Thrill Hills

The days when ski areas banned snowboarders are all but gone. However, some places -- because of their terrain or willing embrace of the burgeoning sport -- are better destinations for adults. Here are some of the best.

Best Powder Riding: Snowbird

Big Picture: Champagne powder -- dry and light -- covers a mountain that's rugged, steep, and without snowboard-stalling flats.
Where: 25 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.
Vertical Drop: 3,240 feet.
Rideable Terrain: 2,030 acres.
Lifts: 9.
Average Annual Snowfall: 500 inches.
Insider's Tip: Ride like a pro or get off the mountain -- there are very few beginner runs at Snowbird.
High: First ride down Great Scott chute. Bagging this untracked, precipitous plunge will earn you a summer's worth of bragging rights.
Low: Snowbird's gray, concrete buildings are about as appealing as a bomb shelter.
Best Bet for Lodging: The Cliff Lodge (801-742-2222) has a rooftop swimming pool and Jacuzzi, with a heady view of Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Closest Airport: Salt Lake City, 30 to 90 minutes by car, depending on the weather.
Ticket: $43.
Phone : 800-453-3000.

Best Big Steeps: Jackson Hole

Big Picture: The only place in the U.S. to ride 4,000 vertical feet of sustained steeps.
Where: Jackson, Wyoming.
Vertical Drop: 4,139 feet.
Rideable Terrain: 2,500 acres.
Lifts: 9.
Average Annual Snowfall: 384 inches.
Insider's Tip: Bring goggles with vermilion or orange lenses, as winter weather is often overcast.
High: Bagging Corbett's Couloir. Beginning with a 20-foot jump onto a narrow tongue of snow between two rock walls, Corbett's is a rite of passage.
Low: The 45-minute wait for the tram.
Best Bet for Lodging: This Wild West resort is not known for it's guest amenities, but the European-style Alpenhof Hotel (800-732-3244) smoothes out the rough edges.
Closest airport: Jackson, eight miles from town.
Ticket: $45.
Phone: 800-443-6931.

Best for Families: Vail

Big Picture: From the free, in-town bus service to the centrally located restaurants, Vail's efficiency is impressive. Cut the kids loose and don't look back.
Where: 100 miles west of Denver.
Vertical Drop: 3,330 feet.
Rideable Terrain: 4,644 acres.
Lifts : 26.
Average Annual Snowfall: 341 inches.
Insider's Tip: To catch the riding crowd, go for breakfast at the Daily Grind espresso bar
(970-476-5856).
High: Warping down the Back Bowls' treeless expanse.
Low: Heading home.
Best Bet for Lodging: The Sonnenalp Hotel and Resort (970-476-5656) will cost you $288 per night, but the service is the best in Vail.
Closest airport: Eagle (30 miles) or Denver International Airport (120 miles). Allow for a two-and-a-half-hour drive from DIA.
Ticket: $52.
Phone: 800-622-3131.

Best Carving: Aspen's Buttermilk

Big Picture: Naturally concave trails, groomed to perfection, are drawing a great influx of carvers.
Where: Aspen, Colorado.
Vertical Drop: 2,030 feet.
Rideable Terrain: 410 acres.
Lifts: 7.
Average Annual Snowfall: 250 inches.
Insider's Tip: Ride at first light to catch freshly groomed trails.
High: Ripping carves on perfect snow.
Low: The wannabe carving aces who clog the slopes on weekends.
Best Bet for Lodging: The Ritz-Carlton (970-920-3300) is the plushest hotel in snow country.
Closest Airport: Aspen. Connecting flights through Denver International and Colorado Springs.
Ticket: $56.
Phone: 970-925-1220.