The Luxe Side of Winter: America’s Hottest Cold-Weather Escapes for 2025

By TIM ROBERTSON
November 5, 2025 – 11:01 PM PDT

As the chill of winter rolls across the U.S., luxury travelers are looking beyond ski slopes and fireplaces for something a little different this season. From Montana’s wild landscapes to Arizona’s sunlit desert, high-end destinations are reinventing what winter luxury looks like — and it’s not always about skiing.

Big Sky, Montana: Wilderness Meets Refinement

Montage Big Sky Resort, nestled in the heart of the Spanish Peaks mountain range. Photo courtesy montage.com.

Long celebrated for its expansive mountain views, Big Sky is evolving into a high-end hideaway where adventure meets indulgence. The newly opened Montage Big Sky offers modern alpine elegance, complete with a sweeping spa and locally inspired fine dining. Nearby, the soon-to-open One&Only Moonlight Basin promises ultra-luxury cabins and curated wilderness experiences set against Montana’s rugged peaks.

Dogs pulling a sled in the snow. Photo courtesy of huskypower.com. — Spirit of the North Sled Dog Adventures. Photo courtesy huskypower.com.

Beyond the slopes, travelers can find the soul of Big Sky in its wild, snow-covered terrain. Join Spirit of the North Sled Dog Adventures for an exhilarating ride behind a team of Alaskan huskies, or experience a more tranquil side of winter on a horse-drawn sleigh ride to a log cabin dinner at Lone Mountain Ranch — complete with live music and a roaring fire.

For active travelers, Lone Mountain’s 85 kilometers of Nordic trails offer a serene alternative to downhill skiing, with guided tours that weave through Yellowstone country’s frozen beauty.

Aspen, Colorado: High Design in the High Country

The W in Aspen, Colorado. Photo courtesy marriott.com — The W in Aspen, Colorado nestled at the base of the Rockies. Photo courtesy marriott.com

Aspen remains the country’s most iconic winter playground, but its luxury appeal now extends beyond the mountainside. The W Aspen brings sleek design and social energy to the Rockies, complete with rooftop pools, fire pits, and panoramic mountain views. Just steps away, The Little Nell continues to define classic five-star alpine hospitality, beloved for its flawless service and elegant après-ski scene.

External view of the Aspen Art Museum during THE NOW 2015 at Aspen Art Museum on December 28, 2015 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Riccardo Savi/Getty Images for The Aspen Art Museum) — The Aspen Art Museum in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Riccardo Savi/Getty Images for The Aspen Art Museum)

Off the slopes, Aspen’s cultural and culinary scenes shine bright. Spend a morning exploring the Aspen Art Museum, housed in a striking Shigeru Ban–designed building, or browse the boutiques and design galleries that line the town’s downtown streets. For a uniquely Aspen evening, book a horse-drawn sleigh to the Pine Creek Cookhouse, where diners enjoy elevated mountain cuisine deep in the snowy wilderness.

Evenings here aren’t about the après crowd alone — they’re about the rhythm of a fire crackling in a hotel lounge, a perfectly mixed cocktail, and the art of slowing down.

Scottsdale, Arizona: Winter in the Warmth

Ariel view of Camelback Resort. Photo courtesy camelbackresort.com — Have fun at Camelback Resort, no matter the weather. Photo courtesy camelbackresort.com

For travelers seeking luxury without the chill, Scottsdale offers a warm-weather winter escape where wellness and design take center stage. The Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa is an oasis of calm, with desert-inspired treatments, yoga terraces, and panoramic views of Camelback Mountain. The Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows blends mid-century aesthetics with Sonoran soul — think open-air bungalows, poolside dining, and immersive art programs.

People walk through Scottsdale's Museum of the West. Photo courtesy scottsdaleartsdistrict.com — Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Photo courtesy scottsdaleartsdistrict.com

Winter days in Scottsdale are for soaking in sunshine. Visitors can explore the Scottsdale Arts District, where galleries and outdoor sculptures come alive during the weekly ArtWalks, or enjoy a private chef’s tasting at one of the city’s fine dining venues. At luxury resorts, guests alternate between pool cabanas, guided desert hikes, and rounds of golf or pickleball — all under a soft winter sun that rarely dips below 70°F.

The New Winter Luxury

Across America, the definition of winter luxury is shifting. It’s no longer just about slopeside access or snowflake-dusted chalets — it’s about curated experiences, meaningful connection, and atmosphere.

In Big Sky, that might mean mushing your own sled dog team through quiet pines before returning to a candlelit tasting menu. In Aspen, it’s sipping champagne after an afternoon at the museum instead of the mountain. And in Scottsdale, it’s trading cold for calm — letting desert air and design-driven comfort redefine what winter feels like.

Wherever travelers choose to wander this season, luxury has less to do with the destination — and everything to do with how deeply they experience it.