This chateau-style hotel stands at the base of the Chugach Mountains, a top Alaskan ski area that doubles as a great hiking destination in the summertime. Suitable for family trips, the comfy accommodations at the Alyeska include a number of larger suites, all decorated with striking indigenous Alaskan artwork. Spa services, a yoga studio and fine dining are all available, so you'll get the full resort experience.
You might not think of Arizona as a typical mountain destination, but Amara Resort and Spa is surrounded by majestic red-rock peaks. Skiing is not an option in this slice of paradise, but guests can fill their days relaxing in the hotel’s tree lodge-inspired rooms and common areas, floating in the zero-edge infinity pool or getting a signature Rain Dance massage in the adjacent spa. There’s plenty of hiking nearby and the hotel also offers open-air jeep tours.
A grand hotel overlooking Eureka Springs city, in the Arkansas section of the Ozark Mountains, the 1886 Crescent is a picture of Southern hospitality. The hotel did indeed first open in 1886, but after becoming rundown it closed for a period and was purchased by new owners in the late 1990s. Both family- and pet-friendly, the resort has plenty of activities, such as ice skating in the winter, plus hiking, lawn games, yoga and wine tastings throughout the rest of the year.
This breathtaking luxury resort in California’s “Lost Sierra” combines the beauty of the rugged mountains with the legendary design of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The property features a boutique inn, a golf course and an iconic lodge that houses a restaurant, spa and a deck where visitors can bask in the shadow of Eureka Peak. Guests can also visit the Altitude Recreation Centre, featuring fitness and sports amenities, as well as pool tables and video games.
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With a mid-mountain location in the Northstar California resort area, near spectacular Lake Tahoe, this ski-in/ski-out hotel is an ideal playground for both families seeking adventure and lovers of luxury looking for a special retreat. The resort offers a slope-side spa, a top-rated restaurant, and guest rooms and suites fitted with gas fireplaces. There are plenty of après-ski experiences too, including delicious craft cocktails at the Highlands Bar.
A stunning example of a national park lodge, The Ahwahnee was built in the 1920s and continues to exude elegance and charm. The hotel sits on the east end of the famed Yosemite Valley, with easy access to the park’s most revered sights. Guests of The Ahwahnee can choose to stay in regular hotel rooms and suites, or more private hotel cottages, while the impressive, communal Grand Lounge, with its exposed beams and fireplace, is a lovely place to unwind.
One of the Rockies’ most famous mountain resort towns, Aspen is all about snowy peaks, outdoor adventure and posh hotel experiences. The St. Regis is one of Aspen’s glitziest, with its mountain views, world-class spa and signature St. Regis rituals like afternoon Champagne sabering ceremonies and evening campfire s’mores. Skiing is the go-to activity here, but there’s plenty of fun in the summer too, with horseback riding, hot-air ballooning and rock climbing on offer.
Aspen is rich with out-of-this-world resorts and another first-rate option is The Little Nell. Offering the maximum level of comfort and opulence, it’s front and centre for both skiing and basking in Aspen’s bustling social scene. It’s the place to be for a top-drawer après-ski experience, with a hot spot restaurant, a tavern and a chic wine bar. Guests are also given the chance to make “first tracks” on Aspen Mountain before the slopes open to the public for the day.
One of the most lavish lodgings in Colorado's many ski areas, this Vail Valley retreat sits in the middle of the famed Beaver Creek ski resort, offering ski-in/ski-out convenience along with the opportunity to try snowshoes and skimobiles. In the summer, visitors can go rafting or fly fishing, or just soak up the beauty of the hotel, enjoying the pool, spa treatments and mountain-style cuisine.
At more than 100 years old, The Broadmoor is an American institution. Situated near Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains, this hotel is steeped in history, but doesn’t skimp on luxury and modern conveniences. In addition to relaxing in the grand hotel, with its pink stucco façade, guests can enjoy adventures like fly fishing, zip lining or hiking up to the Cloud Camp lodge on Cheyenne Mountain.
Vail is one of Colorado’s quintessential ski resort areas and The Sebastian is among its most beautiful places to stay. The boutique hotel’s décor brings a touch of contemporary style to the famed mountain town, with artistic flourishes and woody accents throughout the property. There are inviting hot tubs perfect for a post-ski soak, plus the European-inspired Leonora restaurant and swish Bloom Spa on site too.
The town of Ketchum is in Idaho’s Sun Valley, a resort area made famous by one-time resident Ernest Hemingway. The hotel that bears the town’s name is a remodelled building on Ketchum’s main drag, lending some relaxed modern vibes to the mountain locale. It's also home to a chic taco and tequila lounge, ideal for a buzzy night out after a day hitting Sun Valley’s considerable slopes.
Created by Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops, Big Cedar Lodge offers the ultimate Ozark Mountains experience. The lodge itself sees rustic country charm coupled with modern bells and whistles, as well as a rejuvenating spa and both fine and casual dining options. But Big Cedar’s true draw is the recreational thrills of the Ozarks, with golf, fishing, shooting, hiking, go-karting and much more on the table.
For a truly secluded mountain getaway, Montana’s Triple Creek Ranch is a beautifully rustic refuge hidden in the Rockies’ Bitterroot range. Once guests are ensconced in the resort there's really no reason to go far – the all-inclusive property offers gourmet cuisine and activities like dog sledding, fat biking and horseback riding, all on top of the pristine Western-styled lodging. Activities like downhill skiing are done off-site at the Lost Trail Powder Mountain, accessible by shuttle.
The lofty Omni Mount Washington occupies a breathtaking spot in the White Mountains – and its own grandeur more than matches up to the beautiful setting. The sprawling resort is close to the Bretton Woods ski slopes and hosts a championship golf course and a massive spa where guests can gaze upon the peaks after a massage or scrub. More adventurous visitors can typically try out the “canopy tour”, a series of zip-lines, sky bridges and platforms offering unbeatable mountain views.
