Forget Aspen — region has top winter resorts that will please the entire family
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
You don’t have to fly to Aspen or any other western venue to enjoy the best of winter. Treat yourself to a decadent winter vacation right next door at one of New York’s luxury resorts.
Whether you enjoy the adrenaline rush of extreme winter sports or like a more laid-back getaway, the following are just a few examples of the best places to lodge.
Whiteface Lodge
Renowned as a winter playground, Lake Placid offers numerous places to stay; however Whiteface Lodge (www.thewhitefacelodge.com) represents the quintessential winter lodge with all the winter sports, along with a spa, fine and casual dining restaurants (plus room service), fireplaces, fitness center, indoor pool, outdoor hot tubs, in-room jetted tubs, surround-sound theater, game room and ice skating rink. Bringing a group? The lodge’s suites include the presidential auite that sleeps up to 10 in 3,100-square-foot area. Check the website for packages that include spa treatments and activities.
Holiday Valley
This resort in Ellicottville near Buffalo (www.holidayvalley.com) provides guests with all the winter sports, plus its famed mountain coaster. The guests can choose from three places of lodging on the property which include amenities such as a spa, room service, outdoor and indoor hot tub, dry sauna, valet service, on-site dining and more. Guests can also choose from the large variety of local cuisine in the village.
The Point in Saranac Lake
The facility (https://thepointsaranac.com) merges rustic lodge with luxury in a nod to the Great Camp era. Unless the entire property is booked, the resort is adults-only to ensure a serene getaway. Guests enjoy their own sizable suites, each with rustic and vintage accoutrements blending tastefully with the lodge theme. Think wood panels, stone fireplaces, exposed beams and warm earth tones accented with pops of navy, salmon or cranberry. Activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating, curling and ice fishing available on the property’s grounds. Guests may dine in the Great Hall with the company of other guests, in their rooms or other venues throughout the property.
The Sagamore Resort
The Sagamore Resort (www.thesagamore.com) in Bolton Landing overlooks Lake George and boasts a 70-acre property with a selection of accommodations that include the Victorian-style hotel, lodges and the castle. Guests can unwind in the spa, soak in the whirlpool tub, dine at any of the eight on-site restaurants and experience the Glacier Ice Bar Lounge. Comprised of 18,000 pounds of clear ice, Glacier Ice Bar is open on the weekends of Jan. 25 and Feb. 1, weather permitting. The Sagamore is also close to the Lake George 2018 Winter Carnival and Gore Mountain, West Mountain, Crandall Park and Adirondack Extreme-Adventure Park.
Mohonk Mountain House
The resort in New Paltz (www.mohonk.com) features a circa 1869 Victorian-style castle in the middle of 40,000 acres of forest. Guests can choose from among guest rooms, cottages or the lodge to sleep. Multiple on-site eateries provide dining opportunities or guests can order room service. Onsite, they can ice skate, cross-country ski, snowshoe, ride tubes, swim in the indoor pool, take a yoga class, explore the Barn Museum or relax in the spa. The venue also hosts special and seasonal events throughout the year, such as Hudson Valley Gingerbread Competition (Dec. 9) or Jazz on the Mountain (Jan. 11–14). Though not a place for diehard snow enthusiasts, Mohonk offers plenty of unspoiled winter scenery, a retreat-like atmosphere and a few ways to dabble in cold weather sports. Check the website for getaway packages.