The Dolomites (Cortina), Italy
The quaint town of Cortina has a population of 7,000 and lies in the north of Italy and is a short drive from the Austrian border. Cortina hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics as well as several World Cup events. A scene in the James Bond Movie "For Your Eyes Only" was filmed on its Olympic Ski Run, in which Roger Moore was chased by gunmen riding on motorcycles. Cortina is also known for its wonderful restaurants and great Italian cuisine.

You will find the most spectacular panoramic views in the Alps, here, and some of the most challenging slopes in the Dolomites, which are a section of the Alps. Some of the surrounding peaks are higher than 3,000 meters.

The Cortina skiing area offers 70 downhill slopes for alpine skiing with 37 different lifts for a capacity of about 59,000 skiers per hour. Half of the slopes are suitable for beginners while 35% are intermediate level and 15% are for advanced skiers. Snow cover is guaranteed 95% of the time. For those wanting a respite from skiing, there's a 1 km long groomed slope reserved for sledding and tobagans, which is serviced by a chairlift.

The 2009/2010 ski season, which began on November 28 and will last until April 11. Cortina is very kid-friendly. Children under the age of 8 (born after Nov. 28, 2001) receive free ski passes and accommodations, when a ski pass is purchase by an accompanying adult for the same time period. Likewise, children under the age of 12 (born after Nov. 28, 1997) pay half of the adult price. Dolomiti Superski also offers a special ski pass that enables parents to take turns supervising their small children with a multi-day transferable pass.

Gstaad, Switzerland
Nestled in the southwestern Swiss Alps, Gstaad is one of the planet's most decadent getaways with world-class slopes, fine boutiques and a constant stream of well-heeled visitors.

Gstaad first gained its reputation as a winter haven for celebrities when Time labeled it simply "The Place" in the 1960s, thanks to frequent appearances by the likes of Roger Moore and Grace Kelly. More recently, luminaries of all walks – from George Soros to Prince Charles – are sometimes seen roaming the streets of the tony mountain town.

Gstaad is known for its luxury hotels and shopping. The center of the village is traffic-free and is a harmonious mix of restaurants, shops, hotels and bars. The ski and winter walking areas surrounding the village are accessed by three mountain railways.

Three ski areas are accessible from the village. The ski areas, which range from 1,000 to 3,000 meters above sea level, include 250 km of pistes, 28 ski lifts, 11 gondola lifts, 18 chairlifts and 4 aerial cable ways. Approximately 49% of the slopes are blue, 29% red and 22% black. There are 10 different ski schools and four snow parks. The Gstaad Mountain is considered to be one of the safest and largest areas for skiing in Switzerland. If skiing during the daylight hours isn't enough for you, Gstaad also offers night-time skiing with flood lights on several slopes for skiers and snowboarding enthusiasts alike.

Lech and Zürs, Austria
One of Europe's finest skiing locations, Lech and Zürs offers the glamour and glitz of Milan or Paris in the setting of a quaint mountain town. Made up of the neighboring hamlets Lech am Arlberg and Zürs, the area is packed with top-notch restaurants, stellar scenery and copious entertainment opportunities.

Lech and Zürs date back to the fourteenth century. Like many ski resorts in Austria – as opposed to ones in France and Switzerland – Lech and Zürs offers a slightly younger, more laid-back atmosphere. It is established as one of the world's greatest ski resorts and a snowy playground for Europe's rich and famous. Renowned for its five month guaranteed snow season, glamour and quality skiing, attractions include outdoor performances like "Viva Verdi: The Magic of Arias in the Alpine Landscape," a riveting performance of light, fire and passion enacted on a unique outdoor stage setting consisting of several hundred cubic meters of snow and ice with an impressive natural backdrop.

Located in a particularly snowy region, the road between Lech and Zürs is sometimes blocked during the winter, making the villages unreachable each other except by ski or snowmobile. Fortunately, the two towns are linked by countless trails and lifts. Lech is almost entirely self-sufficient thanks to a local biomass power plant.

The Lech ski lift system has a limit on the number of day passes to prevent over-crowding and queuing. A 14,000 limit on the number of day passes is strictly enforced but anyone staying in the village of Lech has a guaranteed pass during their visit. The 2009/2010 winter season began on December 4 and will last until April 24th.

St. Moritz, Switzerland
Skiing in the Swiss Alps is a favorite pastime of moneyed Europeans, and there are few glitzier locales than the town of St. Moritz. Packed with thrills on and off the slopes, the mile-high village, which is one of the best-known holiday resorts in the world. St. Moritz is known for its beauty, culture, great shopping, dining and, of course, its world-class skiing.

Located at an altitude of 1,856 meters above sea level, St. Moritz is considered Switzerland's cradle of winter tourism. St. Moritz offers three different ski resorts: Corvatsch, Corviglia and Diavolezza and 350 kilometers of pistes. St. Moritz's "house mountain", the Corviglia, boasts the steepest start slope in Switzerland with the Piz Nair Wall's 100% vertiginous drop. For winter hikers, there are 150 kilometers of winter walking trails while cross-country skiers enjoy a track network of about 180 kilometers.

The town hosted the 1928 Winter Olympic Games and the stadium is still standing. Those who are adventurous may want to visit the Olympic bobsledding run, which is also the oldest bob run still in operation, which is located in St. Moritz-Celerina. There, visitors have the opportunity to have a one-to-one experience schussing down the run at speeds up to 84 miles per hour. The Fun Park for snowboarders features a permanently operational half-pipe, tandem parachute jumps as well as altitude training.

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