WINTER WHIMSY

Holiday festivities at Montage Big Sky are over the top, with daily raclette, mulled wine, and Christmas cookies doled out to hungry skiers. Fun activities for the whole family include gingerbread man decorating and holiday movie nights. There are Hanukkah light ceremonies as well, plus creative food and drink pairings, from bourbon and bison to pinot noir and chocolate. This ski-in, ski-out resort is just steps away from the Lewis and Clark chairlift, so guests have seamless access to more than 5,800 acres of skiable terrain. Snowshoeing and tubing are popular too, and the new six-bedroom, single-family mountain homes are ideal for multigenerational travel. 995 Settlement Trail, montage.com/bigsky

LET THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN

‘Tis the season! The community-oriented Big Sky Christmas Stroll is a beloved annual tradition for locals and visitors alike, boasting a parade of holiday lights, live music, food vendors, and various activities for all ages. This year, the festivities take place on December 13 and 14 with a tree lighting ceremony, visits from Santa and his tribe, and opportunities for shopping local as many businesses will be offering special deals and extended hours. Meadow Village Center and Big Sky Town Center, visitbigsky.com/ christmas-stroll

PASSWORD PROTECTED

Montana’s first members-only private speakeasy opened in former staff quarters in the main lodge at Lone Mountain Ranch. The hostess locks up your phone and you’ll enter past a vintage phone booth before proceeding up the stairs to a chic cosmopolitan hangout that feels more like Prohibition-Era New York than rural Montana. Servers in bow ties and velvet vests will serve you A5 kobe beef sandwiches, bluefin tuna tartare, decadent desserts, and rare wines and spirits from a completely different menu than Horn & Cantle downstairs. Guests at Lone Mountain Ranch have access (just ask the concierge team) along with local members of the community, and you never know who you might run into smoking on the cigar terrace. 750 Lone Mountain Ranch Road, lonemountainranch.com/auric-room

NIGHT MODE

Headlamp night skiing at Big Sky Resort is unlike anything else in North America. As the sun sets on Lone Peak, fasten your headlamp and get ready for a private, guided ski tour of Andesite Mountain. It’s quiet and peaceful, yet it feels like the mountain comes alive at night as you watch the snowcats grooming trails to get ready for the next day in the distance, while the lights of the village buzz below. The headlamps provided are as powerful as a car headlight, illuminating the way for guests to carve down freshly groomed runs. Private lessons are available for groups of up to seven and all skiers and snowboarders should be comfortable connecting parallel turns on blue runs. 50 Big Sky Resort Road, bigskyresort.com/headlamp-night-skiing

ENCHANTED FOREST

Romantic for couples and fun for the whole family, the Enchanted Forest atop Andesite Mountain is a magical walk amongst immersive light displays along a kilometer-long path in the woods, with 10,000 lights illuminating your way, almost twice as big as last year. The holiday season kicks off with a complimentary lighting ceremony on December 11 (with hot chocolate included!). Dress warmly and wear snow boots, but heated seats and weatherproof bubbles on Ramcharger 8 will keep you cozy on the ride up. At the end of your walk, gather around the outdoor fireplace with marshmallows for s’mores or pop into Everrett’s 8800 for drinks. 50 Big Sky Resort Road, bigskyresort.com/winter-activities/ enchanted-forest