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In looking for late-season ski resorts,
you might discover extravagant
or quirky new destinations—or see
some old favorites in a new light.
the
Sebastian Hotel
, an elegant resort
in the heart of Vail Village. Where many
ski lodges are infusedwithwhat might be
termed “Essence of Boot,” the Sebastian
has an air of the pristine about it. Beyond
its Alpine-chic interior, the hotel operates
a swish base camp complete with valet
service, providing ready access to some of
the most celebrated trails in the U.S. You
may end up spending asmuch time in the
hotel’s library as you do hurtling down the
slopes, but hey, they let you drink wine in
there, which is a key advantage.
Colorado’s penchant for swank ski
lodges certainly isn’t restricted to Vail:
In Aspen, for example, you’ll find the
St. Regis
, a place of burnished wood and
glinting chandeliers. The hotel is at the
tail end of a $40 million renovation, with
its design influences including Ralph
Lauren and Lenny Kravitz. The upscale
yet intimate restaurant—whose menu
showcases regional favorites prepared
with international flair—ensures a feel-
ing of warmth even as Aspen Mountain
looms chillingly outside. The Bu ermilk
and Snowmass ski areas are within
easy reach, as is Aspen Highlands, whose
spring skiing is augmented with live
music, horseback rides and other non-
snowy a ractions.
If some resorts aim for chic, the
Grand
Hotel Zerma erhof
in Zerma , Switzer-
land, has lo ier ambitions. It opened in the
19th century and maintains an old-world
majesty, with guests pulling up to an
ornate portico in horse-drawn carriages,
for instance, or supping in the stately din-
ing room. If you can drag yourself away
from the on-site grandeur, the nearby
Ma erhorn’s glacial slopes can be reached
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MARCH 2012
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HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
SNOWWONDERS
From left, the pristine wilderness surrounding the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Canada’s
Banff National Park; the luxurious Sebastian Hotel, rising above the heart of Vail Village in Colorado
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