By Stephanie Rosenbloom, December 24, 2024
It’s the time of year for s’mores and snuggling by a fire, and at these five cozy escapes — four new, and one pulling out the stops for its 200th anniversary — you can make the most of the season. Wander snowy trails and savor hearty cuisine at a boutique hotel in the Catskills, taste wine and play board games at a stylish ranch by Yosemite National Park , even learn the art of yodeling at a hideaway in the Austrian Alps. From a handsome room for two at a Victorian hotel in Ireland to a contemporary mountain home for the whole family in Montana, you just might find yourself wishing for winter to last.
GROVELAND, CALIF.
Firefall Ranch
Less than half an hour from Yosemite National Park’s Big Oak Flat Entrance, this new upscale ranch has 55 cottages and villas on what, according to the property, was a stop on the stagecoach route to Yosemite in the 1870s. And while the ranch offers various Yosemite excursions (for a fee), Firefall has some 300 acres of its own hills and meadowland to explore. After hiking its forested trails, indulge in s’mores at its pond-side fire pits. A guest lounge has a double-sided fireplace and leather couches, along with books, puzzles, word games and craft-making. Try your luck on the mini golf course or the disc golf course. Next year, the ranch plans to offer horseback riding as well. Operated by First Light Resorts (which has two other lodges nearby), the property is named for the firefall phenomenon in February when, if the conditions are right, the setting sun illuminates Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall, making it look as if it’s an orange stream flowing down the wall of El Capitan.
Before heading to Yosemite, pop into the General Store for for sandwiches, pastries and other items. After a day in the park, YOVA , the hotel restaurant, will warm you up with a menu that
includes grilled focaccia and salmon satays. Try the Tavern for easygoing dining, beginning with breakfasts like huevos rancheros and avocado toast.
Retreat to your villa or cottage (from one to three bedrooms) with touches of wood and heated bathroom floors, where you can relax by a double-sided indoor-outdoor fireplace and check out the stars from a covered deck. Prices from $650 in the off-season (November through March) and from $850 in peak season (April through October).
