For centuries, the American west has fired imaginations with visions of romance and adventure. Couples who make the area their honeymoon destination will find both in abundance—regardless of whether they plan to travel in the sun or snow seasons. Here, experts in 5 locales west of the Rocky Mountains share their favorite spaces and hidden gems.
Words by Marilyn Odesser-Torpey and “WT” Staff
While in Aspen, stay at The Little Nell, a luxury ski-in, ski-out resort boasting views of Aspen Mountain and the Elk Mountain Range. Photo by Shawn O’Connor.
Aspen, Colorado
Catch a Thrill
Whether you prefer your water in the form of snow or raging rapids, Aspen offers Rocky Mountain thrills all year long, says Liz Watson, director of sales at the Aspen Chamber Resort Association. On or off the mountain, there are plenty of places to play or settle in for some relaxation and romance.
Play: This winter, one ski/snowboarding pass gives enthusiasts access to four unique mountain experiences, from beginner-friendly to expert-challenging terrain. Off the mountain, guided snowmobiling tours of White River National Forest with T-Lazy-7 Ranch are another big draw in the cold season. Après ski, Watson suggests the RAKxa Wellness Spa at The St. Regis Aspen Resort for a personalized, candlelit couple’s massage. Come summer, white-water rafting is another sport of choice. Blazing Adventure outfitters can provide guidance and equipment, Watson says, as well as a shuttle to best view the wine-colored Maroon Bells of the Snowmass Wilderness—one of the most photographed peaks in North America.
Stay: Overnight at The Little Nell, a contemporary luxury hotel and the only ski-in, ski-out accommodation in Aspen. History buffs might prefer the beautifully preserved Hotel Jerome, a landmark since 1889. For individual condos with a host of amenities, try The Gant, a luxury four-star accommodation.
Dine: Watson likes Pine Creek Cookhouse, nestled at the base of the rugged Elk Mountains, where wild game and fresh fish are paired with organic, seasonal ingredients. In summer, you can simply drive 1½ miles up the mountain to the restaurant; in winter, the only ways to reach it are by cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or a 20-minute ride in a wood sleigh pulled by Percheron draft horses. At his Michelin-star Bosq Aspen, chef-owner Barclay Dodge is so serious about his seasonal tasting menus that he forages many of the ingredients from the surrounding forest. For fine Mediterranean fare, Wild Fig is another of Watson’s favorites—she also likes crepes and sweet treats from French Alpine Bistro Creperie du Village.
Surrounded by Sedona’s red-rock majesty, the Enchantment Resort’s Casa Suites feature cozy fireplaces and patios with sweeping views of Boynton Canyon. Photo by Mary Claire Photography.
Sedona, Arizona
Feel the Energy
Photo by Adobe Stock/Leilani
Some people think that Arizona is just one big cactus-filled desert. But Kelly Peckham begs to differ. “It’s a beautiful place with unmatched landscapes, a host of outdoor activities, wonderful food, and great shopping,” says the affiliate adviser for Carlisle Travel in Phoenix. “Every turn reveals another layer of color, texture, and energy.” For example, on a drive through Oak Creek Canyon on Highway 89A, “the road winds between red-rock cliffs, golden cottonwoods, and tall pines, and the air smells of juniper and rain-washed stone.”
Play: A place renowned for spiritual healing, Sedona is home to four main vortex sites, where Earth’s electromagnetic field is believed to be stronger. Peckham says visitors often describe sensations of calm, tingling warmth, or emotional clarity at these sites, the most famous of which are Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, and Boynton Canyon. The more challenging climbs are rewarded with majestic views and vortex energy. For a couple’s wellness experience, try one of several spas and retreats focusing on yoga, meditation, spiritual awakening, or holistic healing. Peckham recommends SpiritQuest Sedona Retreats, where treatments are designed to bring partners closer together. You can also find practitioners in the area who specialize in crystal therapy, aura and psychic readings, and chakra balancing, as well as downtown shops selling crystals and other spiritual-oriented items.
Stay: With its Southwestern décor and private decks and patios overlooking Boynton Canyon, the Enchantment Resort is “simply magnificent,” Peckham says. The resort’s Casa Suites and Casita Studios include gas fireplaces, while the Adobe Grand Villas feature two fireplaces and jetted tubs for couples. At this homey accommodation, you will be welcomed with freshly baked bread, a complimentary chef-prepared breakfast, and homemade cookies.
Dine: Two of Peckham’s preferred places to dine include Cress on Oak Creek (a breakfast of bourbon-glazed French toast, blueberry-and-basil pancakes, and chilaquiles) and Elote Café, offering an authentic taste of the Southwest with a tasty Mexican twist. She likes the namesake fire-roasted street corn, the lamb adobo, the buffalo mole poblano, and duck carnitas.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Get Cultural
Known as “The City Different” because of its unique blend of cultures, Santa Fe is perfect for exploring ancient and modern worlds, savoring legendary cuisine, and immersing yourself in activities both indoors and out. Joanne Hudson, PR manager for Tourism Santa Fe, says whatever you choose, the weather is likely to cooperate; the city sees more than 300 days of sunshine and mild temperatures year-round.
Photo by Adobe Stock/Andriy Blokhin
Play: Hudson suggests acquainting yourself with Santa Fe’s artsy character with a stroll along Canyon Road, which boasts more than 80 fine-art galleries in adobe homes. She describes the stretch as “one of the most enchanting half miles in America.” Cook together—and learn some new recipes for your life as a married couple—with a hands-on class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking. Discover a favorite sparkling wine during a tasting flight at the Gruet Winery at the Hotel St. Francis; purchase a bottle to save for your first-year-anniversary toast. Or indulge your sweet tooth with velvety truffles or chocolate elixirs at Kakawa Chocolate House. For the ultimate relaxation after a day on the town, book a private hot tub suite at Ten Thousand Waves Japanese spa resort, where you can also enjoy treatments like deep-tissue massage and salt rubs.
A short drive from Santa Fe’s bustling downtown, La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa offers the tranquility and relaxation many honeymooners seek in this New Mexico destination. Courtesy of La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa.
Stay: With posh suites in detached casita-style adobe cottages, La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa is “a memorable setting for a honeymoon,” Hudson says. Its full-service Sage Spa offers luxurious treatments in a tranquil setting synonymous with the healing Southwest, as well as a modern fitness center and yoga classes. At Bishop’s Lodge, mountaintop kiva suites with private fireplaces and plunge pools provide deep serenity, just a 10-minute drive from the city’s bustling center. At Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort, you’ll find a true desert oasis, Hudson notes. Complimentary daily yoga and natural hot springs for soaking are part of the package.
Dine: At Geronimo, you can experience dinner in true Santa Fe style, in a 1756 adobe house with Native American–inspired kiva fireplaces and wood beams. Original takes on upscale dishes like Mexican white prawns, lobster, elk tenderloin, and pork tomahawk are featured on the innovative menu. A four-course, prix-fixe vegetarian tasting offers an optional wine pairing. Another of Hudson’s picks, The Compound Restaurant, features globally influenced fare and a stellar wine list. Coyote Cafe, she says, brings Southwestern flair to everything from cheese ravioli to wagyu beef rib.
Known for its two world-class ski destinations, Park City transforms in summer, offering a whole new slate of wild adventures. Photo by Adobe Stock/SeanPavonePhoto.
Park City, Utah
Explore the Wilderness
With more than 400 miles of paved and natural-surface trails to ski, snowboard, hike, and mountain bike, Park City is a sport lover’s paradise year-round, says Courtney Ryan, communications manager for the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. Horseback riding, offered at several local ranches, is another experience “not to be missed.”
