SKIING VACATION

1. Banff, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
The stunning Banff National Park offers the best powder skiing in the world. Outstanding ski resort, Lake Louise, and its near neighbors, Ski Banff at Norquay and Sunshine Village, cover 7,700 acres with wide open bowls, tree-lined glades and meticulously groomed slopes.

2. Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Cruise-perfect mountains, wonderful winter terrain parks and sensational luxury resort villages surround the glittering blue of Lake Tahoe. Basking in 300 days of sunshine, and benefiting from epic snowfall and vibrant nightlife, resorts such as Heavenly, Homewood, Northstar and Sierra make for spectacular stays.

3. Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
Attractive, Swiss-style Whistler, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics, attracts droves of American, Japanese, German and English skiers. Visitors ski and board down sparkling Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, ricochet around forested curves on snowmobiles, dangle above it all on Ziptreks and have cares soothed away at luxurious Taman Sari spa.

Interlaken, Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alps, Switzerland
A year-round outdoor sports destination, in winter Interlaken is the gateway to the Jungfrau region, with nearly 150 miles of ski tracks. Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen is one of the world's most gorgeous ski settings, Grindelwald-First is more for the boarders and Mürren-Schilthorn offers amazing panoramic views.

5. Zermatt, Valais, Swiss Alps, Switzerland
Known for the famous mountain Matterhorn, Zermatt offers some of the best skiing in the Swiss Alps. The area is fantastic for downhill skiing, but those who do not ski can try their hand at mountain-climbing or hiking, or just enjoy the gorgeous mountain views from mile-high cable cars.

6. Park City, Utah, United States
Three ski resorts and Sundance, the world's hippest film festival, have long since turned this mountain town into a premier destination. Stunning snow fall, pure air and bright sunshine entice people to cut fresh tracks at The Canyons, Park City Mountain and Deer Valley resorts.

7. Vail, Colorado, United States
Skiers, riders and the occasional celebrity, are on top of the world at renowned Vail. Full of international chic, Vail's 5300 acres and 193 trails benefit from 300 sunny days annually. Experienced cross-country skiers tackle former army training ground, the Commando Run, while those who crave pristine runs opt to heli-ski.

8. Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Forty miles south of town, Alyeska Resort is by far the largest in the area, with over a thousand skiable acres for all ages and skill levels, including 68 runs, nine lifts and a 2500-foot vertical rise. Arctic Valley is a family-friendly resort just ten miles from downtown. Hilltop is also close to the city.
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History & Culture
Anchorage
The construction of the Alaska Railroad was responsible for Anchorage's remarkable beginnings in 1914. The city burgeoned and was incorporated in 1920. Anchorage continued to boom, particularly after 1968's oil discovery. Russian, native and pioneer cultures are represented at Anchorage Museum.

9. Breckenridge, Colorado, United States
Breckenridge's proximity to four fabulous mountains means there is terrain suitable for all abilities. The great snow is complemented by the great nightlife and shopping in this 140-year-old Victorian town. Peaks Trail is a fun 10-mile cross-country snow trek between Breckenridge and Frisco.

10. Lake Placid, New York, United States
Whiteface Mountain is just 13 miles from Lake Placid, twice the site of the Winter Olympics. Whiteface boasts the biggest vertical drop (3,430 feet) in the eastern United States, as well as 80 trails totaling more than 22 miles of ski and ride terrain. The longest run, an intermediate, is three and a half miles.

11. Aspen, Colorado, United States
The rustically elegant Aspen, in Roaring Fork Valley, has four mountains on its doorsteps. Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands boast steeps, bumps, double-blacks, tree runs and incredible views, Snowmass is an ideal family mountain 13 miles from the cozy town, and Buttermilk offers wide, easy bunny slopes - perfect for beginners.

12. North Conway, New Hampshire, United States
North Conway's own Cranmore Mountain Resort offers over 200 skiable acres, featuring 43 trails of all levels (the longest running a mile) served by nine lifts, as well as seven glades and three terrain parks. The onsite Arctic Blast Tubing Park is great for families and is the state's top tubing destination.

