Yes, we love making New Year’s resolutions, too—only to fail the follow-through before the month is out. Why not make yourself a promise that’s easy to keep?
Let’s travel more in 2026. It’s a life-affirming, horizon-expanding mantra.
We have some suggestions to ignite your wanderlust, whether you want to visit a newly accessible national park in North Africa, celebrate the art of the circus in an unlikely locale, or go treasure hunting on one of America’s most charming barrier islands.
Here are the 10 best places to travel in January.
1. Yunnan Province, China
January is great for: experiencing a centuries-old Buddhist tradition in situ.
Taking place in January in China’s southwestern Yunnan province is Gedong Festival, an annual ritual that marks the end of the Tibetan year, according to the lunar calendar. This year, the festival occurs from January 14 to 18. Monasteries are the focus, especially Songzanlin, the largest Tibetan Buddhist conclave in the province of Shangri-La (formerly known as Zhongdian, until its name changed in 2001 to capitalize on the allure of the eponymous 1937 movie). Monks perform sacred Cham masked dances to banish evil spirits and ensure good fortune in the coming year.
This same month, the revered black-necked crane—considered a symbol of peace and longevity—arrives at the wetlands here, migrating southwards from its breeding grounds on the high-altitude Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The best place to see them en masse is the Napa Lake, a short drive northwest from Shangri-La.
Where to stay: Songtsam Linka Retreat Shangri-La
- Book now: songtsam.com
This 92-room hotel in the province’s northern reaches, close to Songzanlin, has traditionally inspired architecture (think wooden floors and Tibetan carpets) plus a spa that offers treatments inspired by Tibetan techniques, like Kum Nye, a protocol that combines breathwork with oil-based massage.
Insider tip
Songtsam general manager Lamu Qunying Yu says that one of the most distinctive souvenirs from the region is Nixi black pottery, which uses centuries-old techniques to achieve its rich, smoky color. “It’s recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage and produces practical items like teacups, bowls, and vases, each slightly irregular and utterly unique and beautiful,” she says.
The start of Mardi Gras season and crawfish season happily unite in January in Baton Rouge.
Photo by Vladimir Oprisko/Unsplash
2. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
January is great for: gorging on the best the bayou offers.
Crawfish—call them crayfish or mudbugs, if you wish, but they’re only called crawfish here—became a staple part of Louisiana’s cuisine when Cajun settlers adopted the Native Americans’ diet; the crustaceans thrive in wetland conditions, and the state now produces about 100 million pounds of them annually. The season starts this month, and the state embraces the occasion with Gulf Coast gusto.
The best place to start is at Tony’s Seafood, where you can pick up a crawfish boil for a picnic on the riverbanks nearby (daytime temperatures usually hover in the 50s, so it’s just pleasant enough to linger alfresco in a sweater). Finish off with a king cake or two; it’s Mardi Gras season once January 6 hits, and bakeries such as Ambrosia, Rêve Coffee Lab, or Counterspace Baton Rouge make miniature versions so you can sample a few different flavors and riffs.
You can work off some of that indulgence at the Louisiana marathon, which is primed for all fitness levels; there’s a full and half marathons and a 5K on the schedule during the January 17–18 weekend. If you’re spectating, the best place to stand is along the lakes near Louisiana State University.
Where to stay: Watermark Baton Rouge
- Book now: watermarkbr.com
This art deco–era skyscraper was built in 1927 for the Louisiana National Bank. Then it became government offices, then lay dormant until it was revived as this 144-room hotel. The standout room is undeniably No. 225, which was once the bank’s president’s office; look for the wood panel that concealed his private staircase.
Insider tip
Amanda Acosta, general manager at Watermark Baton Rouge, has several ideas on what to buy around town, whether tees from Sweet Baton Rouge or jewelry from Mimosa Handcrafted. Red Stick Spice Company offers small-batch spice blends and teas using Louisiana ingredients. “Ask for the ‘Taste of Louisiana’ blend or local cane sugar rubs,” she suggests. “They make excellent gifts and are TSA-friendly for your trip home.”
Head to Vermont for a winter carnival, ice sculptures, and an LGBTQ+ ski event.
Photo by Triyansh Gill/Unsplash (L); photo by Giuli Canderle/Unsplash (R)
3. Stowe, Vermont
January is great for: making the most of midwinter.
