5 detour destinations worth a stop after your next ski trip
When the ground is covered in fresh, fluffy snow and the sky is bright blue, it's hard to beat a day atop a mountain snapped into skis or a snowboard. These quintessentialwinter sports offer a spectacular way to spend a cold-weather holiday. However, all good things inevitably end, and it will eventually be time to drive home or to the nearest airport.
The fun doesn't have to end at the bottom of the slopes, though. You'll find plenty of lesser-known towns, charming attractions and hideaway hotels — some even bookable with points — on the way back from the mountains. Whether you're headed to a powder-topped mountain on the East Coast, West Coast or somewhere in the middle, here are some surprising and delightful detours worth taking.
The destination: Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada
The mountain resorts around this highly concentrated ski destination offer sunny days filled with blindingly white snow and cerulean views of Lake Tahoe. Each winter, the dump of powder draws folks from around the world, but especially from San Francisco, which is just 3 1/2 hours away by car.
With more than a dozen resorts offering 450-plus miles of runs, there is truly something for everyone. The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, near Truckee's Northstar resort, is a true ski buff's home away from home, and it sits mid-mountain for unparalleled access to first tracks and luxurious service. Rates start at $1,044 or 104,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night this winter.
The detour: Grass Valley, California
On the way back to San Francisco, the Gold Rush-era town of Grass Valley is a very cool stop. An overnight is necessary to fully enjoy the Holbrooke Hotel — which is a California Historical Landmark. Open since 1862, it's one of the oldest operating hotels in the region, and this property reinvigorated the Sierra Foothills when it was restored in 2021. The bolthole's circa 1952 Golden Gate Saloon is the place for locally sourced seasonal cuisine. It's also where Mark Twain once sat before decamping to the reimagined hidden speakeasy — rumored to have once been a brothel — The Iron Door. Rooms at the Holbrooke start from $188 per night this winter.
Before leaving town, check out a show at The Center For The Arts, where Grammy winners and blues artists swing by somewhat regularly. Head to Sierra Rose Alpacas for a farm tour and alpaca wool shopping spree, and do a little wine tasting.
If a second evening is doable, the National Exchange Hotel in Nevada City (five minutes away by car) offers "Haunted by History" tours. The hotel also hosts live Celtic music sessions in its 1860s National Bar every Thursday. Rooms start at $158 per night this winter.
The destination: Breckenridge, Colorado
Some 90 minutes west of Denver, Breckenridge is in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and it has a lot going on. Of course, there are world-class skiing and snowboarding trails across its 2,908 acres. Plus, Breckenridge is an LGBTQIA+-friendly destination with a ban on single-use plastic water bottles and a wheelchair-accessible ropes course.
Hotels range from the group- and family-friendly Gravity Haus (with rooms just steps from the slopes starting at $197) to the foodie-forward four-suite The Carlin (starting at $187 per night). As of January, Breckenridge is also home to the first Curio Collection by Hilton in a major ski destination: Hotel Alpenrock Breckenridge is an all-king-bed hotel with a speakeasy and curated art tours. Rates start at $249 or 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
The detour: Leadville, Colorado
Technically the opposite direction from Denver — but only by 45 minutes — Leadville is still an easy detour. Go for a day and evening while staying in Breckenridge, or even spend a night. Its claim to fame is that the former gold-mining town is the highest incorporated town in North America.
Start with a self-guided tour of the beautiful 1879 Tabor Opera House where Oscar Wilde and Harry Houdini both performed in their days. (Note that the exterior is currently being carefully restored.)
Then strap on snowshoes or cross-country skis at Tennessee Pass Nordic Center for a forested 1-mile trek to dinner at the Cookhouse. The backcountry prix fixe dining destination is solar-powered and candlelit. It serves food that is hydroponically grown and regionally raised — which translates to totally delicious and atmospheric. There's always the option to stay overnight in their cozy ski-in sleep yurts (from $300 per night), but the journey back to the car after dinner under a full moon or blanket of stars is almost better than dessert.
The destination: Catskills, New York
Just a couple hours north of Manhattan are a slew of Catskills ski resorts. There are options for families of as well as mountains with plenty of snowmaking capabilities and challenging runs. If you want to relive the glory days of your youth or slide down the mountain with your kids, there are plenty of tubing spots. There's an apres scene, too.
