7 Swanky New York Ski Resorts for Wild Winters South of the Border

Perched on the shores of Mirror Lake, the aptly named Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa has one of the most satisfying skiing spots in the entire state of New York. Picture over 415 square feet per room for all your gear, the sturdy sobriety of pine, and panoramic views of the lake and mountains to greet you every morning.

For a great start, head to nearby Olympic Mountain. Test your skills with the greatest vertical drop east of the Rocky Mountains, and do so in the company of two-time Olympic medalist Andrew Weibrecht, son of the inn’s owners Ed and Lisa. After a day on the slopes, you’ll want to relax in the Mirror Inn Spa. Treat your muscles to the bubbling warmth of a Jacuzzi tub in one of the private sanctuaries, each with its own fireplace. And because crossing the border is no excuse to leave maple behind, you can give the spa’s signature Maple Sugar Body Scrub a go.

If all that pampering has helped you work up an appetite, there’s plenty of choice: there’s The View, one of Lake Placid’s best restaurants (we recommend the Swordfish Niçoise). The Cottage Café, for a modern take on your pub-style favourites, plus a dazzling selection of international drinks. Or the Taste Bistro and Bar, with live music every Friday and Saturday night to kickstart the après-ski.

Crowne Plaza Lake Placid is a little piece of lakeside heaven. Imagine waking up to gentle sunlight and opening the window to an inspiring view of a bona fide new world wilderness. All that open space, smack between the High Peaks and Whiteface Mountain, will make you feel like an adventurer.

If you somehow get tired of exploring the fog-touched beauty of the resort’s 1000 acres, head out to the adjacent Olympic Centre. Let the world turn into a blur of white as you race down the Olympic tracks on skis or a slightly sturdier bobsled. If you want to do it again, hop on the gondola for a scenic ride up Whiteface Mountain, or stretch your legs with a hike to the Marcy Dam.

When you come back, reward yourself with a well-deserved warm bath in the hotel’s Jacuzzi or the indoor pool. If you’d like softly crackling flames to lull you to sleep, many of the rooms come with fireplaces for cozy nights in, or coffee-makers if you don’t want the day to be over just yet. Of course, you won’t want to go to bed on an empty stomach (however tempting your room’s digs may be): McKenzie’s Restaurant plates up local goodies like salmon with sautéed kale served with buttery cremini mushrooms.

At Hanah Mountain Resort and Country Club, you get the “wilderness escape” vibe in old-time wooden lodges within Catskill Mountains State Park. Listen to the chirping of birds wintering inland as you throw back a beer with the locals at the clubhouse, then dazzle your crew with your billiard or table tennis skills (or pretend you only lost because you’re wiped from skiing). Come lunch, enjoy a steak cooked to order at Hanah Grill House, or try Japanese Nabe Hot Pot for savoury meats and fresh veggies cooked in a deliciously spicy broth.

As for skiing, there’s a reason so many choose this place. You’re only a short jaunt away from the Catskill Mountains, one of the most versatile skiing spots in all of New York. The Belleayre Mountain alone extends over 3300 feet – that’s almost two CN Towers!

If you want a little coddling after your daytime adventures, there’s an outdoor Jacuzzi and an indoor pool. Or, if you prefer wild waters, you can pay a visit to the Hudson River nearby and watch the sunset turn the valley into a Bob Ross painting. When you feel it’s time to call it a day, spring for the hotel’s iconic Hanah House. Inside this charming log abode, white walls and plush emerald duvets bring the winter landscape in, while free Wi-Fi and cable packages mean you never leave modern conveniences behind.

Surrounded by a striking panorama of snow-covered pines and sloping hills, the award-winning Hope Lake Lodge and Indoor Waterpark is the picture-perfect winter getaway spot. You’ll feel at home as soon as you step into the lobby, with its bucolic wooden architecture, grand stone fireplace and timbered ceiling. Book a suite and pile into the plush whiteness of your bed’s pillows after a day of wintry shenanigans, or book an apartment and sink your teeth into a snack prepared in your very own kitchenette. If cooking after a hard day’s skiing isn’t your thing, head over to Trax Pub & Grill for wood-fired pizzas, or hit up Taverna for daily specials in front of a roaring fire.

Nearby Greek Peak Mountain Resort will serve both casual and hardcore skiers alike. Cruise cheerfully across open terrain or buckle up and speed down the treed glades as fast as gravity permits! If you want some tips, feel free to ask the certified snow sport instructors nearby. We’ll even give you a tip for free now: pack warm undies.

