Winter is here, snow is coming, and mountain resorts across the area are kicking off the 2011-12 season! When the grind of city life becomes unbearable and you need to get away from it all, consider packing your bags and hitting these slopes!

— Skiing and Snowboarding Near DC —

With the Appalachian Mountains so close to DC, there are some great resorts in the area to choose from!

Liberty Mountain Resort — Carroll Valley, Pennsylvania

• Liberty is the closest place to ski outside Washington, DC, and can be reached by car in just over an hour and a half. With 100 acres of skiable area, 16 runs, and a top elevation of 1,200 feet, Liberty has long been a staple for DC snow fanatics and adrenaline junkies.

Whitetail Resort — Mercersburg, Pennsylvania

• Just two hours north of Washington, DC, Whitetail has been recognized for its environmental excellence in area design. With 21 different runs, the mountain was designed with goal of separating skiers according to performance ability for a safer downhill experience

Wisp Resort — McHenry, Maryland

• Tucked away in the mountains of Western Maryland, Wisp is the state’s most popular resort. Featuring 32 runs, a terrain park, and tons of other activities, it is an ideal getaway for both young adults and families.

Canaan Valley Resort — Davis, West Virginia

• Thanks to 39 ski runs, two terrain parks, and snow tubing, Canaan Valley Resort is one of the largest resorts of its kind in the area. In the 2005-06 season, it also became one of six places in the country that allows airboarding (an extreme form of sledding) on its slopes.

— East Coast Skiing and Snowboarding —

For getaways a little further away, you can shred the slopes in style at these great East Coast resorts.

Stowe Mountain Resort — Stowe, Vermont

•  Stowe Mountain Resort bares no comparison on the East Coast, boasting 116 total runs and an incredible 2360 foot vertical . With tons of picturesque restaurants and shops nearby, this charming resort keeps visitors fully entertained during their stay.

Whiteface — Lake Placid, New York

• Whiteface, also known as the Olympic Mountain, has the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies!  Home to the 1932 and 1980 Olympics, the resort is a mecca of winter sports activities, featuring anything from an outdoor ice skating track to bobsledding experiences.

— Best North American Skiing and Snowboarding —

North America is home to a disproportionate number of the world’s best ski and snowboard resorts. While it was incredibly difficult narrowing down this list, the below places the cream of the crop!

Whistler Blackcomb — Whistler, Canada

• Whistler Blackcomb is the largest resort in North America in many respects.  Featuring 200+ runs, up to 2 million visitors in a year, and 8,000 acres of terrain, this is a must-visit destination.

Vail Mountain — Vail, Colorado

• Vail is the largest ski resort in the United States, with an incredible 5,300 acres of skiable terrain, 193 runs, and top elevation of almost 12,000 feet. Home to some of the world’s fastest chairlifts, the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame, and a hopping nightlife scene, Vail has it all!

Park City Mountain Resort — Park City, Utah

• Host to alpine skiing and snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics, home to several training courses for the U.S. Ski Team, and featured in video game Shaun White Snowboarding, Park City is a premier destination for downhill enthusiasts.