Hotel Terra

It’s still one-of-a-kind, after all these years — while the ski resorts of Colorado and Utah have gone relentlessly upscale, Jackson Hole has kept close to its roots. Maybe it’s a conscious anti-development strategy, or maybe it’s just the simple fact that the airport’s runway is too short to handle long-haul flights from the coasts. One way or another, it’s largely avoided the luxury-condo-and-Prada-store atmosphere of places like Aspen. So it may come as some surprise to find something as stylish as the Hotel Terra.

The look is perhaps a bit more urban than you might expect, with next to nothing in the way of alpine-lodge kitsch. There’s a bit of unfinished wood and stone, to help you with a sense of place, and of course the views look out over the Tetons, for context. But you’ll have all the comforts of the city, from the 32-inch HD televisions to the gas fireplaces.

And the whole thing is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, with as much recycled material and as little resource use as possible. Going low-impact feels good, but there are more tangible details that feel better, like the heated floors and rain showers, or the infinity pool and the outdoor hot tub. There’s a cafe and an Italian restaurant, and a full-service spa, and plenty to do in town — here, though, it’s all about the mountain.

How to get there:
Jackson Hole Airport is serviced by Delta and United Airlines year-round and American Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines seasonally. Rental cars and taxis are available at the airport and in town.