Where the term Champagne Powder was trademarked.

If you love trees, powder, powder in the trees, and trees in the powder, Steamboat is the greatest place to play. Most famous for its forest terrain and excellent snowfall record, Steamboat the resort is all about getting up the mountain, whilst neighbouring cattle town Steamboat Springs provides a spoonful of Western flavour.

On the mountain

Best for beginners and intermediates, Steamboat's mild, ungroomed forest trails, rolling blues and zig-zag greens dominate the area, although more advanced skiers and boarders will find challenges in the glades, some steep chutes and, in Four Points, bumps on the blacks. Four terrain parks and a great reputation for powder make Steamboat on of the big scorers with snowboarders in particular.

Off the mountain

Steamboat base village knows its purpose: to serve the great, great mountains above. Purpose-built around the gondola, there are several restaurants and shops to support the surrounding lodgings, and a lively apres-ski scene near the lifts. Steamboat Springs, the main town a 10 minute bus-ride away is the original Wild West dwelling where these days, visitors will find more bars and shops, Asian and Pacific Rim cuisine, and even the odd cowboy.