Spain Travel Go Europe

Cities and Villages of Spain - Travel Planners and Guides  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Spain and Portugal > Spain > Cities and Islands of Spain Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors > Spain and Portugal > Spain > Cities and Islands of Spain Cities and Islands of Spain - Travel Planners and Guides Find information on the best cities and towns to tour in Spain. Subtopics Avila, Spain (11) Ibiza - Balearic Islands (6) Barcelona (13) Merida (6) Canary Islands (10) Segovia (16) Cordoba (26) Sevilla (9) Gibraltar (12) Soria, Spain (10) Girona, Spain (6) Tarragona (9) Granada (16) Toledo (9) Guernica - Gernika Guide (9) Valencia Spain (13) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent Merida Spain Visitors Guide An important Roman town with great tapas, Merida makes a fine stopping over point between Madrid and Lisbon. We tell you all you need to know to visit this fascinating city, along with a photo tour for that virtual visit you crave. Salamanca Spain Travel Essentials Salamanca is one of my favorite destinations in Spain. A well preserved medieval center with interesting cafes and restaurants, and an extremely lively Plaza Mayor in the evening makes Salamanca a fun place to spend a few days. Pamplona Spain and the Running of the Bulls Get information on the July Fiesta of San Fermin in Pamplona Spain. Peafiel Spain and the Ribera del Duero Wine Region North of Madrid on the southern border of Castilla y Len is Penafiel, with its interesting castle, fine wines, and great cuisine, as long as you're a carnivore.        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...

Vacation Homes Contact Owners

Vacation Rentals .com - #1 rated site for Vacation Homes, Beach Houses, Villa Rentals #1 Vacation Rentals Directory Beach Houses & Vacation Homes Contact Owners Direct... Home List Your Rental Help Home Owner Login About Us Disclaimer Owners : Listing on Vacation Rentals.com is easy, very cost effective and risk free for 30 days. Click on List Your Rental above and your rental will show up immediately. You will soon be contacted directly by interested renters. See our Testimonials . Renters : There is nothing to join , simply click on the location of your desired Vacation Rentals. Contact the Vacation Rental property owners directly, regarding availability and booking. Property owner contact information is provided on each listing. United States Vacation Rentals Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut DC Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Featured Vacation Rentals Pool villa in highly sought-after Hamilton's Reserve Orlando, Florida Only 7 minutes to DisneyWorld and a few minutes more to Universal and SeaWorld! See Our Past Featured Rentals Caribbean Vacation Rentals Anguilla Antigua Aruba Bahamas Barbados Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Cuba Curacao Dominica Dominican Republic Grenada Guadeloupe Guyana Haiti Jamaica Martinique Montserrat Nevis Puerto Rico Roatan/Bay Islands Saba St Barthelemy St Eustatius St Kitts St Lucia St Martin/Maarten St Vincent Tobago Trinidad Turks and Caicos US Virgin Islands Venezuela European Vacation Rentals Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic England Estonia France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Macedonia Maltese Islands Netherlands Norway Portugal Romania Russia Scotland Spain Sweden Switzerland Ukraine Wales Mexico Vacation Rentals Baja California Central Mexico Gulf Of Mexico Northern Mexico Pacific Coast Yucatan Canada Vacation Rentals Alberta British Columbia New Brunswick Newfoundland Nova Scotia Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Other Great Destinations Central America Belize , Costa Rica , Honduras , Nicaragua , Panama South Pacific Australia , Cook Islands , Fiji , New Zealand , Tahiti South America Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Colombia , Falkland Islands , Paraguay , Peru , Uruguay Africa Egypt , Indian Ocean Islands , Kenya , Morocco , South Africa , Tanzania , Zambia Asia/Middle East India , Indonesia , Israel , Japan , Malaysia , Pakistan , Philippines , South Korea , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Turkey , United Arab Emirates Top Vacation Destinations Disney Area, Florida