15 Trips to Get You Through What's Left of Winter

The Galapagos Islands provide the ultimate winter escape from reality, allowing you to get up close and personal with wildlife. One of the easiest ways to see them is by cruise ship. Silversea Cruises still has openings for February and early March sailings.

Why not visit a destination almost guaranteed to be colder than home? After you return from Antarctica, you'll think spring has already sprung! And who doesn't want to try an expedition cruise? Space is still available on several lines as the winter season winds down.

Fed up with snow and gray skies? The solution is to head to the South Pacific where blue skies and turquoise waters are guaranteed to make you forget that winter even exists. Paul Gauguin Cruises is an easy option for seeing French Polynesia in style.

Looking for a quick trip to lift your spirits? February is idyllic in South Florida-mostly because the spring breakers have yet to arrive. In Miami, The Stanton puts you in the heart of South Beach. For a quieter visit, think the area known as the Paradise Coast-including Naples and Marco Island.

Total escape from winter involves changing hemispheres. As we transition from winter to spring, Aussies are moving into their fall, which means lighter crowds and possibly lower airfare. If wildlife viewing is your reason for heading down under, start your plan at Australian Wildlife Journeys.

The wine harvest is just beginning in New Zealand. Join in the fun on the North Island as the grapes begin to ripen. Sip your way through Syrahs and Pinot Noirs from Napier to Wellington along the Classic Wine Trail.

Late winter in Denver often brings spring-like weather with clear Rocky Mountain skies. Drink your fill of craft beer, take advantage of free days at local museums or ice skate on the downtown rink.

As crazy as it sounds, watching giant waves crashing on a jagged shoreline is a thing, and especially big in Tofino. Check out the Wickaninnish Inn for the details.

Texans' favorite beach destination, South Padre Island may soon be home to cruise ships making port stops in the Western Caribbean. For good or bad, visit now before the state's spring breakers gather in mid-March.

The quickest antidote to the winter blues is to make the short hop to Nassau and Atlantis, Paradise Island. Or you could always check out the Abacos and Grand Bahama Island via cruise or flight. Either way, you can be in paradise in less time than you think.

Fat Tuesday, and Mardi Gras begins February 13 this year. Join the party, or wait and enjoy the quieter side of NOLA and the Royal Sonesta New Orleans after the party is cleaned up. Prime time to visit for the non-party group is from the 15th to mid-March.

As if you needed one more reason to visit Maui, it's peak whale watching season in Hawaii and West Maui is one of the best places to spot them. Boat trips to Molokai put you in the prime spotting area.

Late winter is the perfect time to visit Sin City. Average temperatures are in the sixties and seventies, allowing plenty of opportunities to walk comfortably between casinos and attractions or even getting some cutting-edge IV therapy.

There's never a bad time to visit Malta but now is a great time. Crowds are light this time of year, and summer's heat has not yet arrived. Expect temperatures in the mid-sixties.

This one may sound incredibly weird because it is incredibly cold in Iceland during the winter. But if seeing the Northern Lights is your dream, then you need more hours of darkness. Fewer tourists also means you may have some of the top attractions to yourself.