To the wide spectrum of snow-sports aficionados, from the creatively whiskered snowboarders to you fashionistas on skis, I ask you one question: Is there anything better than waking up to warm ski boots? Well, maybe just one thing: rolling out of bed and getting right on a chairlift. And it's even better when your home away from home has some serious panache.
Like beachfront property, ski-in, ski-out lodging is a finite commodity, and scarcity often translates to luxury. And, while slopeside real estate might be relatively rare, there is no shortage of spectacular ski lodges in the U.S.
Besides warming your boots, the slopeside lodges and hotels that follow represent plenty of the latest and greatest, with a few oldie-but-goodies for good measure.
Photo Caption: Outside the new Waldorf Astoria Park City.
Arrabelle at Vail Square, Vail, Colorado
From
The Arrabelle at Vail Square's unmistakable facade (think Bavarian luxury meets storybook fantasyland) to its slopeside location in the heart of recently revitalized Vail Square, the Arrabelle quickly earned a reputation as the toniest address to hang your hat in Vail Village after opening in 2008. (And, yes, that's the Eagle Bahn Gondola just steps away from the door.) From the aptly named Great Room, fronted by a terrace, to the lavish guestrooms to the rooftop pool, every detail is pitch-perfect, with a nod to the grand hotels of Europe.
Details: http://arrabelle.rockresorts.com
Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Jackson, Wyoming
The Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole reset the standard for Rocky Mountain luxury when it opened, and continues to hold the banner high. The valets wear cowboy hats and some chairs are upholstered in cowskin, but otherwise this is a top-flight Four Seasons through and through, with plush guestrooms and a full-service ski concierge. The year-round destination shines in winter: Hot chocolate and s'mores are served on the outdoor pool deck, landscaped to resemble a mountain stream, and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's legendary tram is a stone's throw from the hotel.
Details: www.fourseasons.com/jacksonhole
The Little Nell, Aspen Mountain, Aspen, Colorado
At the base of Aspen Mountain, the
Little Nell is the poshest place to bunk in the poshest ski town in the West. The location offers the best of both worlds—access to the slopes (it is a mere 17 steps to the gondola) and downtown Aspen—and impeccable style and service. Renowned designer Holly Hunt revamped the guestrooms (a Premium Mountainside Room is pictued) with eye-popping results: Warm colors, modern art, and plenty of velvet, leather, and wood align in a contemporary aesthetic that takes cues from "classic Aspen."
Details: www.thelittlenell.com
Montage Deer Valley, Deer Valley Resort, Park City, Utah
The majestic
Montage opened in December 2010 and immediately became a mid-mountain fixture atop Empire Pass at Deer Valley. Designed in high "Mountain Craftsman" style, guestrooms are sumptuously decorated and large, averaging 600 square feet (suites start at 1,000 square feet). In fact, everything here is outsized—the 35,000 foot spa, the expansive views, and the soaring ceilings in the lobby—but that works to the Montage's advantage: All of the elbow room affords guests a sense of intimacy that is hard to match.
Details: www.montagedeervalley.com
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, Northstar California, Truckee, California
A ski-in, ski-out property in the Lake Tahoe area, the
Ritz-Carlton opened on the Mount Pluto at Northstar California in 2009. Surrounded by pine, the resort is centered on an octagonal lobby ands its three-story granite fireplace. The warm and contemporary rooms have drop-dead views of the mountain and the valley, and the spa features copper soaking tubs and more splendid views. The flagship, seasonal-ingredient restaurant, Manzanita, capitalizes on the lodge aesthetic with both sweeping views and cozy spaces.
Details: www.ritzcarlton.com/laketahoe
Stein Eriksen Lodge, Deer Valley Resort, Park City, Utah
Named for the legendary Norwegian Olympic champion skier who founded it in 1982, the
Stein Eriksen Lodge continues to be one of the standard-bearers for luxurious ski-in, ski-out lodging. Sporting 145 stone fireplaces and Scandinavian style to spare, the Stein is a work of architectural and decorative art, with one of Utah's best restaurants, Glitretind. The 180 units are in the main lodge and surrounding buildings, ranging from individually decorated guestrooms to five-bedroom suites. Service is superlative, hitting equally high notes as the Scandinavian style.
Details: www.steinlodge.com
Stowe Mountain Lodge, Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe, Vermont
The 312-room, six-story
Stowe Mountain Lodge is at the apex of New England mountain style, featuring local stone and woods inside and out. Opened in 2008, the lodge has won accolades for its environmentally friendly design and green policies and programs. Guestrooms are inspired by mountain cabins, with the plentiful wood and stone complementing the original artwork; there are also several standalone mountain cabins and condos. It's also hard to beat the views of surrounding peaks, including Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak.
Details: www.stowemountainlodge.com
Timberline Lodge, Timberline Ski Area, Mount Hood, Oregon
The most revered ski lodge in the Pacific Northwest is also the most historic (it first opened in 1930), with some Hollywood cachet to boot (it served as the exterior of the haunted Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick adaptation of Stephen King's
The Shining). The iconic
Timberline Lodge is a prototype for its more modern peers, but it's difficult to top the original. The Timberline Ski Area features the longest ski season in North America (in some years, it makes it year-round), with the most vertical drop in the Pacific Northwest (3,690 feet in winter, 2,616 feet in summer)
Details: www.timberlinelodge.comPhoto Caption: Timberline Lodge, Mount Hood.
Waldorf Astoria Park City, Park City, Utah
Waldorf Astoria's mountain property opened in 2009 and it exudes luxury from every nook. Tethered to the lift system with its own six-cabin gondola, the hotel features rich décor with plenty of dark wood and leather, handles your ski gear impeccably, and has its own spa and a terrific restaurant, Powder.
Details: www.waldorfastoriaparkcity.com
Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Beaver Creek Resort, Avon, Colorado
Featuring its own gondola to the slopes, the
Westin Riverfront sits at the foot of Beaver Creek Mountain on the Eagle River, making Avon an even better ski town. The sleek guestrooms range from traditional hotel rooms to three-bedroom condominiums. The flagship restaurant, Maya (by renowned Chef Richard Sandoval), offers contemporary Mexican fare, including coffee-braised short ribs, ceviche, and Colorado striped bass with poblano cream.
Details: www.westinriverfrontbeavercreek.com