Destin, Florida Naples, Florida Panama City Beach, Florida Kissimmee, Florida Marco Island, Florida Daytona Beach, Florida Miami Beach, Florida Lake Tahoe, California San Diego, California Fort Myers Beach, Florida New Smyrna Beach, Florida Davenport, Florida Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Key Largo, Florida Orlando, Florida Poconos, Pennsylvania Fort Myers, Florida Palm Springs, California Marathon, Florida Bonita Springs, Florida Puerto Vallarta, Pacific Coast Islamorada, Florida St Augustine, Florida Siesta Key, Florida Seagrove Beach, Florida Cape Coral, Florida Bradenton, Florida Madeira Beach, Florida Clearwater Beach, Florida Fort Walton Beach, Florida Sarasota, Florida Puerto Rico, Caribbean Fort Lauderdale, Florida Palm Desert, California Playa del Carmen, Yucatan Scottsdale, Arizona Indian Rocks Beach, Florida Indian Shores, Florida Las Vegas, Nevada Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Sanibel Island, Florida St George Island, Florida Cocoa Beach, Florida Navarre Beach, Florida Kihei, Hawaii Cape San Blas, Florida Ocean City, New Jersey Paris, France VacationRentals.com is quickly becoming one of the largest and most useful specialized travel site on the internet for finding vacation rental homes. With its intelligent search engine, VacationRentals.com is the easiest place for travelers to find and rent unique vacation rentals including cabins, beach house, villas, bed and breakfasts and other vacation lodging. VacationRentals.com is the most efficient means for owners to promote their rental properties. ©1997-2005 VacationRentals.com LLC All Rights Reserved.

Hotel Travel

Travel Thailand - Hotels Thailand - Travel Thailand Info Travel Thailand - Hotels - Thailand Travel Information Travel Thailand - Thailand Travel & Hotels Thailand Hotels, Spas, Attractions, Restaurants, Bangkok, Phuket, Ko Samui Home Info Culture See & Do Tour Transport History Shop Maps Beaches Nature Diving Adventure Hotels Class FAQ Places Bangkok Chiang Mai Ko Chang Ko Samui Krabi Pattaya Phuket Issan North Thailand Travel & Destination Guide Thailand Search >> finds it fast -- New! Thailand Hotels are searchable by beach, city, region and rate, with .. hotel descriptions Thailand may be the easiest Asian country in which to travel, especially the major cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya ... Thailand travel info Bangkok Subway System pages with fares, procedures, tips and descriptions. Subway route maps plus maps of all subway stations .. Bangkok Subway Koh Chang has great beaches, waterfalls, scuba diving, reasonably priced bungalows and a sprawling archipelago. Maps include Ko Kood and the beaches on Koh Chang. Getting there, hotels, scuba diving sites and more to come .. Koh Chang Rainy Season in Thailand - What months are the best for scuba diving? Recommendations for Thailand's rainy season. Sea conditions table and more... Thailand rainy season Free! Thai Script Phrase Cards - print your own even without Thai fonts on your printer. Make your travels easier - PhraseWizard Bangkok is one of the world's great cities, teeming with adventure; and the first glimpse of Thailand for most travelers. Our Bangkok guide gives you a glimpse at one of the world's great destinations .. Bangkok Pattaya Beach Thailand a popular resort city by the sea is just two hours southeast of Bangkok. And there is more to Pattaya than the nightlifeit is famous for, Jomtien beach is just one of the many reasons.. PattayaBeach Thailand Beaches Not all the great beaches are on Koh Samui, Koh Chang and Phuket. A glimpse at some of the lesser known ... beaches in Thailand Scuba Diving & Phuket Liveaboards The waters around Thailand offer world class diving. Liveaboards are plentiful in the Andaman Sea. If the weather in Phuket is bad, dive at Koh Tao. Thailand dive site maps and dive weather maps at ... Thailand scuba diving Thai Visas & Consulates Visa information and listsof official and honorary Thai consulates worldwide plus ... Thaivisa information Adventure in Thailand is the reason many people travel.AndThailand has it's share from white water rafting and rock climbingto scuba diving .. adventuretravel in Thailand Maps of Thailand - Travel maps of cities and provinces include hotel locations. Maps of national