Fun without the sun

it makes it a little easier to start thinking about the holidays, snowball fights, getting up to the slopes in Tahoe and all the other stuff that makes it really feel like winter. I'm personally not a huge fan of the cold and snow. I prefer the heat of the summer and not being terrified of falling each time I take a step outside. Growing up in southern Nevada, I didn't see much snow at all, and if it did snow, one snowman cleared the whole yard out. But I do have to admit that there's something nice about the snow and it looking all wintery outside, and the snow sports are pretty awesome, too. It gives a nice cozy feeling—probably because of the amount of time I spend inside hiding from the cold—and it means the holidays, snow fun, time with my family and the new year is coming.

And in that spirit, we've put together the 2013 Winter Guide. Tim Hauserman gives you a breakdown of the best places to go cross country skiing this season and also tells you some great things to do with and places to bring the kids to have some fun in the snow. If you're looking to replace your old snowboard or just a whole new board, you can turn to the story about the different shapes of boards and what they can do for you. There's also a story about splitboarding—a new winter sport that's gaining popularity for those who want to take themselves through the backcountry. And we've included our annual ski resort and cross country resort directories to give you the basics about each resort.

So fight the urge to stay inside in your pajamas with a cup of hot chocolate all winter long and have some fun in the snow.

Cheers,

Skiing story by Tim Hauserman

Places for the kids by Tim Hauserman

Different snowboard shapes by Sage Leehey