The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

""The location can’t be beat" at this mid-mountain ski-in/ski-out hotel at Northstar-at-Tahoe ski resort. Opened in 2009, it’s set in a thick pine forest. Ski valets carry guests’ gear and escort them to the slopes, where "the skiing is fantastic. And afterward, the fireplaces in the rooms made for a nice ambience with the snow." Rooms in modern woodsy colors have dark-brown leather armchairs, floor-to-ceiling windows, gas fireplaces, and private balconies with views of the mountain and Martis Valley. Manzanita, with its French-inspired California cuisine, is "fabulous for dinner." At MountainBlue, the breakfasts of burritos, egg sandwiches, and fresh pastries are "so delicious.""