Sure, skiing, ice skating and trying one’s luck on the toboggan are nifty winter pursuits, but why not break with tradition a bit this season?

The following destinations aren’t necessarily the first places you’d think of when it comes to cold weather fare.

But they do offer a taste of Mother Nature’s wintry spell, all the same. Donna M. Owens investigates four unexpected destinations to celebrate the magic of winter.

National Harbor, Maryland

It’s almost a jingle bell shame that it can’t be winter all year long at Gaylord National Resort. Because it’s hard to tear yourself away from this towering, gleaming, glass-encased mega-hotel on the Potomac River, just 10 minutes from Washington, DC.

Simply put, Gaylord offers the kind of magical setting for the holidays that conjures a movie set. There’s a 60-foot “candy” glass Christmas tree, an indoor snowfall, and two million—yep, you heard right—dazzling lights. The fun is all part of the resort’s “Christmas on the Potomac” which runs through January 3.

Gaylord is at heart a hotel, but in practice it’s much more. Its sweeping 20-story atrium is filled with plants and flowers, and fountains, with colorful, synchronized light shows daily. Paces away, there are plenty of places to kick back and relax. The National Pastime Sports Bar & Grille features a statue of Babe Ruth, a 30-foot video wall and dozens of screens for sports lovers, and there are four distinctive restaurants, ranging from Italian to an upscale steak house.

Meanwhile, the chic Relâche Spa and Fitness Center is a haven for pampering and there’s clothing and trinket shops. Outside, the entire National Harbor complex offers more than a dozen onsite entertainment, activity, shopping and dining options.

If you do nothing else while visiting this winter, treat the whole family to Gaylord National’s ICE! display. Imagine a 15,000-square-foot winter wonderland created entirely of ice—two million pounds to be exact.

The artistry is simply amazing: the fantastical exhibit has been hand-sculpted by 40 international artisans. Adults will marvel at the icy holiday scenes, while kids will be thrilled to jump aboard genuine ice slides. But be sure to dress warmly: the exhibit is kept at a brrr-inspiring 9 degrees.

Baltimore, Maryland

Many travelers think of Baltimore as a summer destination: spicy steamed crabs and strolls along the Inner Harbor’s famed promenade, and sailboats that celebrate the region’s Chesapeake Bay heritage.

But come winter, it’s trains, not schooners, that take center stage. First up, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum is home to a seasonal treat, the Holiday Festival of Trains. It’s Maryland’s largest display of toy and model train layouts, and it’s something to see. There are train rides, photo ops with Santa and Frosty the Snowman, and model railroad exhibitors also have their creations on display. And if you want to remember the day with a bit of memorabilia, drop by the Museum Store for $1 dollar train ornaments.

Meanwhile, you can continue to ride the train, well, figuratively that is, at the Hotel Monaco, Baltimore’s snazzy new boutique hotel. Originally the site of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Headquarters, this stunning, architecturally distinctive space is just a short walk from the picturesque Inner Harbor and Baltimore Convention Center.

Built in 1906 just after the Great Baltimore Fire, the hotel’s historic building represents Baltimore’s role as a leader in commercial transportation during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Intricate sculptures over the entrance depict the Roman god Mercury, a mythological symbol of commerce, and a figure, “The Progress of Industry,” holding a torch and locomotive.

Adjacent to the hotel is B&O American Brasserie, which features a varied, high-end menu (from gourmet pizzas to seafood potpie) from Chef E. Michael Reidt, named one of Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Chefs. The restaurant also features a selection of artisanal wines and a busy bar scene. Award-winning bartender Brendan will hook you up with classic and unique hand-crafted cocktails (he uses everything from pear liqueur to candied ginger) that will warm you from head to toe.

Last but not least, no visit to Baltimore is complete around the holidays without experiencing the following:

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Spectacular, a Broadway-style variety show complete with high-kicking Tap-Dancing Santas and two, 30-foot tall Nutcrackers;  the beautifully lit Washington Monument (this year’s lights are blue); and speaking of lights, check out the Miracle on 34th Street, a 60-year-tear tradition that showcases a whole residential city block lit up like, well, a Christmas tree.

