The weather is beginning to get nice and cold, and soon white flakes will fall from the sky. For thrill seekers this is a time a great joy as ski and board season has come again. Forget the hot beaches with irritating sand, and embrace the cold refreshing powder. All bad analogies aside, the following list contains the best places to shred this winter, based on mountain size, snow fall, the amount of ski resorts available, and local attractions (aka ski towns).

3. Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Elevation 6,237 ft

Jackson Hole is the most remote ski town and resort on this list featuring only two resorts on location (Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King). If you are looking to see some serious remote back country and untouched wilderness this is the place to go. The main resort features a huge gondola lift which allows for a comfortable and much warmer ride up the mountain. Pretty important since the average temperature in December is 16 degrees Fahrenheit. During the night this temperature can fall well below zero, I can testify to that personally! This cold weather allows for a really deep and smooth base depth for snow sports. The average snow base depth can range from 25 to 50 inches deep in recent years. That is some serious fresh powder. The ski town around Jackson Hole is small but features a wide variety of amazing restaurants and scenery including an amazing set of matching arches made completely out of antlers in the middle of town square.

2. Salt Lake City, Utah. Elevation 4,226 ft

A beautiful ski town surrounded by seven major ski resorts, Salt Lake is an absolute must for every snow sport enthusiast to visit at least once. My favorite one would have to be Park City a massive resort featuring multiple snow parks, long ski runs, and other attractions including a mountain slide! Slightly warmer temperatures as well ranging around 22 degrees in December. The average snow base depth is around 19 inches, while this number is less than that of Jackson Hole, the amount of ski resorts available along with the other attractions available makes Salt Lake higher on the list.

1. Breckenridge, Colorado. 9,600 ft

It was very hard for me to choose which one of these resorts/ski towns I should put first and honestly the list never really stops changing as I visit new resorts and towns every year. However revisiting all the places I have been nothing compares to the fun I had while at Breckenridge. The town originated from the gold rush era and was built as a mining town. Years later it is now the sickest ski resort in the state.. well at least for me anyways. It features 34 different chair lifts that span two mountain peaks allowing for a different way down every time. In addition it features twenty five acres of terrain parks for snowboarders enjoyment. I learned to grind rails at this resort and the terrain features here can be very edgy and natural at the same time. The average snow base depth ranges from 18 to 32 inches allowing for big jumps to be made in terrain parks with ease. Massive air massive fun.

I can not post enough pictures to really do any justice for the three mentioned ski resorts I have covered here today. I urge you to look up more shots of these beautiful towns and plan a trip if you have not made plans yet this year to go out and have some winter fun.