MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset Magazine -- Very exciting news, people....Salt Lake's ski season kicks off THIS FRIDAY, November 6th, at Solitude Mountain Resort. Time to get your ski on! I personally don't like being marooned at a ski resort (no matter how great it is), and Salt Lake is really the perfect place to base yourself in the city, with awesome skiing a quick 30 minutes away. Downtown Salt Lake is full of corporate chain hotels, so the Peery, a 73-room historic gem dating back to 1910, is like a breath of fresh air.

Check out the cozy lobby-I clocked some time on that couch by the fire after a day on the slopes. And did I mention the primo location? It's only 7 miles from the airport, and within walking distance of restaurants, bars, brewpubs (my favorite is Squatters, just across the street), and historic downtown hits like Temple Square. And 30 minutes from Salt Lake's 4 ski resorts! My favorite is Solitude, opening this Friday with a brand-new quad lift (the only new lift in the state this season). Check out the adorable alpine village....

Book it: From $99-$129, Check the Peery website for specials (including $100 room rates for the first 100 days of 2010); or call 800/331-0073.

Buy it: consider the Ski Salt Lake Super Pass that you can use at any of Salt Lake's 4 ski resorts: Alta (opening November 20th), Brighton, Snowbird (opening November 21st), or Solitude (opening this Friday, November 6th).