JacksonHole

Situated some 2,135 meters (7,000 feet) above sea level and high above the town of Jackson, Wyoming is Amangani, a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Ski Hotel.

If it is action-packed days on the slopes and a convivial après-ski atmosphere you are in search of, look no further than this 40-suite resort. Amangani, which translates to "Peaceful Home", is the first Aman resort in the United States. Opened in October, 1998, Amangani is near the southern boundary of Grand Teton National Park.

Constructed with soft-hued Oklahoma sandstone, Douglas fir, cedar and Pacific redwood, the three-story resort is cut into the hillside on the western edge of the East Gros Ventre Butte. The area is encircled by elevated peaks and buttes, hence the world "hole" is used to describe this extensive alpine valley. It is a peaceful location at the southern end of the Greater Yellowstone Area, a vast expanse of mountain and meadow, sage flats, river bottoms, national forests and wildlife sanctuaries.

Amangani is a short ride away from some of the North America's most acclaimed ski runs at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, where ski and snowboarding enthusiasts enjoy 1,000 hectares of high-thrill skiing and snowboarding terrain featuring a lift-serviced vertical drop at 1,260 meters (4,139 feet). As Jackson Hole averages 1,016 cm (400 inches) of snow a year, it offers some of the best skiing conditions in the world. During winter months, snow piles up to four meters (10 feet) in the mountains. The entire valley turns white after mid-November and winter can stretch past early April.

In Teton Village, at the base of Rendezvous Mountain, the resort has a private ski lounge where guests will find snacks, hot beverages and a concierge service (which organizes ski equipment rentals and lessons). The resort offers a complimentary shuttle service as well as private transfers to and from the resort and the ski lounge, which is 20 minutes away. After a day on the slopes, guests unwind before the large wood-burning fireplaces of Amangani's Lounge with the two-story window wall offering beautiful views of the Snake River Range.

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, other winter activities enjoyed by the guests include snowmobiling, snowshoeing and half-to-full day dog-sledding. Amangani also offers horse-drawn sleigh rides which take guests up to the ridge of the butte where they will see panoramic views of the valley. Guests can also spend a day visiting nearby Yellowstone National Park, which is America's first national park and its largest outside Alaska. Yellowstone boasts its own Grand Canyon, plentiful geysers and Yellowstone Lake, the largest mountain lake in America.

While the resort has been nominated for best ski hotel, Amangani is also a great option for spring and summer vacations. During the warmer months, wildlife safaris led by biologist guides enable guests to view a wide variety of wildlife including black bears, grizzly bears, elk, bison, moose, pronghorn, bald eagles and golden eagles. Fly fishing enthusiasts enjoy the Snake River, which is a haven for local cutthroat trout as well as rainbow, lake and brown trout. Canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, horseback riding and hot-air ballooning are other activities offered to guests.

The Health Center features treatment rooms, exercise studios, steam rooms and individualized yoga programs. The resort offers a 30 meter outdoor pool and whirlpool with magnificent mountain views; both are opened year-round.

Each of the resort's 40 suites have spectacular mountain and valley views. Rates start at $565 for April to mid-June and mid-October to mid-December; $725 from early January to early April (excluding Presidents' Day weekend when the entry rate jumps to $875); and $857 from mid-June to mid-October. A four-bedroom home with full hotel amenities is also available for $3,400 to $4,800 per night, depending on the time of year. The resort is a 20 minute drive from the Jackson Hole Airport.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of the Winter Travel categories. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

At a press event for Jackson Hole, we chatted with Travis Rice (a JH native) about his upcoming Quiksilver Natural Selection snowboarding competition -- and this awesome trophy.

This is just second place.

Luxist: Now, the first place one is 24 carat gold, right?

Travis Rice: That's correct. The first place trophy weighs about 40 pounds and it's 24 carat gold. This one right here is silver-plated, and the third place one is polished bronze.

L: Do you know the value of these things?

TR: I do.

L: Can you tell me?

TR: No!

L: Shoot!

TR: It's definitely a very impressive number, like, our whole thing is like, I think a lot of contests just slack on trophies. I think a solid trophy is so important instead of just like "we have a little ribbon for you," and you get 10,000 bucks.

L: So, I'd imagine you have a closet full of those little ribbons.

TR: Yeah, and it pisses me off! I mean, you try so hard for something and then you end up getting this cheap, laser-inscribed piece of glass or something.

L: And the trophy's different every year?

TR: Yeah, this is our second year, and we wanted to do metal this year. And it's original artwork, you know?

L: So tell me about the event; explain it to me like I'm a child.

TR: The contest is called The Natural Selection for a reason. If you've ever seen a snowboarding contest before, for the most part they're man-made, they blow snow for them, they build up all the features, make jumps. This contest, however, is actually held on natural terrain. We let God do all the work. And, you know, we live in Jackson Hole, so the insane snowfall that we get there allows us to hold a contest of this type of scale.

L: Last question: Can it be worn?

TR: You know what? I think it COULD be worn. But it is gonna HURT.

