Whistler

Whistler is the powerhouse of North American mountain resorts — a purpose-built village in British Columbia's Coast Mountains that hosts Whistler Blackcomb, the largest ski area on the continent. Two vast mountains, linked by the record-spanning Peak 2 Peak gondola, offer an almost absurd amount of terrain: bowls, glades, alpine faces and a long, reliable season that made it a centre of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

But Whistler is a true four-season basecamp. When the snow melts, it becomes one of the world's great mountain-biking destinations, its lift-served bike park drawing riders from everywhere, alongside superb alpine hiking, lakes for swimming and paddling, and easy access to the wild Garibaldi backcountry. The pedestrian village is polished and lively, with the whole Sea-to-Sky corridor from Vancouver serving up fjords, forests and granite on the drive in.

It is a resort town, so it is busy and not cheap, but the scale and quality on offer are enormous, and Vancouver's international airport is a straightforward and spectacular two-hour drive away — making it one of the more accessible world-class basecamps.

Winter (December to April) for skiing and riding one of the biggest, most reliable areas in North America. Summer (June to September) for the bike park, alpine hiking and lake days, when the high trails clear and the village hums. Late spring and autumn are quieter shoulder periods as the mountain switches modes. The famous Sea-to-Sky drive from Vancouver is worth building in either way.

Whistler is about a two-hour drive north from Vancouver International Airport along the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway — no closer airport, but an easy and beautiful transfer. Frequent shuttle coaches run from the airport and downtown Vancouver, so a car is optional once you are in the compact, pedestrianised village.