Stowe is a winter sports hot spot, and it’s most thrilling during its Winter Carnival each January, which this year runs from January 21 to 25. Expect ice-carving demos and competitions, where pro sculptors from the National Ice Carving Association compete for glory (last year’s champ was Evan Hughes, who created a translucent giant crab, dubbed Killing Cancer), as well as snow volleyball and other family-friendly events.
It coincides with the Winter Rendezvous, an LGBTQ+-focused ski fiesta, which first took place in 1983, making it one of the longest-running such weeks in the country. The event offers world-class skiing on the almost 120 trails of Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak as well as horse-drawn sleigh rides, a themed pool party, drag bingo, and even a community Pride Run down the mountain itself.
Where to stay: Outbound Stowe
- Book now: outboundhotels.com
Think of this motel-style property, part of the new Outbound chain with other outposts in Jackson Hole and Mammoth Lakes, as a hipster basecamp with Scandi minimalist decor that’s a short walk from the downtown’s center. For the pick of the rooms, book one of the 13 A-frame inspired cabins, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river.
Insider Tip
Doc Ponds is a casual but popular après ski hangout recommended by Michael Clark, the hotel’s head of guest experience. Clark calls it “one of the coolest gastropubs with meticulously sourced, elevated comfort food, and where the music’s always good.” His usual order: the Vermont cheddar fritters paired with an ice-cold Von Trapp Bohemian Pilsner.
Clowns and acrobats descend on Monaco in January.
Photo by KirShu/Shutterstock
4. Monaco
January is great for: running away to the circus.
Forget the hard-partying jet set. This month, Monaco’s focus is on much more everyday fun, thanks to the International Circus Festival. The festival was established here more than 50 years ago by the late Prince Rainier III, who was himself an avid fan of clowning. From January 16 to 25, troupes from around the world will descend on the 3,800-seat Chapiteau de l’Espace Fontvieille, with more than 150 performers from over 20 countries in various disciplines, including acrobatics, juggling, equestrian and, of course, clowning.
The festival even includes the Clown d’Or award, the industry’s version of the Oscars, which goes to a standout troupe each year and is judged by Rainier’s daughter, Stéphanie, a performer herself (though as a singer and model). In 2025, it was a tie between Turkmenistan’s Djiguites acrobatic equestrian team and China’s National Acrobatic Troupe.
Where to stay: Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo
- Book now: montecarlosbm.com
Make like a high roller and reserve a room at this Belle Époque–era institution on the Place du Casino, built in the 1860s as part of the country’s efforts to lure the elite to its glossy new gambling dens. Book supper at the rooftop Le Grill, built in 1959 by former owner Aristotle Onassis on a whim for his lover Maria Callas, so she could see all of Monaco while dining.
Insider Tip
Monaco was once renowned for its citrus groves, and a few orange trees still line the boulevards. They provide the raw materials for the signature bitter orange liqueur from La Distillerie de Monaco, the first and only of its kind in the principality. “Enjoy it in a Spritz with prosecco and soda for a refreshing Monaco-style aperitif,” says Louis Starck, general manager at Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo.
Ski and attend the ball in Salzburg.
Photo by Patrick Daxenbichler/Shutterstock
5. Salzburg, Austria
January is great for: Mozart, moguls, and minuets.
It’s ball season right now across Austria. Though Vienna’s scene might be better known, the second city of Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, has its own schedule of more locally focused balls, which gives them an authenticity that some of Vienna’s better-known balls can no longer claim. The exact schedule isn’t finalized too far in advance, but keep checking the tourism website for an updated roster.
Head to Gastein just outside Salzburg for the Mountain Rescue Ball on January 10 or try the children’s Masked Ball concert on January 31, where families can learn to waltz together under the auspices of the Salzburg Philharmonic Orchestra. It falls within Mozart Week, too, which begins January 22 and features performances of his major works. This year there’s a new production of The Magic Flute.
If you’d like to ramp up the adrenaline beyond an elegant quadrille or two, there’s ample opportunity at the ski facilities in and around the city. The SalzburgerLand area includes more than 1,200 miles of groomed slopes. The best area for all skill levels is Snow Space Salzburg, about an hour south of the city, which comprises the interlinked network of Flachau–Wagrain–St. Johann-Alpendorf.
Where to stay: Rosewood Schloss Fuschl
- Book now: rosewoodhotels.com
It was Romy Schneider’s 1950s film trilogy, Sissi, that first made this 15th-century hunting lodge famous. Rosewood took over and renovated the building to reopen in 2024. It now features 98 rooms, eight of which are carved from the medieval tower. There are six restaurants on-site, including an afternoon tea-focused lounge called Sisi Teesalon, named after Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) of Austria.
