Best Holiday Escapes Near Pittsburgh

Last year's holiday season was marked by unusually warm, mild temperatures. The weather was noticeably void of snow, and the area's ski resorts suffered as a result. This year, the meteorologists predict a whiter Pittsburgh winter, one filled with snow, ice and lots of opportunities for winter fun. With an NHL lockout effectively destroying hockey season, area sports fans will have to find other ways to enjoy the winter months. Celebrate this winter with your own mini-vacation at one the area's nearby holiday hotspots.

Price: $129 overnight package

The holiday season at the Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, W.V., is illuminating, literally. Its annual Festival of Lights Celebration is one of the nation's largest exhibits of holiday lights. Covering 300 acres and spanning six miles, visitors enjoy the resort's most famous winter attraction by car. A donation of $20 gives travelers full access to the show and includes a holiday DVD of the exhibits. Overnight accommodations at Oglebay's Wilson Lodge include a buffet breakfast and unlimited access to the light shows.

Price: $51 weekday ski pass

Whether your ideal vacation is fly fishing, golfing, sporting clays or zip lining you'll find it at Seven Springs. It's Pennsylvania's largest four-season family resort. Especially popular in the snowy, winter months, the world-class slopes leave skiers, snowboarders and tubers screaming for more. For skiers/snowboarders enjoy the Let the Snow Fly Package starting at $117. It includes a night's stay at the hotel, a one-day ski and snowboard ticket (valid from 4 p.m. the day of arrival to 7 p.m. the day of departure), breakfast, overnight ski/board check, and discounted rates on rental equipment. Click here for additional information on overnight accommodations and packages at Seven Springs.

Related: Pittsburgh Winter Fun

Price: $249.50 per night

The perfect blend of winter fun and relaxation, Greenbrier is a long-standing symbol of luxury, fine dining and scenic beauty. The Holiday Tradition Package offers everything from clay bird shoots and carriage rides to ice skating and spa treatments. The cost for a two-night stay for two adults at the luxurious resort starts at $499. Click here to learn more about the holiday packages offered this winter at The Greenbrier Resort.

Price: $609 two adults, two nights

Nemacolin Woodlands, located in Farmington, is celebrating its 25th anniversary as world-class four-seasons resort. The Celebration Package, available through Dec. 23, offers guests that book a two-night stay the opportunity to add a third night's accommodations for only $25. The resort was recently awarded a Forbes five-star rating and has just about everything a winter vacationer could want. Enjoy clay bird shooting, shopping, salons, spa treatments and, for skiers and snowboarders, Mystic Mountain. Located just 70 miles from Pittsburgh, a winter vacation to Nemacolin Woodlands is the perfect remedy to holiday stresses.

Price: $31 Lift Pass

State College Pennsylvania is the home of Penn State University. If you've ever made the trip to State College along U.S. 322 during the winter months, then you've surely noticed the lights and snow-covered slopes of Tussey Mountain. Located just eight miles from the heart of the Penn State campus, the resort is a little known gem for skiers and snowboarders. Although relatively small, Tussey Mountain is a winter favorite for winter sports enthusiasts at the school.

Related: 2012 Pittsburgh Holiday Theater Preview