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The Ultimate ICONIC Ski Trip Guide 2021

ICONIC LIFE guide to the Best Places to Ski in the US

Goldbergh Luxury Sports / Katelijne Verbruggen

Crisp air, spectacular views and a hip vibe abound at the best luxe places in the country for the best ski trip.

It’s winter ski season and powder lovers flock to the mountains, alive with anticipation for some playful, snow-filled sporting and diversion. Whether you are skiing or snowboarding, the best ski trip escapes have it all—spectacular ski experiences, fabulous food and sophisticated design with all the latest comforts and amenities—in a playground of cool ski gear and hip fashions.

Whether you are traveling with your family or indulging in a couple’s retreat, here are the picks for our Ultimate ICONIC Ski Trip Guide.

Watch for “Best Places for Après Ski & What to Wear” and “Architectural Ski Resort Design Plus Where to Dine” as part of The Ultimate Ski Guide three-part story coming up.

Whether you are traveling with your family or indulging in a couple’s retreat, here are the picks for our Ultimate ICONIC Ski Trip Guide.

best place to ski at Snowmass in Aspen

The Little Nell

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ASPEN SNOWMASS | Colorado
Channel your fur-trimmed ski jacket and cashmere gloves, because Aspen Snowmass is one of the most chic, luxe ski trip destinations you’ll find in the country. Keep an eye out for regulars, Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Paris Hilton, Melanie Griffith and Justin Bieber. Known as the playground for presidential families from the Kennedys to the Trumps, the private airport stays busy during season.

The ski experience is idyllic with long blue groomers and impressive green runs for newbies, but don’t be fooled, back-bowl adventures, heliskiing and double-black-diamond runs challenge the most experienced skier. Midday, enjoy a decadent lunch on the mountain at Sam’s with a signature Negroni or The Aspen Mountain Club with views of the Elk Mountain Range, boot warmers and slippers to done during your fine dining experience in one of the best places to ski.

best ski resort dining at Element at The Little Nell

The Little Nell

After a day on the slopes, we love a good après ski trip wind down at the living room at The Little Nell or the vibey, sunny patio at the base of the mountain at Ajax Tavern. This see-and-be-seen destination truly comes to life after dark with a vibrant culinary scene and The Caribou Club for members-only dinner and late-night dancing.

You’ll know this is the playground for the wealthy when quaint little ski village shops in town are Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Prada and Fendi. Of course, every Aspen ski trip includes a run though luxe ski shop Gorsuch for coveted gear and high fashion apparel.

best places to stay and ski at The Little Nell

The Little Nell

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WHERE TO STAY
The Little Nell
The Little Nell is Aspen’s only Five-Star, Five-Diamond ski-in/ski-out hotel, you are just steps from the base of Aspen Mountain, one of the best places to ski. Luxe accommodations and fine dining are the hallmark of this award-winning hotel, and the sommeliers in Element 47 have an extraordinary multi-decade history of expertise and recognition.

Hotel Jerome
Built in 1889, Hotel Jerome holds Aspen’s history in its hands since the height of the town’s silver boom. More traditional in its décor, this luxe location just opened a new underground bar located below the Aspen News Building.

The St. Regis Aspen Resort
The newest of these luxe destinations, The St. Regis Aspen Resort is a five-star luxury destination nestled in historic Aspen. The resort is the host for the Aspen Food and Wine Classic each summer, but in the winter, the Remède Spa is the perfect place to recover from your ski trip adventure complete with hot tubs overlooking the mountain and an oxygen bar to give you a boost at high altitude.

Creperie du village aspen best place to eat

La Creperie du Village

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WHERE TO DINE
Fashionable skiing pairs well with fabulous food, and there is no shortage in Aspen. For lunch during your ski trip escapade, check out the classic favorites like Ajax Tavern at the base of the mountain or La Creperie du Village in town. For finer faire, dinner at Element 47 at The Little Nell or sushi at Matsuhisa will not disappoint.

