Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

Whistler-Blackcomb is arguably British Columbia’s best winter hideaway – and with 8,000 skiiable areas, claims to be the largest ski resort in the whole of North America. Artificially reclaimed from the rugged landscape as a sop to the unsuccessful Canadian bid for the winter Olympics in 1968, the new facilities were repurposed for mass tourism (and ended up hosting the games in 2010, anyway). Renowned for its astonishing snowfall, with an average of 40 feet per year, Whistler’s mostly considered a late-season getaway, often supplied with good powder through June. January, though, is the party month, in large part thanks to the huge expat Aussie contingent in the city, who celebrate Australia Day on January 26 with a massive weekend-long bash. The best one is always at the Longhorn Saloon, run by local hospitality legends the Gibbons family. View our complete list of the best places to visit in the U.S.