Lone Mountain Ranch Big Sky Montana

Get away to Lone Mountain Ranch (or, LMR) to disconnect from real life for a while—and to lock into Big Sky’s dude ranch lifestyle.

LMR is high on the bucket list for plenty of travelers—it’s all vast, chic, rustic, and authentic.

As one of Montana’s longest-standing dude ranches, the property is constantly reimagining itself through refined design, a wildly impressive staff, and heaps of annual events bringing loads of visitors, from locals to first-time ranchers alike.

All cabins either have a wood stove, a potbelly stove, or an original stone fireplace.

They all cater to a modern mountain aesthetic, each with its own record player and vinyls.

The perfect downtime: Head back to your cabin, turn on some old folk records, and fall into the sound of crackling wood. 

Best US Winter Resorts Sundance Mountain Resort Utah

Robert Redford purchased this pocket of Provo Canyon in 1969 and named it after his movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, envisioning a retreat where creativity could be distilled from the great outdoors.

Skiers can enjoy gliding down the 12,000-foot Mount Timpanogos, or take a class at the Art Studio & Gallery and learn how to make everything from jewelry and leather journals to perfume and pottery.

The ski resort-meets-artist’s residency is also the birthplace of the Sundance Institute, and while the film festival will move to Colorado in 2027, the legacy remains within the hotel hallways, which are decorated with black-and-white photos of legendary film moments, like Quentin Tarantino workshopping Reservoir Dogs.

When it comes to accommodation styles, guests can choose to ski-in or ski-out from rooms at The Inn (starting in January 2026), spread out with a kitchenette in the Cottages, or bring the entire family along to one of the private Mountain Homes.

The Tree Room restaurant—which is literally built around a tree—offers the very best in hearty, mountain dining, while the Owl Bar, with its outlaw vibe, is the perfect place to enjoy a nightcap by the fire. 

Whiteface Lodge Lake Placid New York

Deep in the heart of the Adirondacks, the upscale, all-suite Whiteface Lodge sits just a mile from the picturesque shores of Lake Placid.

A stony interior flanked with deer antlers gives the lobby a lumber-chic look—minus the plaid—while the deck, with wrought iron tables and chairs, overlooks the majestic mountain scenery.

Inside the suites, it’s all wood—like a summer camp cabin all grown up—with cast-iron gas fireplaces, slate floors, wood paneling, and custom alderwood cabinetry, plus a private cedar-and-mahogany balcony for maximum viewing pleasure.

Bathrooms have radiant-heat flooring, ideal for chilly winter mornings when you’re gearing up to get on the nearby slopes.

But it’s not all skiing, all the time—there are ample opportunities for skating, bobsledding, fishing, and canoeing, not to mention a full-service spa.

Once you’ve had your fill of recreation and relaxation, head to Kanu, the formal restaurant, where locally grown produce and North American fish and game take center stage.

Best US Winter Resorts Little Nell Aspen Colorado

The Little Nell is an après ski hot spot and one of the best people-watching places in town.

Every dining and bar venue on-site is hopping after the lifts shut down for the day.

It’s not a hushed and reverent scene at all, but rather, inextricable from the rest of Aspen.

The Little Nell is firmly ensconced in Aspen’s heart, directly at the base of Ajax Mountain, surrounded by luxury jewelers, fur shops, and boutique purveyors of luxe outerwear.

The hotel’s rooms and suites were designed to feel like a dollhouse, each with its own unique angle, view, and character.

There’s nothing cookie-cutter here, and the amenities are supreme.

Boots are heated overnight, and all gear is stored in the Ski Concierge room on the second floor, where the doors open right onto the mountain itself, and the gondola is mere schusses away.

They’ll even make you an espresso here while you get geared up.

Definitely the most luxurious ski experience in the US. 

Alyeska Resort Anchorage Alaska

This ski-in, ski-out resort is found at the base of its eponymously named mountain and caters to those looking to enjoy 1,610 skiable acres, seven chair lifts, 76 named trails, and more than 650 inches of snow each season.

The whole property has a hunting-château aesthetic—when you first walk into the lobby, you’re greeted with a diorama of stuffed animals, including a polar bear.

There are also roaring fireplaces in the communal areas (most presided over by a moose or elk bust), oodles of wood and leather furniture, pieces of Indigenous art throughout, and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the mountains.

The rooms are equipped with ski gear storage, plush bathrobes, heated towel racks, and coffee pots with local java.

And, if you don’t consider yourself a ski bum, Alyeska has a large saltwater indoor swimming pool, hot tub, and sauna.

Plus, there’s a 50,000-square-foot Nordic-style indoor/outdoor spa that’s the perfect spot to soak after a long day on the slopes.

Best US Winter Resorts Woodstock Inn & Resort Woodstock Vermont

Grand, but not fussy. Of another era, but far from old-fashioned.

The Woodstock Inn & Resort is the Goldilocks property that’s managed to evolve with the times while maintaining its quintessential New England charm.

Situated across from the town green, the Federal-style mansion feels like a Norman Rockwell reverie.

Inside, the cozy lobby serves as a communal living room where guests read newspapers.

Outside, families toast s’mores around firepits and play lawn games.

Regular updates to the 200-plus-year-old hotel, including a glow-up of all 142 rooms and the addition of a Scandi-chic spa, ensure that loyal East Coasters keep returning for generations.