My Winter Blogging Wear: The Story Behind the Travel Photos
- Nov 9, 2025
- 10 min read
Updated: Nov 15, 2025
The four seasons are always a perfect time for blogging, vlogging and photographing. The so-called "bad" weather of winter is in reality, a call to arms, like those who enjoy winter sports. For some of us that live in the northern hemisphere, hunkering down for the winter doesn't always mean a miserable hibernating existence.
Some people enjoy winter until the December holidays. Then, after New Year's Day, the countdown to warm weather starts. Some people take an optimistic approach, using the time to do some indoor winter chores, like cleaning out closets and drawers or rearranging the house. Others embark on personal improvement, getting in shape for the warm weather, joining a gym, reexamining diets and making summer travel plans. Still others are booking the first plane or ship out of town, to snowbird in Florida or even further south, in the Bahamas or the Caribbean.
Years ago, some school systems closed for one week in February to conserve energy and never looked back, allowing students to experience either real winter weather activities or to get out of town for warmer adventures with their parents.
And some of us, journey out, venturing in the cold, looking at weather reports, hoping for snow, even a blizzard, to get those winter wonderland photos and videos. Or we become snow bunnies: skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, tubing down mountainsides, snuggling in front of fireplaces with the proverbial hot chocolate.
See our article about visiting the Niagara Falls region in winter.
Usually, when a snowstorm, nor'easter or even a blizzard is in the forecast, I'm in my hometown. So here are some choice spots to see if you happen to be in NYC or NYS when it snows and stay tuned for the gear I wear when venturing out.
Some of the juiciest spots for winter are also the coldest. And pushing through snow and cold to get winter photos calls for winter gear.
And now for the transparency: I haven't done nearly all of the photographer's bucket list locations, yet. In fact, I've barely started. But, I have gathered much of the gear, so I think I'm ready for future trips. What's are some of places to visit? Maine in winter, Northwest coast of the USA, Christmas in Germany, back to Niagara Falls, Vermont and the Poconos in Pennsylvania now that I have different cameras, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. I better get going.
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There is probably not a single city or town past Westchester County in New York State that doesn't have a charming scene when it snows. It seems that New York was created for winter weather with lakes, mountains, hills, main streets and vintage and antique houses on farmlands. (Of course, I'll be fair, explore our neighboring states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, which border our states and of course Maine and Rhode Island, to round out New England. All are gorgeous in winter.)
In fact, with regard to our neighbors, you actually travel through New Jersey and Pennsylvania to get to parts of upstate New York, from downstate New York, so seeing some of their great winter scenes is not a problem.
There are many state parks in the area of Ithaca, New York. Ithaca's slogan is "Ithaca is Gorges" and there's a reason for that: enough gorges and waterfalls to fill up every memory card in your camera and take up all the storage on your phone.
Tuck your camera close to your body to keep it warm enough. Look at your camera specs to know its limitations: how cold can it be for it to operate safely. Ditto your phone. Wear a fanny pack, put your phone it one of the pockets and a hand warmer in the other pocket of the fanny pack, so there is a layer of material between the two (don't put the handwarmer directly on the phone). Give your electronics enough time to adjust to the cold weather when you take it out of the heated car interior or there will be condensation on the lens and sensors.
Start with Cornell University. Go on a weekend when you can park in the public parking lots on campus and pay attention to the hours. Download the parking app if you need to, and start walking.
On North Campus, Beebe Lake has a small water drop off, Triphammer Falls, on one side where water flows (if it isn't frozen) into Fall Creek
Cornell does a good job getting out there to clear some of the paths when it snows, but not every single walkway will be passable. The town is off one of the Finger Lakes, Cayuga, and lake effect snow is a real thing. Cornell and its neighboring school, Ithaca College, sit on hills opposite one another. With the lake downtown, that's enough of the right factors for it to lightly snow or rain at any given moment. Getting the weather not to produce precipitation is the trick. But although treacherous, Ithaca is really Gorges in winter.
Down off Route 13 is Buttermilk State Falls Park. Normally, entrance is free in the winter. The upper trails might be closed during bad weather but you don't need to go far. As soon as you pull into the lower parking lot, Buttermilk Falls will be there.
Turn back around, go back down Route 13 and head up Route 89 towards Taughannock State Park. But before you do, turn off to see Cayuga Lake, one of the larger Finger Lakes. Stewart Park, run by the City of Ithaca, is at the tip of the lake, which runs all the way up north to Seneca Falls.
Resist the temptation to ice skate or go ice fishing on the lake. Even in January and February, the lake won't probably freeze completely over. Ithaca is too far south to get as frigid continuously as more northern locations. And the lake is probably too deep. But picturesque? Certainly.
Now, continue up 89 to Taughannock. Park in the lower area, at the Gorge Trailhead, get your gear on and prepare to walk a mile along the trail toward the falls. You won't get out of the parking lot before you see this:
Locals walk this flat trail all of the time, so access is a strong possibility. Getting lost is not; it's one way in and one way out. And the views along the way are totally worth it. The frozen waterfall at the end of the gorge trail is just the icing on the cake.
