Powder-Perfect Skiing

Powder-Perfect Skiing

If you're going to work off all the highly calorific Lyonnais cuisine, there's no better way than by taking to the fabled ski runs of the region.

Skiing can be a costly pastime, but if you're committed to the sport, the Alps are unbeatable, with verticals up to 9,240 feet and seemingly endless networks of pistes, most above the tree line.

While some resorts (Tignes, Les Arcs) have year-round skiing, skiers seeking the true Alpine experience will head straight for the better-known resorts in Chamonix and Megève.

These places are so big you can stay in them for one week and never cross your own tracks.

One ideal situation is to gather a few friends together and rent an apartment for a week; contact the local tourist office for rental information.

The longer you stay, the better chance you can get a cut in prices on lift tickets, equipment, even lodging.

But if time is of the essence, you can always enjoy a short ski stint with one-day packages leaving from Grenoble for Chamrouse and Les Deux Alps.

For most resorts, the ski season lasts from December through April.

Which only leads us to remind you that these regions make almost more delightful destinations in summer.