On the piste on Blackcomb Mountain

The largest ski resort in North America, the combined Whistler-Blackcomb mountains offer the best skiing and snowboarding in Canada.

Only two hours' drive north of Vancouver, the international spotlight will be on Whistler in 2010 when it hosts the Winter Olympics.

Spread across two mountains, Whistler-Blackcomb offers 8,171 acres of skiable terrain, three glaciers, more than 200 trails, 38 lifts and a total of 17 restaurants with sensational views. It is possible to ski at altitudes of up to 2,284 metres.

The mountains receive an annual dump of 10 metres, although in recent years the effects of global warming have started to play havoc with Whistler's ski conditions.

Due to its proximity to the coast, Whistler-Blackcomb enjoys a mild climate and the daytime winter temperature hovers around a pleasant -5°C on the slopes.

You could do worse than visit Whistler in the summer however, when there's plenty of opportunities for adventure activities, be it hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, river rafting, ATV touring and golfing.

While the ski season generally runs from mid-November until mid-April, for avid ski bunnies who just can't cope with the summer thaw, several runs on the Horstman Glacier remain.

The two mountains are linked by the pedestrian village of Whistler. With its chateaux-style architecture, it exudes a European ambience and heaves with restaurants, bars, exclusive spas, galleries, boutique shops and hotels.

Come winter, Whistler swarms with upbeat Australians and New Zealanders who flock here to work the ski season.

Whistler-Blackcomb lies 123km north of Vancouver along the scenic but notoriously narrow and windy Sea to Sky Highway. Regular buses link Whistler with Vancouver International Airport.