Play: While striking yellow aspen trees provide “incredible scenic drives” in the fall, the view from a hot-air balloon is nothing short of spectacular, Ryan says. Park City is also home to two world-class ski destinations: Deer Valley and Park City Mountain. Deer Valley’s skiable terrain doubled in size this season, now featuring 80 more runs and seven new chairlifts. For novices, the resort offers one of the largest and most prestigious ski schools in the country. Or, if letting someone else dash you through the snow sounds more your speed, Ryan recommends a dog-sledding adventure. (There are five tour operators located within a short drive of Park City.) True to its heritage as a 19th-century silver-mining town, the city also boasts exciting shopping opportunities, especially for those who like shiny things. Historic Main Street features more than 100 boutiques carrying everything from fine art to upscale clothing and jewelry.
Stay: For an elevated experience—literally and figuratively—Montage Deer Valley boasts luxe accommodations and alpine views. The ski-in, ski-out resort provides a host of activities, a spa, and several dining options, ranging from upscale continental cuisine to its own sushi and Slope Stream camper. Another spirited experience is the signature High West Whiskey Rubdown at The Lodge at Blue Sky in nearby Wanship. Beginning with a salt-and-sage foot soak and a shot of whiskey to sip, the treatment includes a massage and scalp invigoration.
Dine (and Imbibe): Your evening dining experience begins with a 25-minute snowcat-drawn sleigh ride up the Wasatch Mountains to The Viking Yurt, where you’ll enjoy nonalcoholic spiced-cider glogg to warm you up, Ryan says. Six hearty courses give you a true taste of Nordic traditions. In Park City’s downtown French Quarter, she recommends Courchevel Bistro, where European-inspired specialties such as arctic char bouillabaisse and slow-roasted duck breast with cherry gastrique are served in a white-tablecloth setting. For gin fans, Ryan recommends a spirits-making class with award-winning master distiller Sara Sergent at Alpine Distilling. The bespoke cocktail menu alone makes the distillery a worthy destination.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Play in the Snow
Winters are long in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with snow sometimes lasting until early July. And that’s just the way the locals like it, says Lanier Brooks, owner and founder of LuxeJH travel agency in Jackson Hole. That means plenty of time for cold-weather sports.
Play: She suggests a full-day excursion with Jackson Hole Iditarod Sled Dog Tours, which include a hot lunch and a swim in the warm Granite Hot Springs. Snowmobiling in the stunning wilderness of Yellowstone National Park with Brushbuck Wildlife Tours is another exhilarating experience. Brooks notes that September is a great time of year to visit because many tourists have cleared out, and summer activities are still available. She tells her newlywed clients to start with a winter or summer safari with Jackson Hole Eco Tour Adventures in Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Park to get the lay of the land. From a car with an expert naturalist guide, you can spot elk, wolves, bears, a variety of birds, and other native animals. For skiing and snowboarding, “Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has the best in the country,” Brooks says. Summer adventures at the resort include gondola rides up the mountain, paragliding, guided high-alpine climbs, hiking, and biking. Summer is also the perfect time to take a scenic float trip in a wooden drift boat on the Snake River with Jackson Hole Vintage Adventures, or to immerse yourself in the serenity of fly-fishing.
Stay: The Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa may not sound romantic, but it offers “next level” ambience and service that make this newly renovated boutique property in Jackson Hole Brooks’ first choice for overnight accommodations for honeymooners. Room décor reflects a unique blend of Western charm and world-class comfort (you even get a teddy bear). Many rooms include a fireplace and/or balcony. The spa features a multitude of pampering and lifestyle-inspiring couples’ treatments.
September is one of the best times to visit Jackson Hole—most tourists have departed, but the warmth and summer adventures linger. Photo by Adobe Stock/Jo Ann Snover.
Dine: What better way to start a celebratory dinner than with caviar service? At Snake River Grill, that’s only the introduction to a meal that features such premium proteins as bone-in wagyu rib eye, wild boar, and sausage-stuffed quail. While the inside dining room is open all year, the rooftop of Kampai restaurant in Jackson is the place to be from June through October, weather permitting. Brooks reports that the sushi and other traditional Japanese favorites are outstanding, and if you want to treat yourself to a real feast, ask the server to collaborate with the chef to prepare a multicourse tasting menu (omakase). Steaks—beef, bison, and elk—are the stellar attractions at White Buffalo Club in Jackson.