<p>With the cold season bearing down on us in a few short months, it’s time to make plans for the winter wonderlands of the West, where countless mountain ranges boast an avalanche of group offerings.</p><p>From spectacular skiing to snowy safaris and more, here’s a look at eight great ways for groups to enjoy a peak experience in the North American West.</p><p><strong>Wowed in Whistler</strong><br>
For groups with a healthy budget and high expectations, IfOnly is a self-proclaimed “experiential marketplace” showcasing exclusive offerings—with the added benefit of helping an established charity with each transaction. And one of its most memorable offerings is undoubtedly a special excursion into Western Canada.</p><p>The Whistler Heli-Skiing Chalet Getaway package can host up to 14 attendees at the Belmont Chalet, a private estate sprawling across 8,100 square feet and boasting such amenities as a massive hot tub, a heated pool and a billiards table. In addition to the spectacular heli-skiing experience on Whistler’s famed slopes, the package can include customized ice sculptures, mountaintop bonfires and even the chance to ski with an Olympian.</p><p>And for a bang-bang finale, a customized fireworks display can also be arranged for your group.</p><p>“It’s pretty rare for a corporate retreat to incorporate having a private helicopter and pilot at your beck-and-call, and how often does a group get to enjoy dinner at the summit of a mountaintop glacier?” says Craig Seymour, director of sales for IfOnly. “Because of the time and careful planning that IfOnly’s concierge team puts into each element, it’s the type of experience that your colleagues or customers will talk about for years to come.”</p><div style="clear: both; float: right;"><div id="callout_style_0" class="sidebar_related_article"></div></div><p><strong>Uniquely Utah</strong><br>
The Beehive State has always gotten plenty of buzz for its outdoor offerings, but planners scratching beneath the surface will discover a truly unique Utah outing.</p><p>The Homestead Crater, in the Heber Valley, offers a 90-degree sunken lagoon within a dramatic domelike structure, and a variety of possibilities for groups. Attendees can scuba dive, swim, stand-up paddleboard or even relax with some yoga through Park City Yoga Adventures. Nearby Zermatt Resort even offers a ski and soak package that visits the crater as a fun follow-up to a day on the slopes.</p><p>The crater can only host groups of up to about 10 at once, though larger groups could potentially break up their party into smaller excursions.</p><p><strong>Colorado Christmas</strong><br>
Planners pondering something out of the ordinary in the Rocky Mountain State should consider the medley of amusements at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. and its Winter on the Mountain festival, in Glenwood Springs, Colo., which are not only amazing but also affordable, according to Mandy Gauldin, public relations representative.</p><p>“I believe the Adventure Park is perfect for groups in the winter for a couple of reasons,” Gauldin remarks. “First, it’s something completely different from most Colorado winter destinations. You can ride the tram, take two guided cave tours, ride the longest alpine coaster in Colorado, play laser tag and watch movies in the 4D theater, all for much less than the price of a lift ticket at most ski resorts. The Winter on the Mountain activities debuting this year add even more fun, with more than 400,000 twinkling lights, a winter tubing hill, a giant Christmas tree with a light show set to music, and a fire pit for roasting s’mores.”</p><p>For groups seeking a wholesome New Year’s Eve experience, the nearby Glenwood Hot Springs resort hosts an annual alcohol-free bash featuring its humongous mineral springs pool.</p><p><span class="page-break">PageBreak</span></p><p><strong>Trippy Tubing</strong><br>
The Mount Hood Skibowl in northern Oregon, the largest night-ski area in the U.S., got even cooler two seasons ago with the addition of the nation’s first Cosmic Tubing area.</p><p>“Picture cosmic bowling, but set on a mountain under the stars with more lights than a disco club,” says Annie Bailey, public relations and communications manager for Clackamas County Tourism and Cultural Affairs. “Grab a hot toddy and warm up in Multorpor Lodge at the top of the tube hill before sailing down the snow in neon glory. And you don’t even have to walk your tube back up, since they have the only conveyor-lift tube tow on Mount Hood.”</p><p>Bailey adds that Skibowl also has the world’s only Cosmic Ziplines, so whether your group is flying through the sky or zooming down a hill there’ll be plenty of colorful thrills.</p><p>“Nothing screams group bonding like conquering a mountain enveloped in laser lights!” Bailey adds.</p><p><strong>Tahoe Dinner Treks</strong><br>
