Relaxing by a roaring fire, snuggling under soft blankets, and sipping a mug of hot chocolate define cozy comforts–and this is the perfect season for it.
For your next family getaway, take a break from the hectic pace of daily life and stay at a hotel that places a premium on cuddly luxuries. They’re great for winter, but you can get cozy any time of the year—and at just about any price point. From a rustic cabin near Yosemite National Park to a Vermont country inn to a Montana dude ranch, we’ve rounded up 10 hotels that understand understated amenities.
Evergreen Lodge
Groveland, California
Yosemite National Park’s majestic beauty should mesmerize even jaded teens. Set in a forest right near the park’s entrance, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better base camp than Evergreen Lodge. Guests stay in rustic cabins equipped with cast iron gas fireplaces, fluffy pillows, and Pendleton blankets. There’s a wicker basket filled with nostalgic games like Twister and practical perks such as a wooden stepstool to give tiny travelers a boost. Hammocks swaying between tall pines, a saltwater swimming pool, and a playground offer hours of fun. In the evening, campfire sing-alongs with gooey s’mores, stargazing, and bingo are old-school diversions. evergreenlodge.com
The Hermitage Inn
West Dover, Vermont
Nestled in Vermont’s Green Mountains with paths for snowshoeing and an ice-skating rink, the historic Hermitage Inn looks like a winter wonderland. It’s equally delightful in warmer weather, when guests may hike, cycle, fish in the stocked pond, and kayak on nearby lakes. A covered bridge and apple orchard make it a bona fide New England classic. Rooms have plush area rugs strewn over wide-plank wood floors, fireplaces, and soft lap blankets. Common spaces include saunas, Jacuzzi tubs, and firepits. The onsite restaurant partners with local farms and cheesemakers, creating scrumptious seasonal menus topped off with mouth-watering desserts. Adult-only indulgences include an award-winning wine cellar and an intimate spa. Thehermitageinn.com
Canoe Place
Hampton Bays, New York
The Hamptons may be a summer playground for the elite but the vibe is less pretentious in Hampton Bays. That’s where you’ll find Canoe Place Inn & Cottages, a new inn located one mile from calm bay beaches and just a few minutes farther from the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel provides complimentary beach transportation, towels, chairs, umbrellas, and sand toys for an easy-peasy day at the shore anytime of the year. Rooms and private cottages have paneled walls, wood floors, downy throw blankets, fireplaces, and clawfoot bathtubs big enough to fit a small family. Padded rocking chairs on private terraces are the perfect perch for a bedtime story. A beautiful breakfast buffet is included in the room rate, while the convivial onsite restaurant, Good Ground Tavern, serves soothing soups and fresh seafood. canoeplace.com
Little River Inn
Mendocino, California
Northern California’s Mendocino Coast is a patchwork of crashing waves, jagged cliffs, and redwood trees. Settled by New Englanders in the mid-1800s, the town of Mendocino looks lifted from a Norman Rockwell painting. Family-owned Little River Inn is situated high on a bluff. Guest rooms have uninterrupted Pacific views, decks with rocking chairs, and fireplaces for the cool, foggy nights that are so common in these parts. Board games, family-friendly DVDs, tennis courts, and a 9-hole golf course should keep kids entertained. For breakfast, the restaurant serves luscious hotcakes made from an old Swedish family recipe. Van Damme State Park is just a short stroll from the inn via a private trail, where miles of fern-carpeted paths meander alongside Little River. littleriverinn.com
Flathead Lake Lodge
Big Fork, Montana
Flathead Lake Lodge is a seasonal Montana dude ranch that has been owned and operated by the same family for three generations. A sense of continuity trickles down to guests, many who have vacationed here since childhood. Horseback riding, water sports on the lake, programs for kids, and locally-sourced meals offer an immersion in Western culture. For a memorable day trip, Glacier National Park is nearby. There’s no roughing it at Flathead Lake Lodge. Spacious cabins are rustic yet tasteful, with wood floors, beds adorned with snug quilts, and knotty-pine log furniture. Window boxes overflow with colorful flowers and chairs on the front porch offer views of Flathead Lake. The main lodge has a big stone fireplace, dining hall, and additional guest rooms. flatheadlakelodge.com
