Canada, a mountainous country with heavy snowfall, is one of the world's top ski destinations. Both downhill and cross-country skiing are open to all ages, though downhill skiing carries a higher price tag: A day on the slopes, with rental gear and lift ticket, can easily top C$100 (US$80).
For downhill skiing, the Canadian Rockies and the Whistler/Blackcomb resort near Vancouver are the primary destinations. In 2010, the Alpine and Nordic skiing competitions for the Winter Olympics will be held at Whistler. The 1988 Winter Olympics were held at Nakiska, just outside Banff National Park, and the park itself is home to three other ski areas, including Lake Louise, the country's largest. If you're just learning to ski, then the easier slopes at Banff Mount Norquay are made to order. Readers of Condé Nast Traveler repeatedly award Whistler/Blackcomb the title of best ski resort in North America.
Almost all downhill areas also offer groomed cross-country ski trails. Canmore Nordic Centre, in Alberta, was the site of the 1988 Olympic cross-country competition, and is now open to the public.
