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. Families, couples, and the young and hip think nothing of making the long trek to Are on weekends, creating an apres-ski scene that combines saunas with Swedish rock bands and dinners of reindeer stew. It's a wholly unique scene that's beginning to attract more and more skiers from around the continent and overseas.

Don't expect the jagged peaks of the Alps. Rolling pine forests and lakes lead to the gentle rounded summits that top out at 4,659 feet. This being northern Sweden, days are short in December and January, with the floodlights going on early in the afternoon. Come March and April, however, sunlight can last until 9 p.m., resulting in the best of night skiing. Are is split up into three separate areas with a total of 99 trails. Depending on your experience, you'll spend most of your time skiing and enjoying the apres-ski scene at that respective village. Young families head to Bjornen, the far eastern side of the resort, for its beginner slope. An indoor play area, the "Children's House" caters to kids two years of old and older. Families with older children congregate at Duved for its slightly steeper pitch. Nearby is Tegefjall, home to a terrain park for boarders and freestylers. All instructors speak English, so you don't have to worry about trying to understand Swedish.

The best trails for intermediate and advanced skiers are on the main mountain of

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. Families, couples, and the young and hip think nothing of making the long trek to Are on weekends, creating an apres-ski scene that combines saunas with Swedish rock bands and dinners of reindeer stew. It's a wholly unique scene that's beginning to attract more and more skiers from around the continent and overseas.

Don't expect the jagged peaks of the Alps. Rolling pine forests and lakes lead to the gentle rounded summits that top out at 4,659 feet. This being northern Sweden, days are short in December and January, with the floodlights going on early in the afternoon. Come March and April, however, sunlight can last until 9 p.m., resulting in the best of night skiing. Are is split up into three separate areas with a total of 99 trails. Depending on your experience, you'll spend most of your time skiing and enjoying the apres-ski scene at that respective village. Young families head to Bjornen, the far eastern side of the resort, for its beginner slope. An indoor play area, the "Children's House" caters to kids two years of old and older. Families with older children congregate at Duved for its slightly steeper pitch. Nearby is Tegefjall, home to a terrain park for boarders and freestylers. All instructors speak English, so you don't have to worry about trying to understand Swedish.

The best trails for intermediate and advanced skiers are on the main mountain of Are, smack dab in the center of the resort and connected to Duved by a short shuttle. Black runs (with long indecipherable names that you can't possibly remember if we told you), flow below the lifts. This includes the steep slope used during the Alpine World Ski Championship, held at Are in 2007. On the back side, there's some great backcountry terrain. Hire a guide to locate the best powder in the off-piste terrain blanketed by tall fir and pine whose trunks are covered in moss.

Whichever slope you choose, you'll have vistas of a tranquil landscape with uninterrupted forest surrounding frosted-over lakes. Snowmobile trips are offered along the shores of these lakes, often stopping for a meal of reindeer or bear stew. You can also visit farms where reindeer and moose are bred, usually owned by the indigenous Sami population. Are is also home to the longest zipline in Europe, offered year-round, if you can brave the cold as you cruise above the base.

The Swedes have no problem swimming in the frigid air after a day of skiing, often going from the hot indoor sauna to the colder outdoor pool. Many of the chalet-style resorts like the Tott Hotel have spas with hot tubs overlooking the mountain. Adding to the allure is that there is often drink service, so you can down some schnapps while soaking. Other hotels like the Holiday Club Are serve as condos with multiple bedrooms in each suite, ideal for families.

Many skiers head straight to Kastrullen Ski Hut for their selection of Swedish hot dogs, beer, and live music on weekend nights. Expect Stockholm's finest bands to make their way north as the bar scene thrives during the winter months. On-mountain, there's Buustamons, a microdistillery that features vodkas and schnapps made on premises. This being Scandinavia, prices can be on the high side, yet on par with ski resorts like Chamonix in the Alps. Unlike the Alps, however, this off-the-beaten-track European locale is far more laid back. And with its saunas, smorgasbords, and schnapps, it's distinctively Swedish.