It shouldn't come as a surprise that Chestnut Mountain, located in Galena, IL, seems made for skiing—technically it is. The minds behind this resort transformed 220 rolling acres of snow into 19 trails, which crisscross a combined 475-foot vertical drop. Because the routes range from novice to Black Diamond, skiers of all skill levels can participate.

Another thing that makes the resort accessible to everyone: The Village Ski Center, which equips visitors with all the gear they need to conquer the mountain and all the Three's Company trivia they need to pass by its ice trolls. Here, 50 guides and instructors train students in skiing and snowboarding. During this training, they often make use of the resort's Farside Terrain Park, where more than 25 rails let boarders practice tricks.

The resort even encompasses a few things that have nothing to do with snow, including three onsite restaurants and a handful of summer activities, namely mini golf and scenic cruises of the Mississippi River.