8 family hotels that look like a winter paradise

I love winter. While my friends dream of tropical getaways with sand and sea, I wait for frosty days and snowflakes. Winter isn’t your favorite season? Stay in a cozy hotel with snowy landscapes, fireplaces and comforting meals and you might just change your mind.

Embrace the elements with a winter vacation that relies on cold and snow. I’ve rounded up eight hotels offering an abundance of winter charm, fun family activities, and indoor amenities to warm you up when you come in from the cold.

Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York

Mohonk Mountain House is a Victorian castle surrounded by mountains just 90 miles from New York City. In winter, you could easily mistake the property for the inside of a fanciful snow globe.

The hiking property is a launching pad for a range of cold weather sports. Skate on the ice rink perched above the pristine lake, go snow tubing, or try cross-country skiing on 30 miles of groomed trails. The large indoor pool offers stunning views of the Catskill Mountains.

The rooms are decorated with antique furniture. Some rooms have stone fireplaces and private balconies, and there are no in-room TVs unless requested.

As an added bonus, there’s no shock when it comes time to pay the bill, as activities and three delicious meals are included in the all-inclusive rate.

Camp Richardson Resort, South Lake Tahoe, California

On the south shore of Lake Tahoe, Camp Richardson Resort is a place of majestic natural beauty. This rustic property has existed since the late 1880s; many families have been visiting for generations and return every year. Winter is a serene time to savor the snowy landscape on Nordic skis or snowshoes (available for rental) while admiring the lake and the Sierra Nevada mountains. For downhill skiers, Heavenly Lake Tahoe is just 8 miles away.

Many accommodations, including the historic hotel, lakeside inn, and winterized cabins, are available year-round. The on-site restaurant, The Grove, is open year-round and serves burgers, sandwiches and hearty meals topped with pie or brownies à la mode.

The Lodge at Jackson Hole, Jackson, Wyoming

Located at the gateway to Grand Tetons National Park, the snowy landscape at The Lodge at Jackson Hole is magnificent. An indoor-outdoor pool and hot tub merge with convenient amenities like the lodge’s free shuttle. Although Jackson Hole is a very expensive town, The Lodge at Jackson Hole (and sister property The Wyoming Inn) keep prices fair without sacrificing creature comforts.

Rooms, decorated with eye-catching local artwork, are spacious and modern. Common areas are adorned with fireplaces and numerous carved bears that add whimsy and a sense of place.

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Active visitors can enjoy downhill skiing at Snow King and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. For winter wildlife encounters, book an eco-tour or backcountry snowshoe excursion with the wonderful guides at Ecotour Adventures. Don’t miss a visit to the mountaintop Snow King Observatory and a soak in the six thermal pools at Astoria Family Hot Springs.

Intercontinental Boston, Boston, Massachusetts

For a cosmopolitan version of comfort, meet the Intercontinental Boston. Enter the modern lobby and you will be greeted with a fireplace and high ceilings. The patio, overlooking historic Boston Harbor, offers individual fire pits with a S’mores box stocked with everything you need to make this nostalgic treat. And the creative menu of hot toddies will have the adults in your group feeling toasty in no time.

Families come for the spacious rooms and indoor pool. Take it up a notch and book a room with access to the Intercontinental Club, an exclusive lounge offering a range of guest perks, from a breakfast buffet to a collection of teddy bears just waiting to be cuddled.

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The location, a two-minute walk from the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and a short walk from the Boston Children’s Museum, is particularly ideal for families.

Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, Whitefield, New Hampshire

Nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa is a storybook setting for families looking to reconnect in the winter. Active guests can spend their days snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding on the property. Inside, relax in the heated pool or catch a private movie screening.

A campfire with s’mores under the stars is offered every Friday and Saturday and sleigh rides take place every Saturday. Visit the resort’s working farm, home to friendly animals whose wool comes from Mountain View Farm Blend’s buttery-soft yarn.

Skytop Lodge, Skytop, Pennsylvania

Skytop Lodge is an elegant, relaxed resort located in the Pocono Mountains, just a few hours from New York City and even closer to Philadelphia. Traditions such as afternoon tea and cookies and an evening campfire mingle with non-stop outdoor entertainment on the property’s 5,500 acres. Cold weather options include ice fishing and ice skating on the frozen lake, indoor ice skating, snow tubing, and a small hill for downhill skiing. The new aquatic center’s indoor pool is a great place to splash around whatever the weather.

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Rooms at the lodge, inn and cottages offer country charm. On-site dining and dining options range from chic to casual, with kids’ menus that go beyond standard chicken fingers.

Liberty Hill Farm & Inn, Rochester, VT

Families craving an experiential connection with nature should consider a farm vacation. Liberty Hill Farm & Inn is a working Vermont dairy farm, open to overnight guests year-round. Here you can watch the cows being milked, help the farmer with simple tasks, snowshoe, or go sledding down the hill. If you’re looking to get away from the hectic pace of life, this is a freezing paradise.

The rooms are comfortable and a hearty breakfast and home-cooked dinner are included in the rate. The owners are extremely welcoming, paving the way for a magical vacation.

The Williams Inn, Williamstown, Massachusetts

If you want to explore snow-covered hills and quaint villages, the Berkshires are for you. Williamstown is one of the nicest places in the area, with a college vibe thanks to Williams College and a top-notch impressionist art collection at the Clark Art Institute. When the flakes fly, Clark’s Project Snowshoe offers free snowshoes in a range of sizes, allowing visitors of all ages to roam the 140-acre campus in packed powder style.

In the heart of town lies the Williams Inn, an upscale boutique hotel where warm hospitality is the rule. The design and decor are inspired by New England farmhouses, with barn doors and Berkshire stone and wood accents. And outdoor fireplaces are especially magical when the snow falls.

A roaring fireplace in the lobby, classic board games, and a restaurant featuring ingredients sourced from local fields and farms are welcome extras.

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