Touring Patagonia, Argentina's Lake District

Argentina has more exotic destinations—Tierra del Fuego, the glaciers of the extreme south—but none so refreshing as the Lake District, which covers thousands of square miles in pine-covered northwestern Patagonia. Skiers come from all over to tackle the slopes in July and August (winter here) but otherwise the region is blessedly unknown to foreigners. It’s a favorite escape for Argentines, who love the alpine villages and grandiose stone-and-wood lodges. Picture a band of gauchos singing “Edelweiss” by the campfire and you’ve got the general idea.