North America
Aspen
ColoradoSki the fabled slopes of Aspen with the family at the Little Nell hotel, the area's only ski-in, ski-out property. The hotel offers on-site massages, pet-friendly rooms, and free transportation to Aspen Mountain. Ask the concierge to book ski lessons for the whole family, or even dogsledding tours if the mood strikes. The Little Nell's Montagna restaurant is a favorite for local foodies. Kids will love the brunch, which includes homemade pecan sticky buns and lemon soufflé pancakes, and more sophisticated palates will enjoy the pecan-encrusted trout with truffle fries or the roasted pheasant wrapped in prosciutto.
The Little Nell, from $660 a night for a standard room to $1400 a night for a junior suite, (970) 920-4600.
Beaver Creek
ColoradoWith a nonski play school for children up to 6 years old and parent-child lessons, the mountaintop Beaver Creek Resort is especially family-friendly. Plus, the entire 1,800-acre property, including the lifts, is wind-powered, and the mountaintop Spruce Saddle Lodge is a Certified Green restaurant (that happens to have delicious panini). At night, Mom and Dad should reserve a babysitter, head down the mountain to the quaint alpine village, and eat at Mirabelle, a converted farmhouse restaurant that serves up hearty specialties like roasted elk with apple-chestnut compote.
Beaver Creek Resort, from $400 a night for a suite, (800) 355-3452. Mirabelle, (970) 949-7728.
Jackson Hole
WyomingNicknamed "The Big One" for its legendary steep terrain, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort still has plenty of open bowls for beginners. Stay at the Spring Creek Ranch, which sits above town in the middle of a wildlife preserve; the staff will create a custom family ski package upon request (scheduling activities from tubing to dogsledding to heli-skiing in the secluded backcountry). For dinner, the OYG restaurant dishes up elk shank and Rocky Mountain rib-eye steak as the owner circles the tables, recommending boutique wines and telling tall tales.
The Spring Creek Ranch, from $200 a night for a deluxe double, (800) 443-6139. OYG, (307) 734-6161.
Lake Tahoe
CaliforniaRepeatedly ranked as one of the best ski regions in America, Lake Tahoe is home to the famed Squaw Valley and 21 other resorts, as well as the lake itself, a spectacular backdrop for cross-country skiing. The California-Nevada fence-sitter is also home to the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn, a modern boutique hotel where a concierge can arrange for ski rentals and reservations, as well as ice skating and horseback rides. The PlumpJack Café, part of the inn, serves innovative, seasonal comfort food (such as hazelnut-crusted pork tenderloin).
PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn, from $259 a night for a suite, (800) 323-7666.
Next Page: More sensational skiing destinations, from the slopes of Park City to the peaks of the Andes
