Anchorage, AK

Winter Cities Institute CEO Patrick Coleman lists Anchorage, AK among his favorite cold-weather towns. It’s no wonder; this Alaskan beauty knows how to chill. "Numerous outdoor ice skating venues are created on the small frozen lakes in the city that include skating pathways," Coleman says. "Anchorage public works crews use a 'friendly snowplow' that prevents the pushing of snow into residents driveways during snow clearing operations. The municipality of Anchorage also considers design for winter in zoning and building regulations."

The city's economy has remained warm in spite of a national cool down. Anchorage gained more than 5,200 jobs between 2005 and 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Getting around town is made easier by a city-run bus system and carpool organizer called the People Mover. But let's get to the fun stuff.

From skiing and snowboarding at the Arctic Valley Ski Area to sledding in one of the city’s snow-packed parks to ice fishing for Alaskan salmon and trout in nearby Mat-Su Valley, Anchorage offers many outdoor activities. Dogsledding has become a time-honored winter tradition here. Anchorage is the starting point for the world famous Iditarod Trail sled dog race. For the truly adventurous, there’s skijoring, an old Scandinavian form of transportation that pairs a rider on Nordic skis with reindeer or dog pulls.

Alaska’s breathtaking terrain can be intoxicating, but there’s plenty to do on the inside as well. Enjoy big-city cuisine with a small-town feel at Marx Brothers Cafe or tune into the local music scene at Tap Root bar. Dark winter nights bring a chance to glimpse the Northern Lights – by far the city’s most impressive outdoor attraction.

Population: 289,990
Average January low: 7 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 70.6 inches
Median home price: $249,726
Unemployment rate: 6.2 percent

Fargo, ND

Even in temperatures that drop well below zero the friendly residents of Fargo, ND, exude a warmth that is both welcoming and sincere. Perhaps this congenial spirit is rooted in the region’s Norwegian culture – prominently on display at the Hjemkomst Center in nearby Moorhead. The center houses a museum and a handcrafted replica Viking ship built by the late Robert Asp, a local junior high school guidance counselor.

Or it could stem from a belief that a town that plays together stays together. That’s certainly true of these twin towns. Fargo’s park district sponsors several family-friendly events during winter including Winterfest, a weekend full of indoor sports tournaments, and a range of other activities, from a cross-country ski race and celebrity hockey game to a day of free skiing, sledding and Clydesdale horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Job seekers take note, North Dakota holds the nation's lowest unemployment rate. Fargo's population grew by nearly 15,000 residents between 2000 and 2010. Much of the area's growth stems from gains in emerging technology sectors, which include health care, energy savings and recycling. Residents here enjoy a cost of living that is below the national average.

Population: 100,557
Average January low: -2 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 40.8 inches
Median home price: $143,003
Unemployment rate: 3.3 percent

Bozeman, MT

Extreme temperatures are needed for the extreme winter sporting events that happen in Bozeman, MT. Beyond the recreational opportunities that Bozeman's cold climate provides, the city got high marks for snow clearing.

"Bozeman is a winter city that makes a good effort to enhance winter living," says Patrick Coleman, CEO of the Winter Cities Institute. "The public works department uses the 'friendly snowplow.' This device does much to minimize resident frustration resulting from large snow berms planted in cleared driveways by the plows. Bozeman is also concerned about maintaining bike routes and bike lanes in the winter."

Bozeman averages more than 90 inches of snow each year, which means there’s plenty of the white stuff for snowboarding, snowmobiling, cross- country and Nordic skiing. And when the rest of the country is celebrating the arrival of spring, Bozeman area ski resorts are still packing powder. In March 2012, Bozeman and Montana State University will host the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Skiing Championships at the Bridger Bowl Ski Area. On the extreme side, there's the Bozeman Ice Climbing Festival, held each December at Hyalite Canyon, the nation’s premier ice-climbing destination. A few dozen of the most influential climbers gather to lead three days of clinics for aspiring climbers from across the country.

Population: 38,334
Average January low: 14 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 91 inches
Median home price: $201,869
Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent

Logan, UT

If you want to get Logan, UT, residents fired up in winter just mention Utah State University Aggies basketball. The university is an integral part of the community offering educational, cultural and recreational opportunities year round. Logan is situated in Utah's research triangle and considered one of the top cities for technology.

