(MONEY Magazine) – For many of us, winter vacations are as much a necessity as a luxury. They are a respite from a strenuous and often stressful time of year: those months that kick off the Tuesday after Labor Day and don't end until after New Year's, if then. The days get shorter and colder; the pace of life quickens; you have the holidays to look forward to, but they too often involve stress.

So you plan a vacation that will, above all else, offer relief. Vacations always take you out of your ordinary existence, but winter vacations are more likely than others to simplify your everyday life. They involve large doses of relaxation, so ambitious sightseeing expeditions tend to be put off for another time of year. And they are often devoted to--or at least revolve around--a single activity.

We set out to find perfect places for such a vacation. After polling travel professionals, frequent vacationers, friends and family, we settled on the following eight places, loosely arranged according to type of travel. The first two are, truth be told, on the ambitious side--places to experience some unique regional cultures and natural beauty. They're followed by two superb ski resorts, a golfer's paradise and three warm-weather beach destinations, each with a unique twist. And each place, though world-class in every way, offers good value for the money--because spending too much is another part of regular life we'd like to leave behind while on vacation. Here's what we found.

PHOENIX CULTURE/NATURE

A RICH CONCENTRATION OF HISTORY AND NATURAL BEAUTY Nearby Tonto National Monument features 700-year-old Indian cliff dwellings.

When you think of Phoenix, you probably think of sprawl, lots of purple and turquoise, and phrases like, "Yes, but it's a dry heat." But there's more to the city than meets the eye: Within an hour's drive are natural and historic attractions that make Phoenix the perfect base for a winter vacation in the desert.

If you're interested in Native American archaeology, this region has one of the country's best concentrations of sites. Start at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (520-723-3172; www.nps.gov/cagr), about 30 miles to the southeast, which features the majestic Casa Grande--the four-story "big house" that was the centerpiece of a prehistoric Native American village. Moving counterclockwise, about 45 miles east of Phoenix is Tonto National Monument (928-467-2241; www.nps.gov/tont), where 700-year-old Salado Indian cliff dwellings are preserved. Agua Fria National Monument (623-580-5500; www.az.blm.gov/pmesa.htm), 40 miles north of the city, boasts hundreds of pueblos, rock artworks and other archaeological finds, as well as a magnificent landscape of hills, mesas and canyons. It all makes for great hiking, photography and wildlife viewing.

For less history and more nature, head an hour east of the city to Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park (520-689-2723; www.ag.arizona.edu/bta), with its garden trails full of gorgeous wildflowers, cacti and other desert vegetation, plus bighorn sheep, 250 bird species and various desert reptiles.

Don't miss the Hassayampa River Preserve (928-684-2772; www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/arizona/preserves /art1970.html), some 50 miles northwest of Phoenix, where an underground river suddenly emerges topside to create its own little ecosystem, complete with mesquite forests, over 200 bird species (including rare desert waterfowl) and a variety of animals, including bobcats and javelinas.

Back in Phoenix, we like the great Mexican food at Los Dos Molinos (602-243-9113) and the Tee Pee (602-956-0178), and the accommodations at the gorgeous Frank Lloyd Wright-style Arizona Biltmore ($310 a night until Dec. 31; 800-950-0086). For more info, contact the Phoenix tourism bureau at 877-225-5749. --P.L.

ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA CULTURE/NATURE

ARGUABLY THE MOST PICTURE-PERFECT COLONIAL CITY IN THE AMERICAS Once the region's capital, Antigua is now the Hamptons of Central America.

Stuffed from lunch, my wife and I sat for an extra-long while at our restaurant table, holding hands by a tropical garden in a Spanish colonial mansion more than two centuries old. The birdies peeped. The fountain gurgled. The check arrived. Two bottled waters, two beers, a heaping platter of grilled vegetables drizzled with olive oil, a sampler of grilled meats (chicken, steak, pork chop, sausages), bread pudding, coffee, tax, tip...25 bucks. And this, I reminded myself, was one of the expensive joints.

