My husband and I have decided that our Christmas gift to each other will be a “snow” vacation. I’ve never ever played in snow, if you don’t count that thin little layer we got here in Florida when I was 10.
So. Within fairly easy driving distance of Florida, and excluding the holiday seasons, what are our best bets?
Fairly easy driving distance of Florida? I don’t think anywhere within easy driving distance will have snow. Maybe the southern part of the Appalachians in Alabama or Georgia? Do they get much snow?
I’d include anywhere up to the southern part of Virginia. We were in NC back in May that wasn’t too difficult a drive.
According to NOAA you going to have to get pretty far north before you have the slightest chace of snow sufficient to “play” in. Having lived in central Virginia, snow more than a dusting is rare, and almost never sits on the ground more than a week.
It appears that a few isolated pockets in North Carolina are the closest location to you that have historically gotten more than 10 inches of a snow in the month of january.
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/snowmonitoring/historical.pl
I wouldn’t call that an “easy drive” from Florida, but that’s just me.
If I might make a suggestion, consider heading up to Mt. Tremblant, Quebec for a few days and learn to ski. they have one of the best ski schools on the East Coast, and everything’s right on the mountain, including hotels, restaurants, outdoor hottubs and such. And the exchange rate is favorable. Jan/Feb, estimate it would be about $560 for three nights (includes 2-day lift tickets for each of you). A little less in the end, because I believe the GST & Provincial tax is refundable at the U.S. border.
I don’t work for Tremblent! A few years ago I took my friend from Virginia there who had never even thought about skiing and we had a blast.
If you’re going to do something like that, you ought to do it right. You really don’t want to be disappointed after a long drive. So go to a ski resort. There are several in North Carolina and in Virginia. Google “ski resort” for some sites that compare them.
I was skiing this morning here in Thunder Bay, but if you want to join in, you had better hop in the car right away (just head north on Highway 61 from New Orleans, then turn right at the first lights following end of Highway 61, and pull in at the university library), for I expect the snow we piled up will melt in a day or two. 
Seriously, consider Quebec City during the winter Carnival http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/en/index.asp
or Ottawa during Winterlude http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp?cid=16297-16298-22877-29498&lang=1
Miami.
There used to be a ski area in Georgia, but I think maybe it closed down. There’s one in Alabama, of all places. It’s called Cloudmont, about 2.5 hours northwest of Atlanta. There are several in North Carolina: List of ski areas and resorts in the United States - Wikipedia
Crockett and Tubbs had fun with snowmen anytime of the year.
We just got 12" a week ago at Wolfcreek ski resort here in Colorado. That’s close right.
I’d say keep your options open and see where they have it when your ready to go. Here’s a hint. Places that depend on snow and tourists for winter income are not the places to call about if the snow cover is nice. they lie and when you get there you’ll find an inch of slush.
Good to know, Harmonious Discord. We’re not looking to spend a lot of money, so air-fare is right out of the question. We just want to go take a long weekend somewhere, stay in a fairly cheap place, and play in the snow. Lots of picture taking. I’m a total clutz, so skiing is not on my agenda. 
You can get other states by replacing south-carolina in the url.