Whitefish Mountain Resort

This was one of our favorite ski areas before we moved to Montana and remains so even today. Whitefish seems always to be fun, relaxed, wide-open, and full of fluffy snow. The ski area is one of the older ones in Montana but has grown steadily; today it's a world-class mountain with plenty of room to roam and superb views -- especially to the east, where the high peaks of Glacier National Park stand out. What's more, it's a relatively affordable destination, as standard hotel rooms can be easily found 30 minutes away in Kalispell and it's not hard to find discounts on lift tickets (hint: Costco).