This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Visit Maine. All opinions are 100% mine.

Maine is a fantastic - though sometimes forgotten state. It's way up there in the far northeastern tip of the country and sometimes feels like there are more moose, deer and fish than people. That's pretty much true though, except on winter weekends when people come flooding north for the crisp cool air and beautiful mountains covered in fresh powder just waiting for you to make tracks. Whether's it's skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or fat tire snow biking, Maine has some great options for you to explore this winter.

While others may be going to the flashier resorts, locals know that the historic mining town of Breckenridge, Colorado is where it's at for year-round excitement. Nestled deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, approximately two hours from Denver, it is home to Breckenridge Ski Resort as well as Colorado's largest historic district.

New England has hundreds of ski areas ranging from small mom and pop mountains with a single lift to huge mega resorts like Killington where you'll find not just some of the finest ski runs in the region but tons of other winter activities. Since Killington ski resorts in Vermont have long been touted as the best places to ski on the east coast of the United States. There are a large variety of trails ranging in skill from beginner to expert. They have a double black diamond trail for experienced skiers and one trail is over six miles long for those desiring another type of challenge.

If you and your friends enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, Jackson Hole is an ideal spot to for a getaway. Located in Northwest Wyoming, the Jackson Hole valley is a rather secluded location that's not yet on the radar of many travelers from outside the area. Jackson Hole is considered to be one of the best skiing destinations in the United States, and with Grand Teton National Park directly to the north, the hiking opportunities are unbeatable.

Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Taos Ski Valley combines a distinct European ambiance with local Spanish and Native American flair. Known as a powder lover’s paradise, this resort in New Mexico offers 1,294 acres of ski terrain. Since Taos Ski Valley doesn’t get overrun with traffic, powder stashes can remain untouched for hours. This makes for exceptional powder days.

The 2015/2016 ski season didn’t disappoint. It has snowed practically EVERY weekend on EVERY mountain west of the Mississippi. After many great powder days with my ski/snowboard buddies, we decided to take a spring skiing trip to celebrate such an epic season. Over the past few months, I’ve been revisiting my collection of old ski movies and one resort kept popping up; Squaw Valley Alpine Resort. From Scot Schmidt in The Blizzard of Aahhh’s to the McConkey (R.I.P.) documentary, and countless Warren Miller films, Squaw Valley was always showcased as a resort with great snow, amazing terrain, and a list of accomplished locals to back it all up. I ran the idea past my friends, and flights were booked that evening.

I joke sometimes that I could "move into this place", but rarely could I actually do just that - till now. During our trip to Aspen for the 2016 Kia Optima launch this fall we stayed at a magnificent resort that redefined the word "luxury hotel" in my mind. The Viceroy Snowmass took an extraordinary amount of care when it designed these rooms and I'm sure even royalty from around the world that visit here probably say "wow this is nice!".

Yeah, it's the summertime here in the northern hemisphere, but that doesn't mean we can't start thinking about those awesome ski experiences that are waiting for us just a few months away! Sometimes, to find the best ski conditions, you'll have to leave behind what you know and embrace what you don’t. Choosing to forego your annual trip to a ski lodge is the first step; considering taking a helicopter ride to the peak of a mountain is the next. Heli-skiing lets you safely explore uncharted territories and chase adventure down the side of the Rocky Mountains.

After recently spending the majority of a week in South Lake Tahoe, CA enjoying winter activities with family and friends, I find this quote below very fitting and can relate the experience we had at Heavenly Mountain Resort with the most simplistic interpretation. All the activities, amenities, and natural beauty that Heavenly Mountain Resort and surroundings have to offer is specifically designed to be an exceptional playground for adults and kids to experience and enjoy on a regular basis. Heavenly Mountain Resort will keep you coming back. It truly is a little bit of heaven on earth!

Tahoe may have all the glory when it comes to California skiing, but an easy 5-6 hour drive from Los Angeles and San Diego lies Mammoth Mountain, one of the hottest ski destinations in the west and it is just perfect for an awesome guys weekend.

If you don't feel like driving and the possibility of putting chains on - there are fast cheap flights from LAX and SAN that go right to Mammoth via Alaska Air including 6 and 10-pack deals starting at only $480 from Las Vegas, San Diego, and Los Angeles.

Winter is here, snow is starting to pile up around the world so it is time to start thinking about where you are going this year! Will it be the local ski resort a couple miles away or will it be a world-class ski resort at some exotic place in Europe?

Either way, these images should help inspire you to get in the ski mood if you aren't already!