Lake Tahoe’s culinary scene has exploded in recent years, and it’s hard to picture a more memorable meal outing than the one provided as a fresh addition to Alpine Meadows Resort in Tahoe City, Calif., along the famed lake’s northern shores.</p><p>Able to host up to about 30 attendees, the Snowcat Tour and Dinner is hosted at the resort’s Chalet, a Swiss-style venue completely made over for the 2013-’14 winter season. Catered dinners offer planners numerous choices, including several European dishes, but it’s the overall adventure that will really have attendees talking.</p><p>“The snowcat dinners at the Chalet provide a truly unique experience for groups,” says Amelia Richmond, senior public relations manager for Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. “Whether it’s the thrill of riding in the snowcat up the mountain, the fun of dining in the Alps-inspired Chalet, or the experience of having the mountain entirely to yourself, it’s sure to be an evening everyone will remember.”</p><p><strong>Santa Fe Forays</strong><br>
As the nation’s highest-elevated state capital, Santa Fe, N.M., offers some unbeatable team bonding opportunities and it’s also quite budget-friendly in the winter for a mountain locale.</p><p>“Unlike other winter destinations, it’s our value season,” says Kristin Lepisto, director of sales and marketing for La Posada de Santa Fe, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa. “Downtown Santa Fe is gorgeous in the winter and there are numerous historic sites within easy walking distance of the Plaza, which makes it perfect for geocaching teambuilding activities.</p><p>“Even on a cold day the teams can warm up at a museum and even take advantage of the city’s rich culinary history by stopping for a Mayan hot chocolate tasting or a cooking class involving chiles,” she continues. “For a snow-loving crowd, we can arrange for an igloo-building activity where the group snowshoes up to a winter meadow and works together to build an igloo.”</p><p><strong>Montana Sleigh Rides</strong><br>
Montana’s “Big Sky” country is an ideal place for a wonderful wintry sleigh ride, with numerous lodgings now offering the quintessential outing, including the 320 Guest Ranch in southwest Montana near Big Sky and the Double Arrow Lodge in Seeley Lake.</p><p>At the 320 Guest Ranch, a moonlight ride is led by two prized Percheron horses, with a midpoint stop at a warming tent where guests can warm up—or just fill up!—with a bowl of cowboy chili or a festive libation such as hard cider or wine. Then it’s back on the sleigh, where riders often break into Christmas carols beneath large blankets.</p><p>And a few hours northwest in “Glacier Country,” Double Arrow Resort provides a serene excursion through forests and fields before returning to its main lodge, where hot chocolate is served around a roaring fireplace.</p><p>“An iconic group outing is one that enables participants to have an up-close experience with an area’s culture,” says Tia Troy, communication manager for Glacier Country Tourism. “And a sleigh ride at Double Arrow Lodge introduces attendees to that town’s mountain and forest culture, as well as Montana’s love for winter.”</p><p><strong>Wyoming Wildlife</strong><br>
In Wyoming, Spring Creek Ranch provides an amazing adventure that allows attendees to spot free-roaming fauna such as elk, bighorn sheep and wolves. while also experiencing Yellowstone National Park at its unfettered best.</p><p>The outing transports attendees through Yellowstone in a special snowcoach enhanced with tank treads, accompanied by the resort’s on-staff naturalist, Phoebe Stoner. With car traffic embargoed during the snowy months, your group will have the park practically all to the themselves, with visual highlights that include a stupendous eruption from Old Faithful, as cold temps cause greater geyser pressure.</p><p>The ranch’s location in enchanting little Jackson Hole is another bonus for attendees.</p>
