9 Perfect Summer Mountain Resorts
This summer, why not ditch the sand-and-surf set and head for the hills? These nine mountain resorts give new reasons to hit the slopes long after the snow has melted.

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The residents of Vail, Colorado, have a saying about visitors to their picture-perfect Rockies retreat: “They come for the winters and stay for the summers.” Winter skiing is never dull, but sometimes you may feel as if you’re part of one big powder-obsessed mind. Summer brings a wild extravagance to the mountains—once-bare slopes bloom with wildflowers, surging rivers woo rafts and kayaks, and alfresco art fairs and music festivals abound in this mountain town.
It turns out there’s a lot to love about many ski resorts after the snow melts. In Jackson Hole, one might enact a fly-fishing fantasy à la Norman Maclean along the banks of Wyoming’s Snake River, or in Gstaad, Switzerland, watch vintage Jags and Maseratis zip along alpine roads during the biannual Gstaad Classic Audemars Piguet. Locavores visiting Whistler, Canada, will work up an appetite on Slow Food Cycle Sunday, pedaling down country roads to sample the area’s best farm-to-table fare. And in Vermont, golfers can take a swing at Stowe Mountain Golf Club’s award-winning private course.
Warm weather also heralds the peak of festival season: Telluride will rock out to acts like Norah Jones during its annual Bluegrass Festival in June, while the Aspen Ideas Festival brings leaders across disciplines (these have included Frank Gehry, Arianna Huffington, and Twitter cofounders Evan Williams and Biz Stone) to the luxe mountain enclave later that month.

Aspen, Colorado
Where to Stay: The Little Nell, Aspen’s top property for more than 20 years and an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, re-opens for its summer season on June 1. Rooms start at $550; 675 E. Durant Ave.; 888-843-6355.
When to Go: During the Aspen Music Festival in the summer.
Top Tables: The Little Nell’s Element 47 restaurant boasts a 20,000-wine cellar (675 E. Durant Ave.; 888-843-6355).
Other Activities: Practice your aim with Olympic skeet shooting coach Bob Perigo (970-948-7943), or take an angling tour to one of the area’s three Gold Medal trout rivers with Glenn Melus (970-309-2237) and have Montagna’s chef cook up your catch that evening.
Getting There: Several carriers offer flights to Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, connecting through Denver or Salt Lake City.

Banff, Alberta
Where to Stay: Fairmont Château Lake Louise, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property and a stunningly situated wilderness retreat. Rooms start at $510; 111 Lake Louise Dr.; 866-540-4413.
When to Go: Late July, when wildflower season begins and the lake warms.
Top Tables: Lake Louise Railway Station & Restaurant, where you can dine in a refurbished Canadian Pacific Railway dining car (200 Sentinel Rd.; 403-522-2600). In downtown Banff, 50 minutes from Lake Louise, at Maple Leaf (137 Banff Ave.; 403-760-7680), you can indulge in a two- or three-tier tower of fresh seafood: mussels, scallops, squid, oysters, prawns, salmon. The Bison, also in the heart of Banff, offers regional dishes like Springbank bison strip and B.C. steelhead trout (211 Bear St.; 403-762-5550).
Other Activities: Explore local wildlife habitats, kayak on Lake Louise or hike to neighboring Lake Agnes; the track includes a charming teahouse cabin where hikers can relax and take in the grand vista while enjoying snacks.
Getting There: Banff is about 90 miles west from Calgary International Airport, which is serviced by many major airlines.

Courchevel, France
Where to Stay: In the French Alps, Le Chabichou, home to the eponymous Michelin two-star gastronomic gem, features a spa, a children’s game room and impeccable service. Rooms start at $260; Rue des Chenus; 33-04/79-08-00-55.
When to Go: August 11–12. A bizarrely timed spectacle, the Ski Jumping World Cup unfolds in the nearby village of Le Praz, with more than 10,000 fans in attendance every year.
Top Tables: Le Chabichou’s Michelin-starred restaurant is one of the region’s best (Rue des Chenus; 33-04/79-08-00-55). Le Tremplin serves everything from crêpes to raclette to sushi (dinner, from $70; Courchevel 1850; 33-4/79-08-06-19).
Other Activities: Glacier-hiking; picnicking in La Vanoise, France’s first national park; tandem paragliding above the pistes.
Getting There: Courchevel is about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Geneva International Airport, which is serviced by most major air carriers.