Insider Tip
“No trip to Salzburg is complete without sampling—and taking home—the Original Salzburger Mozartkugel,” says hotel managing director Andreas Pade. The pistachio and marzipan treat, named in honor of the composer by confectioner Paul Fürst in 1890, is still made by hand with the same recipe. “The unmistakable silver foil with a blue Mozart portrait distinguishes the true original from countless imitators,” he says. Pick it up at Café-Konditorei Fürst to make sure it’s the real deal.
Attend sailing week and rum parties across Grenada.
Photo by Hugh Whyte/Unsplash
6. Grenada
January is great for: hitting the high seas at full tilt.
Grenada Sailing Week, which runs January 25 to 30, is widely recognized as one of the region’s top regattas, and it’s set between the islands of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique. The six-day event kicks off with a preliminary qualifying feeder race between Barbados and Carriacou called “Rum to Spice.” Then comes five days of racing across different classes, whether charters or pro keelboats. You don’t need to be crewing, though, to enjoy the event, as there’s a festive atmosphere across the island, capped with the Mount Gay Rum Red Cap party, which is on the penultimate evening at Port Louis Marina.
Decompress from the excitement with downtime on one of Grenada’s world-class beaches. If you’re keen to swim, stay on the southern reaches, where the waters are calmer. Morne Rouge, a horseshoe-shaped bay, is a real standout, with casual beach bars and terrific snorkeling. Otherwise, head to Bathway or Levera beaches in the north, with dramatic settings and superb wave-watching, or even to the west coast Black Bay beach with its inky volcanic sand.
Where to stay: Silversands Beach House
- Book now: silversandscollection.com
The 28-room resort, a junior sister to its namesake OG resort on Grand Anse beach, is situated on the clifftop on Portici Beach, a more secluded spot. Every room has a private canopied terrace, but for maximum convenience, book one of the five suites by the infinity pool that sit beachfront.
Insider Tip
Simon Seales, nicknamed Mandoo, is the best guide anywhere on the island, according to Dennis de Groot, general manager of Silversands Grenada. Mandoo is a former British merchant sailor who returned to his home country to establish a tour company that showcases Grenada to the world, and he’s become the go-to guide for the island. He offers half- and full-day excursions, as well as custom itineraries. “His tours include highlights like the rainforest, waterfalls, and Mona monkeys,” de Groot explains.
Michigan embraces winter during its annual festival.
Photo by Michael Deemer/Shutterstock
7. Grand Rapids, Michigan
January is great for: embracing (and celebrating) the subzero temps.
Midwinter in Michigan can be brutal: Temperatures regularly tumble into the teens, and there’s almost a one in four chance of rain or snow on any given day. But locals embrace that lake-effect-influenced climate via the World of Winter festival, which kicks off its two-month residency here on January 9.
Claiming to be the largest winter festival in the country, it includes everything from fire pits and food trucks to ice art installations (there was a walk-through honeycomb and rainbow meadow in 2025). Last year also featured a citywide scavenger hunt, music battles, and DJ sets, plus special programming from the local children’s museum. Even better, nearly all the programming is free and open to the public.
Where to stay: Amway Grand Plaza
- Book now: amwaygrand.com/
This extraordinary landmark opened in 1913 as the Pantlind Hotel (designed by Warren and Wetmore, the New York-based architect firm behind Grand Central Station), a grand statement for this town when it was a thriving center of America’s logging industry. It’s now owned by two local families, De Vos and Van Andel. Book dinner at MDRD on the top of the building, a Spanish restaurant cannily designed to give each table a terrific view out across the city.
Insider Tip
Don’t leave without sampling a chocolate chunk cookie from The Cakabakery, which hotel Amway general manager Ross Bartlett calls “divine, and the best in the city.” Pair it with a double espresso and a sidebar of sparkling water at the buzzy Mad Cap Coffee next door for breakfast to “soak in the energy of the morning rush.”
The Sundance Film Festival is having its last finale in Park City, Utah.
Photo by Franccesca Sopla G/Shutterstock
8. Park City, Utah
January is great for: the final cut of a world-famous film fest.
