CONNECT: Use our interactive map to find your next ski vacation spot

named trails and the only Burton Stash Park in the Rockies.

If improving your ski skills is top priority, the instructors at Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico are your new best friends. The ski school here is a mecca for students across the globe and virtually guarantees you’ll leave a stronger and more proficient skier. Take time to visit Taos Pueblo, the only living Native American community designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark.

EN ROUTE: IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS A well-planned itinerary won’t be worth much if you’re stuck in the lodge with a pulled muscle or lack of energy. Chad Evans, owner of River Oaks Gym, recommends training months in advance to ensure muscles are adequately prepared for the rigors of mountaintop activity.

“Lunges, squats, split squats and Bosu ball are just a few great exercises for working the large muscles that you utilize while going down the slopes,” says Evans. “It is important to train both unilaterally (one leg or side at a time) and bilaterally (both legs and sides together), as skiing can stress you in both manners.”

And proper fueling is equally important, says Catherine Kruppa, owner of Advice for Eating. She encourages Clif Bars and snack baggies filled with nuts and dried fruit to make a healthy trail mix, since both offer nutrition and won’t get crushed in your ski jacket. Other than a few “splurge meals,” avoid heavy meals and stick to oatmeal, turkey sandwiches and low-fat fare when possible. Kruppa cautions, “Remember, you may ski for hours, but the average person is not doing cardiovascular exercise for a lot of that time.”

For the serious snow enthusiast, purchasing gear might be worth the money, but if you go less often—or want to try the newest options each trip—save the cash and rent skis, boards and boots locally instead. For experienced guidance on your specific goals and needs, visit Houston-area retailers like REI, Sun & Ski Sports or M2 Sports for proper fit and accessories. We’re not used to ski weather, so we suggest investing in the right clothes. Layer gorgeous sweaters from Gorsuch with quality gear from Spyder, Descente and Hot Chillys.

If you’re looking for company on the slopes, locals can bond via clubs like Space City Ski & Adventure Club and Ski Jammers, which organize ski and snowboard trips plus social activities throughout the year.

POWDER PERKS: SLOPE LUXURY While escaping on a ski jaunt can seem like a luxury, many resorts offer special extras for skiers seeking added comfort and convenience.

To maximize your moments on the slopes, look for lodging that specifies ski in/ ski out, which means you walk out the door and step into your skis sans car, shuttle or walk lugging equipment to the lifts. Of course, to really amp it up, look for the ski-in/ski-out lodge with more, like cabins and chalets that offer a personal chef; cinema or billiards room; and private gym, pool, sauna or steam room.

Many hotels provide complimentary boot lockers, so ending your day is as easy as it began. But some resorts take that up a notch with a ski valet. Slip on your warmed ski boots along with tuned-up, cleaned and ready-to-go skis on your way out.

Private lessons provide another avenue for getting more out of your trip, from improved technique to a personal tour. Plus, lessons often bump you to the front of the lift line. Worth it right there. Then again, $4,000 will buy you (plus up to five friends or family members of similar ability) a full-day private ski lesson with an Olympic Gold Medalist at Whistler Blackcomb, which is rather spectacular when you consider the guidance accessible from such an experience.

There are two luxury options for ski lifts: heated lifts, such as the bubble heated chair lifts or the gondolas, some offering both heated seats and WiFi. Or try the conveyor belt ski lift. Often used at ski schools, some resorts are installing them for wider use. Want to skip the lift altogether? Heli-skiing with its promise of exclusive terrain may be for you.

Equally tantalizing are season passes at many resorts that include access to additional resorts in the U.S. and even free days at international destinations like Japan, Switzerland and France.

+scan this page with Layar to see our interactive map of these ski spots.

Double-0-5 Duo

Enjoy living—and shopping—in West U and Rice Village, neighborhoods that share one of the best ZIP codes in the country.

BY BETSY DENSON

Houston’s own dynamic duo—West University Place and nearby Rice Village—are tucked between Highway 59 and the 610 Loop. Recently named one of the best

ZIP codes in the country and a “bedroom community to envy,” the neighborhood has much to offer. Originally conceived as a community of country homes, West U (as it is now affectionately known) was named for its proximity to Rice Institute, now

Rice University. The development got off to a rocky start due to its swampy conditions and the expense of supplying water and electricity to its few residents. Safe to say it rebounded. Firmly entrenched as one of Houston’s “it” neighborhoods, the area is home to families and working professionals. And the shopping?

With 300 shops in 16 blocks, the Rice Village Shopping Center has got you covered. “West University Place is a great community to live and visit because of its small-town charm with all of the nearby amenities of a large city,” says West University Place City

Manager Michael Ross. SHOP

Who says men can’t be fashionistas? At The Class Room (2534 Amherst St.), get Norse Projects, A.P.C., Our Legacy, Tanner Goods and Engineered Garments, among other men’s fashion brands. Elaine Turner (2437 1/2 University Blvd.) has branched out quite a bit, but you can see where it all began in Rice Village. Turner is a designer at heart—her handbags and shoes make regular appearances in national magazines—and the stores’ signature pink sofas make shopping for her designs a relaxing and luxurious experience. Hometown design hero Chloe Dao (6127 Kirby Dr.) opened her Houston boutique before her season two “Project Runway” win. Stylist Carolina Giralt says you’re always welcome to the red carpet treatment with a team of stylists who will tailor a garment to fit you. Want to throw a party that makes you look like a Pinterest queen without all the work? Visit Emerson Sloan (2414 Rice Blvd.), a sophisticated alternative to Party City with killer hostess gifts. Purple Mango (2410 Rice Blvd.) will keep the kiddos in your life smartly attired, with a wide variety of European goods. Owner Melody Ma says they carry baby toys you can’t find anywhere else. At Chocolate du Monde (2428 Times Blvd.) grab a couple of chocolates—may we suggest the Neuhaus Manon Lait?—for a pick-me-up.

Homesick Brits and Royal Family obsessives know where to get their fix. Look no further than British Isles (2366 Rice Blvd. Ste B), which carries a wealth of goods, from tea (of course) to the Potters (both Harry and Beatrix). Family-owned Surroundings (1708 Sunset Blvd.) has been around for 40 years. See why with its imported handcrafted items, one-of-akind art and furniture from Houston’s own David Marsh, which goes like hotcakes.