Nestled in the center of Utah’s Cache Valley, Logan is a town with beauty and brains. It has one of the lowest unemployment ratings in the nation. Often called the Caribbean of the Rockies because of its turquoise colored waters and white sandy shores, Bear Lake transforms into a winter wonderland for ice anglers, while the towering ridges of Beaver Mountain play host to skiers and snowboarders from November through May. There are several ski resorts nearby.

The Logan Canyon Snowmobile Complex boasts breathtaking views and more than 300 miles of well-groomed trails that wind through the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The complex is part of the Logan County National Scenic Byway, which runs parallel to the Logan River and ends at Bear Lake.

Population: 54,101
Average January low: 12.7 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 63 inches
Median home price: $198,511
Unemployment rate: 4.5 percent

St. Cloud, MN

In addition to many winter-time activities, St. Cloud offers a low cost of living, a high quantity of jobs, one of Minnesota's best educational systems and a thriving arts community. The city's residents face wintry weather head on, or perhaps it's feet first.

Nordic skiing and snowshoeing are favorite pastimes in St. Cloud. The parks department offers more than three miles of lighted ski trails for residents wanting to pack some powder after dark. Some of the best fishing happens during the winter months, when many of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes freeze over and lines are dropped into holes cut in the ice. Huge walleyes, crappies and muskies have been pulled out of St. Cloud's frozen lakes. The winter fun isn’t limited to the outdoors.

Youth leaguers, weekend warriors and serious athletes can find a home at one of the several indoor hockey and ice skating arenas including the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex. Or they can cheer on the home team, the St. Cloud State University Huskies, at the National Hockey Center. Winter can also have economic advantages for St. Cloud residents and businesses, particularly in the area of tourism, and for the past 50 years, St. Cloud State University Department of Economics, School of Public Affairs has hosted the Winter Institute, bringing together the brightest minds to discuss how weather can encourage economic development.

Population: 66,523
Average January low: -1 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 46 inches
Median home price: $118,500
Unemployment rate: 5.1 percent 

Saratoga Springs, NY

In Saratoga Springs, NY, winter brings a chance to relax, release and rejuvenate. Long celebrated for its abundant mineral springs, Saratoga Springs has become a hot spot for those seeking the springs’ “healing” powers.

Speaking of healing, Saratoga Springs saw 13 percent job growth in the amusement and recreation industry between 2005 and 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's helped keep the city's economy stable during the recession. CNN-Money magazine listed Saratoga Springs as one of the top 100 "Best Places to Live," citing the city's low crime rate, walkable downtown, solid school system and cultural amenities.

Both tourists and residents flock to downtown Saratoga Springs in winter to indulge in the royal treatment at one of more than two dozen spas and salons. The town is known for its eclectic boutiques and specialty shoppes, as well as its flavorful local cuisine. The annual Chowderfest pits local restaurants against each other to claim the title of Saratoga’s Best Chowder.

This is an outdoor lover’s paradise throughout the year, but winter seems to bring out the best in this naturally scenic city. Residents enjoy cross-country skiing at Saratoga Spa State Park, snowboarding down the Adirondacks or snowmobiling across one of the region’s many trails.

Population: 27,800
Average January low: 11 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 63.4 inches
Median home price: $285,000
Unemployment rate: 6.3 percent 

Bangor, ME

Surrounded by lakes and forests, mountains and nearby ocean coastline, Bangor, ME, is home to some of New England’s most beautiful natural attractions. During winter, an average of 60 inches of snowfall only adds to the splendor.

Another accumulation in Bangor is the more than 4,200 jobs added to the city's medical and surgical hospitals between 2005 and 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Considered the "lumber capital of the world" during the late 1800s, Bangor gained an affluence that is still visible today. Large mansions built by lumber barons can be seen near the center of town. With help from a statewide tourism and business partnership, the city of Bangor has achieved funding for a new $65 million waterfront conference and event center along the Penobscot River. The city's shopping areas draw in residents from a 100-mile region, and Bangor is home to the 254-acre Mount Hope Cemetery, the nation's second-oldest garden cemetery.

