It’s a fairy-tale getaway in the treetops … with a very short commute to the ski slopes.
Visitors who stay in the three, multilevel homes called Snow Bear Chalets at Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort in Whitefish, Montana can hit the chairlift for a day on the slopes (or miles of hiking) in an instant. It's literally right outside!
The chalets’ owner has billed these luxury rentals, perched 25 feet above the ground, as the world’s first ski-in/ski-out treehouses.
Each of the lodge-style living rooms has a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows that are big enough to make you feel like you’re living among the towering tamarack, ponderosa and cedar trees (fittingly, each chalet is named after and constructed from its namesake wood). It's the perfect setting to snuggle on a frosty winter night.
Outside, guests can store their ski supplies in a cabinet right on the porch, which overlooks the snow-topped mountains of Glacier National Park.
And the private hot tub on the balcony is the perfect spot for those who could use a little warming up.
The gourmet kitchen, with a gas range, convection oven, microwave, dishwasher and French-door refrigerator, is perfect for holing in for a home-cooked meal. After all, why would you leave?
There's also a master bedroom with a king-size bed and a loft above, which can accommodate twin beds or bunk beds in addition to another king. (The Cedar treehouse is the largest with three bedrooms instead of two.)
Each of the spaces take advantage of the top of the turret, where a ceiling filled with 600 twinkling, fiber-optic lights awaits atop of the ladder.
The luxury treatment doesn't stop there: Guests can order services from the resort such as a private chef, organic catering, grocery delivery and on-site massage, which might be necessary after all that added ski time.
The three separate treehouses (Ponderosa, Tamarack and Cedar) sleep anywhere from six to 10 people and can be rented individually or together to accommodate groups up to 22 people. New skiers don't have to worry; the chalets are located near an accessible slope for any skier level.
Rental rates range from about $528 to $1,138 per night, with a minimum seven-night stay and can be booked through the vacation rental site Homeaway.com.