13. Durango, Colorado, United States
Locals may call it Purgatory, but its official name is Durango Mountain Resort, and it's less than half an hour north of downtown. Set on 1,200 skiable acres, Durango has 85 family-friendly trails served by ten lifts. Says Ski Magazine, "If a mountain was ever created for families, it's Purgatory."

14. Stowe, Vermont, United States
Set on northern Vermont's Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, Stowe Mountain Resort has 116 trails serviced by 13 lifts, including the most mile-long lifts of any resort on the East Coast. The recently opened Stowe Mountain Lodge is the first mountainside luxury hotel to debut in the East for half a century.

15. Mammoth Lakes, California, United States
With close to 150 trails, Mammoth Mountain is one of the largest ski areas in the United States. Its diverse slopes appeal to a broad range of skiers and snowboarders, from novices to experts, and equipment for skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling is widely available for rent and sale.

16. Big Bear Lake, California, United States

Of Big Bear's two resorts, Snow Summit is the larger (one of the biggest in Southern California), with 31 runs (the longest a mile and a quarter) on 240 skiable acres. Big Bear's other resort, Bear Mountain, has more terrain features and serves the boarding crowd, boasting Southern California's only superpipe.

17. Steamboat Springs, Colorado, United States
There's plenty to do both on and off the champagne-powdered slopes of Steamboat. This small Western heritage town proudly boasts proximity to six parks of groomed cruisers, bumps, steeps, meadows and tree skiing, plus 70 bars and restaurants and the town's namesake mineral springs, all just 150 miles from Denver.
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Spa
Steamboat Springs
Luxuriate in the Centennial State's top hotspots. Yampa Valley's bubbling waters gave Steamboat Springs its name, and two hot spring resorts remain, Strawberry Park and Old Town. Glenwood Springs mineral-rich waters fill the world's largest hot springs pool. Ouray's buoyant pool is open year-round.

18. Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada
An hour and half north of Montreal, Mont Tremblant is Ski Magazine's multi-time pick as the best resort in eastern North America. Set on 631 skiable acres, Mont Tremblant has 94 runs served by 13 state-of-the-art lifts. Boarders love the 18 acres of ramps, rails and jumps, as well as the Olympic-caliber superpipe.

19. Taos, Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Northern New Mexico offers a flurry of fine ski options. There is a place in this challenging chunk of the Southern Rockies for ski purists at Taos Ski Valley Resort--a snowboard-free zone with classic alpine skiing. For mixed snow fun, Angel Fire, Sipapu and the Red River are popular.

20. Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, Rhone-Alpes, France
Chamonix's big attraction is Mont-Blanc, Western Europe's tallest mountain, and the many ski areas that face the Chamonix Valley. Steep slopes and extreme weather conditions make the slopes here best for advanced skiers, but there are also runs available for beginners.

21. Juneau, Alaska, United States
Eaglecrest Ski Area is the Alaskan Panhandle's only resort, located on Douglas Island just about 10 miles from downtown. Eaglecrest features 31 Alpine runs and three Nordic trail loops set on 640 groomed acres. For the adventurous, thousands more acres of ungroomed area lie on either side of the resort.

22. Lapland, Finland
Finland's largest ski resort, Lapland's Ylläs has 61 slopes, the longest running two miles, with a vertical drop of over a quarter mile. This is the highest Finnish fell (mountain) with ski lifts, and there are 29 here in all. Also at Ylläs are 210 miles of cross-country tracks, 24 miles of which are lit.

23. Killington, Vermont, United States
Known as Vermont's best skiing mountain, Killington is the biggest ski area in New England. With steep slopes for advanced downhill skiers and several trails that crisscross the mountain for cross-country fanatics, it is no wonder that this is the most popular place to ski in New England.

