Winter Storm Elliott Hammering Down On Holiday Travel

Winter storm. Dangerous cold. Bomb cyclone. These are the words coming out of the mouths of meteorologists all over the country this week. According to The Weather Channel, a major winter storm, officially named Elliott, is bringing brutally cold temperatures to most of the U.S. this week, just in time for Christmas travel. It's being called a "bomb cyclone," which is moving from the West to the East Coast.

What is a “bomb cyclone?” A “bombogenesis” (a.k.a. bomb cyclone) usually happens when warm air rises ahead of an arctic air mass with a strong jet stream moving above it. This causes a significant drop in atmospheric pressure of a storm (at least 24 millibars in 24 hours). All that adds up to a recipe for potentially harmful weather. Scientific American has a more complete explanation.

The storm's most serious effects will be a blizzard in the Midwest starting Thursday (12/22). That region could be hit with six-to-12 inches of snow and "life-threatening" wind chills, while temperatures will feel as cold as 50- to 55-degrees BELOW zero. And, of course, all that mess is moving east, where high winds are a serious concern.

If there’s any good news – with tens of millions of people in 30 states under weather alerts – it’s that those planning to travel might get a little relief from most major airlines. The New York Post reports that United, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines are offering to waive change fees and fare differences for those wanting to change flights so they can travel before or after the storm, within small re-booking windows.

This all reminds me of the opening sequence in the 1964 animated holiday special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. If you recall, Christmas was under threat of cancellation due to a fearsome winter storm.

Winter is coming. And while it's getting colder in North Carolina, it's certainly not a winter wonderland. While we could see more snow than average this year (don't they always say that?), I'm not holding my breath. So if you're like me and love to see some good snowfall each winter, you may need to travel. With this in mind, our friends at SkyPark have compiled the 10 most Instagram-worthy winter wonderlands worldwide. And boy are they spectacular!

According to SkyPark, searches for 'Winter Holidays' have increased by 50% in the last 12 months. Additionally, the hashtag #winterwonderland has been used 15.7 million times on Instagram. To create this list they scoured TripAdvisor mentions for the term ‘winter wonderland’. This along with hashtag data and  secureparking.com helped them refine their search and reveal the most picturesque winter scenes from around the world.

What do you think of when you think of winter wonderlands? Is it snowy mountain peaks, a ski lodge, a frozen lake, or icy trees? I'd take any of it! In fact, I'm trying to book a winter getaway in the next few months. None of my initial options were on this list but I'm glad I found it. May have to adjust the plans. Keep reading to see the 10 most Instagramable winter wonderlands across the globe. And go ahead and book that flight!

Location: Utah

Instagram Posts: 27K

The Bear Lake Valley is paradise! According to their website, Bear Lake is often called “The Caribbean of the Rockies” for its intense turquoise blue water. Summer offers plenty of outdoor activities, but it may be even more gorgeous in the winter. Visitors can enjoy snowmobiling, ice fishing, snow skiing, and of course the picturesque views. Get more information on winter at Bear Lake here.

Location: Yongding District, Hunan, China

Instagram Posts: 29K

The Tianmen Mountain national forest park scenic area is accessible to visitors by a cable car gondola system. The area is known as "an endless sky without darkness".  The mountain is known for the Tianmen Cave, a unique natural miracle . The cave was created after the cliff collapsed in ancient times. Today it's national forest and a popular tourist destination. And those views from above only get even more spectacular when the area is covered in snow.

Location: Colorado

Instagram Posts: 39K

The Grand Mesa in Colorado is the largest flattop mountain in the world. It's over 500 square miles and stands over 10,000 feet above sea level. The Grand Mesa Scenic Byway is 63 miles through the national forest, providing beautiful vistas of the National Forest’s lakes, wildlife, and geological features. Winter in Grand Mesa offers cross-country or downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and tubing.

Location: Michigan

Instagram Posts: 40K

Tahquamenon Falls State Park is made up of around 50,000 acres stretching over 13 miles. The centerpiece (and most Instagrammable place) of the park, and the very reason for its existence, is the Tahquamenon River with its waterfalls. The Upper Falls is one the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. It has a drop of nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. In the winter this area freezes over and is simply breathtaking.

Location: Budapest, Hungary

Instagram Posts: 44K

Normafa is part of the Buda Hills area of Budapest,which is the highest point of the city. One of the area's most popular tourist attractions, it's known for its panoramic scenery and fresh air. In the winter months the area is home to skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. 

Location: Alaska

Instagram Posts: 47K

The Talkeetna Mountains is the setting for Hatcher Pass which is the perfect location for outdoor recreation or a simple scenic drive. The road is maintained year round so visitors always have access to some of the earliest snow in the area, skiing (good enough for the Jr Olympic team), hiking in the alpine tundra, and of course that perfect photo.

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

Instagram Posts: 55K

Mt Seymour is located just North of Vancouver. The mountain is home to a ski resort featuring winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing, and tobogganing.

Location: Bavaria, Germany

Location: 60K

The Partnachklamm, is in the Bavarian alpine resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The gorge for the Partnach River, runs 2,305 feet between limestone walls. A series of tunnels have been carved out of the rock along one side, where visitors to walk along the rushing river and duck behind waterfalls. In the winter months, the Partnach Gorge is a magical place of ice and snow formations. 

Location: Banff, Alberta, Canada

Instagram Posts: 86K

Johnston Canyon is a breathtaking natural attraction in Banff National Park with overhanging canyon walls, waterfalls, the deep pools of Johnston Creek, and lush forests. During the winter months, Johnston Canyon is a popular place to go ice walking and ice climbing. The Upper Falls freeze during the winter and make for excellent beginner and advanced ice climbing. 

Location: New York

Instagram Posts: 396K

Topping the list is the perfect winter getaway. Lake Placid is home to snowy rolling hills, distant Adirondack peaks, ice skating rinks, and a gorgeous town. That's Lake Placid. Take in the views while snowshoeing, dining, sitting by a fire pit, or strolling through town. Of course you can hit the slopes or participate in cross-country skiing as well.