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Southern Spain's Sierra Nevada region boasts great skiing and sights like the stunning Alhambra fortress
Whistler Blackcomb
Already ranked as the top ski resort in North America by Skiing for the 13th year running, the spotlight on Whistler Blackcomb will only intensify when it hosts the 2010 Winter Olympics. With much of the construction for the Games completed, visitors this winter can experience the state-of-the-art Peak 2 Peak gondola that runs between the summits of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains (nonskiers can check it out with a “sightseeing” lift ticket). The village is known for its rowdy nightlife, but it also has refined spots, including the modern French restaurant Après and Elements, which serves small plates in a low-lit, sleek space.
Smart Splurge: At the grand Four Seasons Resort Whistler, the smallest room is still spacious at 500-plus square feet, the Fifty Two 80 Bistro & Bar serves up market-fresh seafood, and the spa will quickly have the nonskier blissfully realizing the wisdom of staying off the slopes. From $279/night; www.fourseasons.com/whistler
Great Value: Those seeking quiet should try the new Nita Lake Lodge on the shores of Nita Lake (there’s a free shuttle to the village), a rare boutique hotel amid so many mammoth ones. Decor is sleek but practical (heated bathroom floors, iPod docking stations, high thread count), and there is a recently added spa. From $209/night; www.nitalakelodge.com
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