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WHERE TO PLAY
When not skiing in the best place, wining or dining, check out the snowcat powder adventures that take you and your group through the trees in a mountain groomer that can hold ten people ready for fun. Or try dog sledding through the woods to a warm lodge where you can have a night cap. Or maybe it’s time for some beautiful custom-made boots from Kemo Sabe.

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best place to stay Deer Valley resort Utah

Deer Valley Resort

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DEER VALLEY | Utah
Deer Valley is located in the iconic mountain town of Park City, Utah. Originally built on the promise of glittering ore as a mining town, Park City’s conservative, western, playful character has been shaped by visionary pioneers, artists and ski legends, like Alpine ski racer and Olympic Gold Medal winner Stein Erickson, for whom the iconic Swiss Alps-like ski lodge was named.

Today, it’s home to the Sundance Film Festival since 1980, when Robert Redford formed the Sundance Institute for emerging independent film makers hosted at his Sundance Resort, built on the land he purchased in 1969.

Deer Valley is located just 38 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport and has a stellar reputation as a world-class ski resort. You have your pick of the ideal ski conditions with perfectly manicured groomers, more than 2,000 acres of wide-open terrain and runs full of Utah’s signature powder.

Deer Valley Resort is home to world-class luxury lodging, an award-winning ski school and a family-friendly atmosphere, great for starting ski trip lessons with your growing family, and it’s truly one of the best places to ski.

best place for Apres Ski at Montage Deer Valley

Montage Deer Valley

Deer Valley revolutionized skiing by offering first-class service in the mountains with curbside ski valets and daily mountain host tours. Did you say ski valet? Plus, snowboarders are not allowed, creating a more sophisticated and serene downhill experience.

For an elevated experience to shred with the best, take the fam on a ski-day with the resort’s Ambassador of Skiing, Heidi Voelker. The Ski with a Champion program connects you to one of six world-renowned skiers, like Olympic alpine skier, Voelker, who will spend the day riding the enchanting terrain alongside you and your crew on your fun-filled ski trip.

After a glam day on the slopes, The Après Lounge at Montage Deer Valley is a champagne-fueled experience that takes place on the hotel’s property at the Veuve Clicquot Champagne tent, splashed in the iconic orange color scheme, from a pair of downhill skis hung on the wall to plush throw pillows, while guests sip on their champs staying warm inside.

best place to ski at Sten Erickson Lodge in Deer Valley

Stein Erickson Lodge

Arguably, the most iconic après ski experience in the best place is at the Stein Erickson Lodge with ski-in/ski-out access and a Swiss Alps feel. New this season are four life-size Alpenglobes on the deck of the lodge. These architectural clear domes offer a climate-controlled and fully enclosed atmosphere with captivating, panoramic Deer Valley views for up to six guests to enjoy outdoor dining and lounging. Not to mention with a wine collection with more than 1,500 selections worth more than $1.5 million, it’s one of the largest collections in the state.

For a dinner to remember on your ski trip, book a horse-drawn sleigh ride to Fireside, the resort restaurant nestled at the base of the mountain. The four-course dinner offers handmade delicacies served at different stone fireplaces throughout the restaurant, with the highlight of the evening being a trip to the raclette cheese outpost, where a pound of cows-milk cheese melts beside a crackling fire for a decadent bread-dipping experience. Visit to the chocolate fondue station before stepping out into the illuminated winter wonderland that is Deer Valley by night.

best place to stay at Washington School House Hotel in Utah

Washington School House Hotel

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WHERE TO STAY
Washington School House Hotel
The Washington School House Hotel is an iconic historic landmark located in Park City. After the completion of a total interior renovation, this preserved 1889 limestone gem reopened as an intentional boutique hotel with an “unavoidable” morning breakfast. Chic sophistication is found in a re-purposed, architecturally revered building.

