Winter Wonderlands

Each of us has our special, evocative memories of our first ski trip. It may have been with classmates as you bonded amid thrills and spills on the slopes or with your extended family eager to induct you into this uniquely exhilarating sport. Endless memories were made and later laughed about as you swapped stories around the fire, ski boots gleefully strewn to the side.

From those first uncertain runs in “pizza” formation on the baby slopes to feeling like you’re literally “flying” down the mountain, skiing is a passion that stays etched on your soul — and keeps calling you back for more.

It’s that almost indescribable exhilaration of being in the mountains, feeling the wind in your hair and the sun on your back — taking on the challenges set by Mother Nature. Nothing beats the feeling of carving through fresh powder, racing your family and fellow skiers, and seeing who can sneak the quickest time or take on the most daring runs.

For families that ski together, your winter vacation becomes an indelible part of your family history — as the different generations learn from and compete with each other, creating unforgettable moments filled with joy and laughter.

Even for those who’d rather not brave the slopes, a window seat overlooking stunning Alpine vistas is sometimes all you need. It’s that quiet time contemplating the beauty and majesty of the snowy landscape before the rest of your group returns, smiling and ruddy-cheeked from their day’s exploits.

These winter wonderlands in Europe and the United States offer endless opportunities for memory-building, from unparalleled skiing and snowboarding to skating, tubing, sledding, and snowshoeing, from gourmet experiences to an unrivaled après-ski scene. It’s how winter should be done — no shoveling required — and these marvels await you this coming season.

Ski vacations Swiss-style are all about world-class runs right at your door, punctuated occasionally by the tinkle of cowbells, together with hotels that offer the ultimate in service and sophistication.

Think of a storybook winter scene and the most quintessential of all Swiss Alpine villages, and Zermatt springs to mind. Like something straight out of Heidi, its iconic status is completed by the instantly recognizable Matterhorn peak towering high above this charming car-free village.

Zermatt’s glacier means skiing is guaranteed year-round, although its high altitude also provides for a long, snow-sure winter season in its four ski areas. With 200 miles of trails, no matter where you choose to fly down the slopes, you are rewarded with the same common wow factor — incredible Matterhorn views.

Zermatt offers several unmatched Alpine experiences. First, you can ski across the border to Cervinia in Italy — there’s a definite uber-cool factor in skiing to another country just for lunch! This July saw the long-awaited opening of the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing, offering for the first time an incredible one-hour journey consisting of a single cable car ride from Matterhorn Glacier Paradise to Testa Grigia in Italy — get ready for a jaw-dropping experience, and don’t forget to bring your passport!

Another way to view the Matterhorn is to ride the quaint Gornergrat Bahn railway, the world’s first fully electrified cog railway when it was built in 1898. For the best views, sit on the right side, then prepare to be awestruck when you reach the summit and encounter the classic reflection of the iconic peak in the Riffelsee Lake.

Only horse-drawn carriages, electric vehicles, and pedestrians are allowed on Zermatt’s main street, Bahnhofstrasse. Lined with elegant boutiques and lots of dining options including the much-loved Café Fuchs, Zermatt’s ambiance is noticeably more laid-back than other Swiss resorts.

If you’re looking to spot supercars and indulge in some serious people-watching after a day on the piste, Gstaad ticks all the boxes. This chicer-than-chic ski resort, watched over by the Diablerets range in the Bernese Oberland, has attracted the smart set since the 1960s and you can’t help but fall in love with this pretty-as-a-picture Alpine escape. In Gstaad, even the designer stores look the part with brands such as Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Moncler housed in wooden chalets.

Aside from skiing, winter in Gstaad offers ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides, hiking, and snow golf, while airboarding, certainly not for the faint-hearted, is a thrilling ride down the slopes on an inflatable board while lying on your stomach.

For 360-degree panoramas of the Swiss Alps, ascend to Glacier 3000. With the longest ski season in the Bernese Alps, this winter playground offers a spectacular suspension bridge, a glacier walk to Restaurant Refuge l’Espace, and dogsled rides. But for the ultimate perspective on the snowy landscape, it’s hard to top a hot-air balloon ride up to altitudes of more than 13,000 feet — you’ll never forget the bird’s-eye view of this stunning region of Switzerland.

Still a relatively unknown winter destination globally, the Dolomites in the northeast corner of Italy boast some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Europe. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the mountain range’s distinctive geological formations feature 18 peaks that rise more than 10,000 feet above verdant valleys and cliffs that turn a shade of pink at sunset.