Atlanta, Georgia

Let’s face it: most people head south to escape the cold, not to embrace Old Man Winter. Yet that doesn’t mean that a city like Atlanta (and yes, it snows here occasionally) doesn’t offer its own version of winter fun.

For the holidays, Santa is stopping by the Georgia Aquarium (and you can swim with whale sharks here too), to the tree lighting at the World of Coca-Cola. But since a favorite pastime in this cosmopolitan Southern city is eating (and during the colder months those extra layers excuse any extra pounds), you can literally dine your way through Hotlanta.

Stop first for breakfast at Parish Food & Goods in Inman Park, a New Orleans-inspired restaurant and market located in a beautifully restored 1890s factory. The eatery boasts an eco-friendly mission (herbs are grown onsite, eggs are organic, etc) with the can’t-go-wrong flavors New Orleans. Must try: the market’s homemade version of Twinkies.

Rest up a bit then have lunch at FLIP Burger Boutique, which may be the hippest burger spot in the land. Burgers come topped with homemade condiments and extras like grilled shrimp and rosemary buns. The milkshakes are divine (think unique flavors like Krispy Kreme, Peach, White Chocolate, and Sweet Tea).

You may not be hungry yet but do stop in for happy hour at the St. Regis Bar at the St. Regis Atlanta, known for its signature Bloody Mary. The tradition stems from 1934, when Fernand Petoit became a bartender at The St. Regis Hotel New York, bringing with him a vodka and tomato juice drink he started making in Paris. Today, the St. Regis Atlanta calls it the West Paces Mary—a special version of the classic with a unique blend of spices and a pickled green tomato garnish.

From there, have dinner at MF Buckhead, a see-and-be seen Japanese eatery, bar and lounge that features private dining.  The food is unlike anything Atlanta has seen before. The 24-seat sushi counter is the Southeast’s largest, and fresh, seasonal seafood is flown in from Tokyo.

Finally, have a nightcap at Whiskey Blue, a stylish rooftop bar and lounge located inside the swank W Atlanta, a boutique hotel in upscale Buckhead. The bar is owned by famed nightlife impresario Rande Gerber, and the spot features a DJ, incredible libations (many made with fresh fruit purees) and plump sofas set among shag rugs that are reminiscent of `70s cocktail fetes. Outside, beyond the glass walls on a rooftop deck, you can lounge on retro-chic furniture and watch another natural wonder: the stars twinkling over the Atlanta skyline.

Hershey Park in Hershey, Pensylvania

At HersheyPark, where the sweet smell of chocolate fills the air, the amusement park is done up for the holidays, and the displays continue to dazzle.

New this year is N.O.E.L., the mother of all light shows with 125,000 dancing lights set to toe-tapping, jingle-rocking music. Check out the live performances of choral singers, visit Santa’s famous reindeer and enjoy more than 30 rides including the “Twilight Express,” and “A Music Box Christmas Show.”

Meanwhile, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, another  winter fete is in the works: Chocolate-Covered February, a month-long, town-wide celebration of everything chocolate.

Guests can take “The Great Hershey Quest,” a journey around Chocolate Town, U.S.A. where they’ll encounter  cupcakes,  and chocolate-themed adventure. Also new for 2010 is the introduction of Chocolate-Covered February packages that sweeten a stay at The Hotel Hershey or Hershey Lodge on any date during the month of February.

As has become the tradition, the Chocolate Dinner Extraordinaire at The Hotel Hershey will kick off the month’s festivities. This five-course, chocolate-infused dinner will take place in the Hotel’s Circular Dining Room on Friday, February 5.

Click here to discover more great holiday destinations and events.

By Donna M. Owens for PeterGreenberg.com. Donna is an award-winning journalist based in Baltimore who reports for print, broadcast, and Internet outlets nationwide.