Stowe was one of the first, and one of the classiest, ski resorts in the world when it opened in the 1930s. Its regional dominance has eroded somewhat over the years since -- Killington, Sunday River, and Sugarloaf, among other resorts, have snagged big shares of the New England ski market, and iconic hills like Mad River and Jay Peak carved out niches, too. But this resort still has loads of charm and plenty of excellent runs, and it's still one of the best places to get that full New England ski experience: a combination of beautiful ski trails and pastoral Vermont views. This is a tremendous challenge for advanced skiers, with winding, old-style trails -- especially notable are the legendary "Front Four" trails (National, Starr, Lift Line, and Goat), which have humbled more than a handful of folks. The mountain also has several good, long lifts that go all the way from bottom to top -- not the usual patchwork of shorter lifts you find at many other ski areas. For après-ski, the resort operates the very tony Stowe Mountain Lodge and maintains a couple of upscale restaurants with bar areas -- not to mention the obligatory spa.