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Southern Spain's Sierra Nevada region boasts great skiing and sights like the stunning Alhambra fortress
Sun Valley
In a sea of ski resorts that feel commercial, flashy, or impersonal, Sun Valley, Idaho and the nearby town of Ketchum maintain a distinctly Western charm. While skiers fall in love with the sun-blessed slopes of Mount Baldy, nonskiers can retrace the steps of former residents, paying respects at the grave of Ernest Hemingway, who finished For Whom the Bell Tolls while living at the Sun Valley Lodge, and sipping a hot buttered rum at the Duchin Lounge, once frequented by Clark Gable and Ingrid Bergman. The Hemingways and Gables have given way to Eastwoods and Schwarzeneggers, but even the new galleries, spas, and boutiques work in the town’s frontier spirit (witness the cowboy boots mingling with Tory Burch flats at Silver Creek Outfitters).
Smart Splurge: The famous Sun Valley Lodge is historic but showing its age. A more refined option is the Knob Hill Inn, a retreat on the edge of Ketchum with an old-world European feel. From $275/night; www.knobhillinn.com
Great Value: Renting a condo or house is often the smartest way to go in Sun Valley. Try Premier Resorts and in particular the Atelier and Wildflower collections, which are near the ski village and serviced by free shuttles to downtown Ketchum. From $215/night; www.premier-sunvalley.com
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