15 Great Midwest Winter Weekend Escapes

Black Hills, South Dakota

In the Black Hills, snowmobiles zip through landscapes so jaw-dropping you'd swear you were in one of the great western national parks. Terry Peak is the Midwest's highest downhill ski area, but there are plenty of zippy hills for beginners, too. Or, just head to the woods with a pair of rented cross-country skis, and swoosh through the snow-covered pines.

One snowmobile magnet is the Spearfish Canyon Lodge, a classic log hideaway on the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, where guests dine on dishes like trout amandine but still park sleds outside their rooms. For skiing and snowboarding, Terry Peak, about 20 miles south of Spearfish, offers multiple runs and lifts; nearby Mystic Miner Ski Resort is known for family-friendly tubing runs and lighted nighttime skiing.