For Italians, Le Dolomiti are a popular wintertime choice, and they are drawn to this dramatic landscape for its mix of outdoor activities, gastronomy, and wellness. It also offers a culture and a language of its own with Ladin spoken in South Tyrol, Trentino, and Belluno.

Skiers are well catered to with Dolomiti Superski, a network of 16 ski areas including Cortina d’Ampezzo and Val Gardena with 745 miles of slopes that you can access with just one pass. One of the joys of skiing in Italy is a stop for an aperitif at a local rifugi — try an Aperol Spritz or a Tyrolean Jagertee — a spiced alcoholic punch made with rum, herbs, and black tea.

For a gastronomic treat, Michelin-starred SanBrite’s tasting menu showcases local ingredients inspired by the landscape. Indeed, Master Chef Massimo Bottura is a fan of the young owners’ charming farm, El Brite de Larieto, where the cheeses and charcuterie are lovingly handcrafted.

Wellness is a major part of the Dolomites experience with the highest number of spas in the Alps. A traditional ritual is the 100-year-old “hay bath.” Fully immersed in a pile of fermented hay, the treatment is designed to have a relaxing, detoxifying effect, the perfect tonic after all that exercise and fresh mountain air.

While the United States’ most renowned mountain resorts offer year-round activities for all the family, for those looking for heart-pounding adventures, it is in the winter that they really shine.

MONTANA

If there’s a winter destination having a moment right now, it’s probably Montana’s dreamy Big Sky. Still somewhat of an insider’s secret, the arrival of hotels such as Montage Big Sky is starting to put this gem of a destination on the map. This thrill-seeker’s paradise is set on Lone Peak in the stunning Spanish Peaks, perched between Gallatin Valley and West Yellowstone.

Big Sky offers 5,800 acres of ski areas for all levels. The most experienced skiers in your group may want to try the triple black diamond Big Couloir featuring a 1,400-foot drop from Lone Peak. It certainly provides bragging rights at the après venue later on. For the ultimate winter wonderland experience, tour nearby Yellowstone National Park on skis, snowmobiles, or snow coaches — truly a bucket-list experience.

If you were a kid who fancied grabbing onto the bumper of a slow-moving car and then letting yourself fly, you’ll love skijoring. Likely originating in Scandinavia, this exhilarating spectacle, now one of the fastest-growing winter sports, combines the Western skills of horseback riding with skiing. Big Sky hosts the Best in the West skijoring showdown in February. Other events worth coinciding your stay with include Snobar, a music and DJ event in January, and the Shedhorn Skimo in March, when the country’s top ski mountaineers battle it out on Lone Peak.

After all your day’s adventures, wind down with the classic Big Sky experience, the Montana Dinner Yurt. Guests are taken by snowcats up to Big Sky Resort for intimate, family-style dining in a candlelit yurt. Equally memorable is the Sleigh Ride Dinner at Lone Mountain Ranch — arrive by horse-drawn sleigh and be entertained over dinner by cowboy singer-storytellers for an archetypal Old West evening. Just don’t forget to stock up at Rhinestone Cowgirl for your Montana-chic wardrobe beforehand.

NEVADA

The star of the show at any time of year, Lake Tahoe’s crystal-clear blue waters remain unfrozen during winter thanks to its incredible depth. North America’s largest alpine lake is blessed with a Sierra Nevada backdrop, a winning formula that combined with milder temperatures, plentiful snowfall, and 300 days of sunshine makes Lake Tahoe the ultimate winter playground.

Sure enough, from the end of November through late March (sometimes even as late as May), the destination becomes a hub for all types of winter sports. Want to ski the most iconic run in Tahoe? Head for the trail under the Sky Express chair at Heavenly Mountain and speed down, soaking up those unparalleled lake views. Want fun with the kids? Try heart-pumping snow tubing at Boreal. Up for something new? Book a guided fat-tire biking expedition with Tahoe Jack’s, testing your skill on wilderness trails, open meadows, and lake shorelines. For pure fairy-tale “Frozen” magic for all the family, Edgewood on Ice at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort offers ice skating complemented by incredible mountain views.

Characterized by a stunning boulder coastline, North Lake Tahoe has many stand-out dining and après-ski options. Truckee, an old railroad town, is home to Cottonwood Restaurant and Bar, which serves dinner and weekend brunch in a historic 1928 ski lodge. For a late-night haunt with a hip vibe, Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats is a must — Paul McCartney has been known to have impromptu jams here. For a more European-style après-ski experience in the center of South Lake Tahoe, Himmel Haus is where California meets Bavaria. Reward yourself after a day’s skiing with German lagers and the famous haus pretzel topped with mustard, cheese, and bacon onion jam.