Stein Erickson Lodge
As the Director of Skiing at Deer Valley for more than 35 years, Stein Erickson became a local celebrity, who is remembered for treating everyone like a friend. His fervent passion for the winter sport inspired a luxury hotel named after him. The resort, Utah’s only Forbes Five-Star hotel and spa, recently underwent $14 million-dollar renovations including an outdoor pool and a movie theatre that warmly welcomes luxe travelers into the place with the best high-altitude, ski-in/ski-out hotel with every luxurious detail attended to.

Montage Deer Valley
Unrivaled ski-in/ski-out access to one of America’s premier ski resorts paired with the Montage experience (we love it!) make for a decadent mountain, sporting experience. There’s a 35,000-square-foot spa sanctuary, world-class dining and year-round activities from mountain biking to fly fishing, when it’s not ski trip season, plus a bowling alley on site. We almost feel guilty wearing slippers at aprés ski!

St. Regis Deer Valley
This mountainside resort hotel redefines luxury with convenient ski-in, ski-out access via the resort’s very own Funicular that transports hotel guests to the top of the slopes, or the resorts heated infinity pool and private ski beach. Dog-friendly and committed to luxury, each suite offers private butler service.

best place to eat in Deer Valley at Grappa Italian

Grappa Italian

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WHERE TO DINE
On the one of the best ski mountains, there are so many luxe places including Apex and Yama Sushi at Montage, a mile-long breakfast buffet at Stein Erickson Lodge and RIME with local Chef Matthew Harris at St. Regis.

Dining on historic Main Street features Italian fare we love at Grappa Italian country farmhouse, fine American cuisine at 501 Main and iconic cuisine at Riverhorse on Main with uncomplicated, seasonal dishes created by award-winning chef and co-owner Seth Adams.

Don’t miss Goldener Hirsch Restaurant. This must-visit, ski trip dining destination is the recipient of the AAA-Four Diamond Award and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. A little less than 30 minutes away is Sundance Resort and a fave of ours, Tree Restaurant in a super quaint setting.

best thing to do in Deer Valley High West Distillery

High West Distillery

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WHERE TO PLAY
Bourbon is having a moment, and High West Distillery, sitting high in the Wasatch-Uinta mountains just 25 minutes outside of Park City offers a tasting room for its internationally recognized brand with four locations. In 2016, Whisky Advocate, named High West its “Distiller of the Year.” Bottoms up.

The extreme sports lover can’t miss Olympic Park. An active Olympic training site, athletes and aspiring sports enthusiasts each have the opportunity to reach for the gold. Experience the thrill of Bobsled, Zipline and Alpine Slide rides, or test your limits on the adventure courses, drop tower and extreme tubing.

If cross-country skiing and snowshoe tours are more your ski trip thing, All Seasons Adventures, is your outfitter for all of your outdoor pursuits. Snowmobiling tours are available through Summit Meadows Adventures.

best place to ski and snowboard in Vail

Vail.com

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VAIL | Colorado
Vail has long been the most popular ski resort in North America and was also one of the first in the country to embrace snowboarders. Vail was hip before so many others got hot. It’s also the largest single mountain ski resort with nearly 200 trails and more than 30 well-connected lifts.

Long a fave for celebrities like Jay-Z, Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake. Keep an eye out for the former first family Obamas and modern-day influencers Kardashians. Olympic gold medaling ski racer Lindsey Vonn had her home there while she was competing.

With its plethora of luxe hotels, restaurants and shopping, Vail has been a long-standing fave as one of the best places to ski, even though it’s a two-hour ride from the airport. Vail has one of the best and largest ski schools on earth, with an endless array of group, semi-private and private lessons and camps for every age and ability for a fabulous ski trip. Don’t explore Vail’s legendary Back Bowls without someone in the know—it’s an opportunity to find the coolest trails and most scenic points as you playfully indulge ungroomed beauty.