If you still have room for some fun when you come back, go to the indoor waterpark and try the slides – all 150 meters of them! If you have a mind for something more luxurious, pay a visit to the Waterfalls Spa, a place of utmost relaxation based on the principles of Feng Shui. The first thing you’ll notice is the aroma of essential oils and wildflower extracts. Go for a soothing massage or a bath in the balneotherapy tub, or sweat it out in the sauna.

There’s a lot to unpack at High Peaks Resort, and we’re not just talking about your suitcases. The resort has three unique locations in one, so you can tailor-make your own vacation. At the High Peaks Resort itself, the forest tones of the rooms – not to mention natural stone showers – will make you feel at one with the mountain without having to forsake any modern conveniences. The hotel is also pet-friendly, so there’s no need to find a sitter while you have fun in the snow.

The Lake House, a little farther away, will be the base camp to all your snowy adventures. Bask in the glow of the fireplace in the Great Room after a day rushing down the mountain, preferably with a drink in hand, courtesy of The Bar at Lake House. Last, but definitely not least, the Waterfront Collection is all about you and the peacefulness of the lake. Wake up in your triple-sheet king-size bed to a sumptuous room-service breakfast, then look out on the snowy lake just steps away – especially if you shelled out for a room with a balcony! Play a bit of puck hockey on the frozen lake (watch out for sleds!), or keep the cold at bay in the hot bubbles of your Jacuzzi.

When it comes to grabbing an après-ski bite to eat, try the resort’s Main Street restaurant, Dancing Bears, for what some say is the best all-American burger in town. Alternatively, there are “Mega-Freeze Drafts” – beer drafted through blocks of ice – for lovers of a hoppy liquid lunch.

Quality family time is unbeatable – and at Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, the focus on this is clear. Experience the Adirondacks from an eco-friendly, pet-friendly “home”, with welcoming staff to see to your every need. Smack in the middle of town, you’re minutes away from all the shops and restaurants and, most importantly, Lake Placid’s Olympic speed-skating oval and Olympic Village.

Come lunch, the resort has its own restaurant, Generations Tap & Grill, with a menu full of their versions of classic North Country-style dishes (and a little German flair to boot). At Main Street Skillet, everything from the farm-fresh eggs to a 2543 burger with meat from Donahue Family Farms is made using locally sourced ingredients.

Golden Arrow’s cozy rooms all have their own patio or balcony, allowing you to drink in the view of Lake Placid and the mountains beyond. If you spring for upgraded digs, you can soak up the wintry landscape while snuggling in front of the fireplace, hot drink in-hand from the kitchenette, or unwind in the warmth of your whirlpool tub.

Speaking of tubs, the resort has everything to keep you in fighting shape for those harder curves, from a fitness centre to indoor pools and, of course, hot tubs. There’s also a private beach area for a snowy stroll with a cup of hot chocolate in one hand and your special someone on the other. At the end of the day, you can also relax with a cocktail (try the Mediterranean Mule for a kick of citrusy freshness) at the Straight Shot lounge bar, or visit the Roomers Nightclub to dance away any extra energy.

To say that the Inn at Holiday Valley is nearby great slopes in New York would be a huge understatement. The chairlifts are so close you can almost grab onto them from the balcony of your own room. Beyond your crisp cream-coloured space with soothing pine accents, you’ll find two heated pools – one indoors, one outdoors – and a hot tub for you to sink into after climbing off the lift. When you feel like going for another turn in the snow, the inn provides handy ski lockers for you to keep your belongings in.

If you’re travelling with your family or a large party, try out a condo at the Tamarack Club, the inn’s newest slope-side property. While the kids cannonball into one of two heated indoor/outdoor pools, take some time out for yourself with a relaxing spa session at on-site by Ellicottville Oasis Spa. There’s also a dry sauna for some traditional Nordic zest, ideal after some wintery fun or an intense workout at the club’s own fitness centre.

Most units in the club include a kitchen and a fireplace, so you can rustle up some grub yourself and have a laid-back dinner next to the crackling flames. Alternatively, order something special from room service provided by John Harvard’s Brew House while you stream some music for added ambiance on the hotel’s free WiFi. Oh, and don’t worry about having to scramble to the piste: the Mardi Gras, Cindy and Creekside lifts are merely steps away, and there’s a winter shuttle service to base lodges, too.