A curving mountain road with glorious views leads to Stein Eriksen Lodge. Guests are greeted and escorted to the Arrival Lobby, with high cathedral ceiling, massive stone fireplace, and tall, artificial fir tree twinkling with hundreds of lights. Outside, paths wind through arboretum-like grounds planted with pine, aspen, and spruce. A brief stroll leads to the alpine-style Main Lodge, location of the restaurant, concierge desk, and ski facilities. The hotel is a favorite of celebrities, CEOs, and political leaders seeking luxury and seclusion.

What to expect: Painted brown, sand, and forest green to harmonize with the surrounding mountains, this contemporary hotel is part of Utah's world-class Canyons ski resort. The three-story lobby features an upscale mountain-lodge design with Native American influences. Popular with sports-minded vacationers year-round, the hotel also frequently hosts corporate meetings and retreats.

Amenity highlights: Situated at the base of the Flight of the Canyons gondola, this hotel offers ski-in/ski-out access. Dining options include a restaurant serving Western cuisine and a pub popular with the après-ski crowd. Recreational amenities include a year-round outdoor pool, three spa tubs, and a health club. The Mountain Man's Facial, the Hot Chocolate & Cherries Wrap, and a wide variety of massage therapies are among the treatments available at the spa.

Insider tip: Guests seeking an extreme adventure can test their mettle with the bobsled ride at the Utah Olympic Park, 2.5 miles from the hotel. Four-person bobsleds operated by professional drivers rocket down the Olympic track at 70-80 miles per hour, with four Gs of force. Rides are available during summer and winter; reservations far in advance are recommended.

Perched on the edge of town, Park City Peaks Hotel attracts couples and families looking for an affordable stay within minutes of Park City recreation. Skiers or mountain bikers rest next to the stone hearth of the fireplace in the warm lobby, or dine in the casual Rustic Creek Grille. The lively Upper Deck bar attracts as many locals as it does tourists.

The Park City Marriott is a timbered-and-gabled hotel in the Prospector Square shopping-and-office plaza. In the two-level lobby, caramel-colored leather couches face a stone fireplace; wrought-iron chandeliers are suspended from the beamed ceiling. On the mezzanine, guests work at laptops via wireless Internet access or relax in Western-style furniture, including big leather chairs embossed with silhouettes of cowhands.