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If your cold-weather dreams tend toward snowflakes, ski areas, and hot toddies in front of a roaring fire, then Hideaways has some tempting recommendations for your holiday and winter travels. Each has a festive atmosphere and a flurry of outdoor activities. So bring it on, Old Man Winter!
Don't forget, when you're ready to plan your upcoming ski trip, contact your helpful and professional Hideaways Travel Specialist (800-843-4433). Each expert agent offers exceptional, detailed, and thoughtful travel planning like you'll never get online or when you go it alone.
8. The Snowy Destination—Whistler Blackcomb: Just 75 miles north of Vancouver, British Columbia, this ski resort in the Canadian Rockies gets an average of 39 feet of snow a year. And with 8,171 acres of terrain, Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski area in North America. In addition to 200 marked runs and 16 alpine bowls, look for heli-skiing, daredevil backcountry trails, and an award-winning ski and snowboard school.
 The Festive Spirit—20th Annual TELUS Winter Classic: Scheduled for January 25 & 26, 2013, this is Whistler's legendary fundraising event of the season complete with fun-filled ski events, food & wine galore, an infamous live and silent auction, and fabulous live entertainment.
The Cozy Lodgings—Whistler Chalets: We've checked out a number of Whistler's ski-in/ski-out condominium lodges, townhouses, private (and spectacular) signature homes, and log chalets, and heartily recommend them for their comfort and convenient location. Most have one to four bedrooms and full kitchens, plus nice extras like hot tubs and fireplaces. Those located in Whistler Village have especially nice access to a huge selection of shops and restaurants.
7. The Snowy Destination—Québec City: This Canadian destination is perfect if you like the idea of working just a bit of skiing into an otherwise urban-oriented winter holiday (think European sophisticate). Two decently sized ski areas are within a 30-minute drive of Québec City: Stoneham Mountain Resort, which is popular for its night skiing and hearty aprés-ski scene, and the larger Mont-Sainte-Anne, which is situated just northeast of the city on a mountain rising 2,000 feet above the St. Lawrence River.
 The Festive Spirit—Québec Winter Carnival: Bonhomme (French for "good natured") is the iconic snowman wearing a red stocking cap who presides over this famous annual event, being held February 1-17, 2013. The whole family will love events like snow sculpting, nighttime parades, snow slides, dogsled rides, and Bonhomme's Ice Palace. Your kids might even get the chance to ice skate with Bonhomme himself!
The Cozy Lodgings—Fairmont Le Château Frontenac: This landmark hotel is nestled in the heart of Old Québec City and offers a sense of historic charm and distinctive elegance. After a busy day of outdoor fun, it's the perfect place to retire for relaxation and some delicious French food and wine, followed by a wonderful night's sleep in one of the 618 guest rooms or suites. All offer beautiful views of either the St. Lawrence River or the architecture of Old Québec City.
6. The Snowy Destination—Jackson Hole, Wyoming: This is Teton skiing at its best, with 2,500 acres of pristine terrain, 459 inches of average snowfall each winter, and unparalleled backcountry access. The resort's 100-passenger aerial tram gets you to the top—4,139 vertical feet—in just 12 minutes, for a downhill run that's a real thrill.
 The Festive Spirit—Jackson Hole WinterFest: This third-annual event, to be held February 8-18, 2013, is full of ski races, great food, and live musical entertainment, plus a snow-sculpture competition and a wine-tasting event extraordinaire.
The Cozy Lodgings—Snake River Lodge & Spa: You know you're in the Grand Tetons here—the main lobby features stylishly rustic furnishings, stuffed-and-mounted bison and cougar, leather and animal-hide upholstery, and a huge stone fireplace with a massive rough-hewn log mantel. The Lodge also offers 125 spacious guest rooms and 30 one- to three-bedroom suites with full kitchens. To top it off, you'll enjoy a convenient ski-in/ski-out slope-side location here, and you can soak in one of the resort's indoor/outdoor hot tubs apré ski.
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