A little over 400 miles northwest of Stockholm, Are is the premier winter getaway in northern Europe. Expect to find Fins, Norwegians, Latvians, and a whole lot of blonde Swedes dressed in their finest warm-winter garb sliding down the peak as they do their best Ingemar Stenmark impersonation. ...

"That's right, baby! You know what I like! Kill me now!" the lead singer of Riksgransen Hotel's employee band screams into the mike. A sweaty knot of drunken snowboarders slam-dance at his feet, tackling one another to the beer-soaked floor. Everyone is fired up from competing in today's ...