Happy Wanderer: Great ski getaways just short flights from the Bay Area
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this month, so it’s time for a mountain vacation. Inspired by the Winter Olympics, here are three great getaways with short, nonstop flights from the Bay Area that celebrate the season’s snow and serenity.
Whitefish/Kalispell, Montana: United Airlines has expanded its direct service from San Francisco to Glacier Park International Airport, a short drive to world-class Whitefish Mountain Resort and the smaller, family-owned Blacktail Mountain Ski Area.
You won’t find either on the Epic or Icon passes, which means fewer skiers and shorter lift lines. The proximity to Flathead Lake, even larger in surface area than Lake Tahoe, also means stunning views and a phenomenon called “snow ghosts” — when ice crystals form on the pines. Both resorts have long, lazy runs for multigenerational skiers and boarders but also challenging terrain for advanced skiers and riders.
The Flathead Valley has been growing rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic, with its extraordinary beauty framed by the Salish Mountains to the west and the Rockies to the east. The towns of Whitefish and Kalispell have the kind of restaurants and shops Californians expect but with an independent streak that sets Montanans apart.
The main streets are cowboy-cool — with plenty of Western bars and booteries mixed with boutique shops and a hot trend — distilleries. Lodging in downtown Whitefish has gone upscale with the January opening of the 39-room boutique Larch House hotel designed by renowned architect Olson Kundig. The Lodge at Whitefish Lake is elegant and rustic, with a towering, stuffed grizzly bear greeting guests in the lobby.
Kalispell has the brand-name hotels, where points and loyalty go a long way. There are also the unconventional options, like staying in a silo at Clark Farm; a modern shipping container at Glacier Contained; or even a custom-built covered wagon at Bar W Guest Ranch.
Alta, Utah: At the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, just 29 miles from Salt Lake City, Alta seems frozen in time. The site of a 19th century silver mining camp, Alta Ski Area turns 88 this year and takes its history and stewardship seriously.
If it’s a sprawling mountain village with shopping you seek, you won’t find it here. Instead, there’s a dedicated team managing everything from sustainability to land conservation and water/energy usage in this pristine and rural Wasatch Mountain setting.
From Powerbird helicopter skiing to snowshoe tours and even birding on skis, Alta Ski Area has some standout winter activities, including access to the Interconnect — backcountry terrain where advanced skiers can make runs in up to six resorts in one day.
Book a room in the historic Snowpine Lodge at the base of Alta Ski Area, and you have elevated dining with 22-year “seasoned” Chef Senthil Krishnamurthy, an on-site rental shop, private theater and the seductive Stillwell Spa, where candles illuminate the granite walls with luxurious treatment rooms and a private plunge pool.
Sun Valley, Idaho: Sun Valley has a long list of accolades, including the world’s first chairlift and a No. 1 ski resort ranking by Ski magazine. Seventy-seven former and current Olympians hail from the area that is recognized as America’s first destination resort. Built 90 years ago by the Union Pacific Railroad, Sun Valley is actually its own city, although it’s intertwined with the historic mining and sheep-ranching enclave of Ketchum.
Free bus service connects Sun Valley and Ketchum to two ski areas — the gentle, wide-open slopes of Dollar Mountain and Sun Valley’s signature ski area, Bald Mountain, with 3400 vertical feet of diverse terrain for all types of skiers and riders.
Visitors who stay at Sun Valley Resort will find a luxury lodge and a more modest inn in a charming mountain village reminiscent of the Swiss Alps. An opera house on the property hosts performances, and its tower clock chimes every 15 minutes.
Fondue is served at the 1937 European-style Ram Restaurant. Konditorei’s chalet-style eatery serves Austrian dishes, including schnitzel and a hearty chicken and spätzle soup. There are warm pools for soaking and a huge skating rink and amphitheater.
The beauty and vigorous outdoor lifestyle in this region cannot be overstated. Ketchum is part of the Blaine County Recreational District, which grooms miles of cross-country ski trails in town and at the popular Galena Nordic Lodge. Lodge visitors can even stay overnight in heated yurts, accessible in winter on skis or snowshoes.
Ginny Prior can be reached at ginnyprior@hotmail.com and followed on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and at ginnyprior.com.
If you go
Each town has its own visitors bureau, and the resorts have package deals.