NORTHWESTTRAVEL&LIFE: December, 2025

Rosy cheeks and après drinks; skiing and skating and sledding and more. These are some of our favorite things in winter. On the ski slopes, it’s also about forging new trails through snow-covered pines and carving wide turns on groomed runs. Or not, since many of us prefer skiing off-piste in back-country powder. Whatever gives you goosebumps, you’ll find it at three unique Northwest resorts, where it’s not just about the snow, but about a shared love for winter.

Big Sky, Montana

First, let’s talk about optics. The resort staff look like they stepped out of the hit series “Yellowstone.” From parking attendants to ski valets, there’s more denim, flannel and leather than you’ll find at any Montana rodeo.

It’s no surprise, really, as Big Sky’s founder was a rancher himself. After retiring from his high-profile position as television co-anchor of NBC’s Huntley Brinkley Report, Chet Huntley returned to his Montana roots and built Big Sky Resort in December of 1973. Fast forward to 2013 when the company acquired neighboring Moonlight Basin and terrain from Spanish Peaks, and you have one of the largest single ski resorts in the U.S. Big Sky’s proximity to Yellowstone National Park is also a big draw, with Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport only an hour away.

Skiers and boarders have tons of challenging terrain to tackle, especially off the Lone Peak Tram. Triple-black diamond runs like the North Summit Snowfield and Big Couloir test the most experienced skiers at a top elevation of 11,166 feet. The high-speed tram is also a round-trip thrill ride for anyone with a lift ticket who wants to see sweeping views of three states, (Montana, Wyoming and Idaho), along with Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

By the numbers, Big Sky has 5,850 skiable acres, which averages out to more than an acre for every skier on the mountain. Talk about a “Lone Mountain.” You’re almost guaranteed to get in a record number of runs since it’s also the only ski resort in North America with two eight-person lifts. And did we mention the heated bubble chair lifts? Even the heartiest skier/boarder has secretly wished for a way to ward off frostbite on those frigid mountain ascents. The chairs have transparent shields that pull down to form warm, comfy “cabins.”

Big Sky has made over $150 million in improvements over the last decade, elevating its luxury status as nearby Bozeman grows rapidly as a vacation destination. Montage Big Sky opened in 2021, the One & Only Moonlight Basin Resort opens in November of 2025, and there’ve been extensive renovations at the Summit Hotel.

Learn more at bigskyresort.com.

Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska

It wasn’t that long ago that skiing in Alaska seemed like skiing in—well, Lapland. The raw, untamed landscape of our 49th state was, to many, too daunting for winter travel. But as flights to Anchorage International Airport increased, it opened up vast possibilities for Alyeska Resort, just 40 minutes south on the scenic Seward Highway. Buses and trains also service this world-class retreat in the rugged Chugach Mountains.

The first thing you’ll notice is the sun—or lack thereof. With an average of five-and-a-half hours of daylight during the winter solstice, sunrise and sunset are at 10:08 a.m. and 3:44 p.m. respectively, on December 21. If night skiing isn’t your thing, the number of daylight hours almost doubles in Girdwood by February.

It’s good to see the scenery, of course, since it’s one of the strong suits for this incredible year-round resort. Alyeska is perched above Turnagain Arm, with post-card views of the fjord, along with snow-covered peaks and the seven hanging glaciers. Turnagain Arm is also a surfing destination, but not your typical surfing. Its unique geography creates one of America’s largest bore tides, where twice a day, surfers can catch waves that run for as long as 5 miles. You can watch all the action from Alyeska’s fine dining restaurant, Seven Glaciers, perched at 2,300 feet above the water.

For skiers and boarders, the numbers don’t tell the full story. Alyeska has 1,610 skiable acres, a vertical rise of 2,500 feet and terrain for all levels. For advanced skiers, there are shoots and bowls and steep, narrow couloirs for adrenaline junkies.

Seven lifts access the mountain, including an aerial tram and two high-speed quads. Alyeska also has bragging rights for their snowfall—the largest of any ski resort in North America. The average dump pushes 669 inches, measured at the top of the mountain. If you like big powder days and short lift lines, this could be your dream destination.

Wildlife enthusiasts may see black bear, moose, and even lynx and wolverines on their visit to Alyeska. Eagles soar above the sweeping landscape. Juxtapose this with the nightlife and live music in the town of Girdwood and you have something for everyone.

Book your Alyeska ski vacation at alyeskaresort.com.

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

A host site for the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America and ranked among the world’s top ski destinations. As the site of the alpine, Nordic and sliding events, guests can feel like an Olympian by booking a training session on the skeleton or Bobsled (bobsleigh to Canadians) at the resort’s Sliding Centre.

Advanced skiers and boarders can shred the mountain with Whistler Blackcomb’s Ski with an Olympian program, where you tackle the terrain, learn new techniques and hear stories from one of Canada’s Olympic skiers. Speed demons will want the bragging rights of racing the Dave Murray Downhill/GS course at Whistler. And the biathlon program lets you test your skill at cross-country skiing and shooting a .22 caliber rifle at their Olympic range.

There’s more. Whistler Blackcomb’s record-breaking Peak 2 Peak Gondola is a big part of the Olympic infrastructure built as an aerial shuttle between mountains for the 2010 Winter Games. Open to everyone, year-round, one of the world’s longest and highest continuous lift system connects the peaks of Whistler mountain to Blackcomb mountain. On a clear day, you get a view of the Spearhead Range, several glaciers and Fitzsimmons Creek dam, which helps power the resort’s lift system.

Let’s look at Whistler Blackcomb by the numbers. The two side-by-side mountains have over 200 marked runs, 16 alpine bowls and three glaciers across 8,171 acres of terrain. A favorite for skiers and boarders is the Peak to Creek run from the summit of Whistler Mountain to the Creekside base, the longest run at the resort. If you’re keeping track of records, the Peak to Creek run is the second longest in North America and, in most conditions, suitable for an intermediate skier or boarder.  

Whistler’s pedestrian village is a destination in itself. Visitors have their choice of five-star hotels, restaurants and spas, with boutique shops and nightlife that feed the energy. The landmark Fairmont Chateau Whistler is the epitome of mountainside, ski-in-ski-out luxury. Known in summer for its championship golf course, this five-star resort at the base of Blackcomb Mountain has a standard of excellence that’s visible the moment you enter the property. Dining options run the gamut from the gourmet café Portobello to the AAA/CAA Four Diamond-rated The Grill Room—an exquisite, service-oriented steak house with seductive stone and wood décor, a cozy fireplace and table-side preparation of some of the area’s most innovative dishes.

The drive to Whistler Blackcomb takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery in North America. Flying into Vancouver International Airport, there are bus, limousine and rental car options for driving the two-hours through Vancouver and along the stunning Sea-to-Sky Highway. The views of Howe Sound and the Tantalus Range showcase the best of British Columbia’s natural beauty.

Learn more at whistlerblackcomb.com.

Much has been written about the solitude of winter; but snow enthusiasts also look for the adrenaline rush. It’s not just about facing the elements but embracing them. Big Sky, Alyeska Resort and Whistler Blackcomb amplify not just the spirit of winter; but its potential for pure, unbridled fun. 

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