Get away from the city and really embrace winter with our picks of luxury ranches, lodges and resorts in the Great White North
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock/Pierdelune
Hong Kong, splendid city though it may be, is not really the proper location to experience a winter wonderland. Under other circumstances, we might have been extolling the virtues of a beach holiday, but sometimes one just yearns for a bit of snowy magic.
To experience a true winter, look to these destinations on the continent of North America. Escape the humdrum of city life, get some fresh air and rediscover your life for the wilderness. Click on for our edit for the most luxurious ranches, ski lodges and resorts for a virtual frolic in the snow.
Nita Lake Lodge, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
Photo courtesy of Nita Lake Lodge
Comfort and athleticism are both the focus at Nita Lake Lodge, located on the shores of the glacier-fed Lake Placid. Claiming to be “Whistler’s best kept secret”, luxury accommodations of this lakeside retreat feature double soaker tubs, basalt gas fireplaces and heated floors.
The lodge is just a short distance away from the sporty ski town of Whistler, but if hitting the slopes isn’t your scene, it also offers fitness classes, personal training and an onsite yoga studio. If you’re simply looking to relax and rejuvenate, take a dip in the outdoor hot tubs and bask in the mountain views. Innovative locally-sourced cuisine, including house-baked bread and pastries, is also served on the premises.
Dunton Hot Springs Resort, Colorado, USA 
Photo courtesy of Dunton
Located within a ghost town in the San Juan Mountains of the Colorado Rockies, Dunton Hot Springs Resort provides exclusive luxury getaways all year round. Choose from a number of restored hand-hewn cabins or rent out the entire town for a large gathering. Dunton has all the staples of a five-star resort, including holistic spa treatments, quality food, and winter activities ranging from heli-skiing, hiking, and even winter horseback riding. But the highlight of this resort are no doubt the calcium bicarbonate hot springs — of which the high mineral content is recommended for various therapeutic health benefits.
Post Hotel & Spa, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
Photo courtesy of Post Hotel
Experience the breath-taking Canadian Rockies at Post Hotel & Spa, a historic alpine lodge in Banff National Park nearby Lake Louise. The hotel boasts an elegant rustic charm with beamed ceilings, pine furnishings, goose-down duvets and bathrooms with slate floors. A myriad of tastes are catered to here—for indulgence-seekers, varying spa treatments are available, such as hot stone massages and mud therapy, to soothe after an active day outdoors. And for the gourmand, Post Hotel’s numerous options are sure to please, with illustrious gourmet cuisine paired with offerings from its grand award-winning wine cellar, with more than 25,000 bottles to complement any preference.
Hôtel Quintessence, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada
Photo courtesy of Hôtel Quintessence
Situated at the base of the Laurentian mountains of the Mont-Tremblant Resort Village, Hôtel Quintessence is an all-suites luxury boutique hotel with access to picturesque views of Lake Tremblant. Whether you're seeking tranquility or adventure, the hotel has both of them in spades. Mont-Tremblant is renowned for its magnificent skiing and you won't find yourself short of things to do here. Outdoor activities include sledding, hiking, canoeing and golf. And if you so happen to need a pick-me-up afterwards, you can turn to the hotel restaurant for some fresh French-Quebecois fusion cuisine, considered one of the finest eateries in Quebec province, or try out the spa for some idyllic pampering and sumptuous relaxation.
Ranch at Rock Creek, Philipsburg, Montana, USA 
Photo courtesy of Ranch at Rock Creek
If you're looking for all the trappings of a ranch without sacrificing on comfort or extravagance, The Ranch at Rock Creek is the one for you. This 6,000-acre mountain playground includes a host of activities from outdoorsy things like skeet shooting and fly-fishing to indoors fun with a cinema and a four-lane bowling alley. The ranch pays tribute to the spirit of the Wild West with inspired decor consisting of cowhide rugs and Native American-style textiles, while managing to steer clear of cowboy cliché. The lush accommodations allow you your pick of lodge rooms or stand-alone log homes, and the meals are nothing to scoff at, either. This luxurious getaway is even supermodel-approved: Victoria's Secret models Lily Aldridge and Martha Hunt rang in 2017 here.