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TAOS SKI VALLEY, NEW MEXICO

Best for art lovers. Since the founding of the Taos Artist Colony in 1898, this area has drawn established and aspiring artists alike. The Harwood Museum of Art also hosts artists and exhibits from around the world. To get the most out of the ski scene and the art scene, line up for the first chair at Taos Ski Valley and ski or snowboard as many of its 110 trails as you can handle. Quit early and hop on the town’s Chile Line shuttle back into Taos. Shed your ski gear, don your black, and explore dozens of galleries and studios.

MOUNT WASHINGTON RESORT, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Best for history buffs. Soak in the past and get your powder fix when you book a room at the circa-1902 Mount Washington Hotel. This National Historic Landmark attracted the likes of Thomas Edison and Babe Ruth. Delegates from 44 nations met here in 1944 to establish the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The skiing isn’t too shabby either, thanks to four high-speed quad chairlifts, 434 acres of skiable terrain, and more than 100 trails. Standout runs include Fabayn’s Express, named for one of the resort’s original railroad stations, and Crawford’s Blaze, honoring 19th-century White Mountain explorer Abel Crawford.

VAIL, COLORADO

Best for short attention spans. You might get lost at Vail, but you won’t get bored. The nation’s largest single ski resort boasts 5,289 skiable acres spanning three distinct areas. You’ll find groomed runs on the front side and bowls for glade skiing on the back side. Blue Sky Basin feels like skiing in the back-country, only with such perks as lift service and ski patrol.

SUN VALLEY, IDAHO

Best for family guys. This idyllic resort in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains specializes in the quintessential family ski vacation. Opened in 1936, Sun Valley’s Dollar Mountain opened the world’s first chair lift—a single-person model fashioned from a banana hauler. Today, the resort still charms every age group. Think timber-beam lodges, horse-drawn sleigh rides, hot outdoor swimming pools, ice skating, and an old-fashioned bowling alley. Parents can check the kids in at Dollar’s renowned ski school and head over to Bald Mountain, where 14 lifts—including a brand new gondola—shuttle skiers up 3,400 feet of vertical.