What's the most popular cross-country skiing spot on the continent? According to the U.S. National Cross-Country Ski team, it's Silver Star Mountain Resort, in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. Silver Star, a high-altitude resort that averages seven metres of snow a year, was their top pick across the board, according to a poll conducted by Forbes Traveler magazine.

"All the Euros were gushing about Silver Star while there for the World Cups in December 2005," said Torin Koos, a young racer from Leavenworth, Wash. "There's all kinds of terrain, from World-Cup-tough courses to great cruising trails."

Mont-Sainte-Anne cross-country ski centre, near Quebec City, was ranked No. 2. The resort has more than 200 km of groomed trails and a season that normally lasts from November to April.

"The resort has a nice mix of wide and perfectly groomed ski 'highways' as well as narrower, more challenging trails in great terrain,'' said Andrew Jackson, a racer from Park City, Utah.

Mont-Sainte-Anne is also popular with downhill fans.

Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City has a deal that includes one night's lodging, breakfast, and a one-day ski lift ticket at Mont Sainte-Anne or Stoneham starting at $339 per night, double occupancy. The offer runs to April 21. Contact 1-800-441-1414 or fairmont.com.

THEY ARE THE TOPS

- For the fifth straight year, the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire was rated Top Dive Destination Overall (Caribbean/Atlantic) in Scuba Diving magazine's Readers' Choice Awards 2007.

Bonaire also received the No. 1 rating in four other categories: Healthiest marine environment, top shore diving destination, top destination for underwater photography and for beginners, and came second for top marine life and top small animal encounters.

It placed in the top three in the top value and top snorkelling categories, and in the top five for visibility and as a destination for advanced divers. For the awards, thousands of Scuba Diving subscribers and web users rated their dive experiences.

- Vancouver has been recognized as the top gay leisure travel destination in Canada in an international survey conducted by Community Marketing Inc. (CMI).

The annual survey, which has more than 7,500 gay and lesbian participants, is described as the largest of its kind.Tourism Vancouver says it has been actively marketing to gay travellers for nearly a decade. See tourismvancouver.com for information.

Contact Doug English, c/o London Free Press, P.O. Box 2280, London, Ont. N6A 4G1; send faxes to 519-667-4528