With only 65 rooms and the cover of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, this boutique resort showcases both the urban cool of Santa Fe and the wonder of the Southwest’s wilderness. The hotel’s amenities – well-appointed rooms, a top-rate spa and plenty of picturesque places to lounge – are reason enough for a stay, but the surrounding area also offers guests the chance to hike, bike and even take hot-air balloon rides.
An all-season resort, The Sagamore sits on a private island on Lake George with spectacular views of the Adirondack Mountains. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the stately hotel was built in the 1880s and immediately attracted fanfare. It was completely restored in the 1980s and once again serves as a beautiful getaway with a golf course, spa and multiple restaurants, as well as skiing and other winter activities available close by.
Situated in the Adirondack Mountains’ High Peaks area, the magnificent Whiteface Lodge is intended to create the feel of the classic upstate New York camps of yore, thanks to rustic (but decidedly upscale) woodsy décor throughout. The all-suite hotel features kitchens and fireplaces in every room, making it ideal for couples looking for space to unwind and families planning a memorable vacation.
The city of Asheville is known for its eclectic artistic culture, as well as skiing and outdoor adventure in the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. The Foundry reflects the soul of Asheville with its cool modern styling, excellent dining and cocktails, and on-site fire pits. Skiers can opt for a "Stay & Ski" package to get discounted lift tickets at Wolf Ridge ski resort and complimentary après-ski hot chocolates waiting in their rooms at the end of the day.
Another Asheville hotel with a very different personality, the Inn on Biltmore Estate is one of the most unique hotels in North Carolina. Overlooked by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Inn is on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate, the historic Vanderbilt family mansion that is the largest privately-owned home in the United States. The Inn isn’t quite as ritzy as the mansion, but it's still comfortable and elegant, and convenient for anyone who wants to explore the Biltmore's 8,000 acres.
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Near the larger centre of Bend, Oregon, Sunriver Resort is mainly used by winter guests looking to ski at nearby Mount Bachelor, although this property is a family-vacation favourite year-round. Golf, paddle boarding, horse-drawn carriage rides, fishing and other outdoor pursuits are all on offer depending on the time of year. For added flexibility, guests have the option to stay either in the hotel or a private vacation rental.
The Pocono Mountains create a lovely backdrop for this highly rated, all-inclusive Pennsylvania spa resort. The entire property is designed for relaxation and rejuvenation, with serene rooms, fitness classes and lectures, a pool and gourmet healthy meals all included. Spa concierges help guests put together packages that can involve treatments like massages and facials, as well as specialty bodywork and float therapy.
This resort in the Pocono Mountains is dedicated to family fun, with lots to keep adventurers of all ages busy any time of the year. Camelback Mountain is a winter wonderland for skiers, snowboarders and tubers, but you don't have to ski to enjoy the resort. It also has adjacent indoor and outdoor waterparks, a summertime mountain coaster and treetop adventure course, and family-friendly restaurants.
Not all mountain resorts opt for a rustic vibe – the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee are home to Blackberry Mountain, which boasts a clean and crisp aesthetic to match its emphasis on wellness and peace of mind. For a more traditional “mountain vibe”, the resort’s sister property Blackberry Farm has a down-home (but still high-end) feel. Either way, both offer a serene mountain escape coupled with renowned culinary experiences and adventures in nature.
Medina is located in Texas Hill Country near the Medina mountains and is also home to this quiet resort that only allows adult visitors. Guests can relax under the watch of the gentle peaks that loom behind the resort, while taking a dip in the pool or hot tub, bird watching or just drinking in the fresh air. The on-site spa is a highlight, offering a wide variety of specialty massages and other treatments.
Deer Valley and Park City are ski central in the state of Utah and the area’s Stein Eriksen Lodge is one of the most well-heeled spots to use as a base. The European-style lodge is located mid-mountain, allowing for ski-in/ski-out access to the hill. The après-ski experience is just as good, with exquisite dining options (including the opportunity to eat in an outdoor climate-controlled “Alpenglobe”), a spa and relaxing heated outdoor pools.
The town of Stowe in northern Vermont is not particularly big, but it's home to a disproportionate number of extraordinary resorts, including Topnotch, which lives up to its name. Situated in the midst of a forest at the base of Mount Mansfield, the resort is a great home base for a ski vacation at Stowe Mountain Resort, and also a perfect place to take in Vermont’s dramatic fall colours. Warm-weather visitors can take advantage of the on-site Topnotch Tennis Academy.
Near the Warm Springs mountain cluster, the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs has hosted 23 US presidents. History abounds at the Homestead, but the outdoors is also a key attraction – gently curving mountains set the scene for this dignified hotel. Activities as varied as falconry and gorge hikes are available in the summer months, with the low-key Homestead Ski Slopes beckoning guests in the winter.
The ruggedness of the Pacific Northwest shines at this lodge just east of Seattle. Owned by the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, the land the lodge sits on is sacred, something guests might well feel as they look at the waterfall churning below the hotel. The beauty of the outdoors is breathtaking, but the interior of the hotel is outstanding too, with in-room gas fireplaces and luxury bathrooms, plus a refined restaurant that specialises in food made with local ingredients.
This Wyoming resort is a jewel in the awe-inspiring Grand Teton mountain range. The cleanly designed rooms look out onto the drama of the mountains, with the wilderness of both Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks not far away. There’s plenty of wildlife to discover nearby, or guests can just enjoy the hotel itself, with amenities including a slew of restaurants and a hotel lounge, a full-service spa and a concierge team that will help arrange those outdoor adventures.
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