Hunter Mountain Resort, Gore Mountain (with the most terrain in New York state) and Catamount Mountain Resort are a few favorite accommodation options. Also, Belleayre Mountain is known for having the highest slope in the Catskills.
The detour: Hudson Valley, New York
When returning to New York City, it would be silly not to swing through the Hudson Valley, some 90 minutes outside the metropolis. It's as gorgeous under a thick layer of snow as it is in the radiant leaf-peeping season. Wildflower Farm, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Gardiner, is an hour from several mountains but a world away vibe-wise. The pastoral property has a homey energy thanks partly to local artisan-led activities that include apple cider donut making, water coloring and focaccia baking. It's a great place for a wellness reset, too; healing reiki is on the menu, as are forest immersion walks that draw from shinrin yoku (Japanese forest bathing). Rates start at $839 per night this winter.
Another Hudson Valley respite to soften the potential shock of re-immersion is Inness. It sits on 220 acres and has a brand-new spa complete with a bathhouse, indoor tranquility pool, an outdoor sauna and a heated pool — the spot to be when the snow starts falling at twilight. An ideal day in one of the 28 cabins involves a handful of Biologique Recherche facials, private sound healing and dance therapy, and restorative massages. Rates start at $469 per night this winter.
The destination: Stowe, Vermont
A mere three hours from Boston through bucolic scenery, Stowe is home to Vermont's highest peak — Mount Mansfield. There are steep "hills" for the most expert of adrenaline-seeking skiers or riders; Spruce Peak is for intermediates and even the most novice of beginners. Off the slopes, there's a lot to enjoy, including the rustic-luxe The Lodge at Spruce Peak. This Destination by Hyatt property is ski-in, ski-out and has a heated outdoor pool and a handful of dining options. Rates start at $326 or 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Another fun option is Trapp Family Lodge — founded by the actual von Trapp family, as in "The Sound of Music" — which has horse-drawn carriage rides and snowshoeing on its 2,600 acres. Rates start at $265 per night.
The detour: Woodstock, Vermont
When heading back to Boston, plan to stop in Woodstock, Vermont, about 90 minutes south of Stowe. It's not that Woodstock, but it is a cool, quaint village. It offers a sweet shop-strewn Main Street, plenty of interactive happenings (think chowder-making cooking classes) and photogenic scenery in the hiking trail-laced Green Mountains.
An ideal afternoon in the colonial town must include a stop at fourth-generation Sugarbush Farm for gratis cheese and maple syrup tasting alongside a self-guided tour. Make time to walk down to the glacially formed Quechee Gorge, which is known adorably as Little Grand Canyon. Marsh-Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park is an option for more chilly strolls. For photo ops, there's a quartet of beautiful covered wooden bridges that date to the 19th century.
Also, mark your calendars for March 22-23, when Maple Open House Weekend takes over dozens of locations in Vermont (including in Woodstock and Stowe). Maple-themed offerings include sugar on snow, maple hot dogs, sugarhouse tours and hands-on activities.
The destination: Whistler, Canada
As the largest ski resort in North America, Whistler Blackcomb is a pretty obvious destination for Epic Pass-holding powder hounds — especially those who appreciate a bit of awe-inspiring Ansel Adams-worthy scenery with their black diamonds. It has 8,000-plus acres of terrain for skiing and snowboarding across two mountains, plus the continent's longest ski run at 6.8 miles.
The unmissable Fairmont Chateau Whistler is steps away with its deluxe Fairmont Gold Lounge, plush beds, cedar barrel saunas and scenic outdoor hot tubs. Don't miss the cheesy fondue at The Chalet for the ultimate recipe for recovery at the end of each day on the mountain. Rates start at $408 per night.
The detour: Squamish, Canada
It's worth leaving Whistler early for Vancouver — where the glamorous and historic castle-like Fairmont Hotel Vancouver has rooms from $267 per night. You can spend a full day in Squamish, about halfway between the two, near the end of Howe Sound. Its natural beauty is best experienced on the 10-minute Sea to Sky Gondola, which takes visitors up 2,900 feet in elevation to a place with gorgeous snowshoeing.
Find additional thrills at the classic tube park and accessible Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge, which is breathtaking, to say the least. After a warming meal at the top, take the gondola down and head to the Britannia Mine Museum, where underground tours chug along in a vintage mine train. It's possible to pan for gold, too.
To warm up, set out with the Squamish Craft Tasting Trail passport to collect sips — and stamps — at the town's breweries, cideries and distillery.
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