Après, Please: 7 Spa Treatments Every Ski-Lodge Snow Bunny Needs to Try
Read on for some of the must-see and must-ski terrain at some of the top resorts across the country and Canada—plus an incredible spa treatment at each.
The 7 best places to hit the slopes—and then enjoy après ski spa treatments—await.
1. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Teton Village, Wyoming
The mega mountains at this Wyoming must-ski have some great, challenging terrain to take your runs up a notch (only 10 percent of the 133 trails here are for novices). Explore 2,500 acres of terrain, and don’t forget to enjoy a waffle at the famed Corbet’s Cabin, located atop a mountain at an elevation of 10,450 feet. Then, once you're ready to call it a day, get excited: It's time to soak up the Après Ski Ritual at the Four Seasons spa ($425 for 100 minutes).
You’ll start with a 25-minute high-altitude soak with Himalayan salts—and a glass of champagne, natch—to relax your muscles. Then move into 50 minutes of massage with hot stones and local arnica handpicked in Wyoming to ease aches and boost flexibility. Finish up with a willow bark wrap to wash away inflammation.
2. Whistler Blackcomb, in Whistler, BC, Canada
The twin peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains hosted the skiing and boarding events of the Vancouver Olympics in 2010—so you can trust that they're truly world-class. At the facility, which still boasts the rings, podiums, and village at the base, you can enjoy more than 200 marked runs spanning 8,171 acres of terrain, and (if you don’t have a fear of heights), take a life-affirming gondola ride from peak to peak.
Afterward, dip into a hydrotherapy treatment at nearby Scandinave Spa Whistler, the dreamy rustic paradise tucked into the mountain amid snow-covered trees that has both hot and cold Scandinavian baths. Make sure to take advantage of the solarium and outdoor fireplaces, and follow it all up with a Restorative massage ($205 for 60 minutes) to nix tension and revive muscles.
3. Taos Ski Valley, Taos County, New Mexico
This mountain may not be the most enormous on the list, but it boasts all the rolling, well-groomed greens and expert-level terrain you could want. It’s committed to sustainability as the first B Corp-certified ski resort, meaning it satisfies the highest standard of sustainable compliance.
After a day on the slopes, head into town (about a half-hour drive), and unwind at the spa at El Monte Sagrado Resort. The Hot Towel Infusion treatment ($200) is 75 minutes of pure bliss: A massage therapist starts with gentle brushing movements to boost your lymphatic system, then places toasty towels, one by one, across each section of your body, warming you up from the inside out after a day in the snow. You’ll practically melt off the table by the time your session’s up.
4. Deer Valley Ski Resort, Park City, Utah
Deer Valley is a ski-only spot that limits the number of lift tickets it sells daily to ensure you’re never on über-crowded run. Enjoy the famous fluffy and soft “champagne snow” of Park City (read: a perfect cushion in case you fall) before gifting your muscles some well-earned relief at Spa Montage.
The 90-minute High Altitude Kur treatment ($325) is designed to help your body adjust to the elevation. It kicks off with a warm mineral bath, followed by an invigorating body scrub and massage. Dip into the spa’s blood-pressure-benefiting saunas and cool baths afterward before leaving with a feeling that you're walking on air.
5. Beaver Creek Resort, Beaver Creek, Colorado
Take in more than 1,800 acres of Rocky Mountain views at this resort, which offers a lot for beginners without neglecting the expert skier and snowboarder. Make sure to stop at the base of the mountain at 3 p.m. for complimentary cookies before hitting up the Spa Anjali at the Westin.
The Ponderosa Pine Therapy ($195), a treatment on the spa’s rejuvenating Rocky Mountain Journey menu, features 75 minutes of deep-tissue massage, combined with light stretching using heated sage, pine, and lavender to help unwind tight muscles.
6. Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe, California
Take the gondola up the mountain at Heavenly and either on the way up or once you’re at the top, make sure you look down for breathtaking views of the lake’s deep-blue waters below. With 4,800 acres to explore—covering challenging territory in both California and Nevada—you're sure not to run out of things to do. This is especially true if you're staying at Heavenly and can take advantage of mountain access after it’s been closed to the public.
Just make sure to leave time to treat yourself and your tired body at the spa. Head to Edgewood Spa for the Alpine Arnica Deep Tissue Massage for intense muscle relaxation ($175 for 50 minutes). Add on the 25-minute Mighty Mint foot therapy treatment ($90) for a luxe-scented foot and lower-leg rubdown.
7. Stowe Mountain, Stowe, Vermont
Searching for a super-cute ski-town getaway in the Northeast? Look no further than Stowe. The resort is surrounded by Mount Mansfield (the state’s highest peak) and Spruce Peak and features 116 trails covering 40 miles of terrain. Finish your day here with a Vermont Maple Sugar body polish treatment ($205) at the nearby Spa at Stoweflake. Over a blissful 80 minutes, your muscles will relax with hot-towel compressions, followed by a full-body scrub with maple sugar (when in Rome, right?) and a moisturizing body butter massage to leave skin ultra-hydrated.
Skiing not your thing? Here are unique spring break destinations to consider. And you can take these sustainable travel tips with you wherever you go.
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