Find serenity at these all-inclusive winter retreats
Winter break is increasingly becoming a time when families seek to ditch holiday stress and head to a destination where the focus is on time spent together without the pressure of having to plan daily activities.
Top-tier all-inclusive resorts across the country beckon these travelers with magical winter pleasures: cozy cabins, snowy horseback or sleigh rides, caroling, bonfires and hearty gourmet meals.
“Alpine Falls Ranch (in Montana) was the ideal setting for our family because it offered something special for every generation,” says guest Melissa Ross. “From the moment we arrived, the ranch’s flexibility and wide range of activities meant everyone from our youngest guests feeding goats to our parents enjoying scenic hikes … felt included and cared for. It’s a place where everyone can connect, relax and celebrate together.”
No matter what type of adventure or restorative retreat you’re seeking — from high-adrenaline winter sports to the high art of doing absolutely nothing — these resorts and their enchanting landscapes will allow you to savor winter’s serenity:
C LAZY U RANCH, Granby, Colorado
With 8,500 acres to explore and a variety of programming to suit all ages and abilities, C Lazy U offers limitless winter opportunities. Christmas Vacation at C Lazy U Ranch begins December 22, and includes horseback riding, ice skating, tubing, cross-country skiing and sleigh riding.
“We have four children, and it’s nearly impossible to find a resort experience that keeps everyone engaged, active, and happy,” says Erin Estell, whose family has visited the ranch in summer and winter. “My older boys play pond hockey under the lights for hours on end, while we take the horses on trail rides or build snow forts with the younger kids.” Rates start at $785 per person, per night.
THE POINT, Saranac Lake, New York
Completed in 1932 during the heyday of the great camps that dotted the Adirondack Mountains, The Point was originally a Rockefeller family home. It continues to be a gathering place for discerning travelers.
With just 11 guest rooms housed in four handsome log buildings, it offers privacy in peaceful woodlands on Upper Saranac Lake. This secluded, 75-acre Relais & Châteaux property — the first in North America – seamlessly blends rustic simplicity with extraordinary pampering.
Seasonal activities are planned according to guest request and include curling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating on nearby Lake Placid. Meals are exceptional affairs where you can meet fellow travelers in residence, but if you’d rather have a freshly ground hamburger in-room following a massage, the 24-hour kitchen staff is happy to accommodate. Guests can also make their own cocktails at self-service bars. Rates start at $2,650 per night.
ALPINE FALLS RANCH, Superior, Montana
Located an hour from Missoula, this MICHELIN Key-recognized all-inclusive ranch delivers exceptional stays and standout hospitality.
“Winter at Alpine Falls Ranch offers the best of both worlds: raw, untouched wilderness and the comfort of coming back to a warm, luxurious cabin at the end of the day,” says ranch manager Jason Pittman. “Whether families are out snowshoeing, riding snowmobiles through the forest or gathered by the fire, Montana has a way of reminding you to slow down and reconnect. I always tell our guests: let the land set the pace, and you’ll get more out of it than you ever expected.”
Programming for couples, groups and multigenerational families also includes sister property Black Bear at Alpine Falls Ranch, with lodging options from luxury glamping tents to six-bedroom mountain villas with fireplaces and private-chef dining.
Winter rates at Alpine Falls start at $1,479 per night based on double occupancy, with a three-night minimum stay.
THE SWAG, Waynesville, North Carolina
The Great Smoky Mountains is among the world’s oldest mountain ranges, with enduring and wholesome appeal that spans seasons.
“We look forward to welcoming guests during the holiday season as they continue their beloved traditions and make new memories in our idyllic mountain setting that feels a world away from their everyday lives,” says Annie Colquitt, The Swag’s co-owner.
Founded in 1982, The property features 18 rooms, seven cabins, a spa, dining porch and wine cellar on 250 acres perched on a nearly mile-high ridgeline with mist-shrouded, forever views of the rolling hills. As a member of the Relais & Châteaux collection, its Appalachian hospitality shines through, starting with a walking stick handed to every guest upon arrival.
The rustic luxe interiors are replete with thoughtful Southern flourishes such as private fireplaces, copper tubs, high-thread count linens, in-room saunas and well-stocked refrigerators. “Experts in Residence” show you how to create latte art or sketch-journal or make wreaths from flora foraged on property.
The Swag also boasts a private entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park should you adventure off property. Nightly rates begin at $700 based on double occupancy.
PAWS UP MONTANA, Greenough, Montana
Situated on a sprawling 37,000-acre working cattle ranch in western Montana with endless views, Paws Up welcomes families and their pooches, too. Blanketed in dreamy white high in the Rocky Mountains, snow season activities include horse-drawn sleigh rides, skating and skiing on award-winning Nordic trails.
The Christmas package focuses on the magic of the holidays with accommodations in a luxury home with your own decorated tree for five nights, a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve, a gingerbread house-building contest, round trip transportation from Missoula, and a $500 resort credit.
“From exhilarating outdoor adventures to cozy evenings by the fire, Paws Up offers the ultimate winter escape for every generation,” says managing director Steve Hurst. Spacious private homes with their own hot tubs, thoughtfully curated seasonal experiences and fireside dining “ensure that every guest, from the youngest to the oldest, finds their perfect moment of joy.”
Rates start at $4,000 per night.
VERMEJO, Raton, New Mexico
Located in northern New Mexico, Vermejo’s clear, star-strewn skies twinkle brightly at night — yes, that’s the Milky Way arching overhead — and are a bedazzling cobalt blue by day.
“Winter transforms Vermejo into something extraordinary — a quiet, majestic wilderness where guests can slow down, reconnect and witness nature at its most serene,” says General Manager Theresa King. “It’s a season of stillness that invites reflection and discovery.”
Reserve ambassadors are on hand to shape your special stay, even helping you find the perfect fir or pine tree to spruce up your cabin during the holidays. An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving includes fireside feasts and guided wildlife tours through Vermejo’s vast landscape to spot elk, bison and deer, and learn about conservation efforts to restore these majestic native species.A Very Merry Vermejo features activities like cookie decorating, ornament branding, stories by a roaring campfire and a visit from Santa. Or ring in the new year in Southwestern style. Rates begin at $3,400 per night.
THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK, Philipsburg, Montana
Sprawling over 6,600 acres in the pristine heart of southwestern Montana, The Ranch at Rock Creek is a winter playground. The resort’s Western hospitality is legendary, saving guests the hassle of planning and the tedium of ski lift lines.
A robust selection of on-ranch activities includes downhill skiing (complete with a ski concierge), fat biking on groomed trails or mountain biking trails, ice fishing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing.
Indoor pleasures include revitalizing spa treatments. Farm-to-table meals that include unlimited beer, wine, or spirits are a highlight of several holiday packages, including a New Year’s Eve package with Big Sky fireworks. Rates start around $3,400 per night.