WYOMING

Bordered by the Tetons, the rugged beauty of the Jackson Hole wilderness area in western Wyoming has long drawn wintertime sports enthusiasts and nature lovers alike for its high-end ski resorts and luxurious dude ranches. From guided skiing of the Grand Teton backcountry to dogsledding or snowmobiling to a local hot spring, the dual resorts of Snow King Mountain and Jackson Hole Mountain offer superlative winter activities.

A bit harder to reach than many other resorts, Jackson Hole’s magic is its exclusive feel and the sheer richness of nature. Aside from the bighorn sheep in neighboring Grand Teton National Park, watch for native moose — wondering about those strange marks in the fresh snow on your car in the morning? They’re tongue marks! For a dreamy winter experience, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride among elk herds numbering in their thousands at the National Elk Refuge.

Here, blending into the landscape like a rocky outcrop, is the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Home to an unrivaled collection of 5,000 artworks documenting wildlife around the world by artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, and John James Audubon, this architecturally stunning museum has a three-quarter-mile-long Sculpture Trail with breathtaking views of the refuge.

The valley’s main town Jackson fuses Old West charm with a modern entrepreneurial spirit, attracting start-ups and adventurers alike. Here, morning routines include “skinning the King” — uphill skiing to the top of Snow King Mountain and then skiing back down — before dropping by cozy Persephone Bakery to refuel with piping hot coffee and freshly made pastries.

Western culture heavily influences the vibe in Jackson. Put on your jeans and cowboy boots or stock up on vintage gear at Womenfolk, before hitting the town. Dine at Snake River Grill, where James Beard award-winning chef Jeff Drew serves new American cuisine in a log cabin setting, followed by live music at the Silver Dollar Bar & Grill or Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. In-the-know locals head to Wilson, a 15-minute drive from Jackson for pool and darts at the legendary Stagecoach Bar, which also hosts Sunday night line dancing.

A bit further afield, nestled in Wyoming’s North Platte River Valley, lies Saratoga. With the Snowy Range mountains to the east, this is a cross-country and snowmobiling mecca thanks to 300 miles of groomed wilderness trails. For anglers, Saratoga Lake is a popular destination, and the annual Ice Fishing Derby takes place in January. After all the snow-based activity, what could be better than an afternoon soothing your tired muscles in the mineral-rich waters at Hobo Hot Springs?

UTAH

Utah’s snow offers an unbeatable experience for deep-powder skiing and riding thanks to the climate conditions that brew over the Wasatch Mountains. Once a silver boomtown, Park City is the epicenter of Western skiing and the most accessible, with Salt Lake City only 40 minutes away. Dressing the part is essential, especially during Park City’s moment in the spotlight every January when the annual Sundance Film Festival comes to town.

With 7,300 acres of skiable terrain, Park City’s two world-class ski areas, Park City Mountain and Deer Valley, are just a few miles apart. There is something for everyone here, from the spectacular ski-in, ski-out mansions of the Canyons, beloved by A-listers, to thrills on Utah’s longest tubing lanes at Woodward Park City. Meanwhile, there’s no better incentive to get the kids (and grown-ups) out on the slopes bright and early than a promise of one of Cloud Dine’s famous doughnuts. Located at the top of the DreamCatcher and DreamScape lifts, you need to get there early before they’re all gone!

Combining history and skiing, the Silver to Slopes Historic Mining Ski Tour runs twice a day, seven days a week. This guided ski tour of the vacant silver mines scattered around the mountain is a unique way to learn about Park City’s past. Meanwhile, at Deer Valley, your aspiring Mikaela Shiffrin will love the “Ski with a Champion” experience, which invites your family to ski for a memorable half or full day with an Olympic snow sport athlete.

Topping the list of Park City’s abundance of delights is skiing into High West Distillery in the historic section of town, where in addition to a James Beard award-winning restaurant, you sample a variety of fine whiskeys distilled on-site in the beautiful Victorian-era buildings. For a special occasion, book one of the snow globes located at the distillery’s Nelson Cottage — grab a group of eight for a memorable evening enjoying panoramic views of the Wasatch Mountains and the historic downtown.

Robert Redford certainly knew what he was doing when he decided to preserve Mount Timpanogos and share the 5,000 acres of wilderness at its foot with fellow outdoorsmen. A 45-minute drive from Park City, Sundance Resort is a glorious fusion of fresh powder, clean air, and stunning views. The nearby Provo River, one of the best fisheries in the country, offers year-round fly fishing. For an unforgettable, adrenaline-filled experience, the Winter ZipTour is hard to top for scenery and thrills. Ride side-by-side cruising at 65 miles per hour or stop midair to take in the view of the majestic mountains.