parks and more ... Thailand travel maps Thailand Whitewater Rafting - rainy season meansadventure plusbargains, cheap accommodations and un crowded destinations.Whitewater raftingis one adventure that gets exciting during the rainy season whitewater rafting Luxury Destination Spas in Thailand are prime attractionsforthose wishing to be pampered. Thailand has world class ... healthspas Chiang Mai - "Rose of the North" with national parks, trekking, hill tribes, a night market, entertainment and good hotels ... Chiang Mai Online Hotel Booking Is it safe to book a hotel online? Can you save $$$. Suggestions for online booking ... hotels in Thailand Golf in Thailand may top your list of activities. If so, Thailand will neither disappoint you nor break your budget ... golf courses in Thailand Thailand's Festivals could make the difference between a good holiday and a great experience. Songkran and Loi Kratong are two of the most popular ... Thai festivals Business Travel to Bangkok can be much more pleasantif you know where to stay and where to play. A very brief rundown onpubs; plus Thai, western and ethnic restaurants .. Bangkokbusiness guide You, and travelers like you, are the true hotel experts . Read guest comments about many of the .. Bangkok hotels Speaking Thai is difficult for the beginner, butlearning a few basic phrases can be extremely rewarding when visitingThailand. Our Thai phrases won't make you a linguist, but theycan give you a beginning to the ... Thailanguage Thailand Tours are usually better than the reputationthey have. Try waiting until you land in Thailand to arrange a tour.Oreven better, puttogetheryourownpackagetour ... touringThailand Thai Baht Exchange Tips for money exchange plus realtimeexchange rates for all major currencies. ThaiBaht exchange rate Nature and National Park tours such as trekking, rafting and birding can be enjoyed at many of Thailand's national parks. Our section gives a brief description of Thai parks and what facilities they offer ... national parks Travel Thailand by Driving - a different perspective of Thailand. Use our ... distance calculator ... and read our new driving in Thailand resource Dining and Entertainment in Thailand - restaurants,healthspas,pubs,clubsandmore in. Cuisine in Thailand is a truly unique experience. Whetherseafood,Chinese or Indian, Bangkok has it .. diningin Bangkok Add to Favorites Search Hotels Thailand Tours Thailand Weather Hotel Maps Travel Health Alerts & Advice Alerts! Southern Thailand Visa Rules Change? Link to Us Travel Maps Maps-Thailand Recommended Ban Krut.com K-1 & K-3 Visa SpaStay Pattayai Home PhraseWizard • Accom • Family • Food • Medical • Misc • Personal • Shopping • Transport Alerts Survivor About Contact Links Site Map Link to Home Info Culture See & Do Touring Transport History Shopping Maps Beaches Nature Scuba Diving Adventure Hotels Travel Class Destinations Places Bangkok Chiang Mai Ko Samui Krabi Pattaya Phuket Issan North Travel Thailand Advice Thailand Travel Destinations Beaches in Thailand Thailand Culture Hotels in Thailand Thailand Travel Maps Thailand Adventure Travel Thailand Luxury Travel © 2005 GuidetoThailand.com. All rights reserved. Thailand Travel Information - Hotels Bangkok - Koh Samui Hotels - Chiang Mai - Phuket - Travel Thailand

Vacation Rentals by Owner

Vacation Rentals - Vacation Homes, Condos, Cabins by Owner Vacation Rentals by Owner Thousands of vacation rentals directly from their owner(s)/manager(s). Vacation homes, condos, villas, cabins, and more ... Help Vacation Rentals by Owner Advanced Search Search State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Timeshare City (optional) Lodging Type (optional) Bed and Breakfast Condominium Cottage/Cabin Home/Villa Hotels/Inns Studios/Penthouses Timeshare Townhome Farm/Ranch Listing Number (optional) Click here for our Advanced Search Popular Vacation States Florida Georgia California Tennessee Hawaii Pennsylvania North Carolina New Hampshire South Carolina Vermont Colorado Virginia Arizona New York Massachusetts Texas Maine Washington Michigan New Jersey Community Find Vacation Rentals Help Compare Us vs Hotels Website Announcements Vacation Rental Comparison Site Map Link Exchange Owner's Special Listing Englewood, FL Finding a perfect vacation rental has