For music and a little R&R at the new W Hotel, Austin is on our go list for winter escapes.

5 Spots We Love for Winter Getaways

Winter travel comes in two flavors: escape the Mid-Atlantic evil triumvirate of snow, sleet and cold rain, or escape for the sake of discovering something new during the chilly months. I admire those in the first camp; in fact, Florida and the Caribbean bank on these snowbirds.

But the second camp—and I’m included—offers infinitely more possibilities, along with some great bargains, when the promise of those first crocuses seems weeks away.

Here are five spots I have on my go list until the boys of summer head north in late March. Our criteria: affordable and easy nonstop flights from D.C. Nope, these are not in any particular order of hot or cool or otherwise amazing. They’re just places we think you should visit when the traveling itch begins around midday in your left foot.

1. Louisville, Ky. Yes, visit Louisville before throngs hit Churchill Downs in May. If you’re a basketball fan, Rick Pitino and his Louisville Cardinals christened their new arena last season, and it’s in the burgeon Arena District, brimming with indie restaurants. Don’t miss Troll Under the Bridge, a great restaurant/bar, and Hillbilly Tea (hillbillytea.com), featuring Appalachian cuisine. The town’s favorite basketball team has Big East tilts all season, of course, but circle Dec. 28 (Georgetown) and Feb. 6 (UConn) on your calendar.

Also hot: The NuLu hood, 10 blocks of quirkiness in the heart of the city. You’ll find old Victorians complemented by places like Please & Thank You (pleaseandthankyoulouisville.com)—a vintage record store and eatery serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

2. Anna Marie Island, Long Boat Key, Fla. It’s an easy flight to Sarasota International Airport. In addition to a quick fix for sun, we are terribly interested in a new “hobby” (using that phrase loosely, folks) called “horse surfing,” which takes horseback riding on the beach to a whole new—and deeper—level. Literally. Here’s how it works: Atop your trusty steed, you become immersed in the surf and, well, stand on the animal’s back as the water rises. From there, you ride out the waves and bail as appropriate. We repeatedly asked the outfitters if this pastime is safe for horses. The response: “Absolutely, they love it.” Hmm. We’ll check it out this winter and come back with a story, good or bad.

3. San Diego, Calif. Coronado and La Jolla (the most mispronounced hamlet in So Cal, I’m sure) are wonderful, but the downtown has become a hotbed of brewers, and visitors can even take a Brew Hop Tour for a beer-based vacation.

In fact, San Diego County now has more microbreweries than any other area in America. Which seems odd, given that the criteria for opening a microbrewery is usually lots of spare time, a degree of angst, accessibility to tattoo parlors and a thirsty/passionate population that likes to sit still for long stretches. Not the picture of San Diego we have each time we visit.

Nonetheless, the craft beer scene is legit. During the recent International Brewers Festival, San Diego won more awards than breweries from England and Belgium combined. One place making lots of noise: Stone Brewing Co. (stonebrew.com), which just announced a $26 million expansion. The brewer also will expand the brand with a Stone Brewing Hotel, slated to open in the 2013.

4. Austin, Tex. We never tire of the music and bars of 6th Street, one of our favorite stretches of asphalt in America. But if you need a rest from the partying, head over to the new W Austin (starwoodhotels.com). Weighing in at 251 rooms, the hotel is located in the 2nd Street District—so it’s in between the party zones of the Warehouse District and 6th Street.  We love its mod architectural sensibility and its restaurant, Trace, chef Paul Hargrove’s homage to local grub. But our favorite longtime guest: The property shares space with Austin City Limits at the Moody Theater. So, you can expect to hear amazing blues, alt-country, R&B and indie pop in a much larger, but no less musically sublime space. 

Date to circle on your calendar: South by Southwest (sxsw.com), the famed film, music and multimedia festival, March 9−18.

5. Crested Butte, Colo. All right, we’re cheating on the criteria we’ve established about nonstop flights. But the Butte is worth it. You can fly nonstop to Denver and catch a one-hour commuter flight to Gunnison Crested-Butte Regional Airport. The town sits in a remote valley high in the Rockies, and it feels isolated from the madness of most ski resorts. It’s small town with world-class skiing, excellent eateries and lots of artist who’ve established roots in the bohemian community.

Calendar events not to miss: Nov. 23 marks the 50th year at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, and they host a free-ski day.