Starstruck on the slopes.
It’s that time of year again when the jet set crowd hits the slopes (and the beach). We’ve rounded up a few celebrities who know how to make the most of the winter months with their sublime seasonal getaways—and they have the Instagram photos to prove it. Are they truly like us? Let’s take a look.
The Kardashians
Park City, Utah
From St. Barths to Bali, America’s favorite reality family is #getawaygoals. In the colder months, the clan has been known to hit the slopes at their preferred ski destination—Deer Valley Resort. Located 36 miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, Deer Valley has plenty of warm, luxurious lodging options—from Shooting Star to The Grand Lodge—tasty dining offerings, and pillowy, award-winning slopes (that were even featured in the 2002 Winter Olympics). Don’t let that intimidate you, newbies—with the resort’s plethora of accessible winter activities, you’ll have no problem Keeping Up.
Sandra Bullock
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Bullock, Academy-Award-winning actress and reported outdoorswoman, has a 3-acre property in Jackson Hole where she is able to enjoy nature year-round. She’s also reportedly a fan of Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, in the heart of Town Square, where she celebrated her 50th birthday. While the Square is lively—there’s a melodramatic shootout on the northeastern corner during the summer months—we’re fond of the soothing baths at Granite Hot Springs and observing wildlife at the National Elk Refuge.
Kurt Russell (and Goldie Hawn, and Kate Hudson, etc.)
Snowmass, Colorado
The Thing star has a 70-acre property in Snowmass, Colorado, near Aspen where he and his family, including long-time partner Goldie Hawn, often retire to year-round. Snowmass, an unincorporated community, operates at a much slower pace than Aspen, although it has graduated from village to resort town in recent years. Notable sights include the Snowmass Ice Age Discovery Center, where you can see bones of ancient gargantuan animals, and the upscale Il Poggio, an Italian eatery whose homemade pastas and sweet-potato ravioli are everything you’d want in a warm, post-ski-trip dinner.
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Reese Witherspoon
Sun Valley, Idaho
Another celebrity skier, Reese’s slope of choice is in the Gem State. The Election star shared photos of her trip to the area with her children and husband Jim Toth this time last year, so one can only imagine they’re considering jetting back shortly. Sun Valley is actually the first destination ski resort in the country, featuring premiere slopes at Bald Mountain and a bevy of other trails where beautiful, untamed wilderness allows for ideal backpacking, angling, and more. Notable stays include boutique The Knob Hill Inn and the vintage-chic Lift Tower Lodge.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Aspen, Colorado
This Oscar-winner skis, and then he parties. In that order. I think. Maybe. One of the biggest movie stars in the world has his share of vacation moments, and that includes a host of winter getaways. DiCaprio was seen last ski season on the slopes in Aspen with girlfriend Camila Morrone. Aspen may not have invented glamorous skiing, but with the amount of attention it’s gotten over the years (thanks in part to some of the stars on this list), the Rocky Mountain ski town is now home to more than a few museums, music festivals, and high-end clubs.
The British Royal Family
Sandringham Estate, Norfolk
The private home of Queen Elizabeth II, Sandringham House has become the annual home-away-from-home of the British Royal Family during Christmas. The large country house (mansion) has plenty of space to entertain—it has a ballroom and a bowling alley and sits on 20,000 acres, complete with nature trails and a park. Prince William and Kate typically reside in Anmer Hall, another residence elsewhere on the estate.
Katy Perry (and Orlando Bloom)
The Maldives
This time last year, Perry and boyfriend/actor Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean) were spotted in the Maldives at the Amilla Fushi Resort. No, this was not the infamous paddle-boarding trip, but it’s still notable because they’re still famous and good at going on vacations. While simply being present on any one of the beaches in this tropical oasis is enough, we also recommend (respectfully) checking out such sights as the oddly-shaped Malé Friday Mosque—the Maldives oldest mosque—and setting aside a day for some world-renowned scuba diving.
Teresa Giudice
Turks and Caicos
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star shared a photo of her and her daughters enjoying Turks and Caicos mere weeks ago. Giudice checked into the luxurious The Palms Turks and Caicos during her stay, which houses a 25,000-square-foot spa and the definition of an oceanfront penthouse suite. Giudice also visited Infiniti Bar at The Grace Bay Club, which is the longest bar in the Caribbean and Coco Bistro, a popular fine dining establishment that’s known for its roast rack of lamb with herb crust.
Zac Efron
Reykjavik, Iceland
My apparent father, former High School Musical star Zac Efron, was in Iceland not too long ago. Although the now-bearded chap was reportedly just celebrating his 31st birthday, the best time to visit Iceland is, well, anytime because of its unpredictable weather. Not sure what to do? Well for starters, if you’ve ever desired to see the Northern Lights, peak viewing time is from November to March. As for the rest of Reykjavik, an adventurous visitor could start by exploring its countryside on horseback for a day or two. Buckle up for some otherworldly beauty.
Usher
Queensland, Australia
Thank you for reading. As a reward, here is a recent photo of Usher visiting a koala in Queensland. Everyone should visit a koala in Queensland. Thank you, Usher!