Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1529602
C O U R T E S Y O F AU B E R G E R E S O R T S ; P H OTO BY JAC K R I C H M O N D FO R D U N TO N TO W N H O U S E FROM TOP In Telluride, your best bet is to stay slopeside at Auberge Resorts Element 52; if a village stay is more your style, book a suite at Dunton Town House. If après is your priority, we don't judge. Here, we offer a handful of must-ski destinations with a vibe that's as potent as their powder. BY MARY HOLLAND let it Whether you're a snow bunny or black diamond veteran, everybody knows that a ski vacation isn't only about the sport. Good slopes do count, but so does the ambience. Isn't après-ski half the reason to book a trip (or maybe even more)? And, of course, don't forget climate change. "In a world where snow at Christmas isn't a guarantee anymore, you're looking for as high an elevation as you can go," says Cari Gray, the Malibu-based founder of Gray & Co. who's known for her expertise in high-end sports trips. Here, she offers some itineraries for the best skiing worldwide. dream itineraries snow TELLURIDE , COLORADO The biggest gripe about Telluride is logistical, but the fact that the town is so hard to reach is also its biggest asset. It's located in a box canyon in the San Juan Mountains, about two hours from Montrose Regional Airport, so there's only one road in and out; this weeds out the more casual traveler. "People who love skiing know the best places are near-impossible to get to," says Gray. Though there are daily flights from cities such as Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Denver (in Montrose), the best option is Telluride's own FBO. At a high elevation, snow is pretty much guaranteed: The town is at 8,750 feet and the slopes are almost 4,000 feet higher. It's also ski-in-ski- out, thanks to the chairlift located in the middle of town. Beyond the slopes, think of Telluride as a high-end party town, with many breweries, saloons, and wine bars; best of the former include Telluride Distilling Company and Telluride Brewing Company. In town, Rustico Ristorante offers classic Italian, while the New Sheridan Hotel serves up excellent steak. Once a mining town, the Main Street is lined with historic, colorful buildings and clapboard storefronts. "It's such a cute town, with Victorian houses and a real 'cowboy' feel," Gray says. She recommends visitors stay at Auberge Resorts Element 52, a collection of sharp residences, located slopeside. Though it's on the hill, for a night out you simply "take the gondola right into town." Alternatively, Dunton Town House, an intimate hotel set in a picturesque building filled with Tyrolean antiques, is located in the middle of the village, within walking distance of shops and restaurants. DOLOMITES , ITALY The upcoming 2026 winter Olympics—which will bring the Games back to Cortina d'Ampezzo 70 years after they last took place at the glamorous ski town—are certainly raising the profile of the Dolomites. Gray argues, though, that the reason true skiers are flooding into the northern Italian mountain BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M