Where to Find Luxury in the U.S. Great Outdoors

Located right inside Yosemite National Park in California, about 300 kilometers east of San Francisco, this historic property allows you to experience the park’s majesty along with world-class service. Opened in 1927, The Ahwahnee reflects the park’s rugged cliffs, rushing waterfalls and majestic trees in its architectural elements and décor. The grand entrance, with the wooden slab doors and floor-to-ceiling windows, may look familiar; scenes from Stanely Kubrick’s famous horror movie The Shining were filmed here. Meanwhile, the grand dining room features spectacular views of Yosemite Falls from the corner alcove window. The hotel is centrally located, with hiking trails, Yosemite Falls and other outdoor activities right outside its doors. Hotel staff can help you arrange tours of the park as well as horseback rides and other activities.

The Lake Placid Lodge, situated right on beautiful Lake Placid in New York’s Adirondack Region, offers luxury that’s within easy reach of the area’s hiking trails and ski slopes. This posh lakefront resort’s style reflects the great outdoors surrounding it with stone fireplaces, featherbeds, locally made wood furniture and impressive lake and mountain views from almost every room. While you’re here, have the hotel staff help you with plans to go snowshoeing, ice skating, skiing and sledding in the winter, or boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and tennis in the spring, summer and fall.

Perched on the edge of East Gros Ventre Butte in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the exquisite Amangani resort has breathtaking views of the snow-capped Grand Teton Mountains. The property’s suites all feature floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of the mountainous landscape. You can also enjoy the scene while soaking in the heated outdoor infinity pool. The resort is located just 23 kilometers from Grand Teton National Park and about 100 kilometers from Yellowstone National Park, both of which offer a wide range of outdoor activities. Amangani has a private ski slope for guest use in winter, and the concierge can help arrange rentals for canoeing, kayaking and fishing the Snake River during the spring and summer.

Nestled in the mountains that make Park City, Utah, such a popular ski location is the Scandinavian-inspired Stein Eriksen Lodge. Although the alpine setting, rustic décor and mountain views win guests over, the unparalleled service, plush rooms and ski-in and ski-out access to Deer Valley Resort’s slopes may be what made the World Ski Awards name the Stein Eriksen Lodge as the world’s best ski hotel in 2014. In the summertime, the famous ski runs are transformed into hiking and mountain biking trails, and five nearby golf courses cater to guests, making the Stein Erikson Lodge a popular retreat for outdoor lovers year-round.

Surrounded by the iconic red-rock cliffs of Sedona, Arizona – less than 200 kilometers north of Phoenix – sits the luxurious Enchantment Resort. This resort’s adobe-style architecture blends with its surroundings, and each room has views of the red canyon walls and the green cottonwood trees. Explore the area on one of Enchantment’s guided hikes that are offered daily, then relax with a desert-inspired treatment at the spa. A tranquil retreat on the property’s 28 hectares, the Mii amo spa is regularly hailed as one of the top spas in the country. Among the resort's restaurant offerings is the regionally inspired, health-conscious Mii amo cafe. If you’re craving a bit more adventure, ask the resort staff to help you organize a horseback riding tour of the western canyons or a rafting trip through the Verde River Valley.