Pipestem Park, West Virginia

Distance from Baltimore: 314 miles, about a six-hour drive

Why it's cool: If you love nature, a trip to southern West Virginia is your perfect fit. At the year-round Pipestem Resort State Park you can enjoy skiing, sledding and cross-country skiing or simply taking in the view from beautiful scenic overlooks of the Bluestone Gorge. Nearby is Winterplace Ski Resort at Flat Top, W. Va.

Don't miss: Stay at the Mountain Creek Lodge, a hotel accessible only by a 3,600-foot aerial tram.

Information: Pipestem Resort State Park, Bluestone River, West Virginia, 304-466-1800. Go to http://www.pipestemresort.com.

December 7, 2012