24. Zell am See, Austrian Alps, Austria
The picturesque lakeside town of Zell am See offers about 80 miles of local slopes, with beginner, intermediate and advanced runs all well represented. One hundred and twenty-five miles of cross-country trails offer gorgeous panoramic views. The neighboring town of Kaprun is famed for its glacier skiing.

25. Telluride, Colorado, United States
Laid-back Telluride nestles amid the jagged peaks of the 14,000-foot San Juan Mountains. Offering 1,700 skiable acres, 84 trails and fantastic dining and après ski venues from the bottom to the top of the mountain, Telluride is a peak with considerable personality.

26. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavarian Alps, Bavaria, Germany
South of town on the Austrian border lies Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze, rising nearly 10,000 feet and offering gorgeous glacier-top skiing. With almost 75 miles of downhill runs of all difficulty levels, Zugspitze also has 68 miles of cross-country trails, a terrain park and Germany's first superpipe.

27. Kitzbuhel, Tirol, Austrian Alps, Austria
Skiing at Hahnenkamm and the Kitzbuheler Horn, Kitzbuhel's two primary ski areas, is the thing to do during the town's winter season. Boasting more than 60 lifts, Kitzbuhel has slopes for everyone from beginners to professionals, who gather annually at Die Strief for skiing's World Cup.

28. St. Moritz, Grisons, Swiss Alps, Switzerland

Every winter, St. Moritz attracts glamorous stars and famous politicians for a reason--its fantastic skiing. With several ski schools and an estimated 700 ski instructors in surrounding upper Engadine, it is a beautiful place for beginners to start, but St. Moritz also has plenty of offerings for more experienced skiers.

29. Teton Village, Wyoming, United States
Visitors to Teton Village will find great skiing at Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park. Most tourists stick to the Jackson Hole Nordic Center, which offers great downhill and cross-country skiing, but there are miles of lesser-known trails and black-diamond slopes in the Park for the more adventurous.

30. Big Sky, Montana, United States
Some 400 inches of annual snowfall, 85 miles of named runs and loads of room for every maneuver make Montana's spectacular Big Sky a big draw. Flyfishing and time at Solace Spa occasionally lure those with a prevailing passion for powder off the slopes.

31. Crested Butte, Colorado, United States
The ultimate ski and snowboard getaway, Crested Butte offers a plethora of parks, pipes and superb slopes. The former 1880s mining supply camp is amply stocked with dozens of bars and restaurants to toast the day's successes. 2005 saw the introduction of a Superpipe.

32. Courchevel, Savoie, Rhone-Alpes, France
In the center of the French Alps, Courchevel has well more than 100 ski runs for visitors to choose from. Some courses are dotted with moguls, so snowboarding and snowmobiling are popular here, and skiers of all levels of experience will find a slope that's just right.

33. Val d'Isere, Savoie, Rhone-Alpes, France
Home to many ski slopes and schools, including the French National Ski School, Val d'Isere boasts tremendous skiing to complement its lively shopping and nightlife scene. While the schools appeal to beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers will also find more than enough challenging runs to keep them satisfied.

34. Davos, Grisons, Swiss Alps, Switzerland

The largest ski resort in Switzerland and the highest city in Europe, Davos features five separate skiing areas: Parsenn, the largest, with pistes for all levels and the longest downhill run; Jakobshorn, renowned for its snowboarding; and Pischa, Madrisa and Rinerhorn, all family-friendly destinations.

35. St. Anton am Arlberg, Tirol, Austrian Alps, Austria
One of the Tirol area's most popular ski resorts, St. Anton offers some of the best expert skiing and one of the liveliest après-ski scenes in the Arlberg region. The Valluga, Kapall, and Schindler peaks offer almost a mile of vertical skiing. For the seasoned, Schindlerkar and Mattun are less groomed routes.

36. Lech, Vorarlberg, Austrian Alps, Austria
Exclusive Lech is a popular holiday destination for royalty and celebrities alike, with 170 miles of ski slopes and 110 miles of off-piste powder snow runs. It's also the home of the White Ring ski circuit, the longest ski race in the world, covering more than 13 miles of pistes and 3-1/2 miles in altitude.

