Mount Seymour
Getting there: Public transportation reaches the bottom of the hill and theres a shuttle bus service from Parkgate Community Centre for $6 one way, making it convenient for parents who want to drop off their kids.
Claim to fame: The first local mountain to allow snowboarders, Mt. Seymour was recently awarded a top-three spot in the west (behind Whistler and Olympic Park in Alberta) by Snowboard Canada Magazine. It hosts many high-calibre national events from the Canadian Shield to Vancouvers Hi-Standard.
Who youll meet on the chairlift: Not surprisingly there are a lot of young freestyle skiers and snowboarders, although families also love it.
Price range: $51 lift pass from opening to 10pm and $39 from 4 to 10pm.
One more reason to visit: Families can ring in the new year at Family First Night in the tubing and tobogganing area with a child-friendly countdown at 9pm.
Grouse Mountain
Getting there: Theres regular public transit to and from the base of Grouse Mountain every half hour. Catch Bus 232 - Phibbs Exchange or Bus 236 - Lonsdale Quay.
Claim to fame: Some of the toughest black runs on the North Shore (Purgatory and Hades are particularly challenging); Terrain Parks voted some of the best in Western Canada; and on a clear day The Cut is everyones favourite run with breathtaking views stretching all the way to Washington State and Vancouver Island.
Who youll meet on the chairlift: All ages and abilities with a strong emphasis on families.
Price range: Ski & Board lift tickets (9am to 10pm) $58. Night lift tickets (4pm to 10pm) $48. Plus snow packs for five to 10 days a season.
One more reason to visit: A fun way to enjoy the view on the way up the Skyride is North Americas largest aerial tramway.
Cypress Mountain
Getting there: Theres no public transportation to Cypress but there is a contracted express bus: CypressCoachlines.com.
Claim to fame: Who can forget the look of sheer joy on Alexandre Bilodeaus face when the freestyle skier from Montreal became the first Canadian to win a gold medal at an Olympic Games in Canada. He won the hearts of a nation atop Cypress in February 2010. For non-Olympians it offers the largest night skiing and riding operations in Western Canada.
Who youll meet on the chairlift: Any Vancouverite who looks with yearning at the twinkling lights of Cypress at night.
Price range: A day lift pass is $60 but also check out the $67 Gold Medal Card which gives you 20 per cent savings.
One more reason to visit: Cypress offers Vancouvers only cross country ski area, not to mention a snow tubing park and night snowshoeing tours.
Whistler Blackcomb
Distance from Vancouver: one of the best two-hour drives in Canada along the Sea to Sky highway. Pacific Coach Lines and Greyhound buses also offer transportation, as do operators such as Land Sea Tours.
Claim to fame: They might have officially been called the Vancouver Olympics, but Whistler played a starring role in the 2010 Winter Games.
Who youll meet on the chairlift: Its festive atmosphere at night makes it particularly popular with the younger party-going crowd.
Price range: Christmas holiday stay-and-ski packages start at 7 nights/5 days from $175 per person/per night (based on two adults sharing a hotel room from Dec 22 Jan 4. Visit Whistler.com/winter_packages#offer_01.)Its strongly recommended that you pre-purchase an Edge card online for the biggest savings on lift tickets, which are $98 a day plus taxes.
One more reason to visit: Many foodies drive to Whistler just for dinner at Araxi. Another option: every Sunday night, the ski and snowboard school puts on a show of tricks, fire spinners and fire works.
Whistler.com | 1-800-WHISTLER (944-7853)
Sun Peaks Resort
Distance from Vancouver: 400 km/5 hours, primarily along Hwy 5
Claim to fame: Third biggest ski area in Canada (after Whistler and Mt Tremblant); the longest green run (8 km from top to village); an average of 2,000 hours of sunshine a year (hence the name).
Who youll meet on the chairlift: Sun Peaks is family friendly, with more emphasis on things that appeal to all ages and skill levels. (You dont have to be a skier to enjoy your time there.) Theres dogsledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and lift access to the nordic trails.
Price range: A days lift pass is $76; there are value packages. Accommodation ranges from $89 in low season and $229 a night in high season.
One more reason to visit: Winter Festival of Wine, Jan. 12 to 20. Packages include two nights accommodation and three events starting from $295 per person.
Apex Mountain Resort
Distance from Vancouver: 405km/4.5 hours east of Vancouver; 33km west of Penticton.
Claim to fame: Wine lovers may flock to the Okanagan in the summer, but skiers love the appeal of a 2,000ft drop, 67 trails (48 per cent intermediate and 36 per cent advanced) and an average snowfall of 19ft. They even call it dry powder. You know, dry powder its not as cold as wet powder.
Who youll meet on the chairlift: People who know the Okanagan doesnt just mean wine country.
Price range: Day lift passes are $65. Over the holidays there are two-night accommodation packages for $229, which includes $50 meal voucher and family tubing pass. There are also group lodge and condo packages.
One more reason to visit: If theres a non-skier in your group, try the one-kilometre adventure ice skating loop or take the lift up to the tube park.
Revelstoke
Getting there: Its 562km from Vancouver, so a good six-hour trek by car. Or you can fly to Kelowna and then take the Revelstoke Connection, with multiple departures daily. Theres also a Greyhound busservice. Once youre there, theres a city bus service and a ski shuttle that runs a loop to and from the ski resort.
Claim to fame: Its the only resort in the world to offer lift, Cat, heli, and backcountry skiing/snowboarding from one village.
Who youll meet on the chairlift: Almost half the terrain is classed as intermediate, and the area gets an average of 30 to 45 feet of snow, so Revelstoke tends to attract advanced skiers and snowboarders. Most range in age from 25 to 40. Disposable income helps, too, if you want to take advantage of the Cat and heli skiing.
Price range: Ski-and-stay packages starting from $275 per person, based on double occupancy at The Sutton Place Hotel (the signature, luxury ski-in/ski-out property) and from $139 per person, based on double occupancy at the downtown Sandman Hotel from December 25 January 6.
A non-skiing reason to visit: Revelstoke has more than 100 years of history so its got an authentic, real-town charm. Natural hot springs are a plus, as is the aquatic centre with waterslide.
