From snowy holiday markets shimmering with lights to tree branches heavy with fresh morning frost, the world looks wonderful when dressed in white. Transport yourself to these 12 real-life winter wonderlands, where snow falls serenely against twilit skies and endless icebound landscapes.
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Kingston, Washington
An apple a day: In the quaint area of Kingston along the Puget Sound, a doe finds a winter nibble.
Kingston, Washington
An apple a day: In the quaint area of Kingston along the Puget Sound, a doe finds a winter nibble.
Fussen, Germany
A castle, wild swans, and a bitter-cold Alpine lake make this a storybook-worthy scene in southern Bavaria.
Quebec City, Canada
You may recognize picturesque Place Royale from Catch Me If You Can, when main character Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) gets nabbed. Here, the historical heart of Vieux Quebec sits blissfully unpeopled.
Dolomites, Italy
A hazy shade of winter cloaks Italy's Alpine Dolomites and their narrow, icebound valleys.
Kyoto, Japan
True Zen: In Kyoto prefecture, Kinkaku-ji (the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion") greets a tranquil snowfall.
North Vancouver, Canada
Each year, the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, bedecked in thousands of twinkling lights, welcomes visitors to take a festive stroll 100 feet above the ground.
Tschamut, Switzerland
Baby, it's cold outside: Alps adventurers meet for a campfire in a circle of igloos.
Banff, Canada
Banff's picture-perfect main drag rests at the foot of the snowcapped Canadian Rockies.
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Wintry clouds roll in at Colorado's Wolf Creek Ski Area as skiers look on—from above.
Ekero, Sweden
On icebound Ekero, an island near Stockholm, a typical Swedish winter shows its true color: white.
Poconos, Pennsylvania
Dusk—and snow—falls on a farmstead in rural Monroe County, giving the powder a pink glow.
Tallinn, Estonia
Sip mulled wine and explore medieval Tallinn's Christmas Market as it sparkles with holiday lights.
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