You know that feeling after a day out in the cold: sitting down in front of a fire, your cheeks rosy, a hot toddy by your side, all sleepy and cozy and proud of yourself. There’s something so satisfying about not fending off winter but actually going out and enjoying it, especially when you’re in a place that makes it easy.

enRoute skipped off to four of those places in North America – two in the East, two in the West. We donned snowsuits and bathrobes, sat in outdoor hot tubs and gazed over snowy landscapes to bring you the inside scoop on the destinations that do winter best. Here are our findings.