The US is one of the best year-round destinations in the world with no shortage of things to do. Some of the best winter destinations in the US offer fun on the slopes, beautiful mountain villages, and nightlife, too. Here are a few destinations you should visit in wintertime.
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Park City, UT
Home to the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City is the largest resort in the US, with 7,300 acres of terrain, two base areas, and a variety of lodging options and activities.
The city offers a lot for the winter outdoor lover, from ice skating to snow biking. Making it easy to get around, the city’s public transit system is free.
A popular time to visit is during the Sundance Film Festival, which takes place every January, and is one of the most popular international film festivals in the world.
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Where to stay
Hyatt Centric Park City is located in the heart of town, proving easy access to amenities and the slopes. Just outside town in Canyon Place, the Waldorf Astoria Park City offers a variety of spacious luxury rooms and suites that make it a great option for groups and families.
Aspen, CO
Aspen is perhaps America’s most famous skiing destination with four major ski areas: Snowmass Ski Resort, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk.
Founded as a mining camp in the 1880s, attractions such as the Wheeler Opera House, which opened in 1889, sprung up during the silver mining era.
The town was named Aspen due to its abundance of Aspen trees, developing into a ski destination post-World War II.
Aspen is home to many upscale shops, restaurants, and hotels as well as international organizations, such as the Aspen Institute.
Aspen knows how to do winter, so in addition to the traditional winter activities of skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and snowmobiling, there’s an alpine coaster, snowcat dinners, and Nastar, a ski racing program that began in 1968.
Where to stay
Built in 1889, Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection is the town’s grandest, most historic hotel. It once welcomed the likes of John Wayne and was one of the first buildings west of the Mississippi to have full electric lighting. Having been renovated several times over the years, rooms have elegantly modern decor with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Vail, CO
Located on the beautiful Gore Creek in Colorado, Vail is a small ski town with a strong European feel. Set within the Vail Mountains, Vail is best known for the massive Vail Ski Resort, which has more than 5,000 acres and every amenity you can imagine.
Vail Ski Resort is also known for its legendary “bowls”, which are comprised of seven expansive powder fields: Sun Down, Sun Up, Tea Cup, China, Siberia, Inner Mongolia, and Outer Mongolia.
With so many activities to choose, you can go snowmobiling, receive luxury spa treatments, shop in Vail Village, or dine at one of the town’s fine restaurants, such as Almresi Restaurant. It’s also a wonderful place for après-ski, so you can have a great time whether you ski or not.
Where to stay
The Vail Collection at the Ritz-Carlton Residences is beautifully appointed in the Bavarian style and offers spacious two, three, and four-bedroom suites with full amenties, including fully-equipped kitchens, formal dining areas, and washers and dryers.
The complex also has an outdoor heated pool, heated garage, luxury spa, and winter shuttle to and from the ski areas.
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful ski areas in the world. Overlooking a beautiful alpine lake there 15 ski resorts in both California and Nevada.
It’s hard to determine which season is better, because summer is just as popular as winter in Lake Tahoe. The wonderful views, dining, and activities provide everything you could ask for.
Where to stay
The Lodge at Edgewood is a contemporary lake chalet with direct acces to the lake. The resort offers a few unique activities, including an ice skating rink, which operates from November to April. In addition, you can snowshoe to its Champagne Chalet and participate in a number of wellness activities under the Taholistic program.
Jackson Hole, WY
Jackson Hole is certainly one of the best winter destinations in the US. After all, where else can you spot elk and bison while you snowshoe? There’s actually a National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, where elk migrate during winter.
Jackson Hole has three ski resort areas: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Grand Targhee Resort, and Snow King Mountain Resort.
Jackson, which is part of Jackson Hole, is a very charming, artsy town of approximately 11,000 people, which feels like a modern version of an old western town.
Major attractions in the area are Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, Elk Antler Arch, Jackson Square, and the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.
Where to stay
Jackson Hole offers a variety of luxury properties to stay in, so you really can’t go wrong. The most prestigious of these properties are Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole, near the slopes in Teton Village, Amangani, just north of town, and Hotel Jackson, in the heart of Jackson.
Winter Destinations in Canada
Just across the northern border, Canada offers a few great winter towns of its own.
Whistler, Canada
Home to the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler has one of North America’s largest ski resorts–Whistler Blackcomb.
Located about two hours north of Vancouver in British Columbia, Whistler offers all the typical wintertime activities, and a few unique ones, like bobsledding and winter ziplining. Due to its northern position, it has one of the longest ski seasons, as well.
Where to stay
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler is an ideal place to stay to be close to the action. A huge bonus is that the ski lifts and the town center are within walking distance of the hotel.
Mt. Tremblant, Canada
Located on Lake Tremblant, Mont-Tremblant is the second oldest ski resort in North America, after Idaho’s Sun Valley. The resort area was completely transformed in 1991 after it was acquired by new owners and closely resembles a European alpine village.
Fine dining, art galleries, boutiques, and inns dot the town and make it a great escape from Montreal, which is 80 miles away, and Ottawa, which is 95 miles away.
Where to stay
Hotel Quintessence looks like it was plucked straight from a Swiss mountainside. The luxury chalet sits adjacent to Lake Tremblant and offers a number of outdoor activities, such as sleigh rides, and fine dining options.
Lake Louise, Canada
Located in Banff National Park, Lake Louise Ski Resort has more than 4,200 acres and some of the most stunning scenery nestled within the Canadian Rockies. Not only is the setting beautiful but the resort allows people of all skill levels to ski together due to access to runs of different levels from every lift.
Where to stay
Fairmont Château Lake Louise is the place to stay on Lake Louise. It’s one of the few hotels with impressive mountain and lake views. It’s also a hotspot for outdoor summer activities in Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park.
