Winter Travel Bucket-List
The snow is calling
Did you hear? The winter weather pattern across the United States is forecast to persist in February. Perhaps this would be a great time to embrace the winter in all it’s glory and explore some of the snowy parts of our beautiful country, that you would typically visit in the warmer months. With a reliable all-wheel drive vehicle, you can experience many of the the State and National Parks nearly tourist free, and also take advantage of some extraordinary properties along the way.
Every year, my husband and I take a snowy road trip in January to get a little taste of winter, far from our desert home. It’s always the perfect opportunity for us to slow down and reconnect, allowing us to really appreciate the beauty surrounding us. Four years ago, we took an epic road trip through Arizona, Utah and Colorado, visiting Red Rock State Park, Arches National Park and Antelope Canyon. Our timing was perfect! We had the parks all to ourselves and we were able to experience their majesty sometimes under a coat of crisp, white snow.
Another advantage of traveling off season is getting into spectacular resort and hotel properties that tend to be more popular in the summer months! Here are my picks for your winter bucket-list roadtrip extravaganza:
This is definitely a bucket list destination. This rustic, but lux resort is part of a romantic 1800’s ghost town set in a beautiful alpine valley in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. IIn the winter, it is an outdoor wonderland, offering snowshoeing, nordic skiing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, heli-skiing, dog sledding, and snowcat tours! If you’d rather cozy up, you can enjoy an amazing selection of food and beverages and imbibe next to a warm fire in the restored saloon. You can also opt to stay in and enjoy a board game, or book, then enjoy a long soak in the enclosed natural hot spring. There is also a spa and yoga classes are available. Did I mention that we had the entire resort and staff all to ourselves in January?
We actually got stuck here for 3 days during a severe snow storm. I was pleasantly surprised by the perfect blend of casual and refinement here. Our garden cottage was private and cozy. The setting at the restaurant was magical. We had the perfect view to the outdoor patio where twinkling white lights wrapped around the thick branches of the snow-laden trees, shimmering across the thick snow. The food was delicious. The location was perfect for days spent snowshoeing and exploring the area . Once again, we lucked out, rarely seeing any other guests during our entire stay here in January. I think the snowstorm must have scared off the guests.
And last, but not least, for the ultimate bucket list destination this side of the Mississippi, is Amangiri. A luxury hotel that offers 5 star modernist suites in a secluded setting offering a gateway to several national parks in the Colorado Plateau. It is located in Canyon Point, sitting along a desert landscape of canyons, mesas, ridges, and gorges through the red-rock country. The setting is stunning, the architecture is stark, but gorgeous. We ended up getting upgraded to a Desert Pool Suite (thank you Escape Artists Travel), which was also equipped with a stargazing bed on our rooftop deck. It was definitely a “pinch me” moment. The dinner and breakfasts were served in a gigantic dining room flanked with floor to ceiling windows to take advantage of the surrounding desert vistas. All food (not alcohol) was included in the stay and it was superb. Needless to say, we were lucky to visit before the prices skyrocketed during the covid pandemic. It is definitely worth the splurge if you are celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary.
The bottom line is to get out and explore. These hotels are all magnificent, but there are many less expensive options available! I’d be happy to help you find the perfect lodging for your winter getaway!
I am incredibly blessed to be among other things, your travel partner❤️