Gstaad, Switzerland
Where to Stay: The iconic Grand Hotel Park. Rooms start at $490; 29 Wispilenstrasse; 41-33/748-9800.
When to Go: From July 13–September 2, classical music lovers can enjoy the 61st annual Menuhin Festival, with more than 70 concerts slated for the summer.
Top Tables: Le Chesery, for fine dining in haute-chalet mode (3780 Lauenenstrasse; 41-33-744-24-51), or low-key Posthotel Rössli for Swiss specialties like veal schnitzel and traditional fondue (10 Promenade; 41-33/748-4242).
Other Activities: Channel your inner von Trapp with an Alpine hike, or enjoy the scenery from the basket of the hotel’s private hot-air balloon.
Getting There: Gstaad is just under two hours by car from Geneva International Airport, which is serviced by most major air carriers.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Where to Stay: Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, for rustic luxury with flawless service. Rooms start at $749; 7680 Granite Loop Rd., Teton Village; 307-732-5000.
When to Go: July 3–August 20 for the Grand Teton Music Festival, which hosts the biggest names in classical music (this year includes Yo-Yo Ma) as well as rising stars.
Top Tables: Local steaks at the Four Seasons’ Westbank Grill (7680 Granite Loop Rd., Teton Village; 307-732-5000). In town, try Trio (45 S. Glenwood Dr.; 307-734-8038) for its grilled elk salad and pizza with house-made duck confit, as well as Snake River Grill—the Eskimo pie bar here is a must (On the town square; 307-733-0557).
Other Activities: Blue-ribbon fly-fishing, private wildlife “safaris” through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, horseback riding and white-water rafting.
Getting There: United offers direct flights to Jackson Hole with connecting flights through Denver; Delta flies through Salt Lake City.

Park City, Utah
Where to Stay: Montage Deer Valley, a luxury lodge from the Southern California–based hotel group that opened in December 2010, and an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property. Rooms start at $300; 9100 Marsac Ave.; 435-604-1300.
When to Go: June 28-August 10 for the Deer Valley Music Festival
Top Tables: Wahso is a sprawling space meant to evoke 1930s Shanghai (dinner, $70; 577 Main St.; 435-615-0300), and the High West Distillery & Saloon is a parlor-style hub for casual dining and drinks (dinner, from $40; 703 Park Ave.; 435-649-8300).
Getting There: Park City is roughly an hour by car from Salt Lake City International Airport, which is served by most major airlines.

Stowe, Vermont
Where to Stay: Stowe Mountain Lodge, which was inspired by the Great Camps in the Adirondacks at the turn of the century. Rooms start at $220; 7412 Mountain Rd.; 888-478-6938.
When to Go: Mid-August, when local farm stands overflow with corn and berries.
Top Table: Hen of the Wood, for classic fine dining in a historic mill (92 Stowe St.; Waterbury; 802-244-7300).
Other Activities: Driving the scenic back roads to Mount Mansfield, and “Water and Wine” canoe trips to Boyden Valley Winery (802-644-8336; boydenvalley.com). Guests at Stowe Mountain Lodge can golf at its award-winning golf club (greens fees, from $185).
Getting There: JetBlue, United, Delta and American Airlines all fly to Burlington International Airport, a 50-minute drive from Stowe. From Boston, it’s about a three-hour drive, and from New York, almost six hours.

Telluride, Colorado
Where to Stay: Madeline Hotel, a luxe hideaway with a recently renovated spa. Rooms start at $250; 568 Mountain Village Blvd.; 970-369-0880.
When to Go: June 15–18, for the 44th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival, or September 1–4 for the Telluride Film Festival.
Top Tables: Take the resort’s free gondola to Allred’s, perched 10,551 feet above sea level, for steak and seafood with a view (Station St. Sophia via the gondola; 970-728-7474), or head into town to 221 South Oak for New American specials like buttermilk-fried quail and maple-glazed pork tenderloin (221 S. Oak St.; 970-728-9507).
Other Activities: White-water rafting down the Gunnison River and horseback riding in the San Juan Mountains, then recouping at Hotel Madeline’s Spa Linnea with a Base Camp Recovery Ritual healing treatment (100 minutes, $250).
Getting There: Connect through Denver or Phoenix to Telluride Regional Airport.

Vail, Colorado
Where to Stay: Scenesters will love the boutique hotel The Sebastian (rooms, from $275; 16 Vail Rd.; 970-477-8000), and American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property.
When to Go: July 28 - August 11, 2018, when the Vail International Dance Festival returns for its 30th season.
Top Tables: In town, longtime favorite Sweet Basil (193 E. Gore Creek Dr.; 970-476-0125) serves elegant entrées like roasted Muscovy duck breast with foie gras and Scottish salmon with parsnip and cippolini onions. At the Ritz-Carlton, WYLD focuses on Colorado ingredients including wild game and Rocky Mountain produce. Executive chef Benjamin Christopher serves up racks of elk ribs, venison chops, and buffalo rib eyes for visitors inside a cozy dining room (130 Daybreak Ridge, Avon; 970-343-1555).
Other Activities: Botanical tours through the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens (522 S. Frontage Rd., Ford Park), rock-climbing trips in Vail Valley and the Colorado specialty sport of disc golfing—think ultimate Frisbee meets mini-golf.
Getting There: Direct flights are available to Vail/Eagle County Airport, a 45-minute drive from the resort.
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