While there are more than enough reasons to venture outdoors when temperatures cool – for instance, ice skating and sledding at Bangor Gardens Park or the more than 15 other public parks in the city – things really heat up in Bangor’s many art galleries and museums, such as the University of Maine Museum of Art, The Collins Center for the Arts or the Maine Discovery Museum for kids.

Population: 31,986
Average January low: 8 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 67 inches
Median home price: $134,786
Unemployment rate: 6.4 percent

Spokane, WA

Spending the winter in Spokane, WA, can be a gamble – but only if you spend it in one of the city’s casinos, such as the new Northern Quest Resort and Casino. In fact, winters in Spokane sizzle with arts, entertainment and nightlife. Nightlife isn’t the only thing heating up in Spokane; the city’s economy is also aglow. Spokane was named one of the top 100 cities to live and launch a business by CNNMoney.com and noted for its growing technical sector.

Spokane’s arts and cultural offerings are topped off by a burgeoning wine trail of more than two dozen vineyards and wineries, and yes, most wineries keep their tasting rooms open throughout the year. Treasure hunting is another favorite cold-weather pastime – whether at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture in Spokane’s historic Browne’s Addition neighborhood or at the city’s many shops, boutiques, malls and shopping centers. Other hot spots include the INB Performing Arts Center, which plays host to a number of musicians and comedians throughout the winter months, and Gonzaga University, which has a strong men's basketball program. The Spokane Symphony kicks off the season with holiday and special performances that continue well until the spring.

Population: 213,322
Average January low: 21.7 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 49 inches
Median home price: $132,280
Unemployment rate: 8.3 percent 

Lebanon, PA

In Lebanon, PA, and the surrounding county, winter is synonymous with food. After all, only in Lebanon do residents drop a 150-pound bologna instead of a ball on New Year’s Eve. Lebanon is known for its bologna, which originated from the region’s Dutch settlers. Weaver's-Kutztown Bologna Inc., which provides the star of the New Year’s Eve drop, and Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats are among the oldest manufacturers.

But there's more to this town than a bunch of bologna. Lebanon's economy has remained stable. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that while most U.S. cities saw job losses between 2005 and 2010, Lebanon saw a total job gain of 575 new positions. The city is surrounded by pastoral landscapes and Lebanon also has a sweet side. Even though Hershey, PA, is less than 30 minutes away, the town has its own milk-chocolate mainstay – Wertz Candies, which has been hand-making its delights since 1931. Lebanon residents know the best way to keep warm in winter is with a nice cold brew at a local tavern. Lebanon and nearby Cornwall and Annville are dotted with neighborhood pubs and taverns, tucked neatly on street corners or between row houses. Connor’s Tavern in Lebanon is a favorite.

When you're ready to burn off some of those calories from all the tasty food there are plenty of wintertime activities in and around Lebanon. The area offers and abundance of cross-country skiing, snowmobile trails, ice skating, sledding hockey rinks, and downhill skiing can be found less than an hour away. Ice fishing is also popular here.

Population: 24,901
Average January low: 19 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 28 inches
Median home price: $79,000
Unemployment rate: 6.2 percent 

Gillette, WY

Winter brings out the wild in the West – particularly in Gillette, WY, which has some of the largest deer and elk populations in the region. Snowmobilers and cross-country skiers are sure to spot a few during a jaunt through the 1.8 million-acre Thunder Basin National Grassland. If you don't have a snowmobile, that's not a problem. The city does a good job clearing snow and ice from major streets, sidewalks and even bike paths.

The economy in Gillette and surrounding Campbell County is thriving thanks to employment gains in construction, machinery manufacturing and sales, so job seekers won't be left out in the cold.

Gillette is a town where a kid can be a kid any time of the year. The Campbell County Parks and Recreation Department indoor Field House hosts youth soccer leagues during the cold months, culminating in the Gillette Edge Winter Blast indoor soccer tournament in February. And Gillette’s CAM-PLEX multi-event facility brings artists, musicians, competitions and performances from around the country to entertain the entire family. Sports fans can follow the Pronghorns of Gillette College as they compete in men's and women's basketball in winter months.

Population: 27,101
Average January low: 10 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 64.7 inches
Median home price: $206,900
Unemployment rate: 4.0 percent