There’s a three-peat in the making and we need your help to flood the voting box. For the third consecutive year, our “Big Snow Country” paradise is in the running for the No. 1 spot in USA TODAY’s Readers’ Choice 10Best “Best Destination for Snow.” It’s a tough competition among 20 of the nation’s top snow destinations, but no one embraces winter’s beauty, serenity and full-blast fun like the U.P.
“We are humbled by the USA TODAY editors and a panel of travel experts for nominating the U.P. again for this high-profile snow competition,” said Executive Director Tom Nemacheck. “After capturing the No. 1 ranking in 2023 and 2024, we know winter enthusiasts view us as an exceptional place. Every day it snows makes us happier.”
Why the U.P. Earns Your Vote
Bordered by three of the Great Lakes, Superior, Michigan and Huron, we live in a world of lake-effect snow. These natural snow machines typically blanket the U.P. with up to 300 inches of glistening powder from late November to mid-April. Wherever you step outdoors, you enter the hushed world you long for.
Explore 3,000 miles of exhilarating, groomed snowmobile trails stretching from Ironwood to Drummond Island. Discover the wonders of nature up close on premier cross-country ski, snowshoe and fat-tire bike trails. Prove your grit on extreme downhill slopes or by scaling sheer walls of ice.
Find U.P.-made holiday gifts in welcoming shops. Satisfy your hunger with giant cinnamon rolls, piping-hot pasties, Friday fish frys and chilled craft beverages. Watch heart-pounding hockey games or soul-stirring Northern Lights. Discover gorgeous waterfalls, frozen mid-roar, snow-caked lighthouses and festively decorated towns hosting events that chase away everyone’s doldrums. Play in our snow and you’ll be back again and again.
Vote from Nov. 3 to Dec. 1
USA TODAY readers will determine the top 10Best Destination for Snow by voting for their favorite among the 20 nominees posted online. The contest is open from Nov. 3, noon EST until 11:59 a.m., Dec. 1. You can vote once per day until the poll closes, so please put a reminder on your calendar. USA TODAY will announce the final rankings on Dec. 10.
To keep the votes snowballing for the U.P., please share the link below with your family, friends and other winter enthusiasts. The more votes the U.P. tallies each day, the faster we will claim the No. 1 spot.
“This isn’t just about helping us keep our national title,” Nemacheck added. “Your votes raise awareness of all the fun the U.P. offers this time of year. The more people it draws here for the Best Destination for Snow, the more our businesses and communities will thrive.”