So long, Sundance. The late Robert Redford’s pet project has gone from a small-scale indie-film boosting effort to a world-famous launchpad for award-hogging movies: Get Out, Reservoir Dogs, and The Blair Witch Project all premiered here before becoming cultural touchstones. Last spring, organizers announced that it would desert its 40-year perch here to move to Boulder, Colorado, where the infrastructure is better suited for the now-major event.
If you want to enjoy the bittersweet final stint here, running from January 22 through February 1, plan to stick around for the last few days, as festival director Eugene Hernandez has promised a celebration of its legacy (rather than a wake) with special screenings, talks, and events. The other undoubted highlight: the January 23 gala celebrating founder Redford, hosted by the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley.
Where to stay: Montage Deer Valley
- Book now: montage.com/deervalley/
Opened in 2010, this was one of the first luxe resorts in the area, and it instantly catapulted Deer Valley’s accommodation roster into a higher league. One of the canniest details is its X-shaped construction, intended to ensure that almost every one of its 170+ rooms and suites has mountain or valley views, so you can enjoy the scenery without stepping outside.
Insider Tip
As the crowd swirls around you, duck into Riverhorse on Main and pause for a moment at a window-side seat, says hotel Nate Hardesty, general manager at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley. “It’s a local institution, and the pan-seared Utah trout is a dish worth going out of your way for,” he says. “You’ll get both the flavors of the region and the charm of Main Street all at once.”
Go on a month-long treasure hunt in Jekyll Island, Georgia.
Photo by Sherri_j’s_pics/Shutterstock
9. Jekyll Island, Georgia
January is great for: hunting down hidden, homemade souvenirs.
The start of January marks the kickoff for the annual two-month treasure hunt hosted by this barrier island off Georgia’s southeastern coast. It’s inspired by the local fishing legacy; in the early 1900s, fishermen would cast their nets on the waters with globular glass floats attached, better to spy their catch on the waves. The balls would often detach and wash up on the beaches, becoming keepsakes for visitors.
Today, the island’s authorities invite artisans from around the country to create their own handmade glass globes, which are kept at the Guest Information Center. A group of volunteers then hides around 250 plastic counterparts around the island for others to unearth; they place up to five different ones each day, always within reachable, visible locations, like a beach park. If you spy one, bring it to the tourist office, and you can exchange it for a handblown glass counterpart gratis.
Where to stay: The Cloister at Sea Island
Among the five properties in the Sea Island complex, hands down the most charming is the Cloister, mostly thanks to the whimsy of the Mediterranean-inspired architecture that was the work of Southern Florida legend Addison Mizner. It’s the largest of the properties here, too, with its own wood-paneled library and a gloriously retro vibe.
Insider Tip
Jekyll Island Sweets owner Sharon Clark suggests the Wharf for a casual lunch. “You can’t beat the view of the river, and the fried green tomatoes are a must-try while you watch the boats come in.”
Tassili n’Ajjer National Park is finally open to tourists, in Algeria’s Sahara Desert.
Photo by Rostasedlacek/Shutterstock
10. Algeria
January is great for: adventuring through a newly reopened UNESCO site.
If you’ve always yearned to explore this lesser-trafficked corner of North Africa, now’s the ideal time, as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tassili n’Ajjer recently reopened after more than five years off-limits. It’s an extraordinary chance to see some of the earliest evidence of human habitation, with rock art dating back as far as 12,000 years that includes depictions of large animals like antelopes, cattle, crocodiles, and humans.
If you’d like to experience a living connection with the past, consider visiting during Yennayer, or Amazigh New Year, on January 12. Communities across North Africa have celebrated this moment for more than 3,000 years, and it is a national public holiday in Algeria. Expect performances of ahwash and ahidous, the rhythmic call-and-response drum-backed dances that are core to Amazigh culture.
Where to stay: Hotel Taghit Saoura
- Book now: chaineeldjazair.com/saoura
The 59-room property sits amid towering golden sand dunes in an oasis in the arid northwest reaches of the country, receiving less than 2.5 inches of rain per year. Stay here for a simple, modern four-star hotel with an outdoor pool you can enjoy during days when the temps are usually in the high 60s.
Insider Tip
Idle in the square around Makam el Chahid, the monument to those killed in the war for independence that sits on high ground in Algiers, says Explore Worldwide’s Africa Program Manager, Antony Barton. “Sitting here with a coffee gives visitors a chance to take in the rhythm of Algiers from one of its most historic squares, with sweeping views of the Mediterranean.”
