Last-Minute Presidents’ Day Getaways

Goop

Memorial Day and Labor Day get all the good marketing. How else do you explain the fact that Presidents’ Day weekend sneaks up on us every year before we’ve made solid plans? To break this vicious cycle, we brainstormed a handful of destinations (whether you’re coming from the West Coast, the Midwest, or the East Coast) that don’t require much in the way of strategy or a long-haul flight to get there. Can we get an amen?

FROM THE MIDWEST

Hotel Jerome, Aspen

TRAVEL TIME:
A three-hour flight from Chicago.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
The historic Jerome has been part of Aspen’s story since it opened as the town’s first hotel more than 120 years ago. Still occupying its original building (albeit with an updated interior and an expansion), the hotel was purchased by Auberge in 2012. While it retains its small-town charm, it now offers Auberge-style amenities, like a gorgeously decorated bar, in-house ski rentals through Gorsuch, a luxe spa, and two full-service restaurants. As for the décor, it feels warm and stately, with deep greens, rich leathers, and Western touches like plaid and vintage portraits throughout the rooms and public spaces. The location, meanwhile, is perfectly situated between the base of Ajax and the river.

DON’T MISS:
No matter where you stay, the après timeline in Aspen hasn’t changed for years—with good reason. Festivities start at Cloud 9 on Aspen Highlands, where everyone congregates in their ski boots at the end of the day, and where ski instructors are notorious for spraying bottles of champagne out onto crowds of merrymakers. Over on Aspen Mountain, Chair Nine at the Little Nell continues to be a lively spot for spiked hot chocolate as the sun goes down.