Aspen, CO

Aspen is Colorado skiing at its most fulfilled—epic terrain with plenty of variety, an apres-ski and town scene that pulls celebs and stargazers alike, and customer service that should serve as the benchmark for all North American resorts, including "ski ambassadors" who give complimentary ...

Durango, CO

This friendly resort in southwestern Colorado is a charmer with a reputation for the mildest, sunniest weather, but still with good snow. The beguiling terrain ranges from a separate beginner area to mogul-dotted steeps. The delightful town of Durango offers economical lodging and plenty of ...

South Lake Tahoe, CA, CA

Heavenly is unique in that it sprawls across state boundaries. Part of the ski area is in California and part is in Nevada, and for my money, the Nevada part is the better part. The fall line is more sustained, meaning that runs tend to be longer.

For novice skiers, Heavenly can be ...

Teton Village, WY

The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is, in its own words, "Like nothing you have skied before." This sign, on a T-shirt in nearly every shop in town, hangs above the entrance to the resort's tram dock and goes on to say, "It is huge. With variable terrain from groomed slopes to dangerous cliff ...

Truckee, CA

Look at the trail map, and it might seem as though there is relatively little beginner terrain. But trust me—most of the intermediate runs at Northstar ski more like novice runs, and most of the advanced runs ski like intermediate runs. I've heard north-shore locals deride Northstar, ...

Park City, UT

Appearances can deceive—from the parking lot of Park City Mountain Resort, the main allure appears to be the massive half pipe, which dwarfs the surrounding mountain, a lazy-looking stretch of rolling hills interlaced with lifts. Don't be fooled, however. Hop on the King Con high-speed quad ...

Telluride, CO

Telluride, located in a scenic valley deep in the San Juan Mountains, has long been described as an up-and-coming resort. Now it's arrived. Telluride Mountain Village, a glamorous, ultra-upscale resort development in the heart of the ski terrain, is the perfect counterpoint to the quaint and ...