IF you are able to fly into Canada, a unique experience is Winter Yurting:
http://frosthaus.blogspot.ca/2014/03/yurting-in-algonquin-park-part-1-of-2.html. Right now $1 USD = $1.30 CAD (+/-) so exchange is in your favour. Yurt rental is around $100 CAD/Night, based on recent experience, groceries are similar in cost as in Virginia.
If flights are only in the US, then consider flying into BUF and adding Niagara Falls to the Itinerary, and extending the drive north by a couple hours.
For the record, dependable winter weather in Algonquin sets in after Christmas and lasts until late March. I've been caught camping in freezing rain over Christmas, and its not enjoyable.
While you would need a rental car between YTO and the park (about 3.5 hrs each way) and winter gear for playing outside, you can have a fantastic time playing in the snow with your only cost being food and the Yurt rental.
There is an outdoor skating rink, and a skating track at nearby arrowhead park. You can snowshoe, ski, hike, dogsled, stargaze, etc.
If this is interesting to you I'd be happy to lend a hand to make it happen.