Park City, UT

A Sporty Respite

In the 1860's, this picture-book Victorian town's claim to fame was its silver mines. These days, it's known for gold -- Olympic gold -- having hosted the 2002 winter games.

But even before the February 2002 Winter Olympics put Utah and Park City on the map, pros, amateurs, and rookies alike flocked here for the fabulously fluffy powder, not to mention dry weather, to-die-for scenery, and a cool, Wild West town.

For non-skiers, Park City's no slouch. There's a ton of stuff to do, including snowboarding, snowmobiling, snow tubing, bobsledding, and even luge. And in January, you can go stargazing at the world-famous Sundance Film Festival.

Without a doubt, this city is a winter sports Mecca for everyone. And best of all, it's just a short and scenic drive from Salt Lake City.