Travelers face two reasonable responses to the prospect of a long, cold winter: embrace the chill and seek out the most spectacular winter destinations, or follow the warmth 鈥� wherever you can find it.

If you鈥檝e had your fill of icy sidewalks and overheated buildings, no one will blame you for choosing option two. And US travelers don鈥檛 even need to leave the country to ditch the scarves and mittens.

Whether you鈥檙e after a beach escape, a wildlife adventure or a dose of big-city culture, here鈥檚 where to find fun in the sun this winter.

1. Santa Barbara, California

Just under two hours northwest of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is a getaway destination perfect for beach strolls and canyon hikes. Celebrity sightings are common here (Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez and Oprah Winfrey are among the area鈥檚 most notable residents), yet the real attraction is its upscale yet relaxed beach-town energy. Stroll the State St Promenade for unique shops, artisan food and wine stores, plus plenty of outdoor dining options. Follow it all the way to West Beach, where the more adventurous can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, and those just out for a great view can stroll Stearns Wharf. 

2. Phoenix, Arizona

There鈥檚 a simple reason 15 Major League Baseball teams relocate to Arizona for training before the real season starts: the weather is simply phenomenal, with Phoenix getting 299 days of sunshine every year on average. In the middle of summer, when temperatures regularly shoot past 100掳F, you might wish for some relief 鈥� but the clear-blue-sky, mid-70s days of late winter are ideal for outdoor fun.

If you鈥檙e not there for the baseball, you can at least see why it鈥檚 called the 鈥淐actus League鈥� at the Desert Botanical Garden, where the succulents and spiny plants of the desert mingle with art exhibitions. Or hit the trail and explore the sandstone formations of Papago Park, or pedal through South Mountain Park, a favorite among trail riders.

3. The Everglades, Florida

Maybe those baseball teams are onto something: while half of the league is in Arizona, the rest are warming up in Florida. The Sunshine State has the warmest temperatures on the US mainland during the winter, and the warmest national park (outside of Hawaii) is the Everglades. Winter is the dry season here, making it one of the most popular times of year for visitors 鈥� as well as for spotting wildlife. The drying of the marshes makes animals congregate in smaller areas, and migratory birds are doing just what you鈥檙e doing: flying to Florida in search of warmer climes. Drive the Southern Everglades Hwy south until you run out of continent at Flamingo, a great place for spotting manatees.

4. South Padre Island, Texas

Get to South Padre Island before spring break, and you can enjoy Texas鈥� popular seaside resort town at its quietest. With multiple blinds, a viewing tower, and boardwalks through the dunes, the 50-acre South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary is an ideal spot for watching feathered friends who overwinter here, as well as alligators and sea turtles. Isla Blanca County Park鈥檚 beach is the most popular, thanks to access to shops and restaurants 鈥� but you can be rewarded with a bit of tranquility by exploring the dunes of Edwin King Atwood County Park or the long stretches of sand of the North End.

5. Key West, Florida

At the furthest end of the Florida Keys, Key West has a celebrated culture that attracts sun seekers from all over the USA. The 7-sq-mile oasis offers famed literary history, fresh seafood and plenty of hopping bars. Don鈥檛 pass up the chance to set sail during sunset, visit the Ernest Hemingway House and marvel at the many colors at the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory.

6. Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs has its own type of cool going on year-round 鈥� but it鈥檚 rarely the type that registers on the thermometer. Winter nights can have a bit of the dry cold of the desert, yet the average high temperature never dips below 70掳F. Palm Springs as a winter oasis is hardly a well-kept secret, and though it鈥檚 high season around the Coachella Valley, the variety of old-school motor court motels and mid-century-modern rentals for private pool parties means there are always accommodations options. For those craving a bit more activity than poolside lounging, breathtaking Joshua Tree National Park and the oddball charm of the Salton Sea (with sights like the International Banana Museum) are less than an hour away.

7. St John, US Virgin Islands

Looking for warm weather and the feeling that you鈥檙e a long, long way from home? St John in the US Virgin Islands might fit the bill. Virgin Islands National Park covers two-thirds of the island, preserving many miles of shoreline as well as underwater reef habitats. Traveling with kids? Try Maho Bay, known for its shallow, calm waters popular among snorkelers and green sea turtles.

8. New Orleans, Louisiana

Winter in New Orleans isn鈥檛 exactly hot and sunny 鈥� January and February average in the mid-60s 鈥� but it鈥檚 certainly a welcome change from anywhere snowbound, and the crowds are at their lowest just before Mardi Gras swings into town. But since this New Orleans, there鈥檚 always a party going on, even in winter.

Bonfires are lit along the levees every Christmas Eve, a tradition that is supposed to help guide the arrival of Papa No毛l, the Cajun Santa Claus. The annual Tet Fest thrown by the Mary Queen of Vietnam Church to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year (in late January or early February) is an important day for New Orleans鈥� large Vietnamese population, and the festive fair is full of delicious eats for all comers. The mild days of winter also make for pleasant exploring of the backstreets on one of the Crescent City鈥檚 many bike tours.

9. Kihei, Maui

The Hawaiian Islands do get more rain in winter, and things do get a bit cooler, it鈥檚 true. But let鈥檚 be real: the 鈥渃ooler鈥� winter in Kihei means an average high of 81掳F instead of 87掳F, with 276 days of sun a year (so a parka won鈥檛 be necessary). There are a few simple tips for visiting Maui in winter. Stick to the south and west coasts to maximize your chances of sunny days. Avoid stronger surf by heading to gentler beaches, like Kalepolepo Beach Park for kids or Ulua Beach for top-notch snorkeling. Skip the holiday crowds and seek out a deal in early winter, before spring break. Then sit back, and soak in the sun.

10. Coastal Georgia

Sun-seekers heading to Georgia could do just fine by stopping in sensational Savannah and never leaving. But head just a little further out to the coast, and you鈥檒l find a world of barrier islands and twisting waterways to explore. Tybee Island and its popular beaches are just a half-hour drive away 鈥� the start of a string of subtropical islands that hug the coast of the Peach State. All feature mild winter weather, and each has its own personality.

Sapelo Island is home to a small village of Geechee, where descendants of Africans who were enslaved on the plantations on the island until the 19th century. Nature lovers can book wildlife tours of Sapelo鈥檚 estuaries through the . Historic, multicultural Brunswick serves as the gateway to Georgia鈥檚 Golden Isles, including resorty St Simons, and Jekyll Island, historically a playground for the wealthiest American families.