never been easier! We offer thousands of vacation rentals for rent in every major vacation spot directly from their owner or manager. FindVacationRentals.com offers an array of vacation homes, condos, villas, and cabins to meet your vacation needs. Whether you are looking for a vacation condo rental along the beaches of Myrtle Beach, a cabin rental in Breckenridge, Colorado or a villa rental near Orlando or Disney, FindVacationRentals.com can accommodate you! Select a destination below, find the vacation home of your choice, and book it directly through the owner! Click here to view Cities Current Promotion Featured Vacation Listing Winter Park, CO Featured Vacation Listing Okemo, VT Recently Added Stunning Ocean Views, Litchfield Retreat Condo, Free Interne Litchfield , SC Treasure Cay, Bahamas Beach Villa - 2 Bedrroms / 2 Baths Treasure Cay , Bahamas Newton Fork Ranch - A Magical Hideaway Black Hills , SD North Conway Station- 8 bedroom family vacation home North Conway , NH Hot Vacation Spots Anna Maria Island Depoe Bay Albrightsville Bethany Beach Big Bear Black Hills Blairsville Blue Ridge Breckenridge Bryson City Cape Coral Clermont Corolla Davenport Daytona Beach Destin Dillsboro Ellijay Ft. Myers Beach Gold Beach Gulf Shores Hilton Head Island Incline Village Indian Shores Islamorada Isle of Palms Kailua Kaneohe Key Largo Key West Kiawah Island Kissimmee Lake Tahoe Las Vegas Mission Beach Myrtle Beach Naples New Orleans New Smyrna Beach North Myrtle Beach Oceanside Orange Beach Orlando Palm Springs Panama City Beach Park City Phoenix Pigeon Forge Princeville Rotonda West San Diego Sanibel Island Santa Barbara Sarasota Scottsdale Seagrove Beach Sedona Snowshoe South Lake Tahoe St. Augustine Beach St. Pete Beach Steamboat Springs Sunriver Vail Venice Waianae Waikiki Winter Park Wintergreen 2005 FindVacationRentals.com . All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer of Use

Ski Vacation Almanac Adventure

Ski Vacations - National Geographic Adventure Magazine Ski Preview 2006 Select Past Sports 20 Sports Trips Swap Slogging the Fakahatchee Preseason Ski Trips Yoga Vs. Pilates Rafting Baja Trekking New Zealand Performance Candy Rock Climbing the Gunks Paddling Big Sur U.S. Climbing Spots Biking Across Alaska Latin American Surf Spots Paddling the Altiplano Skiing Tahoe's Backcountry The Grail Trails Climbing the Black Hills Biking the Inside Passage /0512/resources/sports_resources.html Gear of the Year: Gift Ideas Here are all the gotta-get-it items for savvy outdoor fanatics this holiday season. Gear gift ideas Audio Exclusive: Listen to Ed Viesturs Download an interview with our Adventurer of the Year, Ed Viesturs. Then read about ten other incredible athletes. Hear Ed Viesturs World-Class Outfitters Adventure -approved excursions for right now. Find a base camp, eco trip, or guided tour Video Exclusive : Climbing Icebergs Watch Will Gadd climb a crumbling iceberg off the coast of Labrador. See the ice climbing video King Kong in Rwanda To get into character, actor Andy Serkis, a.k.a. King Kong, sought out some ideal coaches: the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. Read the King Kong interview This Month's Stories Big-Cat Biologist Alan Rabinowitz Photo Gallery: Mongolia Road Trip: Puerto Rico Winter Weekend Getaways Ski Vacation Almanac Adventure Videos Paddling Croatia Climbing Icebergs Jaguars in Belize Ski Vacation Almanac: How to Ski All Year Long Text by Porter Fox Photograph by Aaron Black/Outdoor Collection/Aurora BOARD GAMES: Cutting through perfect powder on British Columbia's Blackcomb Mountain "Ski season" may be one of the great misnomers in winter sports, followed closely by "winter sports." If you have a yen for locking into your bindings and owning the slopes whenever the mood strikes (and vacation days permit), there's no time like the present, no matter the time of year. So tear out these pages and tuck them in your boot bag. Because somewhere, right now, the slopes are calling, and our perennial ski guide is the only answer you need. DECEMBER-FEBRUARY JANUARY-FEBRUARY MARCH-MAY JUNE-SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER-DECEMBER DECEMBER-FEBRUARY 1. Sestriere, Italy There's nothing like 100,000 cheering, gesticulating Italians on skis, but that's what you'll