After all, as much fun as it is to schuss down the slopes, an important part of any ski vacation is also how you spend your time after a day on the mountain. That is, snuggling up next to a cozy fire with a hot drink in hand.
The Mountain Vacation Specialists at Ski.com have visited each of the 80+ ski resorts whose vacation packages they book in Western U.S. and Canada. They've got the inside scoop on what makes each resort--from New Mexico to British Columbia--extra special.
These ski-vacation experts recently named the top fireplaces and fire pits at the resorts they sell. I can personally vouch for the fabulous fireplaces at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek (and its gooey s'mores!) and the Sky Hotel in Aspen. Now I want to visit the other resorts with my honey as well!
Here's what the Ski.com folks had to say about their choices for the best post-skiing fireplaces in the mountains:
1. Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Beaver Creek, Colorado
This fire pit is situated on a huge patio overlooking the slopes. Enjoy bar service, live music and complimentary s'mores (see photo right) made with homemade, gourmet marshmallows.
2. The Moonlight Lodge, Moonlight Basin, Montana
This is a massive stone fireplace in the lodge's spacious lobby, which is comprised of enormous ceilings and giant log beams. (They do things BIG in Montana!) It's elegant and casual at the same time.
3. Northstar at Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, California
Watch skaters glide and turn on the ice-skating rink while you kick back at your own semi-private fire pit--several encircle the rink.
4. Four Seasons Jackson Hole, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The drinks are festive and fun at this massive three-sided, outdoor granite fireplace. Ask for an "Icicle," a homemade shot-glass-size waffle cone dipped in a sugar or chocolate and filled with your choice of liqueur. YUM!
5. 39 Degrees in the Sky Hotel, Aspen, Colorado
In the late afternoon, once the skiers have taken their last runs, this fireplace is the place to see and be seen. Only the hippest hipsters gather here to sip on fun drinks like the "Ski Bunny Martini."
And if it's post-slopes privacy you seek, consider these resorts Ski.com vacation specialists recommend for their romantic, in-unit fireplaces:
--Sundance Suites, Sundance, Utah
--Lakefront Suites at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, Alberta
--Hotel Park City, Park City, Utah
--Sawtooth & Bitterroot Chalets, Tamarack, Idaho
--Four Seasons Resort Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