Now, you're at the end of the trail and you see the falls. Please heed the signs and stay on the trail and the bridge. And if you bring children or animals with you, be extra careful.
It might be peaceful and quiet (snow always seems to absorb sound), but it's likely you won't be the only one there:
I ride through the city of Ithaca once again before heading back to Route 79 or 96 to start the journey back to New York City.
My own city does not disappoint in winter (when it snows, that is). Although it seems that snow days might be a tale to tell grandchildren, with schools sometimes shifting to remote learning in inclement weather, there is still time to enjoy the outdoors when the white stuff makes its appearance. Each borough has plenty of neighborhood parks to enjoy and New York becomes a small town, with kids making new friends as they play in the snow. Sleds make an appearance on park hills, snowmen are built and it's a winter wonderland. It's particularly fleeting, because sometimes the temperature rises fairly quickly and before you know it, the snow is gone, melting into annoying puddles for pedestrians.
Our favorites: Central Park and Madison Square Park, Manhattan (easy to get to on the subway); Prospect Park, Brooklyn; Forest Park, Alley Pond Park, Cunningham Park and Kissena Park, all in Queens (if the weather is drivable, there's parking). If I can get to the Bronx, then Pelham Bay Park and Van Corlandt Park.
If you don't mind paying (or if you're a member): Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Queens Botanical Garden and Metro North will take you straight to The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Check their social media blogs to see if they are open.
Manhattan does a great job with snow removal so if there is any remaining snow after they cart it away, it won't be on the streets for very long. The parks will retain snow much better, but if you want the streets, it's a good idea to go out to take photos while it is snowing and immediately after. Many times, this might be at night, so be prepared.
Tip for Your Cold Weather Trips: check out the gear at outdoors and sports stores that will have products specifically made for cold weather, rather than general department stores or just shopping online. Talk with the salespersons, who will certainly know more than the people at department stores (unless it's their hobby), they have a tendency to want to really inform you rather than make a sale. Also, there are blogs dedicated to cold weather living, sports and travel will have lists of products that have been tested.
Here is my winter blogging wear:
First up, I like to keep my feet warm and dry, although I really don't anticipate staying outdoors in temperatures less than -20° F (-28.88° C). But I like to know I'm prepared with boots that will work for that. So, I bought the Sorel Caribou boots. As with most items, there may be some that are better but I also like availability and cost effective products. Starting from the bottom (the feet), here are the boots for my winter blogging wear.
Access to the buttons on your equipment is extremely important, of course. If you can, get the remotes to your equipment. Fingers get cold very fast in frigid temperatures, so it's important to know how your cameras work. (You should not be taking a camera right out of the box on a new trip, play with it first so that you know where all of the controls are). Gloves and/or mittens with finger access is cool, no pun intended and fingertips with touchscreen capability is even better. I do better with mittens for my winter blogging wear. My fingers like to be cozied up together. But I do have glove liners and ski gloves as well. I pull of the outer gloves and keep the liners on when I need to access the buttons and screens on my equipment.
Palmyth Ice Fishing Gloves:
SnowStoppers e-Mitt
Warm hats are plentiful. And there are many options in styles, fabric and colors. I have a few that are satin lined, but those are not always the best if you sweat (yes, I actually sweat in below freezing weather). Moving around in cold weather wearing winter blogging clothes may actually get your metabolism up and burn some calories. And wet hats and cold weather are not good at all. Look for moisture wicking hats and carry more than one so that you can switch them out. Also, using a liner beanie under your hat can help.
Jacket/Coat: My jacket of choice for my winter weather blogging wear is one that I bought on sale at the Blue Ridge Mountain gift shop in North Carolina with no label. It's reversible with one side water repellent, and the other side fleece. Many people have asked where I have gotten it. But, it's not available. With today's technology, warm doesn't have to mean bulky and you can actually layer a warm parka with a wind or water resistant outer jacket. In this case, you might want to try on the coats if you want to layer them, especially if you wear a heavy sweater. North Face, Patagonia and Columbia are popular brands that are reliable and easy to find.
Many pants will keep you warm, so opt for what feels right for you. Some people can wear long underwear pants with sweatpants or ski pants, some put on leggings instead of the long underwear, some people wear just jeans. But in rough winter weather, keeping warm is not the only issue, you need pants to keep you dry. Ski pants will do nicely. Or, you can wear lightweight rain pants that go over jeans, sweats or other bottoms. The rain pants will do double function for spring as well. Just buy them in a size larger, so they can go over your pants. I have Mountain Warehouse Pakka Rain Pants. There's a jacket as well.
Scarves are a matter of choice: if you are wearing a gaiter style hat or heavy turtle neck, you may not need one. But face protection is a very real issue. Frostbite and sunburn at the same time are possibilities, so protecting your skin is essential. Fleece and moisture wicking materials for neck/face gaiters and/or scarves are helpful here. Check out Under Armour or Nike balaclava ski masks.
Happy Travels!
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All photos and videos created and copyrighted by Marcia Crayton, unless otherwise noted.
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