Welcome to Guatemala, a nowhere-else-on-earth combination of natural and man-made beauty at prices that border on--¿Como se dice en espanol?--unfreakingbelievable. Guatemala City is five hours from New York City on Central America's Grupo Taca airline and three hours from Miami on American. Skip the sprawling, skanky capital and stay instead in nearby Antigua, arguably the most picture-perfect colonial city in the Americas. Three volcanoes ring this tourist-friendly town of intricately cobblestoned streets, fashionably restored haciendas and magnificently crumbling 16th-, 17th-and 18th-century ruins that have become urban parks bursting with bougainvillea. It's a constant Kodak moment, especially during Holy Week, when Easter worshipers make their way through the streets atop carpets of flowers.

Hotels and B&Bs abound, from the five-star Casa Santo Domingo ($115 a night for a standard room; 502-832-0140; www.casasantodomingo.com.gt) to the kid-friendly Hotel Aurora ($50; 502-832-0217; www.hotelauroraantigua.com) to the name-says-it-all Hotel Backpacker's Place ($8; 502-832-5023).

Visitors can easily spend several days wandering the 60-square-block central city and its many craft and textile shops, cafes, restaurants, churches and museums, as well as those ruins, which date back to when Antigua was imperial Spain's headquarters in Central America, before an earthquake destroyed most of the place in 1773 and the capital was moved to Guatemala City. (These days, the Spanish conquest continues each weekend, when Guatemala's wealthiest families arrive from the capital in their Range Rovers to fill Antigua's hotels and nightclubs.)

Antigua also makes a smart base for visiting the rest of the country and its spectacular sights, like the Mayan temples of Tikal, its tallest pyramid rising 20 stories above the lowland jungle. The ruins are best reached by plane through tours that can be arranged by one of Antigua's numerous travel agencies, such as Vision Travel (502-832-3293; www.guatemalainfo.com). Cost: $225 per person for two days and a night in a modest hotel near the archaeological site.

The 800-year-old highland market village of Chichicastenango is another must-see. Its twice-a-week market (Sundays and Thursdays) attracts tens of thousands of Maya from the region, haggling over every necessity imaginable: food, clothing, housewares, livestock, bootleg Hollywood videos. The standout hotel is the Mayan Inn, a 1930s lodge that feels like Ernest Hemingway meets Frida Kahlo ($90; 502-756-1176). Arrive the evening before market day so you can rise at misty dawn for Mayan religious ceremonies that mix shamanism with Catholicism. You'll be humbled by the sight of thousands of peddlers trudging up the steep hillsides with huge loads of goods on their backs.

An hour or so south of Chichi is the head-spinning beauty of Lake Atitlan, a 30-mile-round volcanic lake that rivals Italy's Lake Como for world's-prettiest honors. This being the Third World, some lakeside spots are prettier than others; try Hotel Atitlan, just outside the hippie-dippie tourist town of Panajachel on what used to be a coffee plantation ($95; 502-762-1416; www.hotelatitlan.com). Rooms on the second floor offer fabulous, sweeping views of lake, volcanoes and the hotel's incongruously formal gardens. Next door is a private nature reserve with waterfall that makes for an easy morning's outing. The swinging footbridges high above the forest floor seem straight out of an Indiana Jones movie. Most enchanting is the park's butterfly preserve, a netted "room" in the forest that's filled with fluttering flashes of color. The average lifespan of a butterfly is two to three weeks, says a sign. Two to three weeks, I thought: Time enough for the perfect vacation. --G.C.

ALTA, UTAH SPORTS

SHORT ON FRILLS, BIG ON SNOW--A PURIST'S SKI RESORT Alta gets 500 inches of soft, light snow each winter.

Nestled in the upper reaches of Little Cottonwood Canyon, 30 miles southeast of downtown Salt Lake City, Alta ski resort is sacred ground among those who worship the fluffy stuff. The snow is not only plentiful--500 inches of it a year--it's so soft and light that carving turns takes little effort and falling is almost a pleasure.

In many ways, Alta is a throwback to the way skiing used to be, before slope-side sushi bars and day spas became de rigueur. Several families own Alta and are bent on preserving a kind of ski culture that is now hard to find at resorts of this size. For example, they've resisted adding high-speed, high-capacity lifts in order to prevent crowding on the slopes. They also leave most of the 2,220 acres of terrain in the hands of Mother Nature, grooming only minimally.

If you don't feel like you've traveled back in time when skiing Alta, your wallet certainly will. At $40 a day, even on holidays, lift tickets are cheap by today's standards. Vail, Colo. and Killington, Vt., by comparison, charge more than $60 a day. And unlike most resorts, which offer only half-day rates in the afternoon-- after the best snow has been carved up--Alta sells a morning pass. For $32 you can ski from first chair at 9:15 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Although runs like High Rustler and Eddie's High have earned Alta cult status among experts, the resort has plenty of slopes to suit all abilities. What Alta doesn't have are half pipes and terrain parks--unlike nearly every other resort in North America, it prohibits snowboarding.

If you plan to vacation with snowboarders, you can drop them at Snowbird, which is just one mile down the canyon. Or for $64 a day, ski both Alta and Snowbird, using a link that was completed last December.

Stay at one of Alta's five lodges or rent a condo and you'll have the luxury of walking to and from the slopes or skiing right out your door--for a price. Rooms at the area's oldest lodge, Alta Lodge (800-707-2582; www.altalodge.com) start at about $300 a night for two people, but the price includes breakfast and dinner. For more options in Alta, go to www.alta.com.

As an inexpensive alternative, you can stay in downtown Salt Lake City and drive or take a bus the 30 miles to Alta. At the Hotel Monaco (800-805-1801; www.monaco-saltlakecity.com), rooms start at around $129. This well-appointed boutique hotel welcomes skiers with free ski storage and rental arrangements as well as a warm fire every evening. For other Salt Lake City hotels, call 800-754-8824 or check out www.skiutah.com. --S.M.

VAL D'ISERE, FRANCE SPORTS

FRESH POWDER WITH FINE FRENCH FOOD TO BOOT The resort hosted the men's downhill events for the 1992 Albertville Olympics.

We hesitated before recommending a European ski resort, knowing full well that the dollar has lost value against the euro in the past year. But Americans still benefit from 18% more buying power on the Continent since the European currency was introduced in January 1999. And currency aside, European resorts have long drawn Americans with packages that offer better value--not to mention a more interesting cultural experience--than skiing in the Rockies. Our current favorite? France's Val d'Isere.

Located in a valley close to the Italian border, the village of Val d'Isere offers breathtaking views and consistently good powder snow. It's also got some of the best skiing infrastructure in Europe. Extensive upgrades for the 1992 Winter Olympics men's downhill added fast cable cars and gondolas to serve the locale's well-groomed slopes, and Val d'Isere continues to make improvements every year.

With 100 lifts and more than 300 kilometers of runs, Val d'Isere is one of Europe's biggest resorts--so congestion is rare both on the way up and on the way down the mountain. (Colorado's famous Vail resort, by comparison, is roughly one-third the size--and notoriously crowded.) There are runs for everyone, including beginners, and some of the most challenging lift-served off-trail skiing in the world. The slopes sit at high altitude, so there's always plenty of snow from November to at least April. If that weren't enough, Savoie, the region where Val d'Isere is located, offers some of the tastiest dishes you'll find at any resort in Europe.

In January, SkiEurope (800-333-5533, www.ski-europe.com) is offering round-trip air fare to Geneva from New York, seven nights' accommodations (based on double occupancy), breakfast and shuttle transfers for $969. A six-day lift pass costs just $28 a day. --N.P.

ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL, ALABAMA SPORTS

A WEALTH OF PUBLIC GOLF COURSES IN UNIQUE PRIVATE SETTINGS A string of courses--378 holes in all--designed by the revered course architect Robert Trent Jones

A decade ago, Alabama's state pension fund made an unusual investment, pouring over $100 million into what was to become the largest golf construction project in history. The result? The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, an immense network of 378 holes on eight sites throughout the state, all designed by renowned course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., who died two years ago at age 93. Unlike many a public course, these are stunningly beautiful and well maintained. Designed to take advantage of Alabama's diverse topography--from the Appalachian Mountains in the north to the lowlands in the south--each course is challenging and unique. Fairways and greens are meticulously groomed. Charming red-brick clubhouses with white columns and rocking chairs offer sweet views. And there are no waits.

For courses of this quality, the golf is strikingly inexpensive. During the winter (when temperatures are in the 50s in the northern part of the state and warmer farther south), greens fees run from $35 to $45 for 18 holes. Carts add another $15. If you plan to play at least four different courses, a Winter Sampler package includes 162 holes for $99 per person through Feb. 13 (800-949-4444). You'll feel far from the bustle of civilization when playing, but each site is close to a major airport, including those serving Montgomery, Mobile and Atlanta, and interstate highways. Once you're on the "trail," it takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive to the next site.

There are dozens of hotels and inns close to the sites, but we especially recommend the Legends in Prattville (888-250-3767), just north of Montgomery and situated on the 17th fairway of the Senator course at Capitol Hill. The hotel serves as an excellent base because it's within an hour of the Cambrian Ridge course in Greenville, the Grand National in Auburn and the Oxmoor Valley in Birmingham. A double room runs $120. --N.P.

MARTINIQUE BEACH

AMAZING NATURAL BEAUTY IN A TROPICAL PARISIAN "SUBURB" Napoleon's empress Josephine was born in a small village on the island.

Step foot on the Caribbean island of Martinique and you're in France, literally. This 425-square-mile, almond-shaped tropical island, part of the French Antilles, isn't a colony but rather the westernmost part of France. So if you're looking for some of the things that make France great--its language, food and rich culture--but long for a warm and relaxing Caribbean vacation, Martinique is the place.

The island offers a variety of landscapes including tall mountains, lush rain forests, rocky coasts, banana and pineapple fields, rolling hills, and Mont Pelee, an active volcano that erupted in the early 20th century, destroying the former capital St. Pierre. But Martinique's beaches are the real, ahem, piece de resistance. Unlike those of most Caribbean islands, the beaches on Martinique remain largely unspoiled. For example, the 2 1/2-mile Le Diamant beach in the south is one of the longest, least developed beaches in the Caribbean and looks out on Diamond Rock, a rocky and picturesque offshore island. Other beautiful, pristine beaches are found around tiny Ste. Anne village, located near the island's southern tip.

Thanks to Martinique's rich heritage--it is the cultural and social center of the French Antilles--there's also plenty to see away from the beaches. Fort-de-France, Martinique's capital and its cultural and commercial hub, is great for shopping. Indeed, you'll find many of the same kinds of clothing and food stores that you'd see on the streets of Paris. Just south of the capital, across the bay, is the little village of Trois-Ilets, the birthplace of Napoleon's empress Josephine. The Musee de la Pagerie contains her life's memorabilia, including family portraits, antiques and a love letter from Napoleon. The nearby Maison de la Canne is a neat little museum devoted to the history of sugarcane production.

The only minor drawback of Martinique is getting there--you have to change planes in either San Juan or Miami. But that's also a plus, as it stifles the kind of overdevelopment that comes with a major airport. Once there, the best way to explore is by car. A midsize model will cost you $40 a day at Jumbo Car (www.jumbocar.com). And if you're looking for a charming place to stay, try the Habitation Lagrange, a former plantation amid seven acres of lush vegetation near the town of Marigot. Five nights' accommodations for two people costs $234 a day (including breakfast and dinner) through French Caribbean travel (800-322-2223; www.frenchcaribbean.com). --N.P.

SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS, FLORIDA BEACH

A FAMILY-FRIENDLY, BEACH LOVER'S PARADISE No building along Sanibel's coast can be taller than a palm tree.

Suggesting Florida for the family's winter getaway probably won't garner you a reputation as a discriminating traveler--until, that is, you mention the islands of Sanibel and Captiva. Located on the Gulf Coast, just 45 minutes from Fort Myers' airport via a narrow three-mile causeway, Sanibel and its smaller sister are not unknown--the islands have long been considered one of the best places in the world for shelling--but news of their tranquil beauty, pristine white sand beaches and laid-back charm has spread primarily by word of mouth.

Sanibel and Captiva are a beach lover's paradise. And thanks to visionary land-use regulations--no building along Sanibel's coast can be taller than a palm tree, and half of the land is a federal wildlife refuge--it might just stay that way. Together the islands offer 17 miles of public beaches and an endless array of activities. Among the most popular: cruising Sanibel's 26 miles of paved bike paths and J.N. "Ding" Darlings' Wildlife Drive ($1 per bike, $5 per car), a five-mile loop that winds through the refuge's 7,000 acres of mangrove forest. You can see more than 50 species of birds in the winter. And there's a new $3.3 million wildlife education center with interactive exhibits that all but ensures your kids will enjoy learning about what they see.

The islands are also dotted with art galleries and studios that lend themselves to browsing. If you're more interested in trying a new sport, go windsurfing at Causeway Beach, where plenty of shops will rent you a board and provide a quick lesson. Or go deep-sea fishing. Given the variety of packages (available from half-day to whole day, from snapper to tarpon) we recommend you check with the chamber of commerce (www.sanibel-captiva.org) for a list of operators that will best suit your needs.

Of course, getting on a boat doesn't necessarily mean a fishing expedition. It's also the only way you can get to Barnacle Phil's, a popular dockside eatery known for delicious conch fritters, fried to perfection. And whatever you do when the sun is high, you'll want to end the day at the Mucky Duck, a favorite for its tropical drinks and first-rate sunset view.

Lodging on the islands ranges from the secluded, four-unit Seahorse Cottages on Sanibel ($145 to $230 a night; 239-472-4262; www.seahorsecottages.com) to the 600-unit South Seas Resort on Captiva ($350 a night for a unit for two, $1,125 for a condo for six; 800-965-7772; www.south-seas-resort.com), which has tennis courts, restaurants, pools and a nine-hole golf course. We also like the Tween Waters Inn on Captiva, which has 137 condo units and 20 cottages ($345 for a suite with a kitchen and screened balcony; 866-893-3646; www.tween-waters.com).

If you rent a place with a kitchen, as most visitors do, stop at Jerry's, just over the causeway on Sanibel. Folks in the know say it's the best place to stock up on groceries. --A.W.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO ADVENTURE

UNSPOILED BEACHES AND RICH MARINE LIFE A year-round home to a dozen species of whale

Baja California, the 1,100-mile-long Mexican peninsula jutting south from California, has long been a playground for the adventurous. But until recently it was mostly Southern Californians who crossed the border, and they often limited their sojourns to day-trips in Tijuana or weekends in Cabo San Lucas. That's no longer the case. Today Baja's mountainous desert landscape, miles of secluded beaches and strikingly blue waters are attracting more and more vacationers. And winter months prove to be the the most lively.

Water activities of all kinds are popular. But perhaps Baja's primary and most distinctive attraction is its amazingly rich marine life. The Sea of Cortez, on the peninsula's eastern side, is year-round home to dolphins, sea lions and a dozen whale species, including the blue whale (at 100 feet, the largest animal on the planet). Come February, Baja is a breeding ground for yet more whales, including the Pacific gray.

And all this can be experienced up close in a whale-watching boat or--preferably--a sea kayak. In fact, Baja's considered one of the best places in the world for sea kayaking--and not just for enthusiasts: The region's relatively calm waters welcome beginners. Plenty of outfitters offer convenient, all-inclusive packages at reasonable rates. Most have stateside offices and use the cities of Loreto or La Paz--both on Baja's gulf side and serviced by international airports--as points of departure. Sea Kayak Adventures (800-616-1943; www.seakayakadventures.com), for example, offers a seven-day kayaking trip to the Sea of Cortez coast, transportation from Loreto, accommodations, meals, guides and all equipment for $995. We also like Montana-based Sea & Adventures (800-355-7140; www.kayakbaja.com/index.html), which sends a trained naturalist and local bilingual guides (many of whom are marine biology students) on every trip. A 10-day trip combining sea kayaking around Espiritu Santo Island and whale watching in Magdalena Bay, with meals and accommodations, costs $1,200 per person in February. Shorter trips, including three- and four-day "Quick Getaways," are $350 to $575 per person. --A.W.