① Whistler 

The Ski with an Olympian program turns former medal chasers into ski guides who lead groups that can skip lift lines, including at the mountain’s two new chairlifts. whistlerblackcomb.com

② Olympic National Park

For the first time in decades, the 97-year-old Lake Crescent Lodge will be open in winter, offering lodging through January 1 and a Dickens-themed Christmas bash. olympicnationalparks.com

③ Leavenworth

The Bavarian hamlet hosts the brand-new Timbrrr! Winter Music Festival January 10 and 11, a mosh-for-warmth version of last summer’s immersive Timber! blog.artisthomebooking.com

④ Richland

REI funded a grant to create the Tapteal Water Trail, the region’s first water trail—35 miles of the Yakima River for paddlers who want livelier waters than those of the rolling Columbia. tapteal.org

⑤ Coeur d’Alene

The largest holiday light show ever (on water) uses 1.5 million twinklers and tops the Coeur d’Alene Resort with a 3,000-pound wreath. cdaresort.com

⑥ Portland 

Tony Hawk: Rad Science explains science through the lens of extreme sports, opening February 1 at OMSI. omsi.edu

This article originally appeared in the December 2013 issue of Seattle Met.