Yosemite in January is a world apart: it’s so quiet and uncrowded you can practically hear the snow fall. The park offers a clutch of fantastic winter sports: ice-skating in the heart of Yosemite Valley at Curry Village, getting in some runs at nearby (and beginner-friendly) Badger Pass ski area, or snowshoeing to the giant sequoias at Mariposa Grove. And you can stay right in the park. One of the best-kept secrets is the Redwoods: a collection of over 100 privately owned, completely furnished cabins at the southern end of Yosemite. Staying here is like having the park as your backyard. But remember, you didn’t hear it from us.

The Redwoods, 8038 Chilnualna Falls Rd., Yosemite National Park; (209) 375-6666. Rates vary from $114-$450 per night.

Badger Pass ski area, (209) 372-8430.