A deep valley in eastern Switzerland, the Lower Engadine region is a lesser-known alternative to the more developed Upper Engadine (think St. Moritz). Full of remote villages that sit along a gorge carved by the Inn River, the area draws hikers to its meadow trails in the summer and skiers to its slopes in the winter. The cultural scene is another highlight, with hotels offering excellent restaurants, concerts, and art shows. —Kimberly Bradley

Photo by Katrin-Anne Bischoff. This appeared in the January/February 2011 issue.