see when the 2006 Winter Olympics hit the slopes where Alberto Tomba won his first World Cup race in 1987. Sestriere, one of the highest and snowiest resorts in the Italian Alps, topping out at 9,262 feet (2,823 meters), will host the alpine skiing events from February 12 through February 25. Visit before, after, or during, and ski 248 miles (399 kilometers) of trails across six interconnected resorts. Test your limits on the renowned Kandahar downhill run, where Jean-Claude Killy and Ingemar Stenmark raced, or get a natural high watching the Olympic ski-jumping competition ( www.torino2006.com ). The Bargain : The Milky Way Ski Pass ($35 a day) offers entrée to six resorts, 66 lifts, and 5,000 vertical feet (1,524 vertical meters). The Digs : Most hotels are already full or raising rates, so pre-rent an apartment through Interhome ($330 a week; www.interhome.us ). The Eats : Agnolotti (meat dumplings) at nearby Tre Rubinetti , which serves up genuine northern Italian fare that isn't watered down (or priced up) for tourists. Start Here : www.comune.sestriere.to.it/e_index.htm 2. Silverton Mountain Ski Area, Colorado The canvas-tent base lodge is your first indication that Silverton Mountain is unlike any resort you've ever skied. Surely the grittiest and only completely backcountry-style ski mountain in the United States, Silverton requires guides for every skier ($99 a day) on its 1,600 acres (648 hectares) of prime San Juan Mountain wilds. With 400 inches (1,016 centimeters) of annual snowfall and a cap of 80 skiers a day, first tracks, even during holidays, are virtually guaranteed. A lone double chair, opened by resort visionary Aaron Brill in 2002, provides access to runs like the largely treeless Riff and the chute-to-bowl Ropedee-Dope. The Package : The three-day New Year's Party and Big Mountain Ski Camp ($750) puts you on the hill with the top freeskiers in the world. The Digs : Inn of the Rockies at the Historic Alma House ($79; www.innoftherockies.com ) is a peaceful Victorian hideaway with a hearty breakfast spread. The Hang : You will find Angus steaks, a Laundromat, and showers at the Explorer's Club Pub and Grille ( www.explorersclubsw.com ). Start Here : www.silvertonmountain.com JANUARY-FEBRUARY 3. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming The annual last-tram shivaree will be frantic this season: Jackson is decommissioning its iconic Rocky Mountain conveyance. For nearly 40 years the tram has transported skiers up one of the greatest continuous rises (4,139 feet) (1,262 meters) of any ski resort in the U.S. The granite-lined Corbet's Couloir and Rendezvous Bowl, plus thousands of acres of backcountry, will still be accessible next season, just check back for alternative transport info. The Thunder and Sublette quads will continue to access famous Jackson stashes like Paintbrush and Tower Three. Visit in January or February for "The Big One's" deepest snowfall. The Final Tram Run : Corbet's to Paintbrush to Lower Sublette Ridge gets you the most turns for your vertical. The Digs : Stay with former Olympians and local Jackson Holers Hans and Nancy Johnstone in one of the Alpine House's 22 pastel and Scandinavian-pine rooms ($120; www.alpinehouse.com ). The Freebie : You could almost eat for a week off the copious samples at Albertson's supermarket at the intersection of Route 191 and Highway 22. Start Here : www.jacksonhole.com 4. Jay Peak Resort, Vermont Where can you get 2,153 vertical feet (656 meters) of skiing, Powder 8 competitions, 355 inches (901 centimeters) of annual snowfall, open backcountry gates, a tram, and hair-raising terrain? Three and a half hours northwest of Boston, the unlikely powder Canaan of Jay Peak, Vermont, is the greatest anomaly in lower 48 skiing. Midwinter storms converge from the Champlain Valley, Great Lakes region, and St. Lawrence Valley to bestow seasons like 2001, when Jay Peak received 581 inches (1,476 centimeters). Eight lifts, including a 60-person tram and one detachable quad, rarely have lines and access 76 trails over 385 acres (156 hectares) of northern Vermont steeps. The Backcountry: Take Northway gate over to Big Jay for the steepest powder lines around. (Bring a guide.) The Powder Stash : Andre's Paradise Glade holds fresh tracks for days after a dump. The Digs : Get free lift tickets and ski to your private balcony at the no-frills Hotel Jay ($99; www.jaypeakresort.com ). Start Here : www.jaypeakresort.com MARCH-MAY 5. Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort, California There are two distinct advantages to spring skiing in a casino town. One: You can pay for your trip with a face card and an ace. Two: The early a.m. slopes are empty while the high rollers sleep it off. Overshadowed by its neighbors, Kirkwood and Squaw Valley, Heavenly's 3,500 vertical feet (1,067 vertical meters) of corned-up glades, bowls, and granite-slotted backcountry make it one of the best and least crowded spring destinations in the Golden State. After a night of blackjack at Harrah's, hit the Mott and Killebrew Canyon backcountry gates at their 9 a.m. opening for some of the steepest skiing in the Sierras. And you can experience the area's legendary melt-freeze cycle when the expansive Milky Way bowl softens up—just about the time the card sharks are rolling out of bed. The Spring-Break Moment: Slush Pond Mania during the first week of May is like a Warren Miller blooper clip gone hideously awry. The Digs : Harrah's Lake Tahoe ($89; www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/tah ) lures potential gamers with fair deals and big, clean rooms. The Skier's Fuel-Up : The eggs benedict at the Driftwood Café (+1 530 544 6545) are an edifying start to your day. Start Here : www.skiheavenly.com 6. Alyeska Resort, Alaska You know you've reached the big time when your chief dilemma is choosing between a heli, a snowcat, or a high-speed quad to reap the spoils of an Alaska blizzard. Or, you've simply arrived at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, without a doubt the greatest spring skiing triple threat in the U.S. Plan A : Take the tram up 2,300 feet (701 meters) and shred the North Face, which receives up to 742 inches (1,885 centimeters) of snow a year. Plan B : Fly with Chugach Powder Guides ($775 a day; www.chugachpowderguides.com ) to access 750 square miles (1,207 square kilometers) of 50-degree couloirs, bowls, and Chugach fins. Plan C : Ride CPG's Bombardier snowcat ($225) during whiteout days for tree skiing in the upper Girdwood Valley. The Local Secret : The Sitzmark Bar and Grill at the base of Chair 3 is one of the few places where native Alaskans can be found at the resort. The Digs : Make your final run a quadruple-diamond with a night at the lavish, slopeside Alyeska Prince Hotel ($175; www.princehotels.co.jp/alyeska-e ). Start Here : www.alyeskaresort.com JUNE-SEPTEMBER 7. Portillo, Chile Don't expect nightlife, a base village, heated sidewalks, or ski caddies at South America's oldest ski resort, just 1,235 skiable acres (500 hectares) and 2,743 vertical feet (836 vertical meters) of treeless Andes smoke. The incarnation of skiers' summer dreams, runs like Roca Jack's wide-open apron are carved into the granite face of the mountain. Nearly limitless backcountry (powder-filled Primavera, for example) sits a boot pack away from the Roca Jack and Condor lifts and funnels back to the iconic Hotel Portillo ($1,100 a week). While the resort averages a mediocre 240 inches (610 centimeters) a year, big storms in August and September almost always dump powder. The Backcountry Must : 7,000-vertical-foot (2,134-vertical-meter) Super C couloir is the preeminent Portillo backcountry run. The Package : Sparse but convenient Inca Lodge ($450 a week; www.skiportillo.com ), where food and lift tickets are included. Start Here : www.skiportillo.com 8. Blackcomb, British Columbia The Ice Age is alive and well on Whistler Blackcomb's Horstman Glacier. The largest summer ski slope in North America stretches over 112 acres (45 hectares) and 685 vertical feet (209 vertical meters) of mogul lanes and groomers. From June 5 through July 30, skiers leapfrog Whistler's lower lifts then ride the Horstman and Showcase T-bars ($47 a day). The coaches, pros, and aficionados at Camp of Champions ($968 for five days; www.campofchampions.com ) preside over the new age of skiing and snowboarding in this halfpipe and terrain park. The Freebie : A 160-foot (49-meter) bungee jump is included with Camp of Champions entry. The Ski Break : The Mountain Bike Park boasts 124 miles (200 kilometers) of