Arosa

Whether you go by train or car, the long, twisting ascent up the Schanfigger Valley to Arosa is hard to forget; the route, jammed full of picture-perfect, heart-pumping scenes, crosses bridges over bottomless chasms and skirts rocky slopes that drop away thousands of feet to the valley floor. You'll also pass through a few small mountain villages, complete with old-timey scenes of Swiss farmers and their livestock. Once in Arosa itself, the ambiance remains, well, very characteristically Swiss. The public service department strives to leave an inch or so of snow over all the roads, so pedestrians can hear the crunch of snow underfoot and so cars aren't quite as loud. There's also a pond in the center of town where you can ice skate. Fifty percent of Arosa's accommodations are right on the slopes, but the other 50 percent can involve a tiresome, uphill walk to get to the lifts. If you happen to like walking, there are 25 miles of winter hiking trails that intermingle with the ski trails. Many visitors buy single-trip lift tickets and spend their day meandering back down to the village.

On the hill, beginner and intermediate skiers have plenty of terrain to explore. Arosa's 37 miles of marked trails consists of many wide groomers with just a few really steep pitches. There are hardly any trees at Arosa, so adventurous skiers can duck off the groomed trails for some powder shots. The Brüggerhorn area of the resort is also left ungroomed. Experts will find more challenging off-piste selections under the tram or by hiking off the skier's right side of the resort—just make sure you have avalanche gear and the proper training, or are with a knowledgeable guide. With a high base elevation, the snowfall here is relatively reliable.

The resort is quite spread out (as are the crowds) with 13 lifts and many on-hill restaurants. Some of these establishments rent out comfy lounge chairs, ideal for resting your legs and soaking in the eight to twelve hours of sun that shines on nice days. And free outdoor concerts are also common here: Sometimes you'll find several going on at once at different spots around the hill.

Off the hill, Arosa is typical of many Swiss towns—you won't find much of the hopping après scene you might find at bigger, American resorts. Arosa offers fairly run-of-the-mill dining options (lots of Swiss-German fare, a handful of Italian restaurants, and one Mexican joint with an interesting interpretation of nachos), a few pubs, and not much nightlife. The Casino Arosa is the one place you'll find dancing and late-night partying. Other non-skiing options include tobogganing, balloon rides, paragliding, snowshoe tours, and horse-drawn sleigh rides.