Vail.com

Vail was the leader in establishing youthful adventure activities like zip lines and tubing parks. Don’t miss the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster at the top of Vail’s Eagle Bahn Gondola. Work out at a world-class health club built with professional athletes in mind. Vail has more luxe spas than any resort and two ice rinks, but who’s counting?

If you’re staying at the area’s luxe resorts, your skis or snowboard will be tagged from the moment you check in or clear rentals, and after that it’s as simple as spotting the valet tent at the bottom of the mountain and name dropping like a VIP on a in the best place for a ski trip.

For those who love the land as much as sport, Vail partnered with Walking Mountains Science Center and Sustainable Travel International to become the first sustainable mountain resort destination in the world and the first certified sustainable destination in the United States certified by a GSTC-Accredited certifying body, Green Destinations.

The Sonnenalp design was modeled after the Bavarian-style ski lodges one might find in Europe.

best place to stay at Sonnenalp in Vail

Sonnenalp Hotel

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WHERE TO STAY
Sonnenalp Hotel
The Sonnenalp design was modeled after the Bavarian-style ski lodges one might find in Europe. The small bed and breakfast that inspired the Sonnenalp first opened in Germany in the early years of the 20th Century. As that humble German inn transformed into what would become a celebrated hotel and resort, its founders envisioned bringing their legacy of European hospitality and superior guest service to the United States. In the 1960s, the burgeoning village at the base of the Vail Ski Resort became the ideal place for the best ski trip.

Ritz-Carlton
A Bavarian palace with pointed turrets rising up toward the Colorado sky let you know you’ve arrived at the elegant The Ritz-Carlton Club. Situated on the western edge of Lionshead Village, the hotel offers our luxurious two-, three- and four-bedroom club residences feature private balconies, elegant furnishings, gourmet kitchens and striking views, located near many boutique shops, art galleries and gourmet restaurants.
The newly refurbished Ritz-Carlton is rated just as highly for its inimitable service as it is for the classic grandeur of its rooms and residences. After a day on the slopes, you’ll be welcomed home from skiing to the best place with a hot drink and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

The Arrabelle at Vail Square
Just steps from world-class skiing in the heart of Lionshead Village, The Arrabelle at Vail Square is a sumptuous ultra-luxury hotel capturing the romance of Vail’s alpine ski trip legacy. When Vail Mountain opened in December 1962 with one gondola, two chair lifts, eight ski instructors and a $5 lift ticket, the U.S. Forest Service stipulated there be at least one lodge with a minimum of 30 sleeping rooms.

The Lodge at Vail soon cemented its place as the cornerstone property of what would become Vail Village. Look forward to a fairy tale bedroom—plush drapes over the bedheads, marble bathrooms and velvet accents will set the scene for your cameo as a celebrity.

best place to eat in Vail at Matsuhisa

Matsuhisa Vail

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WHERE TO DINE
Open for ski-in-ski-out ski trip lunches, this dining and après ski trip hot spot, The 10th, is at Mid-Vail, halfway up the mountain and offers spectacular views and a delicious menu with Colorado lamb chili, Wagyu carpaccio and truffle fries. Make sure to snag a seat next to the floor-to-ceiling windows in the fur-lined slippers provided.

In Vail Village, Root & Flower is another hot spot for aprés ski with a wine bar, craft cocktails and seasonal plates in a rustic modern atmosphere. James Beard Award nominee and Top Chef alum Kelly Liken earned a following with Harvest by Kelly Liken, where she is committed to Colorado’s community of farmers and purveyors with dishes like smoked Rocky Mountain trout and beers from local breweries.

The big reservation to score is Matsuhisa Vail, where famous chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa offers incredible sushi and sashimi, as well as sake amid a luxurious setting and with beautiful views. And yes, people-watching is on the menu.