Mirror Lake Inn
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is an Adirondack village that has twice hosted the Winter Olympics. It’s a hub for families craving mountain air in all seasons with easy access to miles of forests and hiking trails. The village has plentiful dining and shopping options. In the evening, families stroll over to 50s-style ice cream parlor Emma’s Lake Placid Creamery for a soft-serve cone. The Mirror Lake Inn is located across the street from its namesake lake, a scenic backdrop for skating in winter and swimming in summer. Family owned since the 1920s, it’s a welcoming hotel with a Currier-and-Ives feel. Rooms, some with fireplaces, oversized jetted tubs, and lake views, are loaded with low-key charm. The inn’s casual dining spot, The Cottage, is noted for its savory comfort food, such as Yankee Pot Roast and chili served in a bread bowl. mirrorlakeinn.com
Bishop’s Lodge
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe combines a dramatic landscape with a robust art scene and outdoor activities. Its distinctive culinary scene offers some of the best food in the American West, including kid-pleasers like Christmas enchiladas, stuffed and rolled tortillas topped with both red and green sauce. At Bishop’s Lodge, a sense of place is woven throughout the property. Room and private casitas preserve Southwestern heritage with traditional kiva fireplaces, Navajo rugs, and colorful textiles made by local craftspeople; some have private terraces with views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. For family reunions, the 12-bedroom bunkhouse is crafted from reclaimed barn wood, with vaulted ceilings and a stone fireplace. Hiking trails in the Santa Fe National Forest are easily accessed from the property or get into the saddle and try horseback riding with experienced wranglers leading the way. aubergeresorts.com
Grand Hotel
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Located on Northern Michigan’s Mackinac Island, Grand Hotel has been welcoming guests since 1887, so it’s no surprise a yesteryear quality prevails. With no cars on Mackinac Island, explorations are on bike, foot, and horse-drawn carriage. The front porch claims to be the longest in the world, with rocking-chairs presenting memorable views of the Straits of Mackinac. Guest rooms are individually appointed with two-poster wooden beds, French doors, and printed wall fabrics. Traditions abound, including dressing for dinner for guests over age 12, afternoon tea, croquet on the lawn, and nightlydancing to a live orchestra. Open seasonally from May thru October. grandhotel.com
Big Cedar Lodge
Ridgedale, Missouri
With 362 lakeside cottages, cabins, lodge rooms, and glamping tents, Big Cedar Lodge proves that a large resort can feel homey. Each unit embraces the Ozark Mountain surroundings with comforts that include wood-burning fireplaces, Mission-style furniture, and covered porches. Families are catered to with campfires, bingo, and pottery painting classes. There’s an array of onsite dining options, including snappy bison hot dogs served out of a log cabin with a deck overlooking the lake at Johnny’s Hot Dog Stand. bigcedar.com
Woodstock Inn
Woodstock, Vermont
Woodstock is a quaint Vermont village with a general store and village green. The Woodstock Inn is in the center of town, a traditional white clapboard building where guest rooms have handmade wood furniture crafted by Vermont artisans and homespun flannel blankets. Freshly baked cookies are served each afternoon, enticing visitors to snack by the fire. The inn’s Kelly Way Gardens grow hundreds of varieties of vegetables, many of them heirloom, providing a fountain of culinary inspiration at the onsite eateries. A mushroom glen, fruit orchards, herbs, and edible flowers round out the just-picked offerings. A visit to the Billings Farm and Museum, a working Jersey dairy farm, is a must. In winter, visitors may cuddle under a blanket as they ride in a horse-drawn sleigh. woodstockinn.com
