What it is

A new 139-room ultra-luxe ski lodge, with a private golf course by PGA champ Tom Weiskopf, five restaurants, and a 10,000 square foot spa, plus ski-in, ski-out access to the slopes.

What it isn't

Just about sports. Only 45 minutes away: the eye candy natural grandeur of Yellowstone National Park, a gem in all seasons.

What we think

If you’ve ever wanted to live any part of “A River Runs Through It,” Brad Pitt’s 1992 ode to fly fishing, this is the spot. Guests of Montage Big Sky have their pick of three fly-fishing rivers right on the premises—all teeming with rainbow and cutthroat trout. But that’s only the beginning of the thrills you’ll find in this corner of Montana, aptly nicknamed the Last Best Place. Among the activities here: skiing freshly fallen powder at Big Sky Resort, tucked in the Spanish Peaks; twirling on the ice rink; snowshoeing or hiking the surrounding forests; whooshing down the tubing hill; horseback riding atop kindly steeds...the list goes on. But the guest rooms are so perfectly executed in a palette of greige, black and blonde woods, we won’t blame you if you decide to spend a few afternoons just hanging out in yours. Each one is enormous (starting at 505 square feet) and stocked with a flickering fireplace, marble lined bathroom with double vanities and a walk-in shower, plus a separate sitting area ideal for cocktail hour. Upgrade to the One Bedroom Suite for a terrace that peeps out on the mountains, powder room, separate bedroom, and living room meant for just that: living.

You're here because

They have an on-site market and bakery that makes you feel like you live here. And the restaurants are truly topnotch (note the locally caught trout and housemade jams on the menu at the Living Room).

The Moment

You felt famished after a day on the slopes, and for something other than food: R&R. Blessedly, the spa awaited, with its 3,000-square-foot pool, salon, and Valmont facials. Sigh.

Restaurants & Bars

Cortina - traditional Northern Italian cuisine

Alpenglow - craft cocktails, beer, light snacks and savory Pacific-inspired bites

The Living Room - Montana-style high tea and après ski offering champagne or bourbon tea service along with local nibbles, from sandwiches to tableside raclette

Wildflower Market - bakery, café and marketplace, offering local artisan goods, take-away meals, specialty coffee and tea made to order and house-made ice cream

Backcast Bar & Grill - classic barbeque and smokehouse favorites

Beartooth Pub & Rec - offers wood-fired pizzas, classic pub fare and local craft beers

Location

An hour’s drive from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Big Sky, Montana, at the foot of the ski slopes of 5,800-acre Big Sky Resort.