Game Creek Restaurant is a private club by day, but reservations are available to the public for dinner at this tiny chalet in the middle of the Game Creek bowl. Ride the Eagle Bahn gondola under an incredible canopy of stars, then take a snowcat down the slopes to a very cool cabin. The food is equally impressive, with three- to five-course tasting menus that constantly change. Yum!

best-place-to-ski-and-shop-at-Vail-Village

Kevin Ruck / Shutterstrock

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WHERE TO PLAY
Off-slope ski trip activities and fun places are the best, from backcountry and snowshoe tours to nearby snowcat-skiing, hot air balloon rides and snowmobile tours. Vail Village is connected with heated pedestrian streets following the winding Gore Creek. Lionshead Bavarian-inspired village is completely closed off to cars and is nestled at the base of Eagle Bahn Gondola.

Off-season, Vail is mecca for hiking, biking, horseback riding and paddle boarding. For outdoor musical performances, there’s not a bad seat in the house at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre, named after our skiing president.

Glide down hills and rub elbows with the who’s who of the ski world in this high-end escape.

best-place-to-stay-and-ski-in-Beaver-Creek.

nschwensow /Shutterstock

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BEAVER CREEK | Colorado
Glide down hills and rub elbows with the who’s who of the ski world in this high-end escape. Lindsey Vonn has been known to frequent the resort’s slopes, and Beaver Creek often hosts World Cup events. Owned by Vail Resorts, two other mountains, Arrowhead and Bachelor Gulch, also make up the Beaver Creek ski resort.

Beaver Creek has Old World charm. Because nearby Vail has one of the highest percentages of European visitors in North America, Vail Resorts—which owns both Vail and Beaver Creek—modeled it after a European ski resort and about three quarters of the resort’s lodgings are ski-in/ski-out.

Instead of the celebrities you’ll find in Aspen, the Beaver Creek crowd are more likely to be CEOs, hedge fund managers and American Presidents. President Ford was a fixture at Beaver Creek, owning a chalet on the mountain that even had a wing for his secret service.

best place to ski at European inspired Beaver Creek

beavercreek.com

The best way to reach this magical ski place, Beaver Creek is to fly into Eagle Vail airport, where you’ll see more private jets than anywhere else in the world. From here it’s just a 30-minute drive.

Beaver Creek has a paved village that links a thread of high-end shops, a series of escalators take skiers to the foot of the mountain, and an on-call village shuttle takes you where you want to go. Piping hot cookies are handed out at 3pm every day during season, enjoy an ice rink in the middle of town and get your ski trip rentals fitted from your hotel.

New for the 2020-21 season, explore a new artistic playground of insta-worthy, oversized sculptures scattered throughout the village to celebrate the season and bring families in.

best place to stay at Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort

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WHERE TO STAY
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa
With sweeping views from the base of Beaver Creek Mountain, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort offers guests a ski-in/ski-out location in the heart of Beaver Creek Village, adjacent to the ski school. Many of our rooms offer private balconies, from which you can enjoy picturesque mountain or village views. Suites offer a kitchenette and fireplace for a cozy feel any time of year.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Avon is located within the Beaver Creek Ski Resort, at the base of the Bachelor Gulch lift. Designed like a super-luxe national park lodge on the outside, The Ritz offers a luxe spa and a high-end Japanese restaurant Sakaba. The Great Room has a three-story stone fireplace which is the centerpiece of this lodge-inspired lounge. For reference, it’s just less than 13 miles to Vail to get to one of the best places to ski.

Beaver Creek Lodge
Another highly rated resort in Beaver Creek is Beaver Creek Lodge which offers true locational convenience for your ski trip.

the best to ski and dine at the Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch

The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch

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WHERE TO DINE
Enjoy fine wines and a seasonally rotating menu at the award-winning Grouse Mountain Grill, part of The Pines Lodge. Grab a cozy couch for live music and a lively après ski experience at The Great Room at The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor’s Gulch. Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa is home to the celebrated 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill, resting at the base of the Buckaroo Express Gondola with patio heaters and luxurious views of the mountain range.

