Over the winter holiday season, hundreds of millions of people travel to a variety of exciting locations. From the Swiss Alps and Montreal, for those who seek out cold weather adventures, to Florida and Argentina, for travelers who need a break from the winter blues, there are endless destinations for a holiday away from home. But, whether you prefer the slopes or the sun, all of these incredible destinations have one thing in common; polo.
St. Moritz
Originally famous for its naturally occurring mineral springs that brought its original inhabitants more than 3,000 years ago, St. Moritz, Switzerland has now developed into one of the most extravagant travel destinations. With the southern slopes of the Swiss Alps as its backdrop, and a population of under 5,000 people, St. Moritz has the appearance of a sleepy Christmas village, straight out of the pages of a children’s book. In combination with its picturesque landscape, the town’s subarctic climate is perfectly balanced with almost 320 days of sunshine a year, which makes St. Moritz a paradise for a multitude of cold weather sports including bobsledding, tobogganing, and snow polo.
After hosting the Winter Olympics in both 1928 and 1948, St. Moritz became synonymous with winter sports and hospitality. Therefore, when snow polo began to grow in popularity, the town immediately came to mind as the best location for the first ever Snow Polo World Cup in 1985. Today, the tradition of the high-goal snow polo event still continues on the frozen lake of St. Moritz. However, St. Moritz isn’t the only cold weather option for a holiday-polo-getaway.
Canada
Canada averages about 141 days of snowfall across its entire winter season that begins in early December and ends well into February. With such a lengthy winter season, it comes as no surprise that almost every major city in Canada has their own holiday festival. From the grand Carnaval de Québec, the biggest and oldest winter festival in Canada, to the Winter Festival of Lights displayed across Niagara Falls, there is holiday cheer and winter wonderlands across the entire region.
In addition to its merry setting, Canada also excels at winter sports, with the Canadian Snow Polo Team even competing in many of the Snow Polo World Cups. However, a polo event unique to Canada that is quickly growing in popularity are the women’s snow polo matches at the DiRosa Polo Farm in Toronto, Canada. After an unexpected dusting of snow one fateful night on the farm’s outdoor field, Hailey Van der Burgt decided to host the first ever Canadian Women’s Snow Polo Tournament that has since become a winter pastime that every holiday visitor should experience.
Argentina
The entire country of Argentina is closely associated with polo, and some would say its capital city, Buenos Aires, should be called the polo capital of the world. With more than 300 polo clubs, the love for the sport is widespread across the city. However, one club stands out above the rest; The Campo Argentino del Polo. Commonly known as The Cathedral of Polo, established in 1928, is a dream destination for any polo player, fan, or holiday traveler. This facility functions not only as a state of the art polo field, but also as a massive, multi-purpose stadium. But, during the Argentina polo season, which begins in November and runs through April, the Cathedral of Polo is home to the Argentine Open Polo Tournament; one of the most challenging and iconic high-goal competitions in the polo world.
Although high-goal tournaments are often booked far in advance, many guests to the grounds have the opportunity to see free matches between local clubs during the holiday season. However, if a polo match isn’t in your holiday itinerary, Buenos Aires is full of historic architecture, countless galleries, and delicious cultural cuisine to entertain any traveler.
Florida
Although many holiday travelers who choose Florida as their destination have one of the state’s beautiful beaches, vibrant cities, or renowned theme parks in mind, the Sunshine State is also home to the National Polo Center (NPC). Located in Wellington, Florida, NPC boasts a total of six championship size fields and a home stadium that has hosted one of the most iconic high-goal tournaments; the World Polo Championship.
Established in 2003, NPC is not among the oldest polo clubs in the world, but it is one of the most well-known in the United States. Located in one of the wealthiest cities in Florida, and neighbors with Wellington International, one of the most well-known jumping facilities in the world, NPC has grown rapidly in popularity with the area’s existing star-studded residents and ever-growing equestrian community. So, whether it’s the wonderful World of Walt Disney or of Wellington, NPC is a must-see for any holiday escape to the Sunshine State.
Written in collaboration with Lily Brennan