Yes, winter is here, which means it’s time to sharpen the edges on that snowboard and wax up the skis! To that end, we’ve cooked up a list of ski/snowboard spots that offer up a unique experience that you might not find at more hyped resorts.

Alyeska, Alaska:
Alaska is famed for its heli skiing at, say, Valdez, but the price is outrageous for most wallets and while the powder can be unparalleled, waiting for it can take up your whole trip! Alyeska is the alternative: it’s a more traditional resort, but you still get the famed Alaska vistas – like nowhere on earth – and snow, and it’s not far from the state’s major airports. As well, it’s very luxurious and modern, but the prices are far less than what you’d pay at upscale resorts elsewhere.

Mount Hood, Oregon:
You know you’re in a different place just from the look of Mount Hood: the ski area is above the tree line, so the slopes have a freaky, almost lunar look to them. Also otherworldly is the fact that, because of glacier conditions, you can actually ride Mount Hood all year round. As a result, it’s where Olympic-grade athletes train, so you’re surrounded by top-class talent to inspire you. As well, this part of the Northwest really inspires a “soul rider” scene, so jerky grommets dropping in on you at the pipe are thankfully discouraged.

The Canyons, Utah:
Park City gets the hype, but snow connoisseurs – especially boarders – hit The Canyons just down the road. Per its status as a fairly new resort, runs at The Canyons are expertly laid out in the most updated fashion, and the terrain parks are fantastic fun. It’s one of the most pleasurable, accessible mountains to explore, no matter how you do it.

Beaver Creek, Colorado:
It’s hard to say that Beaver Creek is unknown. That said, as far as upscale resorts go, it’s far less garish and overpopulated than Vail or Aspen. The runs are groomed to utter perfection, and the village feels classy rather than commercially overrun (so many ski villages these days just feel like a mall that’s surrounded by snow). Everything you need is here, and then some.

Big Bear, California:
Driving up to Bear Bear, one is amazed at the size of red, cliff-laden mountains. Therefore, one can also be a little disappointed when finally arriving at Big Bear, which is more carved into one tiny nook of a hill rather than following the entire length of a mountain down to the bottom. But the proximity to major cities like Los Angeles means you can hit the beach and the slopes on the same day! As well, the snow is typically great, the sunshine lovely, and there’s an old-school vibe to Big Bear that’s just not replicated in bigger, fancier resorts.

Jay Peak, Vermont:
Jay Peak is famed for getting the most snow on the East Coast – literally, the kind of inches one typically sees on the West Coast! And while the vert doesn’t approach Western levels, powder days here are truly epic. Jay Peak is its own unique experience – an intimate mountain, sequestered away near the Canadian border, that’s all about the snow and not much else: it’s truly the best kind of ski experience there is in that part of the world.

Chamonix, France:
Again, like Beaver Creek, Chamonix is hardly unfamiliar to winter-sport enthusiasts: it is, in fact, one of the primary centers of skiing and snowboarding in Europe. It gets its reputation for that, however, by its utter uniqueness. For one, it’s home to the longest continuous ski run in the world, the Vallée Blanche. As well, while one can go on the groomed pistes here, almost everyone hires a guide and goes off piste – it’s as much mountaineering as it is snowboarding or skiing. As a result, you see landscapes and sights that seem to belong to an era before civilization began – not to mention snow that is largely pristine and untracked. C’est rad!

St. Johann im Pongau, Austria:
In famous snow zones, it’s easy to go for the big name resorts. But in an epic mountain range like the Alps, often the smaller places favored by locals are just as great – you’re still in the Alps, after all, so the mountains are going to be epic wherever you, but the prices might be better and the lines shorter. St. Johann im Pongau is an example: many international types go to Kitzbuhel, say, but Austrians often head to St. Johann, where the pow is as plentiful as the spaetzle.

Portillo, Chile:
If you didn’t book your winter ski vacation in time, never fear: you can go instead in the summer – just head to the Southern Hemisphere! As such, Chile’s ski season is exactly opposite of that in Europe and North America. Also, the Andes, one of the absolutely hugest mountain ranges of the world, are a sight to see, and a joy to behold. Portillo is one of the greatest resorts ever: intimate and hidden away, with not many rooms, it attracts almost no day trippers. As a result, you often find yourself with the slopes all to yourself. And the après-ski is great, too, thanks to the warm Chilean hospitality. Don’t miss this utterly unforgettable snow-sport experience.