Fortunately Denver delivers, with the largest park collection of any U.S. city, more than 200 of them, including Winter Park, a world-class ski resort (okay, so it is 50 miles away).

FORBES: Great Urban Weekend Escapes: Denver, CO

The largest of these is massive Snowmass, which would easily be a standalone world-class destination ski resort anyplace else, the second largest in the nation, and one of the most varied with an unrivalled 4, 406 vertical feet and more than 3, 300-acres of terrain with 150 miles of trails for every ability served by 21 lifts.

FORBES: Why Aspen & Snowmass Is This Season's Hot Ski Destination

Started in 1985 in the ski-resort of Park City, Utah by actor Robert Redford, this year it has 57 world premieres and half of all the films in competition are made by women - a first for any film festival.

BBC: Entertainment & Arts