lift- serviced downhill trails, three skill centers, and a BikerCross course ($35 a day). The Digs : While the Hearthstone Lodge's studio rooms ($129; 800 663 7711) in the heart of Whistler Village are simply appointed, it's all about location. Start Here : www.whistlerblackcomb.com NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 9. Wolf Creek Ski Area, Colorado An odd phenomenon takes place each November at Wolf Creek Ski Area: It snows like mad. Powder-starved skiers from New Mexico to Texas converge on the 1,600-vertical-foot (488-vertical-meter) ma-and-pa hill—85 miles (137 kilometers) east of Durango and 10,300 feet (3,139 meters) above sea level—to partake in the largest annual snowfall in Colorado. When CEO Davey Pitcher opened the hill on October 29, 2004, there was a 30-inch (76-centimeter) base at the summit, and he charged $38 a day for a lift ticket, versus the standard $43. Early birds should point their boards to the right side of the trail map for 500 acres (202 hectares) of open bowls, gullies, and glades served by six lifts. The First Run of the Season : Alberta Face, off the Treasure Chair, is the steepest shot with consistently ample coverage. The Digs : The western-style rooms at High Country Lodge ($75; www.highcountrylodge.com ); they're close to the hill, and breakfast is included. The Local Brew : Lizard Head Red Ale at the Bear Creek Saloon and Grill (+1 970 264 5611). Start Here : www.wolfcreekski.com 10. Mammoth Mountain, California Despite its stature as the big-draw slope for tens of thousands of California skiers, Mammoth still holds first tracks for half the day after an early season storm. Thanks to 477 acres (193 hectares) of snowmaking and a benevolent Mother Nature, the fourth largest resort in the U.S. is a sure bet for November turns. Follow the high traverse off the Face Lift Express chair to access some of the best early season runs on the lower half of Drop Out and Wipe Out. As the chutes fill in with snow, branch out to wide-open Scotty's and supersteep Huevos Grande. The Digs : You can't do better than one night and two free lift tickets at the Mammoth Mountain Inn ($92; www.mammothmountain.com/plan/lodging/mmi ), one of the cheapest, plushest ski packages in the eastern Sierra. The Après Soak : Plastic cups overfloweth at the gently burbling Hot Creek hot springs (+1 760 924 5500), off Highway 203, south of town. Start Here : www.mammothmountain.com Pick up the December 2005/January 2006 issue for our annual coverage of the best of adventure, your guide to everything cool with 15 sports trends, 14 astonishing adventurers, and 45 gear picks that rock. Subscribe to Adventure today and save 70 percent off the cover price! Sorry, your browser does not support iframes. This form is available here: subscription form mapXchange Free maps to use with TOPO! CD-ROMs Select U.S. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Michigan Mid-Atlantic:   DC, DE,   MD, VA, WV Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota Northeast:   CT, MA, ME, NJ   NH, NY, RI, VT Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Washington Wisconsin Wyoming Adventurer's Handbook How to beach a kayak Select an Outdoor Tip Avoid an Avalanche Beach a Kayak Bike Up Steep   Trails Fight Altitude   Sickness Hike Lighter How to Swing   a Machete Keep Warm on   Frigid Hikes Leave No Trace Make Tastier Grub Paddle With Power Put on Your Skis Run Off-Road See More Fish   When Diving Stick to the Rock Ski Faster Swim Rapids Take Better Photos Telemark for Real Wipe Out on a Bike Survival Tips: Start a Fire Find Water Build Shelter Gather Food Signal for Help Pack a Survival   Bag Outdoor GearStore Buy the right gear right now Select Outdoor Gear Departments Men's Women's Shoes Backpacks Camping Climbing Gear Hiking Boots Ski Equipment Snowboards Snowshoes Adidas Arc'teryx Billabong Dakine Keen Merrell Shoes Mountain Hardwear Nike The North Face NRS Oakley Sunglasses Osprey Outdoor Research Patagonia Quiksilver Salomon More Brands Departments Men's Women's Shoes Backpacks Camping Climbing Gear Hiking Boots Ski Equipment Snowboards Snowshoes Adidas Arc'teryx Billabong Dakine Keen Merrell Shoes Mountain Hardwear Nike The North Face NRS Oakley Sunglasses Osprey Outdoor Research Patagonia Quiksilver Salomon More Brands