Looking to embrace winter in style this coming cold season? If you are looking to head into it with arms wide open instead of cocooning, the following luxurious ski getaways in the American Rockies will make you miss winter when it goes … well, almost…
1. Big Sky, Bozeman, Montana
Not well known in the public consciousness insofar as luxury ski facilities go, Big Sky Ski Resort in Bozeman, Montana is increasingly becoming a favorite getaway for the well-monied and famous for its relative seclusion and down to earth nature.
Forget about the pretense and glamour that defines other hills (not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course); this spot fully embraces its cowboy and western heritage, with western storefronts lining the main drag downtown.
If you are serious about skiing, you’ll also love the fact that it’s been referred to as the last, best place by those seeking deep powder, short lift lines, and camaraderie with fellow skiers seeking to have a great time cruising the slopes instead of posing.
Not that you’ll have a hard time finding creature comforts here though, as the Summit Hotel allows ski-in/ski-out access, a massive outdoor hot tub, and private suites that feel more like apartments than hotel rooms.
2. Sun Valley, Ketchum, Idaho
If you’re really into skiing, you need to make an effort to make a trip out to Sun Valley, home to the first ski lift installed in America.
Started up in 1936, it has been ferrying locals and tourists up Dollar Mountain ever since, and has spawned Olympians and hosted luminaries ranging from Marilyn Monroe to Arnold Schwarzenegger over the generations.
These A-list celebrities were drawn by the skiing, but were won over by the ethos of luxury that guides everything that Sun Valley management does with regards to hospitality.
Lodges at its base boast leather couches, cosy fireplaces, and bathroom surfaces covered with marble, and with world class fondues and other dishes from around the world being served up at the Roundhouse, you’ll be tempted to stay until the warm winds of spring finally arrive.
3. Aspen, Colorado
Perhaps one of the best known of the luxurious ski getaways in America, Aspen has been a favored haunt of the rich, famous and powerful for several generations.
You wouldn’t know it when out on the mountain though, as the terrain will chew up and spit out novices that stray too far from the limited green runs available.
If you can link your turns together effectively though, you will get the chance to keep up with the likes of Kevin Costner and Kate Hudson, so practice with the ski school at your local hill before going out there.
The Residences at the Little Nell are a great option for sleeping at the hill, as not only does it boast posh rooms, but the rooftop pool and hot tub gives extroverts an opportunity to socialize with other guests after a long day spent conquering the mountains.
