Consistently rated as the number one ski resort in North America, and among the best in the world, Whistler is just a two-hour drive from the city of Vancouver in the Coast Mountain range. The Village of Whistler lies cradled in a valley between two mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, that rise up 5,280ft (1,609m) to provide more than 8,100 acres of prime mountain terrain, including 12 alpine bowls, three glaciers and more than 200 marked ski trails. The resort offers state-of-the-art lifts that can carry 60,000 skiers per hour to jump-off points throughout the area. With two million visitors every year, such lift capacity becomes a necessity! Skiers and snowboarders flock here from the world over, not for the weather, which can often be wet and foggy, but for the exceptional variety of skiing. The village of Whistler is set around a cluster of small lakes and is British Columbia's fastest-growing municipality. It boasts a quaint village atmosphere and offers shopping areas and après-ski restaurants bordered by squeaky-clean streets. In summertime Whistler is a popular destination when the focus shifts to outdoor activities like mountain biking, hiking and fishing.

Skiing: Both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains offer a huge variety of skiing for all standards of skiers. Generally, Whistler has more scenic alpine bowls while Blackcomb has more tree runs, so is better on days with poor visibility. Beginners will particularly enjoy the Green Line, a very long, gentle run from the upper terminal of the 7th Heaven Express in Blackcomb. Whistler and Blackcomb also offer a massive choice of on- and off-piste skiing for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders. Experts will be challenged by the black-diamond chutes running off the back of the Horstman glacier (below the Mile High summit). Due to the crisp temperature, powder skiing in Whistler is often touted as the best in the world. Whistler and Blackcomb are very family friendly with child-minding services and all-day ski lessons for children.
Shopping: If the glare of the snow becomes a bit too much, take time out to explore the shopper's paradise which is the village of Whistler. In the quaint plazas of Whistler Village, Upper Village and Village North nestle about 150 attractive shops, boutiques and art galleries, open seven days a week. Warm interiors beckon with a wide variety of merchandise from native artwork and jewellery to high fashion for label lovers and plenty of souvenirs.
Restaurants: Comfortable and casual are the keywords for dining in Whistler at a choice of more than 80 top class restaurants offering a variety of cuisines covering the flavours of the world. There are options from luxury fine dining, like the Bearfoot Bistro (rated as one of Canada's Best restaurants by the American Wine society journal) to small bistros and cafes. One of the busiest eateries all year round is the eclectic The Brewhouse, which offers speciality beers and handcrafted ales along with its menu, pool tables, cosy fireplaces and large screen televisions. For a satisfying filler why not create your own pizza at popular Busterino's.
Nightlife: Whistler Village rocks with some of the best nightlife in British Columbia. Visitors can troll the options presented in the resort's news magazine, The Pique, which provides updated bar and nightclub music listings every Thursday. Popular spots are Garfinkels where the crowd is treated to funky classic dance hits, and the intimate Moe Joe's. Older revellers will enjoy Buffalo Bill's, which specialises in comedy nights. Clubbers can get going at Tommy Africa's and Maxx Fish from 11pm till the small hours. Those preferring a cosy pub head for Le Brasserie in the Village Square for some people-watching. Wine bars and cigar bars provide a mellow alternative for the more sophisticated who enjoy sipping cocktails.
Activities: It is not all skiing and snowboarding. Whistler provides a host of other fun diversions like cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, dog sledding, snow-shoeing and ice hockey. There are also spas offering beauty and massage treatments, excursions to Vancouver and other places of interest, eco-tours and flightseeing trips on offer. In summertime the list of activities is even longer, including horseback riding, guided fishing tours, glacier tours, jet boat adventures, zip-trekking, canoe trips, river rafting and bungee jumping. The resort also boasts four championship designer golf courses. Children's programmes operate all year round. In addition to the regular activities, there is always something exciting on at Whistler. The events programme for the coming year includes the FIS Snowboard World Championships in January 2005, which is a 2006 Olympic qualifying event. For 10 days in April, the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival entertains with high-energy action. Free outdoor concerts, demo days and the Ripzone Snowboard Invitational and World Skiing Invitational guarantee an action-packed celebration. An eclectic menu of entertainment, music and magic fill the calendar from June through September ensuring fun for the entire family. The Village comes alive with strolling musicians, dazzling magicians and colourful comedians. July means the Whistler Arts and Music Festival. This annual festival showcases local artist exhibits, street entertainers, art walks, outdoor films and live music from jazz to Calypso and funk to Miriachi. Champion mountain bikers hurl themselves down Whistler Mountain at break-neck speeds and perform gravity-defying bike stunts during August's CrankWorx Festival.
Negatives: As with all Canadian ski resorts, Whistler can get very cold. Go prepared for the occasional blizzard.

Fernie Alpine Resort, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies in the south east of British Columbia, is one of the largest ski resorts in the country. Spread along the Lizard Range, Fernie boasts excellent powder, five bowls, postcard worthy scenery and some highly challenging skiing.

