’Tis the season for touch football games in the backyard with family, sipping warm drinks by the fire, and sharing presents and cheer with friends. And while you may be ready to hum “Let It Snow” on the regular, not all areas of the country actually experience snowfall during the holidays. In fact, according to Trulia, 81% of Americans live in counties where it’s very unlikely to experience that festive white precipitation during the holiday season.
However, if you must have blankets of white this winter, you may want to move to Telluride, CO, in the Rocky Mountains, which has a 50% to 100% chance of seeing snow, or buy a house in Key West, FL, which has a 100% chance of white sandy beaches and an average temperature of 71.5 degrees.
To help you decide if you’d prefer crisp, cool air and mountain views, or warm, white sandy beaches, we’ve found two homes for sale — one tucked in the mountains of Colorado and the other on the sun-drenched island of Key West. Read more about these winter homes below, then close your eyes, envision yourself there, and vote for your favorite!
Cozy cool cabin
$3,290,000, 522 Wapiti Road, Telluride, CO 81435
This four-bedroom, 4,859-square-foot lodge melds log cabin living with the rich history of mining in the Rocky Mountains. Rustic accents include metal siding and stonemasonry, reclaimed timber trusses, Rais fireplaces, and an enclosed mining-themed walkway to a two-bedroom guesthouse. Summertime sees plentiful wildflowers and prairie grasses, while winter brings a promise of snow and all the recreational activities that go with it: skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding.
Inside, peer out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the evergreen and birch trees. The refined industrial theme continues in the home’s bedrooms and bathrooms, which combine materials like stone and steel.
Relaxation here means hiking through trails in the 13 surrounding acres of protected land, catching a run at nearby Telluride Ski Resort, or just lounging on the decks and balconies that overlook snowcapped mountains. When it’s time to thaw out from a day on the slopes, grab a bottle of wine from the home’s wine cellar, cozy up by the fire, or unwind in the private sauna.
Retreat in the heat
$1,149,000, 415 Amelia St., Key West, FL 33040
Grab your virtual piña colada: You’re going to want it as you tour this sunny two-bedroom cottage in the heart of Key West’s historic district. Enjoy year-round walkability to restaurants and entertainment on Duval Street, cross breezes through the home’s baby-blue painted shutters, and a local color and style emulated in the home’s vibrant design.
Inside, the cottage blends yellows, purples, greens, pinks, and blues — the pastel colors of the rainbow — with a mix of design styles. Don’t miss the light wood floors in the master bedroom, the retro, light-blue refrigerator contrasted by a modern chandelier in the kitchen, and the accent wall featuring a mosaic tapestry in the living room.
Ready to breathe in some fresh, salty air? Head to the back deck, which features a Moroccan tent next to a heated in-ground pool with a waterfall, a roomy guesthouse, a soothing outdoor shower, and plenty of plants and succulents, all of which give the space a tropical, earthy vibe.