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WHERE TO PLAY
In addition to being the best place to ski, the summer brings activities like fly fishing, river rafting and riding four by fours. Hiking, mountain biking and skiing are available at The Ritz. Like Vail, hunting real estate is another great activity in this laid-back luxe town.

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Hit the slopes hard and then kick back in this 1800s mining town that still holds onto some of its historical charm.

best place to stay and ski at Hotel Madeline Telluride

Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Collection

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TELLURIDE | Colorado
This mining-turned-ski town takes its winter sports seriously—and for good reason. In Telluride, the mountains are big—mountains that exceed 13,000 and 14,000 feet, making for an epic ski trip. Much of the terrain is not for the weak of heart, but about half of the ski resort’s runs do cater to intermediate and beginner levels, on their first ski trip. The airport isn’t for the weak of heart either, and it is often impacted by weather.

But, hit the slopes hard and then kick back in this 1800s mining town that still holds onto some of its historical charm. Telluride has two faces—avid local skiers and artists and big moguls…not the ones you ski. Home to Oprah, Tom Cruise and Daryl Hannah, the luxury homes in Telluride are as spectacular as the mountains. In this writer’s opinion, the towering slopes are as impressive as any we’ve seen in the U.S. Prepare for high altitude as this is one of the highest altitude ski resorts—only Breckenridge and Loveland are higher.

Telluride is the kind of town where everyone knows your name, and it’s ski history and sense of place has one of the biggest, best names for skiing attached: Franz Klammer, the champion alpine ski racer from Austria, who dominated the downhill event for four consecutive World Cup seasons (1975–78). He was the gold medalist at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbrook.

best place to stay in Telluride at Hotel Madeline

Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Collection

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WHERE TO STAY
Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Collection
The snowy peaks of the San Juan Mountains loom majestically ahead when you stay this luxe mountain retreat. Located just off the Gondola, convenience is supreme. Suites feature kitchens with Wolf stovetops and Asko dishwashers. Don’t leave without ordering a skewered Bloody Mary at the Black Iron Kitchen & Bar—think burgers, bacon and crudité on a stick—wake up and smell your decadent ski trip.

The Peaks Resort & Spa
Located a short walk from the Telluride Mountain Village Gondola, The Peaks offers a stunning ski-in/ski-out location on your luxe ski trip. In addition to rooms and suites, you might indulge a stay at See Forever Village, located 100 yards from The Peaks. It is an enclave of private cabins, condos and penthouses featuring all the amenities of the The Peaks with the privacy and space of a vacation home. You’ll enjoy a personal concierge, private lobby and amenities, and an attentive staff. Notable at The Peaks is a world-class spa, worth the trip in itself, and of course, did we mention the ski valet?

Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge
This rustic European-style resort is located in the heart of Mountain Village. After a day on the slopes, you’ll retire to 1,400- to 2,000-square-foot residences with two or three bedrooms, private balconies, exposed beams, Viking stoves and natural-gas stone fireplaces. Pre-arrival grocery services, ski valet and airport transfers are all included.

best place to ski and dine at Altezza Telluride

Altezza

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WHERE TO DINE
Alpino Vino, the highest-elevation fine-dining restaurant in North America at 11,966 feet, is an exclusive, yet quaint European hut offering the best place for skiers’ leisurely lunches and elegant dinners. The expansive multi-tiered deck with its European teak furniture, coveted daybed and comfortable sheepskin throws is truly a unique spot to celebrate the day in a charmingly rustic outdoor setting—feels like the Dolomites.

Recognized for the best views in Telluride, Altezza restaurant at The Peaks Resort offers casual mountain dining with regionally sourced ingredients and panoramic Telluride views from the restaurant, Great Room and outdoor decks. At 221 South Oak, one-time Top Chef contestant Eliza Gavin mines her Southern upbringing, her years spent cooking in New Orleans and Napa, and her training at culinary school in France for inspiration.

