2002 Number 6 Resort in the Midwest: Lutsen, Minnesotta

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Lutsen (pronounced Loot-sun, it's Swedish) is big, rambling and probably the best "pure" ski resort in the Great Lakes region. With, perhaps, the finest fall-line skiing between Denver and Albany, it's charming, distinctive and unique for the Midwest. For starters, its 800-foot vertical drop looms large over other Great Lakes ski resorts, and while most heartland areas ski off a single peak or ridge, Lutsen skis off four mountains. "Best in the Midwest, closest to a real mountain experience," a reader gushes. With 72 runs, seven chairlifts, a surface tow and mid-America's only gondola spread out over 1,000 acres, you could call it the "Killington of the Plains." No other regional ski area comes close to matching its size. Lutsen received high marks for Scenery, Terrain and Challenge. From the top of Moose Mountain, Lake Superior fills the top half of your view, the ski runs, the bottom half. "Great snow, long runs, variety and an awesome view of Lake Superior," exclaims a reader. Lutsen's variety of rock-ribbed, birch- and aspen-lined trails will suit all skiers-from the narrow, steep expert chutes on Eagle Mountain to the wide, easy boulevards of Ullr and Mystery Mountains and the long blue cruisers and glades on Moose. Dining and Lodging also rate highly. "I love the atmosphere created by the old-fashioned lodges in the area," a reader remarks. "We'll be back in 2002," says another. -