One of the most innovative and exciting freestyle resorts in the Alps, its got more terrain than you'd think and is great for familes too.

Laax is one of the most popular freestyle resorts in Europe, and with excellent terrain parks, Europes largest halfpipe and an indoor freestyle training centre, its easy to see why its rated so highly and top-flight international freestyle competitions return year after year. But dont be deterred if flying through the park isnt your thing Laax is also part of one of the biggest areas in Switzerland, reaching glacial heights of 3,000m and, thanks to the newly developed Rocksresort, has some fabulously stylish slopeside accommodation.

Laax has seen lots of well-planned development over the past five or so years and until recently was marketed as Flims now the four parts that share the 220km of slopes are known as Laax and the areas attracting an increasingly international market, welcoming over one million visitors in the 2009/10 seaon.

The main hub is Laax, at the bottom of the slopes with the bulk of the nightlife, the new Rocksresort self-catering development and the cool Riders Palace; down the road is the rustic village of Laax Dorf set around a lake; on the valley road from Chur to Laax is the traditional village of Flims with its hotels and pensions, and beyond Laax is the small but expanding base of Falera. Laax sits between Flims and Falera and the skiing spreads out above the three main bases across several small valleys running above and below the tree line.

Gondolas or chairlifts run from Laax, Flims and Falera to access the skiing and the 2000m of vertical. The sunny orientation of the slopes makes them a welcoming spot for young families or park cruisers alike, and the height of the upper slopes means youre onto a safe bet for snow coverage.

The easy access to the slopes, sunny orientation and welcoming facilities attract plenty of families, both with young children and teenagers. The resort lays on a variety of attractions for kids, from the magical Snow Wonderland to the beginners terrain park, and has been awarded the Families Welcome seal of quality from the Swiss Tourism Board. While Laax itself is an extremely convenient location, Flims is a little quieter and calmer, offering a more traditional family holiday base.

Laax is a dynamic resort and is at the forefront of both innovative design and freestyle skiing and snowboarding. From its funky marketing campaigns to the welcoming and friendly atmosphere throughout the resort, and its top-flight freestyle competitions such as the Burton European Open and the Brits that bring a host of world-class DJs and bands, Laax is a vibrant place that should be on everyones list of must-visit resorts.

In the Grisons canton to the east of Switzerland on a sunny plateau high above the Rhine gorge, Laax is about 150km from both Zurich and Friedrichshafen airports, and the nearest connection to the excellent Swiss train network is at Chur, 30 minutes away and served by regular buses from resort.