Sun Valley
Sun Valley Ski Resort may be known for top-to-bottom fall-line skiing, long leg-burner runs, and family friendly terrain, but at the heart of this alpine experience is the iconic Sun Valley Lodge. The old-school 1936 charmer, tied to luminaries like Ernest Hemingway and Marilyn Monroe, was completely reimagined last year with a multimillion-dollar renovation, adding spacious guest rooms, luxurious suites, and a new, sprawling destination spa. We suggest the gold flake body massage in the Black Diamond spa package. Don’t miss fireside fondue at the Roundhouse, a tradition since Sun Valley’s founding father Averell Harriman built the restaurant in 1939. Rooms start at $329 per night.
Go Ski: What’s Hot Where It’s Cold
St. Regis Aspen
Aspen
Now, skiers staying at the swank St. Regis Aspen can indulge in a new luxury—an altitude concierge. For those wanting a little extra O2, oxygen machines are delivered in-room, so guests can curl up on a chaise—under a Chanel blanket—and breathe deep. Rooms start at $600 per night.
Telluride
Known for its pristine alpine skiing, empty slopes, and picturesque town, Telluride is a powder-seeker’s dream. Check out the Making Friends with Moguls camps in January and February, or hitch an evening ride on a Sno-Cat to North America’s highest restaurant, Alpino Vino, a German-style cottage set at 11,966 feet, for an Italian feast. Be the first of your friends to try the new craze—fat tire biking in winter—as Hotel Telluride offers their Snow Bike & Brewery package, a three-night stay that includes a private, guided fat tire adventure to the Telluride Brewing Company and local distillery, and a five-course dinner at the hotel. Package starts at $1,550.
Go Ski: What’s Hot Where It’s Cold
Big Bear
Now part of the Mammoth Resorts family, Bear Mountain and Snow Summit are better than ever, with improved snowmaking, a new slopeside tubing park, and interchangeable season passes starting at $599.
Park City
It’s official—Park City, Utah is now home to the largest ski resort in the United States, as Canyons and Park City Mountain Resort have merged. Park City now offers more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain, $50 million in improvements (including a new high-speed, two-way gondola that connects the mountains), and the freshly minted Miners Camp restaurant with a 200-seat deck for flatbreads, hand-tossed salads, and craft brews. In town, head to Handle for beef cheek sliders and boutique wines; or sip small-batch whiskey at High West, the country’s only ski-in distillery and saloon. The Waldorf Astoria has bilevel suites with majestic mountain views and butlers, so craft cocktail kits, cheese, and charcuterie are waiting in your firelit quarters. Rooms start at $449 per night.
Go Ski: What’s Hot Where It’s Cold
Woolly’s Tube Park
Mammoth Mountain
Skiers and boarders flock to Mammoth for its wide-open bowls, heart-thumping chutes, and California’s longest ski season. While the words “affordable” and “ski lodgings” rarely intersect, the New Holiday Haus Hostel on Main Street has comfy beds, kitchens, and modern rooms for budget-minded travelers. Après, the new 53 Kitchen + Cocktails serves artisanal drinks, New American eats, and live music late into the night. Woolly’s Tube Park hosts electric tubing replete with DJs, adult beverages, laser lights, and glow sticks five nights per season. Skip the seven-hour drive and buy an Alaska Airlines Airpack. At $490 for six one-way flights, or $790 for ten, it’s more than 50 percent off full-price fares! Rooms start at $45 per night.
Go Ski: What’s Hot Where It’s Cold
Roundhouse at Sun Valley
