Like many of you, I spent my Labor Day weekend with friends and family eating food sizzled to perfection on a grill and playing on and around water for the last time of 2009. My two least favorite times of the year are when the chairlifts stop running and when we put the boat in storage for the winter, so I'm always at little sad after the passing of Labor Day. As I mentioned last year, back to school ads still freak me out (even though I graduated from college nearly a decade ago).

This year, as I tearfully look at summer in my rearview mirror, I'm looking forward to winter more than ever. And I think you and I have a lot to look forward to. I just did a little bit of research and, according to sources such as NOLA, AccuWeather and the Farmer's Almanac, we're expecting a visit from El Niño this winter. If you're unfamiliar, Chris Farley may have said it best in 1998 on Saturday Night Live. Farley explained, "For those of you who don't habla Español, El Niño is Spanish for The Niño."

To be a little more specific, El Niño happens every three to seven years when warm water comes to the surface of the Pacific Ocean near the equator. El Niño typically brings with it warmer than average temperatures in the winter and high levels of precipitation. While the combination of the two might mean rain for some places in the country, it most likely means lots and lots of snow at higher elevations. This is good news for skiers and riders!!

Take advantage of the promising forecast and of the fantastic early-booking discounts available to you through Ski.com. Have a look at our sample packages below and be sure to check out the special deals page of Ski.com. If you have any questions or when you're ready to book, call one of our Mountain Vacation Specialists at 800-299-0656.