If you’re looking to embrace the season with a cold-weather getaway, there are plenty of alluring lodges worth visiting this winter. Imagine curling up by a roaring fire with a warm cup of cocoa, gazing out your cabin window to take in striking views of snow-capped mountains in the backdrop and filling your days with pastimes such as ice skating, cross-country skiing and serene nature hikes. At these charming winter lodges across Europe, Canada and the U.S., you’ll find classic settings for planning a fun-filled snowy adventure. Read on to map out your getaway.
[See: 50 Charming Small Towns to Visit If You Love Winter.]
Vail Residences at Hotel Talisa
Vail, Colorado
After hitting the slopes, you can step into a cozy robe by the fire at this picturesque retreat, which offers a hotel, home rentals and vacation condos. To ease any lingering tension, indulge in a soothing massage, body wrap or facial in the 25,000-square-foot Aria Athletic Club and Spa, Vail‘s biggest spa and fitness center. Even better, the mountain retreat offers a ski concierge and an on-site chairlift, along with other enticing amenities, including a heated infinity pool, a hot tub and live music, gourmet hot chocolate and champagne as part of its après-ski programming. For more activity, you can enjoy sleigh rides, downhill skiing and winter fly-fishing, among other pursuits.
Grouse Mountain Lodge
Whitefish, Montana
Located near the Glacier Nordic Center and Glacier National Park, Grouse Mountain Lodge is one of Montana’s top winter lodges. On-site, you’ll find a restaurant, Logan’s Bar & Grill, dishing up tacos, beef and seafood-centric entrees, as well as a fitness center, outdoor hot tubs, an indoor pool and a lobby with a crackling fireplace. Of course, the top activity here for powder hounds is skiing, but other snowy pastimes can include snowmobiling, horse-drawn sleigh rides and dog sledding.
[See: America’s 50 Prettiest Winter Towns.]
Paradise Inn
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
With a name like Paradise, it’s no wonder thrill-seekers and cold-weather enthusiasts visit this cozy inn year after year. Blanketed in fresh powder, the 14,410-foot Mount Rainier dominates the surrounding landscape of this inn nestled in the park’s southwest corner. The inn features 121 luxurious rooms, and has a history dating back to 1917. In the park, activities can include guided snow walks, cross-country skiing and snowboarding. When hunger sets in, head to one of the inn’s varied dining rooms dishing out favorite American comfort foods, such as Pacific Northwest salmon and butternut squash ravioli.
Sparkling Hill Resort
Vernon, British Columbia
Rising over Lake Okanagan in Vernon, Sparkling Hill Resort is a renowned spa resort that put an emphasis on wellness. Accommodations are outfitted with deep soaking tubs and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake or the Monashee Mountain range. And at the on-site KurSpa, guests can retreat to a tea room, a salt water pool, an infinity pool and a variety of steam rooms and saunas, among other facilities. To add to the glamorous lodge atmosphere, more than 3.5 million shimmering Swarovski crystals are on display across the resort. As for dining, at the PeakFine Restaurant, guests can enjoy farm-to-table dishes.
[See: 10 Mountain Resorts for a Cool Summer Getaway.]
Guarda Val
Lenzerheide, Switzerland
Where better to find the perfect winter lodge than in the Swiss Alps? The Guarda Val’s rooms consist of centuries-old huts and rustic barns. Accommodations are decorated with modern alpine-inspired decor and boast amenities such as fireplaces and balconies. What’s more, the Guarda Sana wellness center has a sauna and relaxation pool, along with a variety of massage offerings. Beautiful surroundings aside, the destination is also notable for its gastronomy at its three restaurants, including a sun terrace overlooking the Albula Valley. Best of all for skiers, the lodge is set in Lenzerheide and offers a traditional alpine setting with easy access to well-groomed cross-country skiing trails, an ice rink and picturesque hiking routes.
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5 Top Winter Lodges Worth Traveling For originally appeared on usnews.com
