Warm-Weather Winter Wonderlands

Hawai‘i: The frigid volcano of Mauna Kea

While the oft-erupting cauldrons of Volcanoes National Park see the with lava and smoke, its quiet neighbor on Hawai‘i Island — the dormant volcano Mauna Kea — stands silent and icy, beckoning intrepid visitors into an incongruous winter landscape. Towering 13,803 feet above the palm trees, warm breezes and soft sandy beaches at the island’s sea level, Mauna Kea’s snow-swept summit has recorded temperatures as low as 8 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you’d like a taste of Hawaiian winter atop Mauna Kea, several accredited tour operators organize visits to the summit, complete with four-wheel drive vehicles and loaner coats and mittens. The tours include sunset viewing opportunities and stargazing sessions. Given that some of the world’s highest-powered scientific research observatories are perched atop Mauna Kea, expect to see dazzling starscapes unlike any other view on Earth. The Maunakea Visitor Information Station, located at a 9,200-foot elevation, provides visitors a nice overview of the volcano’s scientific and native cultural significance.

Visitors should be sure to consider the effects of elevation when visiting Mauna Kea. Quickly ascending to even the visitor center at 9,200 feet can be a dizzying experience, and continuing to the nearly 14,000-foot summit can be potentially dangerous to those in poor health. Even the fittest visitors should modify their activity level in consideration of the thin air. Sunscreen is a must for the high elevation with the sun reflecting off the snow.

Snow atop Mauna Kea is common, even in summer. Major storms can bring blizzards creating snowdrifts and closing roads to the summit. If you’re planning to drive on your own, be sure to check weather conditions, and four-wheel drive is required to pass the visitor center to the summit. Skiing on Mauna Kea is legal and possible but not recommended, due to spotty snow and a lack of guides, lifts and facilities, not to mention the razor-sharp lava rocks strewn about the surface. But packing a snowball atop the volcano and bringing it down to chill your mai tai on the beach for happy hour would certainly be a unique activity!

Trinidad and Tobago: Caribbean ice palace

For a real snowy novelty, visit this facility opened in April 2023, on the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago in the southern reaches of the Caribbean. You’ll be able to take a break from the tropical beaches for a wintry day trip to ICED — the Ice Caribbean Entertainment District. This three-story complex in the La Romaine district of San Fernando on Trinidad houses two ice rinks — for skating and bumper cars — and two glassed-in snow play areas. The sandbox-style play areas come complete with snowy ice plowed into piles stocked with shovels and toys more commonly found on the sandy beaches of the island. Admission is via a membership program (currently free) with paid per-hour or per-activity access to the rinks and snow playrooms.

Guests can participate in snowman-making contests, engage in bouncy bumper car competitions on the rinks and, as you would expect in a Caribbean country, get some first-timer lessons for ice skating. You’ll be able to share in the marvel of many residents who have never before seen snow or ice. The rinks and snow play areas in the building are small and won’t be mistaken for a Winter Olympics training center, but the fun of jumping from a true topical setting into this surprising ice palace can make it a worthwhile visit.