during the winter season, the town of Galena, IL, is one of America’s coziest winter towns for a magical getaway. The town’s historic 19th-century buildings, when covered in snow, make for an enchanting winter wonderland. From having hot chocolate at a cozy cafe to attending a holiday concert, there’s much to discover during winter. You can also go to the Galena Holidaze Festival and enjoy Christmas carols, shop for holiday items, and have local food.

Winter is here.  Bundle up and embrace it.  Or we'll see you again in April...ish.

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