Its steep terrain has garnered a serious reputation, as well as a certain mystique - it is the kind of resort that die-hard snowsport fans seek out to set their pulses racing. Tucked away as it is, over three hours from Calgary, perhaps the best part of Fernie is the lack of crowds; Fernie regulars try to keep its magic to themselves. Skiers and snowboarders can enjoy people-free open runs and over 2,500 acres (1,011ha) of skiable terrain. Those taking a break from the slopes can explore the picturesque town of Fernie, three miles (5km) from the resort, or indulge in some fire-side drinks and a post-mortem of the day's runs.
Skiing: Fernie offers some incredible snow conditions and can boast up to 29 feet (9m) of magical powder each year, with some of the steepest inbound terrain around. There is plenty of variety and terrain for all levels, although perhaps rather challenging for beginners. A good idea is to take advantage of the free mountain tour to get orientated, and in particular, to acquaint oneself with the more dangerous potential avalanche zones. There is excellent snowboarding on offer, too, and along with a half pipe and a terrain park; there is awesome natural terrain to explore. There are also plenty of ski schools for beginners, 10 lifts, and a vertical drop of 2,816 feet (858m).
Shopping: Fernie is by no means a shopping Mecca, but there are plenty of stores to browse (particularly on 2nd Avenue in Fernie town), including alpine sport stores, local arts, crafts and glassware, jewellery and clothing. There is also a grocery store.
Restaurants: Although relatively small and out of the way, there are plenty of dining options on and off the mountain. The Curry Bowl (in Fernie town) offers delicious Asian cuisine, with a mix of Indian, Thai and Japanese, while Las Tres Hermanas has excellent Mexican dishes and highly popular margaritas. On the mountain, Lizard Creek Lodge has a range of different treats and local wines; Yamagoya has excellent Japanese fare, and Gabriella's Little Italy Pasta Place is the perfect place to carbo-load on tasty pastas and focaccia breads.
Nightlife: Fernie has a laid-back, relatively quiet nightlife, so is not for those looking for a huge off-slope party. The Grizzly Bar is perhaps Fernie's most popular après-ski hangout and it attracts quite a crowd with live music and dancing on weekends. For those looking for some more serious dancing, Eldorado Lounge is open every day except Sundays, while Kelsey's also has a lively, pub-style ambience. For those looking to relax and unwind in a quieter atmosphere, the Lizard Creek Lodge Lounge and the Pub Bar and Grill both offer comfy couches, big-screen TVs and at the Pub Bar, pool and foosball. There is also a movie theatre.
Activities: Although the majority of visitors to Fernie are there purely to hit the slopes, there is also a range of other activities on offer, including dog-sledding, sleigh rides, Heritage walking tours of the old coal mining town of Fernie, snow shoeing, ice fishing and a relaxing day at the local spa. There are also several children's activities on offer at certain times of year.
Negatives: The skiing at Fernie is mostly aimed at advanced and intermediate levels, and can be a serious challenge for beginners. Those looking for serious nightlife, shopping and extensive après-ski activities will be disappointed.

Lake Louise  

Canada's largest ski area covers the slopes of four mountain faces that surround the village of Lake Louise, in the heart of the magnificent Banff National Park, right on the Trans-Canada Highway 35 miles (57km) west of Banff itself. With plentiful natural snow and an extensive snowmaking system, skiing is guaranteed at Lake Louise from mid-November to mid-May, and it has the reputation of offering the best powder skiing in the world. The pretty village nestling in the Rockies provides every amenity required by visitors, and a wide choice of cosy accommodation and dining options. Shuttle buses and an efficient system of interconnecting lifts provide easy access to the slopes. Put all this together with the spectacular scenery and pristine terrain, and it is not surprising that Lake Louise has been dubbed the "diamond in the wilderness".

Louise lake - Canada

Skiing: Lake Louise offers a perfect mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain for skiers and boarders. The unique layout makes both easy and challenging runs down from every chair possible, on a choice of 113 groomed runs, as well as limitless off-trail adventures and acres of open snow bowls. The efficient lift system also means minimal queue times. Private and group lessons for all levels of skiers and snowboarders take place daily, but reservations are necessary for the busy Christmas and Easter season. Snow conditions are excellent, but snowmaking is possible on about 20% of the runs if needed.
Shopping: Lake Louise's shopping precinct is the Samson Mall, located in the lower part of the village, offering 18 shops that open until late, with competitive prices and no provincial sales tax on purchases. Both here and in nearby Banff shoppers will find an eclectic selection of goods, including brand-name clothing, winter sports clothing and equipment, art and handcrafts, souvenirs, jewellery and photographic goods. Unique items to look out for are paintings by local artists, beadwork by native peoples and jewellery set with Alberta's ammolite gemstone.
Restaurants: The resort offers about 20 restaurants and bars in the village itself, and several eateries with terraces and spectacular views on the nearby slopes, serving everything from ethnic cuisine and tender Alberta beef to fine dining. There are family restaurants, cosy cafes and elegant eateries to choose from. For a rip-roaring good time along with some hearty western fare try Brewster's Cowboy Grill where line dance lessons and sleigh rides are offered along with barbecued beef, baked beans and homemade pies. At the Lake Louise Inn gourmet Canadian cooking takes centre stage at the Legends Restaurant where salmon salad and filet mignon are washed down with fine wines. The Inn also has pizza and pasta at the Timberwolf Cafe, or burgers and barbecue chicken at the Gazebo. For scenic dining ride the Lake Louise sightseeing Gondola to the Whitehorn Terrace where the deck affords a breathtaking view of the lake and surrounding peaks and glaciers.
Nightlife: Après ski in Lake Louise does not mean wild partying, but there are plenty of more subdued but enjoyable ways to wind down after a day on the slopes. Many local bars and eateries offer entertainment like live music, a little dancing, karaoke, limbo competitions, pool tables and darts, shuffleboard, or big screen television. Guided night ski tours and sleigh rides are also on offer. Most visitors, however, are content to settle down in front of a roaring fire nursing a cognac and rehashing the day's adventures.
Activities: Those who take a break from skiing or snowboarding can indulge in a host of other winter fun options, including dog sledding, canyon ice walks, snowmobile tours, snow-shoeing, icefield tours, sleigh rides or ice-fishing on the lake. The lake also forms a wonderful ice-skating rink, which each winter is transformed into a wonderland with the addition of ice sculptures on the shoreline.