This Resort Might Be the Most Unlikely Après-ski Spot in the U.S.
You can ski in Nevada — and après in Vegas.
Rum Tongue/Courtesy of Circa
Lots of wild things happen in Las Vegas, but the Circa Resort & Casino is here to ensure its winter program goes down as legendary.
The casino is using its Winter Swim events to show that Vegas is more than just the slots and hot summer pool parties. In fact, it's transformed its pool amphitheater into a winter wonderland called the Ski Lodge, which happens to be home to the city's largest hot tub.
Ryan Gobuty/Courtesy of Circa
Stadium Swim, a multi-level aqua amphitheater, has six enormous heated pools open all season long, with two swim-up bars, surrounded by 337 lounge chairs and 38 daybeds, which offer the perfect view of the enormous high-resolution 14-million-pixel screen that shows the day's top sporting events. Winter pool temps range from a cozy 94 to 103 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a prime place for an après-ski event. Guests can sip on classic Vegas libations, like frozen cocktails, or cooler climate-inspired drinks, including pumpkin spiced mules and spiked hot chocolates, just like in their favorite chalet.
And while there's no snow directly in the desert landscape of downtown Las Vegas, there's plenty of the fluffy stuff at the nearby Lee Canyon Ski Resort in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
From December through March, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lee Canyon offers day-lodge facilities, so visitors can explore its 195 acres of skiable terrain across 26 trails, serviced through three chair lifts. The mountain also sees more than 160 inches of snowfall a year, meaning you've got a great chance of finding a powder stash between bets at the blackjack table. Lee Canyon also offers ski and snowboard classes for beginners, so everyone can get involved in the fun.
This ski resort sits less than an hour's drive outside the city, making it accessible for anyone with a rental car (you can take an Uber out there, too).
After visitors get their runs in for the day, they can make their way back to Circa — a 1.2 million square foot, 35-story, adults-only casino with endless entertainment that goes far beyond the pool. It's also home to upscale suites, an inviting lobby cocktail lounge, a dozen dining venues, a two-story casino, and a rooftop lounge.
For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