37. Avoriaz, Haute-Savoie, Rhone-Alpes, France
Hugging the Swiss border, this stylish resort gets over 26 feet of snow each winter. Villages des Enfants, for kids and young teens, is the perfect place for learning. Softski is for adult newcomers or those who've been away for a while, while The Stash is Europe's first giant ecological snowboard park.

38. Levi, Lapland, Finland
A round-the-year outdoor resort, Levi is one of Finland's largest ski centers, with 48 slopes mostly for beginners and intermediates, but also including four very difficult black slopes. There's a full range of other winter activities as well, including snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and dog sledding.

39. Verbier, Valais, Swiss Alps, Switzerland
Home to the Swiss Ski School and close to 200 miles of slopes, Verbier is a ski heaven during winter. Advanced cross-country and downhill skiers will be thrilled with the expert-level offerings, but there also isn't a more beautiful place for a novice skier to learn than the Swiss Alps.

40. Cortina D'Ampezzo, Veneto, Italy
High in the Dolomites, Cortina d'Ampezzo boasts 140 ski runs and over 50 miles of cross-country pistes. Beloved for decades by society types for its après-ski scene, Cortina lies at the center of the Valle d'Ampezzo and has been featured in a number of films, including "Cliffhanger" and "For Your Eyes Only".

41. Olympic Valley, California, United States
Northwest of Tahoe City, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics still seduces ski fanatics to its slopes. Squaw Valley's impressive stats--34 lifts, 6 awesome peaks, 4000-acres of world-class terrain - give winter visitors a major high. High Camp's Olympic Museum provides skiers sights to aspire to.

42. Meribel, Savoie, Rhone-Alpes, France
At the center of Trois Vallees, the world's largest ski area, Meribel gives easy access to the entire vicinity and its more than 400 miles of pistes. Within Meribel itself, the Altiport is for beginners while Saulire and Tougnète are mixed use, and Mont du Vallon serves up long, steep advanced runs against a gorgeous backdrop.

43. Ischgl, Tirol, Austrian Alps, Austria
Silvretta Arena, with its more than 125 miles of ski tracks, links the Tyrolean resort town of Ischgl with the duty-free Swiss resort of Samnaun across the border. Known for its lively après-ski scene, every year Ischgl hosts star-studded concerts in honor of the open and closing of the ski season.

44. Macot-la-Plagne, Savoie, Rhone-Alpes, France
With four village resorts and six high-altitude resorts between 4,000 and 10,000 feet, La Plagne offers 140 miles of pistes and 130 slope runs (10 green/easy, 69 blue/medium, 33 red/hard and 18 black/extreme). Along with neighbor resort Les Arcs, La Plagne forms the greater Paradiski ski area.

45. Snowbird, Utah, United States
Expert skiers will love Snowbird, which offers some of the steepest and most exhilarating runs in the United States. However, there are also less intimidating slopes for less experienced skiers, and even those who don't ski will enjoy the mountain's breathtaking views.

46. Sun Valley, Idaho, United States
Idaho's rugged beauty can be appreciated from Sun Valley. The groomed parks and trails of Bald Mountain glisten with seemingly endless runs, sweeping to the edge of Sawtooth National Forest, while Dollar Mountain, known as the finest teaching mountain in the world, is the ideal place to hone snow skills.

47. Gstaad, Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alps, Switzerland
One of the world's most exclusive and celebrity-packed ski resorts, Gstaad consists of five independent areas, including Glacier 3000, the only glacial area in the Berner Oberland region. For families and children, Heiti-Gsteig and Lauenen are favorites. La Braye is great for freestylers and snowboarders.

48. Madonna Di Campiglio, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
One of Italy's largest ski resorts, Madonna di Campiglio has 100 miles of downhill pistes on 51 individual tracks, plus 20 miles of cross-country trails. Campiglio is also part of the greater Skirama Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta area, giving visitors access to eight Alpine ski resorts and over 200 miles of slopes.

