Tremblant Ski Resort

Tremblant has been the leading ski resort in eastern Canada for more than 70 years and, in addition, it has been annually voted the best ski resort in eastern North America by US Ski Magazine readers annually for the past decade.

So what are the reasons for its success? Easy access from Montreal is a big plus, as is its northerly latitude, while skiing on the region's highest mountain and an arsenal of more than 1,000 snow guns is a big advantage. But the billion-dollar spend by Intrawest – the company behind Whistler and more than a dozen other top North American (and now European), ski resorts – is probably the key factor.

Much of the money has gone on an ever-expanding, well laid-out pedestrianised resort village at the base of the slopes, which has since also spawned a second base village. There's a huge choice of accommodation, eateries and shopping all designed in faux Quebecois architecture with carefully determined sight lines and vistas. The resort endeavours to offer something for all tastes and all budgets.