One of the world’s most popular ski resorts, Whistler combines a twinkling, picture-perfect village with jaw-dropping mountain terrain. Come summer, daredevils swap snowboards for fat-tire bikes, and the action continues unabated. Fun bars and bistros invite everyone to hang out after the slopes, comparing stories and bruises.

Whistler and Blackcomb are the two peaks that provide the thrills; a high-speed gondola connects them. Together they comprise some 38 lifts and 200 runs that could keep you schussing for months. Snowshoers and cross-country skiers have the vast piney wilderness of Whistler Olympic Park to explore. Whistler Mountain Bike Park earns raves for its twisty trails through the forest. The region's flowery meadows and churning rivers offer impressive hiking and rafting, to boot.

For sustenance, Whistler Village holds the main clutch of breakfast-slinging cafes, casual restaurants and pubs with heated patios. Function Junction, a former industrial area, now sports groovy galleries, bakeries and a brewery. Creekside mixes gastronome favorites and pizza parlors at the base of Whistler Mountain.