L: Heavy, huh?

TR: I mean, I could try an put it on your head right now, but I think it's not gonna feel that good.

L: I feel like we might get in trouble for that in here.

TR: Yeah, it might just be a faux pas.

If you want to hit Jackson Hole for the Quiksilver Natural Selection competition, start here.

Luxury real estate in Wyoming has taken a big blow with the sudden closure of Real Estate of Jackson Hole, the largest locally owned and operated real estate firm in the area. The company announced Monday it would close immediately after stakeholders turned down an anonymous investor's offer, as well failed plans to restructure. Many of the firm's brokers have begun to seek work elsewhere. Employees were asked to remove all personal items from company offices and remove all Real Estate of Jackson Hole yard signs from properties. The company had 70 agents listed on its webpage so many will be looking for work in a market that is a bit oversaturated with brokers. Underpinning all this is the stagnant real estate market which Rob Cheek, a top commercial broker who has been a realtor in Jackson Hole nearly 30 years, tells Planet Jackson Hole has been similar to the doldrums of recession of the mid-1980s.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming vacation destination extraordinaire, has added a new convenience for its guests and residents alike!

The new tram, currently under construction and opening December 20th, will carry 100 passengers from 6,311 feet to 10,450 feet up in the mountains in just 9 minutes.

The views from the tram promise to be astounding, as with the old tram which has been there since 1966. A beautiful, "visually inspiring" new base terminal will replace the old clock tower base.

The opening of the new tram will feature live music, fireworks, and all kinds of Jackson Hole festivities. Click here for more information.

Whether you head to Jackson Hole for the skiing, the scenery, or just to get away from it all, the new tram, 100% funded by resort ownership, will make your stay more convenient. You can book a Tram-Slam Package this winter for a stay at Teton Village and be one of the first to ride!

One of Jackson Hole, Wyoming's popular hotels is for sale. The Inn at Jackson Hole is located at the base of the world renowned Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. It has 83 hotel rooms: 25 poolside rooms, 25 mountainside rooms, 20 deluxe rooms and 13 premium suites. The hotel includes heated pool, conference rooms, onsite restaurant and bar, and a lobby complete with fireplace, deer heads and antler chandeliers. For $33 million you can own your own ski hotel.

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole is a new luxury eco-boutique hotel set to open on January 29, 2008. The resort, which is located near the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming is one of a new crop of LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotels in the United States. The six-story, 72-room hotel has a fitness center, rooftop hot tub, two restaurants, and a snowboard and ski rental shop. The guest rooms include organic linens and organic amenities such as shampoo and lotion. The rooms are also home to less eco-friendly features such as flat screen televisions and Bose surround speakers.

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole is the first in a collection of Green hotels launched by the Terra Resort Group. Examples of LEED, and other environmentally sound, elements in Hotel Terra include recycled Eco Shake roof shingles, low VOC carpets, paints and sealants, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, water conservation systems, wind power and the use of recycled products throughout the building. The Hotel Terra is offering a season-long Green Ski Package that offers a four nights' stay and daily lift tickets for two people, starting at $303 nightly.

Today's contemporary home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming sits on scenic 10-acre hilltop. The home has a large circular driveway with stone pavers set in a spiral design. The style is of the home is an interesting mix of sharp angles and circles. The home has four bedrooms and with 9497 square feet of space there is also room for a large kitchen, living room, dining room, study, office, game, media and exercise rooms, guest quarters and a wine cellar. The study has beautiful floor to ceiling white maple bookshelves and a stacked stone fireplace, wet bar and surround sound system making it the dream place to curl up with a good book. The kitchen has ebony granite countertops and two islands with sculptural stainless vents, pendant lighting and semi-circular windows. The office has floor to ceiling custom shelves, cabinets and two desks. The master suite makes the most of the views with a wall of windows and glass doors that open onto a private terrace, cantilevered above the hillside. The master bath has his and hers vanities and closets, heated French limestone floors and a jetted tub surrounded by circular glass windows. The lower level includes a media room with a stacked stone fireplace and built in cabinets, a game room with a contemporary pool table an exercise area and a 700 bottle wine cellar. Outside a hot tub on a stone cylinder above the terrace makes a great place to enjoy a star-filled night and stay warm. I'm not sure what the electricity bill is like on this place but the shot of the home at night all lit up is pretty amazing. This home is listed at $8.495 million.

It's perhaps the ultimate log cabin on steroids. We've seen big houses in the Jackson Hole, Wyoming area before but this one is truly huge. The estate offers 12430 sq. ft. of living space in three buildings on over 37 acres with access to the Snake River. It has beautiful views of the Teton mountains, a three acre pond and offers private fly-fishing on miles of streams and creeks. The luxury compound includes the nearly 8,000 square-foot log home as well as a custom log guest house and a bath house. The Western-style furnishings are included. It is listed at $32.5 million. After the jump, we hope you like antlers, because there are some in practically every room. Also check out the cool tree trunk columns at the front of the house.