Skiers want nothing but to be on the slopes this time of year. But what if they bring friends or family along who don’t ski?

Shermans Travel, a publisher of travel deals and destination advice, has come up with a list of the best ski resorts in the world for nonskiers. They are:

Austria’s Bad Gastein, home to 18 natural hot springs in addition to challenging snow bowls and high-altitude views. Shermans Travel recommendation for value lodging: Haus Hirt Hotel & Spa.

Megeve, France, where no one hits the slopes before 11 a. m. and lunch can take hours. Local Michelin-rated eateries include Flocons de Sel, La Ferme de Mon Pere, and the hidden Domaine de la Sasse, reached by a 20-minute hike on snowshoes.

Mont Tremblant in Quebec, where skiers love the wide runs and nonskiers love the pedestrian- friendly village with good food and great apres-ski. Value lodging recommendation from Shermans: Chateau Beauvallon.

Park City, Utah, which has terrain for every skier, and attractions for nonskiers like nightclubs, shows at the Egyptian Theatre, the Olympic Sports Park and the Sundance Film Festival each January.

Stowe, Vt., offers New England charm for skiers and nonskiers alike, including 50 restaurants, a half-dozen wellness centers and spas, and for those who are shy of the slopes but don’t mind cross-country, the Nordic Center at Trapp Family Lodge, with 90 scenic miles of trails.

Sun Valley, Idaho, which offers sunny slopes on Mount Baldy for skiers and the Western charm of Ketchum for nonskiers. Pay your respects at the grave of Ernest Hemingway or spend the afternoon at galleries, spas and boutiques.

Taos, N. M., with sun and steep slopes for skiers, plus 80 galleries, seven museums, A-list restaurants like Joseph’s Table for everyone else. Shermans Travel value recommendation for lodging is the Historic Taos Inn.

Whistler Blackcomb, B. C., where the Peak 2 Peak gondola will take you between the summits of Whistler and Blackcomb whether you’re skiing or just sightseeing. Shermans says the village is also known for its rowdy nightlife.

Zermatt, Switzerland, a fantasyland in the shadow of the Matterhorn, where the streets are lined with glitzy shops and glam clubs but are otherwise quiet, thanks to the ban on gas-powered cars.

Specialty shop dining

Food markets and specialty stores are selling more than supplies for making meals at home: Many now offer dining on the premises, according to Bon Appetit magazine’s December issue.

That’s good news for tourists, who may enjoy strolling through a famous food market but have no way to enjoy fresh produce or raw ingredients if they’re staying in a hotel.

Here are some of Bon Appetit’s suggestions for in-store dining:

Surfas, in Culver City, Calif., a restaurant supply store with an adjacent cafe.

Oxbow Public Market, in Napa, Calif., which has five restaurants, plus a micro-winery, culinary bookstore and specialty tea store.

Il Cane Rosso, an eatery in San Francisco’s Ferry Building Marketplace in the Embarcadero, where you’ll also find retailers like Sur La Table and Culinaire antiques.

B&G Oysters and The Butcher Shop, eateries that are among four foodie places in Boston, all at the intersection of Waltham and Tremont streets. The others are Stir, which offers cookbooks and a demonstration kitchen, and Plum Produce, a shop for specialty foods.

Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis, which offers more than 40 locally owned shops under one roof, including Taqueria Los Ocampo.

Despana, in New York City, a boutique in Soho specializing in the foods of Spain. But there’s also a hidden lunch counter serving tapas, sandwiches and small-plate appetizers.

Bolsa in Dallas, which hosts a farmers’ market and a cafe with wine and local products like chocolate, cookies and coffee.

Capitol visits

WASHINGTON—The Capitol Visitor Center has hosted 2.3 million people since opening Dec. 2, 2008.

That’s twice the number of people who visited the Capitol in the year before the visitor center existed. In the past, before the center’s Exhibition Hall and Restaurant existed, people who visited the Capitol typically waited in line outside — sometimes for hours — for a tour. Now, visitors can make a reservation ahead of time for a tour, or they can even walk in and get on the next available tour.

The visitor center includes a 13-minute film about Congress and the Capitol, and the 16,500- square-foot Exhibition Hall offers unusual artifacts and documents related to Congress and the Capitol.

The center premises include a 500-seat restaurant, gift shops and restrooms.

The center has introduced a new attraction this month: On Wednesdays at noon, curators, historians and educators from the Capitol, National Archives, and the Library of Congress are giving 15-minute talks about Congress and the Capitol. Lectures are free; no reservations required. The center plans to continue the 15-minute talks in 2010.

Also new is an audio tour of the visitor center’s exhibition hall, available by using a cell phone, beginning at the plaster model of the Statue of Freedom, located directly in front of the entrance to the hall.

Details at

www.visitthecapitol.gov

. Honoring 41

FREDERICKSBURG, Texas —The National Museum of the Pacific War has expanded its George H. W. Bush Gallery with new multimedia exhibits, testimonials and artifacts about the conflict in Asia during World War II.

In-depth exhibits include a look at the impact and destruction of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Among the artifacts on display is an HA-19, one of five Japanese two-man submarines that took part in the attack.

The opening of the new space was timed to coincide with the 68th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks on Dec. 7. The dedication was attended by the former president for whom the gallery is named. Bush, who lives in Houston, is a World War II naval aviator who survived being shot down by the Japanese over the Pacific.

The museum is managed by the Nimitz Foundation, named for Fredericksburg native Adm. Chester Nimitz. He commanded American naval forces in the Pacific during the war.

The $15.5 million museum expansion had been planned for about a decade.

Details at

www.nimitz-museum.org/

. Fredericksburg is about 70 miles west of Austin.