Located a stones throw north of Mt. Rainier, the resort's off the beaten track, shielding it from the madding crowds attracted to slopes nearer to Seattle. Thinner crowds, combined with drier snow make Crystal Mountain a winner.

Besides the excellent skiing - three high-speed quads connect to oodles of runs - there's a plethora of hotel accommodations to choose from, a spa with jacuzzi, dry sauna and weight room, great food in the pub with live music on weekends, and fine dining upstairs prepared to satisfy even the most discriminating tastes.

If you want to feel like a Rockefeller, go mid-week. The place is a ghost town except for staff, and you can ski for days without encountering another soul (well, practically) which can make packing for home a task of the tallest order.