The Lodge Is Better Than the Slopes<\/h2>\n
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Hear me out: ski lodges are one of the best places on earth. There\u2019s usually a large common room where people can socialize and for most resorts — there\u2019s more than one. Imagine a roaring fire, friends gathering for lunch as the snow swirls outside. The people watching cannot be beat. Especially since there are often travelers from abroad, rich business types, and families with young kids, all blending together as they attempt to walk in their awkward boots. Some of my favorite moments of ski trips have occurred during long afternoons in the lodge. I always bring a book, order a hot chocolate or two and read while I wait for my family to trickle in. There\u2019s usually great food too — or maybe it\u2019s just the cold that makes the lodge food so good\u00a0<\/em>(my all-time favorite is Deer Valley\u2019s giant chocolate chip cookie <\/a>or the Gad Burger with loaded chili-cheese fries at Snowbird). It\u2019s like being at a cozy restaurant all day but no one asks you to leave and you can wear leggings and socks. Basically, my dream life.<\/p>\n Some of the resorts I grew up going to didn\u2019t have a fully functioning spa. But nearly all of them had a hot tub. Some afternoons after lunch I would opt to hang out there instead of going back out on the slopes. And some things haven\u2019t changed. Some of my best spa experiences have been at ski resorts. They feel cozy and luxurious in a way warm weather spas don\u2019t. And some of them offer really unique treatments (for example, the Waldorf Astoria in Park City offers a Mountain Salvation Sports Massage. It\u2019s specifically designed for sore muscles acquired from long days of skiing). The Montage Deer Valley ski resort in Park City has a massive spa with copper soaking tubs, deluge showers, and redwood saunas — well worth booking airline flights<\/a> to experience yourself!<\/p>\n Most often I\u2019ll get the cheapest treatment, usually the express manicure or pedicure so I can use the spa amenities all day without having to splurge too much. The steam showers, saunas, and fuzzy robes are some of the best parts of the spa and if you overbook you won\u2019t have time to enjoy them.<\/p>\n Resort towns are my favorite. Quaint and quirky, no two are alike. Aspen, Colorado, is ritzy with designer shops like Prada, Gucci, and Hermes. Park City, Utah, is charming, with an old town General Store and great restaurants like Handle <\/a>and coffee shops like Atticus<\/a>. My favorite eggs benedict of all time\u00a0can be found at Sundance\u2019s Foundry Grill <\/a>(order them soft boiled, not poached!) and no trip is complete without getting an apple pie caramel apple at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory<\/a>. If you go at the right time of year, you may even spot some celebrities (I\u2019ve personally seen Amy Ryan and Sarah Hyland!). There are fantastic shops, craft beer, and fun photo-ops at nearly every resort town. Shop for souvenirs, grab some food, and explore while everyone else is skiing. They\u2019ll all want your recommendations later.<\/p>\n So I know this doesn\u2019t scream indoorsy, but some winter sports require less commitment and skill than skiing and can be really fun. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are two of my favorites and you work up a sweat with both so you won\u2019t mind the cold. A few years ago I learned how to snowboard and sometimes I\u2019ll mix it up and board instead of ski (although some resorts only allow skiers, so check on that in advance!). Ice-skating is also popular, and can be romantic in the evening with the city lights and the twinkling stars overhead. Several resorts also have snow tubing courses where you ride the lift to the top and sled down groomed slopes. It\u2019s just like a waterpark in the summer and it\u2019s great for young families since there\u2019s no age requirement. There\u2019s also ice-fishing, dog sledding, and good old-fashioned snowman building. When we go with young kids to resorts we\u2019ll usually take shifts so half the day the moms\/dads watch the kids and the others ski (err, spa) and then we swap at lunch. Getting outside feels good and the best part is you get to come inside when you\u2019re done.<\/p>\n Hygge<\/em> is a big buzzword right now. It’s the Danish and Norwegian word for a \u201cmood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment.\u201d So yeah, I think they\u2019re basically describing the feeling of being inside during a ski vacation. Whether you\u2019re in a cabin, lodge, or hotel room, there are ample opportunities to hygge<\/em> it up on a ski vacation. Hot drinks, a good book, a blazing fire, and friends and loved ones. Waking up from an afternoon nap to see snow falling outside your window. Watching a movie with microwave popcorn after a hot shower. Some would argue that you don\u2019t really earn the cozy feeling if you didn\u2019t ski. But it\u2019s not something you have to earn. It\u2019s the ultimate goal of the winter trip — the reason you tromp through the snow with your luggage and brave the bitter cold.<\/p>\nYou Have an Excuse to Spa it Up<\/h2>\n
You Can See the Sights<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nThere Are Other Sports to Try<\/h2>\n
It Is the Ultimate Cozy Experience<\/h2>\n
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