You may have heard mountain dwellers utter the phrase, “come for the winter, stay for the summer.” But why? In idyllic mountain towns such as Park City, Snowmass, and Beaver Creek, the answer is evident the moment you arrive in town: dramatic views of the mountains hiding the setting sun; bikers whizzing by your side; a group of hikers settling for lunch on the mount; a fly-fisherman readying his rod by the babbling stream; your hand out the car window, cutting the fresh, warm summer air. These days, luxury hotels are the best home bases for adventures, offering several exclusive experiences – often with a culinary twist – that immerse you in the summer mountain lifestyle. Check out a few below.
Utah is one of the preeminent fly-fishing destinations in North America, and Waldorf Astoria Park City’s new Bait-to-Plate experience is the angling trip of a lifetime. A private guide leads you to some of the most bountiful and beautiful rivers in the surrounding area. Then, after either a full or half day on the river, return to Waldorf Astoria Park City where a local trout is cooked to perfection by the head Chef of Powder, the property's acclaimed restaurant. For added exclusivity, you can even choose to have the chef prepare the meal in you guest suite.
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek has partnered with Paragon Guides to take guests into the surrounding backcountry to access small lakes and streams for fly-fishing. Along the way, llamas will carry your belongings and gear, as well as a collection of new picnics developed specifically for this offering. One of the offerings is a “First Catch Celebration” picnic, consisting of champagne and caviar. Now that’s mountain luxury.
Overlooking the scenic Beaver Creek Mountain, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek is known for its beloved s’mores programs that allow guests the chance to create their own gourmet s’mores around the five outdoor fire pits. This summer and fall, the property is expanding their fireside food & beverage with an interactive fireside service that allows guests to be their own Pitmasters.
- Smoked Ice Cocktails— A Park Hyatt Beaver Creek bartender will show you how to smoke your own ice over an open fire. Selecting from oak, hickory, and mesquite wood chips, you’ll customize the flavor profile of thee ice. As the ice melts in the cocktail, the drink will increase in smokiness, highlighting the local bourbon and unique mezcal that the bartender will use to create their custom cocktails on a fireside bar cart.
- Smoked Mac n' Cheese— First, you’ll be given individual pans, filled with a noodle base. Then customize with smoked cheese sauces and crumbled toppings! Parmesan, goat cheese, blue cheese, gouda, parmigiano-reggiano, along with a selection of additional ingredients such as bacon, broccoli, mushrooms, chives, and sausage, will all be on hand. The pan then gets placed over the open fire to cook, revealing the perfect, melty, gooey, personal pan of mac n’ cheese to pair with your smokey cocktail.
With this experience, Viceroy Snowmass offers a chance to discover the best of this magical mountain destination in just one day. It all starts with Sunrise Paragliding, where guests take flight above the mountains. Viceroy Snowmass sets up a mountain spread of breakfast items to fuel guests before their flight. Next up: Mountain biking. Guests return to the hotel after their paragliding adventure for a quick change before an afternoon of Mountain Biking on a guide on Snowmass’ famous trails. To round out the day of thrill-seeking activities, the final activity is a late afternoon fly-fishing experience in a secret local hotspot, accompanied by Viceroy Executive Chef Will Nolan. As the ultimate cap to an extreme Colorado-filled day, guests join Chef Will in the kitchen for a private lesson and gourmet meal involving the evening’s fresh catch.
