Set down on 3,530 acres of Montana’s Spanish Peaks range of mountains, Montage Big Sky has actually managed to swiftly redefine luxury skiing in the location considering that opening in December 2021.
Exploring Montage Big Sky this previous December, I was right away blown away by the resort’s design. Natural wood and stone mix effortlessly with modern touches to create a captivating and advanced mountain retreat simply an hour south of Bozeman. The resort boasts 139 guest spaces, suites, and homes, and large windows throughout the residential or commercial property make sure that guests can delight in the breathtaking peaks towering in the range. If my entire time at Montage Big Sky had actually been spent in just the lobby and my guest room, I would have walked away raving about the experience. However, the rooms are just the start of what makes the resort so unique, and my experience was simply starting.
There are a myriad of winter activities to choose from at Montage Big Sky from November through April. Visitors can enjoy a timeless ski day with ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky Resort, but Montage likewise uses snowshoeing, tubing, and even ice skating for those looking for something different to try during their stay.
As it was just my 2nd time snowboarding, Montage Big Sky helped craft the ideal ski itinerary for my novice ability level. The snow-capped horizon views alone made the adventure beneficial; looking up at this monstrous natural wonder reminded me how huge and gorgeous this world is, and how fun it is to explore it and try new things (even when I’m not really excellent at them).
After a hearty lunch stop at Everett’s 8800, Montage Big Sky arranged for its complimentary Cadillac service to pick me up and drive me back to the hotel rather of having me ski back, which was a bit above my level. It was a much-appreciated individualized touch and another example of how the property deals with all experience levels and specific requirements.
As much as I enjoy directing my daring side on the slopes, I have to confess that my preferred part of a ski getaway has been discovering the art of après-ski, and Montage Big Sky refined its après-ski offerings this winter season with the opening of newest dining idea La Grande Après at Backcast. The trendy outdoor dining space and champagne bar features raised mountain cuisine and the best of the bubbly, Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame.
During my check out, which marked both the launch of La Grande Dame 2015 and the event of Veuve Clicquot’s 250th anniversary, guests delighted in spectacular seafood towers, delicious sliders, pumpkin fondue, and a cinnamon roll that I still dream about today. To clean down the scrumptious bites, Oscar Chinchilla, the director of drink at Montage Big Sky, took us through an impressive white wine flight of Veuve Clicquot treasures. A saber demonstration on a bottle of La Grande Dame topped off the luxurious affair as my fellow guests and I toasted to an amazing opening.
La Grande Après at Backcast was idyllic for a post-ski jaunt after a morning on the slopes, however the splendid food alternatives just continued inside the resort. Every early morning I headed to the Wildflower Market, where I got a flaky pastry and warm latte for breakfast, and for dinner I enjoyed a modern dining experience at the resort’s signature dining establishment, Cortina. I was treated to succulent Sicilian scallop crudo, rack of venison, and tiramisu, as conventional Italian food was expertly prepared with a Montana style. It’s no surprise that the restaurant got an Editor’s Pick Award for Outlaw Partner’s Best Restaurant in Big Sky 2022 the weekend I happened to visit.
As somebody who is brand-new to ski-centric travel, I won’t pretend to be a professional on the luxury ski experience. The appeal of Montage Big Sky is that you do not have to be a professional to understand it when you see it– the resort has created the ideal ski vacation for every type of traveler, no matter their experience level on the slopes. From the adventure-seeker who wishes to invest all the time in the snow, to the visitor who is simply there to “après and chill,” and everybody in between, Montage’s meaning of luxury is satisfying whatever special vision you have for your see. The emphasis on creating a tailored experience for every guest is what puts this resort in its own category of quality, and what made my experience unforgettable.