3. Beaver Creek: Avon, Colorado
Located amid the Rocky Mountains approximately 110 miles west of Denver, Beaver Creek offers a quieter atmosphere than the better-known ski resorts of Vail and Aspen. In the resort’s charming alpine village, you’ll find shops, restaurants, entertainment venues and properties like The Osprey at Beaver Creek and The Pines Lodge. Time your visit during the winter months to ski on 1,800 acres of terrain, ice skate and enjoy free cookies at the base of the mountain every day at 3 p.m. The resort even has an app that lets you track your vertical feet, download mountain photos, earn pins and engage on social media. Or, visit in summer to go hiking, fly-fishing, horseback riding and more.
4. Big Cedar Lodge: Ridgedale, Missouri
This 4,600-acre Ozark Mountain retreat situated about 10 miles southwest of Branson, Missouri, serves as a year-round getaway for outdoorsy types. Featuring rustic lodges, cottages and log cabins with natural elements like wooden beams and stone fireplaces, Big Cedar Lodge sits within 20 miles of the 10,000-acre Dogwood Canyon Nature Park and Top of the Rock, the highest point in Taney County. Guests can also explore nearby hiking trails or walk to Bent Hook Marina & Market to swim or boat. For pampering, spend time at the property’s Cedar Creek Spa, with an indoor grotto pool, an ice room, hot tubs, saunas and a full-service salon.