Best of the High Country
Best of the High Country: Winter 2007

(page 1 of 2)

Best Ski Resort
Winner Aspen/Snowmass, CO
With four ski areas rolled into one resort—and ticket—Aspen truly offers something for everyone. Aspen Highlands’ short lines and heart-pounding runs are a favorite among locals, Aspen Mountain is a dream for mogul and steep skiers, family-friendly Buttermilk offers respite from Aspen Mountain’s expert runs, and Snowmass, the best place for intermediate skiers, offers plenty of challenge too, thanks to its 4,406-foot vertical drop. aspensnowmass.com.

Readers’ Picks  Steamboat, CO  It’s known as “Ski Town USA,” and for good reason. The snowfall is plentiful, kids ski free, the tree skiing is legendary, and the town generates an endless stream of Olympians—perhaps the greatest testament to Steamboat’s stellar slopes. steamboat.com. Deer Valley, UT  Known for fast skiing, well-groomed slopes and pristine powder-filled back bowls, it’s a favorite of expert skiers. deervalley.com. Jackson Hole, WY  A huge resort, with terrain ranging from wide-open groomers and mellow faces to extreme chutes, cliffs and steeps. jacksonhole.com. Mammoth, CA  Everything about it is big: an 11,053-foot summit, 400-plus inches of annual snowfall and one of the longest ski seasons in North America. mammothmountain.com.

Best Snowboarding
Winner Grand Targhee, WY
ive-hundred inches of snow makes Targhee’s endless open terrain a giant powder stash—some of the best in the country, in fact—that boarders clamor for. There’s also pristine corduroy, two freestyle terrain parks and the world-renowned, not-just-for-novices Grand Targhee Resort Ski & Snowboard School. grandtarghee.com.

Readers’ Picks  Snowbird, UT; Mt. Bachelor, OR; Copper Mountain, CO; Crested Butte, CO; Big Sky, MT

Best Après Ski
Winner The Little Nell, Aspen, CO
There’s no better way to end a day on—or off—the slopes than with a spiked hot chocolate at the Nell’s bar or in the Living Room, hosts to one of the high-country’s most legendary après-ski scenes. A recent redesign by David Easton added even more ultra-luxe space in which to see and be seen. thelittlenell.com.

Readers’ Picks  Stein Eriksen Lodge, Park City, UT; Ajax Tavern, Aspen, CO; Allred’s, Telluride, CO

Best Kids’ Ski School
Winner Steamboat, CO
Kids as young as age two learn from some of the best instructors around. Desperado Ski and Snow-board Weeks allow kids to enjoy a week of skiing or riding with the same instructor, while Billy Kidd Performance Camps teach ambitious young ski pros advanced techniques from former Olympians and coaches. Best of all, kids younger than five ski free. steamboat.com.

Readers’ Picks  Keystone, CO; Buttermilk, Aspen, CO; Big Sky, MT; Whistler, BC; Grand Targhee, WY

Best Cross-country Skiing
Winner Yellowstone National Park
There’s no better way to explore the park than on skis. The best trails wind through geyser basins, where you’ll pass geysers, steam vents and hot pools, even bison and elk. Another must-ski spot: the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. yellowstonepark.com.

Readers’ Picks Grand Teton National Park, WY; Ashcroft, Aspen, CO; Mammoth Lakes, CA; Grand Lake, CO; Royal Gorge, CA

Best Romantic Getaway
Winner the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, CO
Snuggle by the fire in a Club Level suite filled with Frette linens, down comforters, plush robes, liquid oxygen—for those still adjusting to the altitude—Bulgari toiletries and a fully stocked refrigerator. Then head to the spa and relax side by side in the dim and cozy candlelit grotto, the couples treatment suite, or the copper soaking tub for two. ritzcarlton.com.

Readers’ Picks  The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, Vail Valley, CO  A stay at this intimate retreat feels a lot like hiding out in a European mountain chateau. cordillera.rockresorts.com. Paws Up, Greenough, MT  Before turning in for the night in an ultra-luxe tent, ask your butler to build a fire and make you a few s’mores. pawsup.com.

Editors’ Picks  Columbia Gorge Hotel, Hood River, OR; Hastings House, Salt Spring Island, BC; Milliken Creek Inn, Napa Valley, CA

Best Luxury Resort
Winner St. Regis Resort, Aspen, CO
Beyond its red-brick façade, the St. Regis offers luxuries big and small, from over-the-top suites on the exclusive Club Floor to delicious cuisine at Olives restaurant and customized spa treatments—truffles and chilled champagne, too—at the Remède Spa. stregis.com/aspen.

Readers’ Picks  Enchantment Resort, Sedona, AZ; Big EZ Lodge, Big Sky, MT; Salish Lodge & Spa, Snoqualmie, WA; Amangani, Jackson, WY; The Royal Palms, Scottsdale, AZ

Editors’ Picks  Post Hotel, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada; The Little Nell, Aspen, CO; The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, CO; The Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, BC, Canada

Best Proposal Spot
Winner Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park, UT
It will take some doing to reach this narrow sandstone fin that juts into Zion Canyon from the West Rim, but the fairytale canyon views from this vantage point are a generous reward. The steep—and at times, precarious—hike from the canyon floor to the top is about 2.5 miles—and 1,500 feet of ascent—so wear hiking boots and be sure to catch your breath before popping the question.

Readers’ Picks  Sundeck at Aspen Mountain, Aspen, CO; Inspiration Point, Yosemite National Park, CA; Maroon Bells, Aspen, CO; The Covered Bridge, Vail, CO
Editors’ Pick  In a canoe on the waters of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada