Illustration by Murphy Lippincott

South Lake, Tahoe, California

For the past few seasons, Heavenly Mountain Resort has been bringing the dance party to the mountain with DJ Cat, a sound system mounted on a retired snow-grooming machine. Meanwhile, South Lake Tahoe proper is in the midst of a renaissance: There’s McP’s Taphouse, an Irish pub with live music, and SLT Brewing Co., a brewpub, opening this December.

Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec

Until recently, this town was better known for its boutiques and art galleries than its nightlife. But the arrival of the high-end Le Germain Hotel Charlevoix changed things. Today, a train shuttles guests directly from the ski mountain to the hotel, where PizzaFest — wood-fired pies served alongside a live DJ — goes down on weekends.

Whistler, British Columbia

A most sophisticated scene: The Winemaker’s Après Series brings top vintners to lead wine-and-food pairings at Whistler Blackcomb’s various on-site restaurants. New for 2015 are nearby Basalt Wine + Salumeria and the Spanish-leaning Bar Oso.