49. Are, Jamtland, Jamtland and Harjedalen, Sweden
With 100 pistes served by 44 lifts, Åre is Sweden's most popular resort and the biggest ski area in the Nordic countries, with everything from very easy beginner runs to very challenging expert slopes. Miles of cross-country tracks and a dedicated snowboard park are but a few of the other great offerings here.

50. Geilo, Buskerud, Eastern Valleys, Norway
Two ski centers making up one resort halfway between Oslo and Bergen, Geilo has 20 ski lifts serving 39 Alpine slopes of varying length and difficulty. Geilolia center generally has easier green and blue runs, while Slaatta center offers mostly blue and red runs. Also featured are 135

51. Thredbo Village, Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales, Australia
With more than 50 runs served by 14 lifts, Thredbo is patterned after a European ski village, complete with shopping, nightlife and lodging. One hundred and sixty acres for all skill levels are featured, with Friday Flat for beginners. The longest runs in Australia are here too, including a two-mile run with a 2,200-foot vertical drop.

52. Lapland, Sweden
Lying in the lovely Västerbotten mountains of Swedish Lapland, the dual resort team of Hemavan/ Tärnaby is great for skiers of all levels, with 48 individual pistes served by 14 lifts. 25 miles of cross-country tracks are also available, as well as Sweden's best but little known off-piste area, Kobåset.

53. Province of Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina
Boasting the most challenging extreme ski runs in all of Latin America and one of the world's longest intermediate runs, Las Leñas (near Mendoza) offers 27 runs total in all levels of difficulty, as well as slalom stadium and unbeatable off-piste areas. Between summit and base lies a 4,000 foot vertical drop.

54. Oberstdorf, Romantic Road, Bavaria, Germany
Bavarian Alpine village Oberstdorf is home to Heini-Klopfer-Skiflugschanze, the world's second largest ski jumping hill (and site of the famous "agony of defeat" ski jump wipeout clip from ABC's Wide World of Sports). Nearby are the ski areas of Nebelhorn, Kanzelwand/Fellhorn and Kleinwalsertal.

55. Portillo, Chile
One of South America's largest ski resorts and Chile's oldest, Portillo is about two hours north of Santiago and offers 19 runs of all difficulty levels, skewing toward advanced and expert. The longest run is two miles. With just one hotel, crowds are small, and the feeling is intimate and refined.

56. Perisher Valley, Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales, Australia
High in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Perisher Blue is the largest resort in Australia, encompassing four villages (Perisher, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega) and seven mountain peaks (including the country's five tallest) served by 49 lifts. It offers a range of run levels, with 60% being intermediate.

57. Baksan Valley, South Russia, Russia
Despite its somewhat precarious position near the Ossetian and Georgian borders, Cheget is one of Russia's top ski destinations, offering seven runs totaling more than 10 miles on a mountain of 12,375 feet. With its diverse terrain, it's also cherished as a great spot for freeride and backcountry skiing.

58. Hemsedal, Buskerud, Eastern Valleys, Norway
The central Norwegian resort of Hemsedal is the country's second largest and the highest Alpine point in Scandinavia, with 22 lifts serving 49 slopes, with a number of green beginner runs (21), plus 10 intermediate blue runs, nine advanced red runs, and seven expert black runs, as well as two moguls.

59. Salen, Dalarna, Swedish Lakeland, Sweden
Home to four major ski resorts (Lindvallen, Högfjället, Tandådalen and Hundfjället), Sälen in western Sweden is a veritable skier's paradise, with over 100 individual pistes in total. Sälen also hosts the start of the annual Vasaloppet, the world’s largest, longest and oldest cross-country ski race.

60. Trysil, Hedmark, Eastern Valleys, Norway
Home of the world's first official ski competition in 1855, Trysil is Norway's most popular ski destination, with 65 picturesque slopes of all types on Trysilfjellet mountain near the Swedish border. For true daredevils, the icy 4200-foot Høgegga offers a set of black runs that'll get your blood pumping.