Authentic Experiences and Epic Moments Await

A ski-in ski-out alpine chalet; a quiet stretch of a river rife with trout; a moonlit snowshoe—what’s your definition of paradise? When it comes to luxury travel there’s no shortage of exotic locales, posh resorts, over-the-top estates and elevated experiences, but isn’t the real luxury being able to show up and discover the soul of a place without being bogged down by logistics and planning?

Today, luxury travel goes way beyond gourmet meals, frette linens and white glove service. It means access to the best of the best; guidance from local experts for off-the-beaten-track experiences; seamless service that surprises and wows, even simplicity. Whether you’re seeking a secluded private estate, a five-star hotel experience or a personal concierge to unlock the entrance to secret spots, these escapes are portals to authentic experiences and epic moments, fodder for great stories, and a chance to unplug.

MONTAGE DEER VALLEY
Perched regally above Park City, this alpine grand dame mingles five-star luxury and mountain adventure with great panache. Whether you want to ski fresh pow in the trees, hike through the golden patchwork of aspens in fall, single track in summer, or photograph wildflowers and baby moose in spring, it’s good to know that a steaming hot tub, finely executed craft cocktail, and juicy Wagyu Tomahawk ribeye await. It’s all in the details here from the handsome Bernese Mountain Dog ambassadors and daily homemade marshmallow s’mores to archery lessons on the lawn and fireside soaks in the rustic copper tubs in the spa. You can float in the heated pool with snowflakes landing on your nose, sip mulled wine spiced with cloves after a moonlit snowshoe, go omakase at Yama Sushi, or tuck into a fur-laden couch in the swanky Après Lounge yurt for Veuve Cliquot champagne, charcuterie and caviar, post schussing.

In 2018, look for a big ticket caviar pairing menu to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Veuve’s Le Grand Dame.

Kids, big and small, dig the four-lane bowling alley, vintage arcade, and three-dimensional board games like Clue on property, along with nearby adventures such as dogsledding, fly fishing and ziplining. Thrill seekers can also jump on a jet and spend the day mountain biking in Moab or hiking through Arches National Park with Montage Expeditions, which offers private ground and air transportation, seasoned guides and chef-prepared lunches.
Montagehotels.com/deervalley

NATURAL RETREATS
For many, the idea of spending a vacation in a private residence surpasses a hotel experience, and this travel and leisure company has properties in more than 30 destinations in the United States and Europe. Natural Retreats is known for its handpicked exceptional properties with resort-style amenities in landscapes blessed with natural beauty.

Passionate concierges with local insight create personal experiences for their clientele from luxury transportation, reservations and childcare to private chefs, outdoor adventures and VIP access, whether it’s a multigenerational family gathering, romantic getaway or adventure-packed holiday. Their Big Sky, Montana and Sun Valley, Idaho portfolio has everything from cozy log cabins with hot tubs and high design bunk rooms to contemporary mountain estates with home theaters, pizza ovens, impressive artwork, gourmet kitchens and more, all set near to the national parks and first-class ski resorts.

BIG SKY
Nature’s powerful display and breath-taking beauty can be found in Montana’s unspoiled landscape with its craggy peaks, unbridled rivers, sweeping valleys and soul-stirring vastness. There’s adventure at every turn. It’s cowboy country and an angler’s paradise with a bounty of blue ribbon trout navigating the Gallatin and Madison Rivers. It’s no-lift-line skiing, networks of Nordic trails and pristine wilderness for snowshoeing, snowmobiling and dogsledding. There’s pro-bull riding events and brew fests, hiking and horseback riding, saloons and summer concert series, white water rafting and ropes courses. Big Sky is also a gateway to Yellowstone National Park and Natural Retreats offers up private tours in Mercedes Sprinters with gourmet picnic lunches and well-versed guides who reveal both the park’s showstoppers like Old Faithful and hidden treasures like colorful hot pots contrasting the white winter snow. So whether you want to know where to go for live music and the best barbecue (Gallatin Riverhouse Grill), who’s the best fly fishing instructor in town, or how to fit all 22 of your family members under one roof for a reunion, Natural Retreats has all the answers.

SUN VALLEY
This classic ski town—the first in the US—brims with small town charm and understated elegance, home to the iconic 1936 Sun Valley Lodge, laidback locals, and a healthy blend of refined cuisine and character-rich dive bars. Known for its long leg-burner runs, year-round ice skating, exceptional Nordic skiing, and more recently, winter fat tire biking, Sun Valley enchants as a snow Shangri-La but summers are equally as good. The folks at Natural Retreats can guide you to the free symphonies in the park, hot spring soaks in Big Wood River Valley, sprawling single track mountain biking, hikes in the Sawtooth National Forest and rafting on the Salmon River in nearby Stanley. For fireside fondue, it’s worth a gondola ride to the Roundhouse, while the always packed Pioneer Saloon serves up a mighty fine slab of prime rib in the company of quirky deer mounts, Western movie memorabilia and Native American artifacts. The Warfield Distillery & Brewery call for craft beers, deviled eggs with bacon jam, and stargazing on the roof top. Anyone interested in a first edition by Hemingway should head to Iconoclast Books where the titles of Sun Valley’s favorite scribe line the shelves. Lodging through Natural Retreats means anything from a cozy condo walking distance to Ketchum to a private estate tricked out with a home gym, billiards, gourmet kitchen and a media room with theater seating. naturaltreats.com

SOURCEAnn Wycoff
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