Warm weather retreats are great for those who can’t stand bundling up. But for those among us who enjoy sipping hot cocoa fireside after a day in the woods cross-country skiing and identifying animal tracks in the snow, for you powder hounds taking lap after lap up and down the mountain before relaxing in an outdoor hot tub under the Milky Way, we’ve got some choice digs for you to choose from.
Here, 5 snow-centric East Coast getaways
Bear Creek Mountain Resort & Conference Center, Macungie, PA
Open your door to fresh powder, clip in and cruise down to the chairlift for a casual morning run or two. Situated on 330 acres of land, with 21 trails ranging from blue square (lessons available) to double black diamond, three terrain parks and snow tubing trails, Bear Creek’s got you covered. Loft suites are the perfect option for family trips — multiple guest rooms, separate living areas, and giant fireplaces to curl up next to after a good day on the slopes.
The Essex Resort & Spa, Burlington, VT
In close proximity to some of New England’s top ski resorts — Smugglers’ Notch, Bolton, Stowe, Sugarbush — The Essex serves as a great jumping off point for a snow day. But it’s so much more. Their excellent restaurant, Junction, is farm-swank both in decor and on the menu. And if pub fare sounds like a better apres-ski option, they’ve got you covered with The Tavern. And perhaps the biggest boon is the complimentary access to the spa, fully stocked with steam and sauna rooms, hot tubs, an indoor pool, and relaxation lounges.
Cranwell Resort, Spa, and Golf Club, Lenox, MA
The set up: miles of onsite groomed cross-country trails with rentals available, an outdoor ice skating rink overlooking the mountains, snowshoeing through scenic woods, and access to nearby ski areas Jiminy Peak and Butternut. And to wash it all down, full use of a fully loaded spa — quiet room with fireplace, whirlpool, sauna, and steam room.
Kedron Valley Inn, Woodstock, VT
Kedron Valley Inn — lodgey, sexy, cool — offers a number of winter getaway, ski-and-stay packages ranging from deals at the nearby Killington Ski Area and Pico Mountain to complimentary bottles of maple syrup and admissions to the annual Christmas at Billings Farm (which celebrates traditional candle dipping and horse-drawn sleigh rides). The Woodstock Cross-country Ski Center, 5 minutes away, offers 31 miles of groomed trails.
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