Whilst it is always going to be difficult to tell ahead of the snow which ski resorts will be offering the best runs in any given year, certain ski resorts in North America remain more popular than others no matter what happens with the snow. So, if you’re thinking of a North American skiing holiday this winter, here are some of the ski resorts you might want to check out (in no particular order):

* Aspen, Colorado, USA
Possibly as well know as the being the Mecca of the jet-set and famous as for its skiing, Aspen has four (not connected) mountains and steeps in which to ski. This ski resort accommodates for all levels of skier, from the pro to the novice, and is the resort of choice for many.

* Banff / Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
Ranking as possibly the most picturesque ski resort in North America, Banff ski resort is located in the heart of Canada’s Banff National Park. With Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise all within easy reach of this ski resort, many have argued that you don’t need to be an ace skier before deciding to come here: the sheer magnificence of the views are enough on their own to attract you to this most delightful part of the world.

* Stowe, Vermont, USA
Based around Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, Stowe is always a popular choice (as a ski resort) as it has close to 100 shops and over 50 restaurants. It also offers more to the holiday-maker than just traditional skiing. For those serious about their skiing however, Stowe is also one of the few resorts in North America that lift-links to other resorts.

* Mount Tremblant, Quebec
Mount Tremblant is Canada’s oldest ski resort – originally opened in 1939. However, a recent facelift has meant that this resort is now unrecognizable from what it was of old. Whilst the skiing here is good, the area is also well-known for its close proximity to other ski resorts and locations; for example, Montreal is only an hour away. Also, this resort is seen as being one of the most relaxing on the North American circuit.

* Vail, Colorado, USA
With over 5,300 acres of ski slopes, Vale is the largest single ski resort in the USA. It also, however, has the fastest high-speed detachable quads on one mountain! Add to that the sheer number of art galleries, museums, snowmobiling, ice skating, etc. activities that can be done here and it is not hard to see why Vail, Colorado is seen as the USA’s favourite ski resorts.

* Whistler/Blackcomb, Canada
Whistler ski resort was voted the number one global ski resort for the 2003-2004 season and one look at this exquisite ski village will tell you why. A purpose built resort (30 years ago there was nothing here!), the resort contains over 100 restaurants alone! On the skiing front, the two mountain peaks that make-up the backdrop of this resort are seen as excellent for skiing and snowboarding (note- not all North American resorts will allow you to snowboard). If you plan to come here though, you’ll need to book up early as this resort really is considered the world’s greatest ski resort!