With the Matterhorn looming above, you'll think you're in Switzerland, but Breuil-Cervinia--offering both something more and something less than you'll get elsewhere in the Alps--is definitely Italy. Most of Breuil-Cervinia's slopes are broad, wide open, and not too steep--ideal conditions for lower intermediates. Grooming is excellent. The lift system is interconnected with Valtournecnche, giving skiers a choice of 65 miles of marked trails serviced by six cable cars, a gondola, and 36 smaller lifts. The big thrill on the hill is the descent from Plateau Rosa to Valtournecnche. Where else can you cruise for 12 miles, enjoying a 5,000-foot vertical drop on a single run? Those looking for greater challenges can ski the Zermatt side of the mountain, which offers steeper verticals and narrower runs.

To get to Breuil-Cervinia, it's best to fly to Milan and then drive a rental car (the local bus connections to Breuil-Cervinia are unreliable).