Indulgent Winter Retreats

Winter is almost here! And that can be a good thing if you find yourself in one of these cold-weather destinations. Snowy vacations don’t always need to be all about skiing. There are many reason to love northern points of the compass: the quiet beauty of a heavy snowfall, charming Alpine towns, the breathtaking aura of the Northern Lights, and more.

Zermatt, Switzerland: CERVO Mountain Boutique Resort

Alpine destinations are magical: the craggy peaks are bathed in dazzling winter sun, the valleys are decorated with towns that look like illustrations on a box of Swiss chocolates. In Zermatt, CERVO Mountain Boutique Resort offers guests the ultimate in Alpine luxury and cutting edge Swiss design. Every aspect of this mountain getaway boasts contemporary elegance with a nod to the rustic woods and simple pleasures of traditional ski lodges. Clean lines, Scandi woods, fireplaces and views of the Matterhorn from every room make the rooms the coziest and chicest spots in which to winter. The bustling town of Zermatt is great for hiking, biking and snowshoeing or just strolling the town Bahnhofstrasse for great shopping.

Finnish Lapland: Levin Iglut

To really see the Northern Lights in an original way, head to Lapland’s igloo hotel, Levin Iglut. The ingenious glass domes afford a view of heaven’s light show like no other. The luxurious igloos have heated non-fogging glass, a small kitchen, a wi-fi connection and beds which can be adjusted to the desired position for watching the lights or sleeping. During the day guests can choose from activities such as snowmobiling, husky safaris, reindeer sleigh rides and snowshoeing.

Newfoundland, Canada: Fogo Island Inn

Located in the “Iceberg Alley”, the Fogo Island Inn provides a culturally rich experience for guests who want to explore the far north world of ocean, geology, boat building, nature hikes and more. Designed by Newfoundland-born, Norway-based architect Todd Saunders, the inn is stunning building perched on the edge of the wild North Atlantic coastline.

Mt. Cook, South Island, New Zealand: Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat

Located in the Aoraki International Dark Sky Reserve, the Retreat and onsite Pukaki Observatory is perfectly located to explore one of the darkest skies in the world. Gaze at the planets, nebula and constellations through the observatory’s telescope or just be dazzled from the hot tub on your deck. During the day, outings includes hikes to glaciers and other snowy pastimes in the Southern Alps at the foot of Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak.

Lake Saranac, New York: The Point

Once the summer playground of the Rockefeller family during the late 19th century, The Point and its compound of little cabins, or “camps”, is the embodiment of Adirondacks rustic charm. Log construction, twig details, porches, and romantic boathouses have been lovingly preserved and brought up to date with plush furnishings that are definitely not roughing it. Winter time is for ice skating, bonfires (with staff-provided blankets and toddies), snow-shoeing and other simple pleasures.

Photos courtesy of alpineguru.com, cervo.com, leviniglut.com, fogoislandinn.ca, mtcookretreat.nz, and thepointsaranac.com