8 Magical Winter Stays Where Snowy Days and Cozy Nights Await

Longing to stimulate your senses with a magical winter stay? There’s a winter adventure calling, everywhere from the gateway to Austria’s Alps and Wyoming’s favorite cowboy town to the mountains of North Carolina and Ontario, Canada’s, cozy cottage country.

Read on for inspiration when seeking a base for a winter escape. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

Cozy Cottage Country Awaits in Ontario, Canada

Canada knows a thing or two about making the most of winter. And you can soak up snowy Canadian fun in Ontario at the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa, overlooking Lake Rosseau in the province’s cherished “cottage country.”

Located atop a granite bluff, the scenic property makes it easy to bask in the best of Ontario’s winter fun, with an on-site ice-skating rink, fire pits for s’mores sessions, and soaking tubs and hydrotherapy services for winter wellness at the hotel’s HydroSpa Muskoka.

Also, right at the hotel, you can dine inside “ice caves” — clear geodesic domes strung with twinkling white lights that look out onto the lake — where you can stay warm while feasting on winter comfort fare like fondue and raclette. How do you say “hygge” in Canadian?

Get to the Heart of It All in Jackson, Wyoming

With Grand Teton National Park right at its doorstep and Yellowstone National Park a doable day trip to the north, the lure of Jackson, Wyoming, is legendary. Make SpringHill Suites by Marriott Jackson Hole your base for exploring and you’ll be within a short stroll of town favorites like the legendary Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, with its bar stools made of saddles, and Jackson’s Town Square, with its iconic arches made from hundreds of elk antlers.

Get your winter fix as you bundle up and snuggle under a blanket for unique wildlife viewing aboard a horse-drawn sleigh during a snowy ride through one of the world’s largest elk herd sanctuaries, National Elk Refuge, a vital winter habitat for the animals.

Teton Tour Company leads snowmobile tours to view winter wildlife, as well as powdery rides to a local hot springs where you can exchange your winter gear for a bathing suit for a steamy dip.

Or learn how to mush Alaskan huskies on a dog-sledding outing through the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone national forests with Continental Divide Dogsled Adventures.

After a day of adventuring, shed your layers for more winter wellness at the hotel’s heated outdoor pool and hot tub with mountain views.

Explore the Birthplace of Mozart in Salzburg, Austria

The getaway to the Austrian Alps, Salzburg pairs a postcard European city with rich cultural heritage, sledding in nearby forests and other outdoorsy fun.

When you stay right near Mirabell Palace, part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, at the Sheraton Grand Salzburg, you’re in the heart of everything Salzburg offers — from cozy fondue restaurants to the city’s famous Grünmarkt, open daily, where you can browse stalls brimming with produce, local cheeses and even souvenir wooden toys.

Make time to venture into Salzburg’s outskirts to resort towns like Filzmoos and Eben where you can try tobogganing atop a wooden sled down snowy runs.

Ski the Slopes of Mont-Sainte-Anne in Quebec, Canada

Perfect for beginner and more experienced skiers alike, the three slopes at popular Mont-Sainte-Anne in Quebec, make for a surprising winter sports destination just a 35-minute drive from Quebec City.

Stay right near the mountain in Beaupre in one of the modern but cozy rooms or condominium-style suites (ideal for families) at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Mont Sainte-Anne, Resort & Convention Center, and you’ll be poised to head up the mountain in minutes. The hotel has indoor and outdoor heated pools for soaking your slope-weary bones at day’s end, as well as a whirlpool in its Aqua Nordik Center.

For even more winter wellness fun in the local area, Spa des Neiges offers a series of outdoor soaking pools with incredible views of the St. Lawrence River.

Go Full Swiss in the Sophisticated City of Zurich, Switzerland

Compact and easy to discover on foot or via the city’s impeccable public transportation (trams, trains and buses), Zurich makes for a rewarding urban escape all year round and an idyllic launching point for winter fun in the surrounding Swiss Alps.

Stay right along the Limmat River in the heart of the city at the Zurich Marriott Hotel and you’ll have views overlooking Lake Zurich, too, as well as wellness at the ready in the form of the hotel’s inviting sauna (aka a balmy jet lag fix).

One of the coolest things to do during winter in Zurich is try an urban sled run or go for a hike at the Uetliberg, the city’s home mountain, which you can reach by train from Zurich’s main train station in just 15 minutes. During the winter, hiking trails up the mountain morph into a 2-mile sled run with 1,400 feet of vertical drop that delivers you back down to town in the most fun way possible.

Snowy Hikes, Wintry Waterfalls and Cozy Cafés Are Calling in Asheville, North Carolina

Wintry hikes along the pet-friendly trails of the legendary Biltmore Estate and drive-by winter waterfall viewing from the warmth and comfort of your car are just a snippet of the seasonal escapades awaiting visitors in the gorgeous town of Asheville in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Within walking distance of the boutiques, breweries and restaurants of historic Biltmore Village, the Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville, Autograph Collection surrounds you in style. Enjoy a curated collection of artwork, the beautiful on-site Poseidon Spa and the Red Stag Grill, serving Appalachian-inspired specialities like elk carpaccio and local trout.

Ski a Winter Wonderland in Mammoth Lakes, California

Put yourself within easy striking distance of some of the best ski terrain in the West when you plan a winter vacation at The Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth in Mammoth Lakes.

With peaks over 11,000 feet high, California’s highest lift-serviced terrain awaits less than five miles from the hotel at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, which manages an average of 400 inches of snow a year paired with 300 annual days of sunshine.

Once the ski day’s done, you can relax with mountain views at the hotel’s heated outdoor pool. And the concierge can help direct you to incredible natural hot springs in the area, too, like the one called Wild Willy’s.

Make a City Break a Ski Vacation, Too, in Salt Lake City, Utah

Who said towns at the bases of ski mountains should have all the winter fun? If you’re looking for a big city stay that makes it a cinch to day trip in and out of the mountains for some time on the slopes, then Salt Lake City is hard to top.

Big name ski resorts like Atla, Deer Valley Resort and Snowbasin Resort can all be reached within a 45-minute drive of downtown Salt Lake City.

Plan to make the most of a city stay at one of downtown’s most buzzworthy hotels, Le Méridien Salt Lake City Downtown, with its gorgeous rooftop bar, Van Ryder, from which you can admire the snowy peaks of the Wasatch Range. The heated rooftop pool is similarly scenic, should you fancy a soak with views.