Warmly tucked inside our heated high-speed gondola, my son and I take in the spectacular scenery as we soar up Mont Tremblant (www.monttremblant.ca), the highest peak in Quebec, Canada. The resort’s European-style village appears underneath. Looking as if they have been airlifted straight from the French Alps, the buildings are painted brilliant shades of pastel, cream or orange, and capped by red and silver roofs.

At the 2,871-foot-high summit, towering trees pierce the bright blue sky like a skier’s stairway to heaven. A crisp cold wall of fresh air, scented with pine, greets us as the doors swing open. Clicking into our skis, we make our first run down P’tit Bonheur, a carved green (beginner) run through fresh snow. Schussing on a perfectly groomed white carpet, we are flanked by snow-laden trees on either side.

At the first lift, a regular lets us in on the local secret to avoiding long lines: Ski the more remote North Side and Edge area in the morning, and in the afternoon, when the uninitiated discover that the easier runs are on the North, head to the sunny South Side and Versant Soleil. With 49 miles of trails cutting through 654 acres of varied terrain, there are plenty of options here for skiers of all levels. I surprise my son—and myself—with a daredevil routine on the six-meter-high half-pipe in Tremblant’s snow park, rated one of the best snow parks in North America by Ski Magazine (www.skinet.com). 

We venture to Versant Soleil in the afternoon. The rugged landscape is heart stopping. Contoured trails hug the natural terrain with undulating troughs and sharp rising mounds. I careen down the roller-coaster-like slope. Total freedom! Later, drawn by the smell of burning wood and maple syrup, we stumble on a voyager’s log cabin, where a roaring fire and hot refreshments beckon us inside. Weathered wooden snowshoes hanging on a wall remind me it’s time for the “walk on the wild side” part of our winter adventure.

We head up the mountain again, this time on the back of a snowmobile and outfitted with rented high-tech snowshoes—only our tracks mark the pristine snow. Early dusk is the ideal time to observe area wildlife. Barely 25 yards along the trail, a mother doe keeps three young fawns in tow. Feeding on a thicket of trees and shrubs, they pay no attention to us. After a perfect winter day, I have a translation for the resort’s slogan, “joie de vivre”: Anyone coming to Tremblant had better be prepared to have a good time.

 John W. Yan is the founding publisher of the Canadian Tourism Commission’s TOURISM magazine. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

Mexican artist and patriot Frida Kahlo loved silver, as she loved all things indigenous to her country. She recognized it as the wealth of her land, and wore stone-encrusted necklaces and earrings made of the precious metal.

Mexico leads the world in silver production, and every traveler who visits the country should consider it as a souvenir. In a class of its own, Mexican silver is usually crafted by hand.

In my travels to Mexico, some of my best silver finds have occurred in the towns of Queretaro and Guanajuato, about two hours northwest of Mexico City. For between 550 pesos (US$42.50) and 1,100 pesos (US$85), you can add a chunky basket-weave bracelet to your suitcase. A pair of simple earrings—perfect as a modest gift—costs no more than 110 pesos (US$8.50).

Some of the finest silver comes from the town of Taxco, situated between Mexico City and Acapulco. There, you can see master silversmiths, such as Emilia Castillo and Sigi Pineda, at work on their latest creations in their public studios.

A pricey option in Mexico City is Tane. You’ll be hard pressed to find anything under 1,100 pesos (US$85) there, but many people regard the store as the Tiffany & Co. of Mexico. Surprising values can be found at department stores like Sanborns, Liverpool and El Palacio de Hierro. Look for pillboxes and hand mirrors with inlays of turquoise and carnelian, priced from 550 (US$42.50) to 1,100 (US$85) pesos. Boutiques such as Los Castillo and Arte en Plata of the Zona Rosa tempt collectors with antique hair combs, which cost about 550 (US$42.50) pesos, to 18th-century-style tea sets for around 55,000 pesos (US$4,254).

Years ago, a merchant at the Bázar del Sábado (the Saturday Bazaar) in Mexico City gave me a valuable lesson in Mexican silver. Here’s the short form: Buy from established shops, and check for stamps of .925 and .950 that distinguish sterling silver from the lower-quality silver plate. I take her advice along when I go shopping.

Susan Weissman’s jewelry box contains a fertility horn from Papua New Guinea, amber from the Dominican Republic and pearls from the South Seas.

Sterling Advice

Tips for Silver Care

• If you wear silver jewelry all the time, you won’t need to polish it. The skin’s chemistry prevents tarnish from forming, except in the case of individuals who are allergic to the metal.

• Wash and dry flatware and tableware thoroughly after each use. If you don’t use it daily, place it in an airtight box.

• Don’t mix silver and stainless steel in your dishwasher. The combination results in black spots on silver that are nearly impossible to remove.

Consistently ranked by readers of Ski Magazine  as the East’s No. 1 ski resort, Mont Tremblant is—at 2,871 feet—the tallest peak in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains. You will find 95 trails catering to different ability levels, and an abundance of natural and man-made snow at the mountain’s ski area.   By Mark Caskie
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Texas’ oldest major city is as romantic as the 18th-century Spanish mission where the past comes alive in the lacy stone of Rosa’s Window—passionately carved, so the story goes, by a craftsman longing for his sweetheart in Spain.   By Melanie Young
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