If you want an old-school, remind-you-of-college après ski experience, The Saloon at Gorrono Ranch Restaurant off chairlift #4 is a ski-trip beach scene on snow.

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WHERE TO PLAY
The Telluride Ski Resort has a robust offering of classes and retreats from heli-skiing camp to women’s weekend experiences to making friends with moguls—the snow kind—Telluride is a great place to learn and challenge yourself.

No resort can match Sun Valley’s iconic history—Sun Valley was literally the very first destination ski resort in the U.S., with the world’s first chairlifts.

best place to ski at Sun Valley Idaho

visitsunvalley.com

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SUN VALLEY RESORT | Idaho
No resort can match Sun Valley’s iconic history—Sun Valley was literally the very first destination ski resort in the U.S., with the world’s first chairlifts and where the concept of the American ski trip vacation was born, making the original best place to ski.

Averell Harriman, Chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad, had a light go on in his head. He believed North America needed its own luxurious alpine resort like he had experienced growing up skiing in the Swiss Alps. He had seen other railroads in Canada driving passenger trips on trains to Canadian ski destinations and thought it might work here.

He hired an Austrian skier, Count Felix Schaffgotsch, to find the right location for a ski resort and landed in Ketchum, Idaho in 1936. By the end of the year construction was completed on Sun Valley, boasting another of Harriman’s creations, the chairlift, which helped create the resort’s luxe image.

Stars like Clark Gable, Errol Flynn and Marilyn Monroe further put Sun Valley on the map. Writer Ernest Hemingway penned For Whom the Bell Tolls while staying in the Sun Valley Lodge. Today, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood and Bruce Willis can be spotted. We also understand it’s mecca for billionaires Warren Buffet, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Steve Wynn and Oprah.

Today, you can ski two mountains on your ski trip to Sun Valley—Dollar Mountain, site of that first lift, is the smaller area, geared toward beginners and young families with primarily blues and greens. It’s an easy place to learn and get started. Bald Mountain, or Baldy, is the beating heart of the resort. Thirteen chairlifts serve 65 runs plus glades, bowls, and some of the most beautiful on-mountain lodges in ski country with varied terrain.

best place to stay and ski at Sun Valley Lodge Idaho

Sun Valley Lodge

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WHERE TO STAY
Auberge Sun Valley
Auberge Sun Valley Resort will be the exclusive, luxury haven for adventurers, families and couples alike. Year-round activities will make Sun Valley the hot spot for getaways with its bounty of activities, cuisine and natural scenery. In addition to rooms, 12 residences are available on the hotel’s upper floors. Six penthouses offer expansive views to the top of the best place to ski on Bald and Dollar Mountains.

Sun Valley Lodge
Architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood designed the Sun Valley Lodge in 1936, as was among the first to consider pampering guests, attracting one Ernest Hemingway. A renovation five years ago brought this resort to the next level of luxury with a new 20,000-square-foot spa and more convenient access to the lodge’s enormous, 55-square-foot glassed-in heated pool.

best-place-to-dine-in-Sun-Valley-at-Enoteca.

Enoteca

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WHERE TO DINE
Breakfast at Konditorei on the mountain feels like a café in Vienna with pine chairs and Austrian pastries. Specialties include Eggs Benedict, omelets and waffles made fresh in front of you—the best way for you to start your ski trip.

Still, on the mountain, the sleigh dinner at Trail Creek Cabin, this hideaway with views of Baldy are seen from Harriman’s hunting lodge built in 1937. It’s a beautiful sleigh ride to reach the lodge and when you arrive, cozy on steroids awaits and a menu based on a hunting theme—elk and trout.

When in town book a ressie at Enoteca or The Ram for mountain flavors with an elegant vibe.

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WHERE TO PLAY
Sun Valley offers lots of fun off-season as well, with White Clouds golf course, horseback riding and world-class fly fishing.

Editor’s Note: Resort conditions and restaurant openings may change at any time. Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local closings, government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure.

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