It's that time of the year again: the leaves are gone and Starbucks has brought out its holiday cups. Here's a guide to what's on our radar this winter - 'cause a Pumpkin Spice Latte only gets you so far.
Sweet Powder: If you crave huge mountains without huge crowds, head to cowboy country. Big Sky Montana offers the most terrain in the US on one lift ticket, more than Vail. Yet only 2,000 visitors a day bomb down Big Sky's 21 lifts and 150 trails. So say goodbye to bloated lift lines and hello to epic first tracks on sweet, sweet powder. Click here for Area's guide to Big Sky.
Ice Polo: Head to the top of the world for the 26th St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow (Jan 28 -31), the world's most prestigious winter polo tournament, where the best international polo players battle it out on the frozen surface of Lake St. Moritz. Stay at the famed Badrutt's Palace while in town.
Snow Riding: Originally called the Skibob or Sit Ski, snow biking (basically mountain biking on skis) dates back 150 years in the European Alps. Today you can take lessons and find rentals across resorts in the US, Europe, South America, Japan and Canada. For spots to rent and ride click here.
Volcanic Effort: For a new winter adventure, try skiing Sicily's highest point, Mount Etna, one of the world's most active volcanoes. When it's not erupting (check before you go), you can access the mountain from the base town of Linguaglossa on the north side and Rifugio Sapienza and Nicolosi on the south. Stay at the Hotel Corsaro in Nicolosi, or the House of Camellia, a restored two-bedroom farmhouse, set in a large estate of citrus groves, on the doorstep of Mount Etna National Park. It sleeps six and you're within a snowball's toss of Praiola beach.
So gear up, sport. The season's upon us, and there's no time to lose.
