Best ever trips for winter 2012-2013

<p> During the <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/winterlicious/2012/post.htm" target="_blank">Winterlicious </a>foodie festival (January 25 to February 7) you can nosh your way through Toronto's diverse neighbourhoods. Culinary events include affordable <em>prix fixe </em>menus at more than 100 of the city's top restaurants, such as Trevor Kitchen and Bar. Work up an appetite with an afternoon skate outside city hall at Nathan Phillips Square or at Natrel Rink at <a href="http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/skateculture/" target="_blank">Harbourfront Centre</a>.</p>

<p> Between mid-December and early March, Yellowstone is a winter wonderland best explored on foot, cross-country skis, or snowshoes. The park stays open all year round, but in winter most roads are closed to wheeled vehicles. <a href="http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodging-and-learning-193.html" target="_blank">Lodging and Learning</a> packages offered by Yellowstone National Park Lodges and the Yellowstone Association Institute make it easy to stay and play in the park. Guided winter programmes offer wildlife expeditions (view bison, elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, coyotes and wolves), cross-country ski day treks, and Winter Wolf Discoveries.</p>

<p> Advent in Salzburg delivers a multi-sensory infusion of gingerbread-warm holiday spirit. Festivities begin in early December with informal and organised&nbsp;<em>Krampuslaufe&nbsp;</em>or Krampus processions. According to legend, the shaggy, horned demon Krampus frightens naughty children, while his benevolent counterpart St Nicholas rewards the nice ones. The town of Grodig is well known for its parades as well as its romantic holiday markets. Sip mulled wine, ices skate on the Mozartplazz, and ride Austria's oldest funicular railway, Festungsbahn, to view the surrounding snow-dusted panorama. After Christmas, from January 24 to February 3, there's the Mozarteum Foundation Mozart week, a classical music festival with opera productions, chamber music, soloists, and orchestral concerts.</p>

<p> The packed winter trails crisscrossing Chena State Recreation Area's 397 square miles of forests and alpine tundra are open for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmachining, and winter mountain biking. On February 16, the final leg of the thousand-mile Yukon Quest international sled dog race runs through the recreation area along portions of the old Chena Hot Springs Winter Trail. Cheer on the teams, then stay at nearby <a href="http://www.chenahotsprings.com/" target="_blank">Chena Hot Springs Resort </a>and view the northern lights on the 13-passenger Snow Coach tour.&nbsp;</p>

<p> Carnival in Brazil's first capital (and former Portuguese colonial capital) is a cruising Afro-Brazilian dance party stretching mile after mile along city and coastal circuits. In 2013, Carnival runs from February 7 to February 13, but in Salvador, the partying continues through the morning of Ash Wednesday, when processions pulsate to Ondina Beach.</p>

<p> An 80-minute flight from Miami, the Caymans encompass three beautiful islands in the western Caribbean. &nbsp;On Grand Cayman, stroll along coral-sand Seven Mile Beach and swim with yearling green sea turtles in the saltwater lagoon at Cayman Turtle Farm. For an all-in-one Cayman getaway, make family-owned <a href="http://www.bracreef.com/index.html" target="_blank">Brac Reef Beach Resort </a>your home base for beachfront lodging, diving, snorkelling, kayaking and birding.</p>

<p> Located south-west of the Serengeti, the 7,809 square mile national park is an off-the-beaten-adventure-tour-track, offering a quieter, wider environment for exceptional game viewing and birding. January to April (the hot, short rainfall season) is considered the best time to view the park's more than 57 species. Book one of the eight luxury tents at secluded <a href="http://www.selous.com/jongomero-camp" target="_blank">Jongomero safari camp </a>for ranger-guided game drives and small-group walking safaris.</p>

<p> Hop on a high-speed bullet train in Taipei to zip across western Taiwan's valleys, plains and Central Mountain Range foothills. The Taiwan High Speed Rail western route runs over 152 miles of elevated rail from Taipei south to Kaohsiung. From February 23 to March 10, at the 2013 <a href="http://2013taiwanlantern.net/en/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=41:the-information-of-2013-taiwan-lantern-festival-in-hsinchu-county-in-both-chinese-english-can-be-found-on-hsinchu-county-government-website-starting-from-oct-01-2012&amp;catid=1:2012-08-29-02-41-09&amp;Itemid=99" target="_blank">Taiwan Lantern Festival</a>, thousands of soaring and animated lanterns will illuminate the night sky of Taiwan's oldest city, Hsinchu County.&nbsp;</p>

<p> For exceptional sea kayaking and snorkelling along shallow reefs, secluded white sand beaches and unspoiled nature reserves, this reef system is perfect. <a href="http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/" target="_blank">National Geographic Expeditions </a>runs a small-group adventure to Belize which includes safari-style beach camping, snorkelling along the perimeter of the Great Blue Hole. Alternatively, book a private villa at all-inclusive <a href="http://www.turnefferesort.com/" target="_blank">Turneffe Island</a> resort.</p>

<p> Take a trip to Ice City, in the frosted reaches of north east China, to see the incredible ice sculptures. Huge palaces, pyramids, dragons mythical creatures, light and ice shows, ice skating and ice boxing championships are all there to dazzle you (and there are even frozen water slides to freeze your bottom on). The month long <a href="http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/heilongjiang/harbin/ice_snow.htm" target="_blank">Harbin Ice and Snow Festival </a>begins on January 5. Harbin is accessible via train or plane from Beijing or Shanghai.</p> <p> </p>