Four Places You are (Almost) Guaranteed a White Christmas

by Tom Bastek
Last updated: 3:00 AM ET, Wed December 3, 2014

So you say you want a white Christmas this year? Well the truth being told in our climate changing, global warming world that we live in, it is hard to guarantee a white Christmas unless you want to go to somewhere like Fairbanks, Alaska or Marquette, Mich. which both have a 100 percent chance seeing the white stuff on Christmas. Here are a few places that have a pretty high percentage of seeing snow on Dec. 25 and at the same time aren't quite as remote.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

The second largest city in Michigan, Grand Rapids comes in at about a 73 percent chance of seeing a white Christmas. Better than that, they are only about 25 miles from Lake Michigan and that means they are susceptible to lake effect snow. After the debacle in upstate New York this November where they received up to six feet of snow in less than two days, this puts you in a good chance for the snow.

If you are the adventurous type, there is enough to do here as well. Plenty of theaters, museums, the Grand Rapids Drive basketball team and the Grand Rapid Griffins hockey team are all available if you get bored. If you are the outdoorsy type, the Cannonsburg Ski Area and the Prando Winter Sports Park are both close by.

Burlington, Vermont

Coming in at a balmy 77 percent chance of Christmas Day snowfall is the quintessential New England Coastal Town. The difference being that it is on the Lake Champlain coast instead of the Atlantic Ocean coast. Voted by Forbes magazine as one of the prettiest towns in America in 2010, they are a pretty good chance for you to get that white wonderland on Christmas.

ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center and Ethan Allen Homestead are both places to check out in the area as well as the Church Street Marketplace as a great place to shop but you won't find much in the way of outdoor activities the colder it gets. Oh, and I know it is cold, but you might want to get a scoop of Ben and Jerry's while you are there; Burlington is the birthplace of the chain.

Lake Placid, New York

You can't mention cold-weather activities without bringing out the past Olympic hosting town of Lake Placid. They have about a 90 percent chance of seeing a white Christmas and there is a ton of awesome stuff to do while you are here. On Whiteface Mountain sits the Lake Placid Olympic Center, which hosted the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.

Here you have the opportunity to partake in many Olympics sports including bobsled, luge, skeleton, biathlon, cross country skiing, and you can even take a tour of the ski jumping facility as well. Don't forget you are in the Adirondack Mountains and you will have an unparalleled view of the stars. If you get a clear night, do not miss the show. The light pollution is so low there that you can see satellites orbiting the Earth with your naked eye.

Augusta, Maine

If you get to the Eastern seaboard of the United States and get on Interstate 95 and go north, you are going to eventually run into Augusta, Maine. Now, let's get something straight; this is Maine. It is freaking cold. The average low temperature in December is 18 degrees.

The good news is that you are at a 97 percent chance of seeing white stuff on the ground on Christmas morning. The bad news is that it is probably going to be cold enough out that you might not want to move from in front of the fireplace. If you do venture out, you can get to the Governor's Mansion for a tour or maybe to the Children's Discovery Museum. Remember this town does have an off-season and you are in the heart of it. There are a few places that offer up year round fun with snowmobile tours and moose watching tours.

Want to know how your town fairs for a white Christmas? Check out the map below and see for yourself!