One of the biggest, best-equipped, and most well-known ski resorts in the world, this gabled mountain village and 2010 Olympic venue is named for the hairy marmots who live nearby and whistle like bursting balloons.

The Village, which dates from the late 1970s and occupies two mountains (Whistler and Blackcomb), is a poster child for aesthetic design with nary an unsightly structure or item of trash to mar the natural beauty. It is only 90 minutes north of Vancouver. Whistler may be known for its skiing, but nowadays summer visitors on BMXs and SUPs outnumber their ski-season counterparts.

The resort has recently grown a vibrant art culture that rivals that of a small European city, adding to its diversity. The warning? (2.3 million visitors a year) Whistler is busy.