By ShermansTravel Editorial Staff

updated 2:02 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2008

It used to be that ski resorts catered only to skiers and snow-bunnies. Not so anymore, as many resort towns now boast first-rate spas, art galleries, shops, and restaurants that are just as enticing as skiing the slopes themselves. So if you'd prefer to ski this winter, but your friends or family would rather go to the spa, you'll find a resort that caters to everyone's needs with our Top 10 Ski Vacations for Non-Skiers.

1. Bad Gastein, Austria
Snow-shredders may recognize Austria’s picturesque Gastein Valley for its slopes — over 170 miles of well-groomed trails, some as high as 88,580-feet above sea level, are a compelling draw for pros and beginners alike — but it’s its world-famous spas that have been luring visitors since the 13th century. Treatments here make use of the natural 90-degree hot springs, which, when combined with cool mountain air and healthy levels of radon, are believed to have regenerative effects, including combating inflammation and curing respiratory ailments. (Even powder junkies feel the water’s bubbly pull after a long day tearing up the pistes.) For the non-sports-inclined, soaking up the springs at any of the more than dozen local spas — The Gastein Thermal Galleries and Felsentherme are two of the best reputed — is the perfect way to savor mountain-time while companions carve up the rock’s snow-heaped curves.

2. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai has done it again. In a city that seems to know no boundaries — plans for the world’s tallest skyscraper and the Palm Islands (a collection of manmade isles with spas, apartments, and more) are just a few of the think-big projects in the works — Ski Dubai (opened in 2005) still comes as a surprise. Where else in the world can you throw a snowball in the morning and burn your feet on a beach’s hot desert sand later the same day? At more than 73,000 square feet, this large and opulent facility comes complete with five runs of varying difficulty (including the world’s first indoor black diamond course), a “Freestyle Zone”, Snow Park (with options for bobsled rides and more), and two mountain-themed restaurants. What’s more, there’s no need to stuff your desert-bound suitcase with bulky clothes — the price of admission wisely includes use of equipment and ski gear, too. 

3. Mont Tremblant, Canada
If you love snow, but aren’t crazy about the slopes, Mont Tremblant has got you covered with a plethora of high-thrill activities geared toward non-skiers. Celebrating its status as the highest peak of Canada’s Laurentian Mountains — which are typically snowed-over from December through April — snow bunnies can have a taste of the great mountain via tubing, ice climbing, or snowshoeing. Daredevils needn’t don skis to catch one of the biggest buzzes around, but should rather sign up for Acrobranche, an obstacle course of sorts that comes complete with “Tarzan ropes” and suspended bridges atop a forest canopy some 75 feet above the ground, and culminating with an exhilarating exit back to Mont Tremblant village via zipline. Once safely back on the ground, dog-sledding, horseback riding, and sleigh rides are among the most popular family favorites, while numerous eateries and shops provide everything you’ve come to love of a top-notch ski village.

More from ShermansTravel.com Spotlight: Skiing the Rockies Top 10 après-ski scenes Spotlight: Aspen Top 10 winter festivals

4. Park City, Utah
Host to a third of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games events, this silver-mining mecca turned tony resort town just 40 minutes from the Salt Lake City International Airport continues to welcome the world’s best skiers (and tenacious neophytes) to the 9,026 acres that comprise its three adjacent ski areas. But why risk life and limb when you can lounge at the Egyptian Theatre on Park City’s historic Main Street and release some pent-up adrenaline by watching an independent thriller during the Sundance Film Festival? Every January, this super-hyped, celebrity-studded affair ambushes the quaint town’s 100-plus restaurants and bars, 20-plus art galleries, and dozens of shops and boutiques, so you may want to skip ahead to February if you’re after winter-wonderland solitude. There’s still plenty to do, whether sleigh riding, snowshoeing, ice skating, hot-air ballooning, or even bobsledding down the same track used in the Olympics (to be followed by an indulgent spa day, of course).

5. St. Moritz, Switzerland
It may look like a quintessential Alpine village at first glance, but St. Moritz's "Top of the World" epithet absolutely captures the essence of this over-the-top chalet town with its icy wonderland of excess. While the snow-capped Corviglia provides breathtaking views, and amazing skiing at any level, it’s the wineries, designer boutiques, and world-class cafes that really draw celebrities and glitterati to this chi-chi Swiss resort. A snowy cousin to LA’s Rodeo Drive, St. Moritz’s main strip, Via Serlas, is lined with ultra-posh designers like Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, and Armani. Foodies can splurge on mountain cuisine that reflects the town's position at Swiss, Italian, and French crossroads, while nightowls can partake of dozens of bars and clubs, plus a glittering casino. Unfortunately the thrifty need not apply: St. Moritz’s world-class ski lodges and five-star hotels cater to mega-sized bank accounts alone.

MORE FROM DESTINATIONS

Destinations Section Front

2008 Beijing Games Africa and Mideast Asia Down Under and beyond Europe Mexico South America Tropical getaways U.S. and Canada Destinations Section Front   Add Destinations headlines to your news reader: