Pristine places for all your skiing, snowboarding, camping, dogsledding, heliskiing, snowkiting, ice climbing, and other snow-related needs between now and whenever-the-snow-melts.

1. Mammoth Mountain, California

2. Val d’ Isere, France

3. Yellowstone Club, Montana

4. Bighorn Revelstoke, Canada

One of the world’s finest heliski destinations, Bighorn Lodge will shuttle you up to the freshest white powder in your own private helicopter (as opposed to a ski lift), for the most natural and exclusive downhill skiing adventure possible.

5. Kitzbuhel, Austria

6. Mayrhofen, Australia

7. Whistler, Canada

8. San Carlos De Bariloche, Argentina

While most folks are looking to escape to countries that have their summers during our winters, San Carlos De Bariloche (or just Bariloche) is for the year-round ski-addict. It is one of the few world class skiing and snowboarding hubs that experiences winter while we and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing summer.

9. Dolomites, Italy

10. Cradle Mountains, Tasmania, Australia

11. Stowe, Vermont

12. Asahidake, Japan

From the top of Asahidake, you can see nearly all of Hokaido (especially if you’re racing down the side of the mountain on skis or a snowboard). A fairly little-known skiing destination, Asahidake boasts crisp deep snows and would definitely be worth the trip if you’re looking for a little alone time with your skis and some snow.

13. Beaver Creek, Colorado

14. Wanaka, New Zealand

15. Levi, Lapland, Finland

16. Megeve, France

17. Aspen, Colorado

What sort of roundup would this be without mentioning Aspen, one of the world’s greatest destinations for ski-lovers and outdoor fanatics. Though you don’t need to take my word for it, just ask the millions of visitors who make the trek to this spot in Colorado each year.

18. Nozawa Onsen, Japan

19. Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

20. Kashmir, India

For most, India is not the first place they think of when they think about winter sports. In fact, it was not so long ago that Kashmir was one of the most dangerous places in the world. Yet, that hasn’t stopped it from rapidly becoming one of the world’s premier ski destinations in recent years.

21. St. Moritz, Switzerland

22. Colorado Springs, Colorado

23. Chamonix, France

Formally “Chamonix-Mont-Blanc,” the main draw to Chamonix is its location in the French Alps, and popularity of extreme sports there, regardless of season. Subsequently, it has been dubbed the one of the “death sport capital[s] in the world.” Chamonix is also famous for being the home to the world’s highest cable car (at the time of its construction).

24. Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

25. Bcharre, Lebanon

26. Niseko, Japan

27. Yabuli, China

The largest ski jumps in China are appropriately found at the largest ski resort in China, Yabuli. It was also the site of the Freestyle, Alpine, and Nordic Skiing Events in the 2009 Winter World University Games (a college-level olympics-style competition).

28. Zillertal Alps, Italy

29. Telluride, Colorado

30. Courchevel, France

31. St. Anton, Austria

St. Anton has been a historically important hub for the popular winter sport that keeps it alive: skiing. Fun Fact: The very first ski instructors in the ‘States actually came from St. Anton in the 1930’s, as part of a campaign to increase the popularity of the sport.

32. Gulmarg, India

33. Seefeld, Austria

34. Schruns, Austria

35. Mauna Kea, Hawaii

One of the only places where you can ski on a volcano in the morning, and surf comfortably in the afternoon, Hawaii wins again at being one of the greatest vacation destinations in the world. The regularly snowy Mauna Kea makes for a fabulous run from the MK Observatories at the summit down to the base of what is technically “the world’s tallest mountain.”

36. Lake Placid, New York

37. Island Lake Lodge, Canada

38. Oberhof, Germany

39. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Hosts of the 1956 Winter Olympics, Cortina d’Ampezzo has been a hub for snow-enthusiasts since 1700’s. It has also been a popular haunt for everyone from Ernest Hemingway to Audrey Hepburn.

40. Methow Valley, Washington

41. Col du Lautaret, France

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Somewhere outside of El Paso, the setting sun began to cast dark shadows over our train, making it impossible to focus on the faded pages of a book I don't think I ever finished. Looking up, I watched as the world outside the Amtrak lounge car flew past at 100-something miles an hour, forcing me to fixate on the glowing horizon and not the trees and telephone posts flying by in a blur. Though it would still be several hours to New Orleans, every bit of me started to wish that I could stay on the train forever, breezing through whichever states might have come next.

The Sunset Limited

Traveling between Los Angeles and New Orleans (through the southern states and along the border of Mexico), the 46-hour Sunset Limited trip is truly one of the greatest ways to see the sprawling deserts of the US. And I can say from personal experience, it was gorgeous.

El Tren Crucero

The four-day three-night adventure takes you from Guayaquil to Quito (or vice versa) through some of the most spectacular parts of the Ecuadorian Andes.

The Blue Train

The 27-hour journey from Pretoria to Cape Town routes through Johannesburg, and giving you the opportunity to witness some of the wildest and most diverse landscapes in the South African subcontinent.

The West Highland Line

One of the most popular and scenic train trips in Europe (and possibly the world), the West Highland Line links the major ports in Scotland to Glasgow, and takes just over 5 hours from one end to the other.

The Eastern & Orient Express

Almost a "choose your own adventure" experience, the Eastern & Orient Express travels between Singapore and Bangkok, stopping everywhere in-between. The trip can take anywhere from 2 days to 7, depending on what you want to do and see along the way.

The TranzAlpine

Crossing between Christchurch and Greymouth in New Zealand, the legendary train trip takes about 4.5 hours from start to finish, during which you'll get acquainted with the landscape that New Zealand is renowned for (by passing places like the Canterbury Plains, the Waimakariri River, and the Southern Alps).

The Al Andalus Express

Since 1930, The Al Andalus Express has been a popular traveling and sightseeing circuit in the southern "Andalusia" region of Spain. Starting in Seville, the train passes through Cádiz, Jerez, Ronda, Granada, Linares-Baeza, Ubeda, and Cordoba before returning to Seville, 6 days from when you set out.

The Danube Express

Perfect for cruising Central Europe, the Danube Express always leaves from Budapest, but can end up anywhere from Krakow to Sighisoara in Transylvania, depending on which train you catch.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Crowned "Best North American Train Trip" by National Geographic Traveller, the Durango & Silverton Railroad has traveled the 45.5 beautiful Coloradoan miles between the municipality of Durango and the town of Silverton since 1881.

The Royal Canadian Pacific

A seasonal luxury adventure train, The Royal Canadian Pacific provides unparalleled views of the Canadian Rockies outside your train car, from June to September of every year.

The Coast Starlight

What better way to travel between Seattle and Los Angeles than following the actual coast of the Western United States? The journey takes about 35 hours, and makes 29 stops as it passes from California, through Oregon, to Washington.

Maharajas' Express

The Maharajas' Express is all about seeing India in the absolute height of opulent luxury. No, seriously, it has received the titles of "World's Leading Luxury Train" and "World's Most Expensive Luxury Train in Asia" several years in a row. Its travel circuits take passengers to Mumbai, Delhi, and everywhere in-between.

The Grand Canyon Railway

Shuttling passengers from Williams, Arizona to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park since about 1898, The Grand Canyon Railway trip only takes about an hour and a half in either direction, but I can't imagine a better build up to the truly awesome Grand Canyon than by inching toward it by way of locomotive.

The Royal Scotsman

Starting in Edinburgh, The Royal Scotsman has a range of circuits through the Scottish Highlands depending on how much time you have. Some start and end in Edinburgh, others will deposit you in places like London, Glasgow, or Perth.

Brocken Railway

The highest mountains in Northern Germany are known as the Harz, and the tallest of those is Brocken. Thus, the Brocken Railway takes groups of passengers and tourists from the small nearby town of Wernigerode up to the peak of Brocken (3,743 ft in the sky) over the course of an hour.

The Ghan

The legendary railway bisecting the Australian continent, The Ghan has gone from Adelaide in the south to Darwin in the north since 1929. The 1,851-mile trip takes just over 54 hours to complete, though that includes a four hour break part way through the trip in Alice Springs.

Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express

One of the most well-known train trips in the history of train trips, the Trans-Siberian Railway carves through Russia, joining Moscow in the West to Vladisvostok in the East. The entire journey stretches over 5,772 miles, making it the longest railway in the world, and it takes about 13 days to properly complete.

The Semmering Railway

Also known as the "world's first true mountain railway," Semmering Railway in Austria travels the 25.5 miles from Mürzzuschlag south to Gloggnitz. It only takes about 2.5 hours, but it makes for a fabulous jaunt through the scenic Austrian countryside.

The Rhine Valley Line

Traveling along the West Rhine Railway, the 94 miles of the Rhine Valley Line snake through sections of Germany's wine country. The most popular leg of the journey is the stretch between Mainz and Koblenz, which takes just over an hour on the scenic train.

The Denali Star

Only available between May and September, the Denali Star takes you on a 12-hour journey from Anchorage to Fairbanks, past miles of fireweed, salmon, and spruce that give Alaska the colors it's known for.

The Adirondack

If you live in North America, it's possible you've heard of this famous train route that leaves New York, traveling north through 10 hours of East Coast wine country before ending in Montreal. What do you do when you get to Montreal? Whatever interests you (but if it were me, I'd be looking into why Lonely Planet named it the "Second Greatest Party City In The World" in 2011).

The Glacier Express

Not to be confused with the Polar Express, Switzerland's Glacier Express connects St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. The famous railway adventure takes you through 91 tunnels, over gorges, through valleys, and across 291 bridges while you discover Switzerland during the 7 incredible hours of the trip.

Cape To Cairo

If I had to choose one train trip from this list to embark on tomorrow, this would be the one. Originally started as a project in the late 1800's, the railway was never completed. The idea, to have a single rail that traverses the north-south of the entire continent of Africa was largely abandoned, until Rovos Rail started offering the trip in 2008 by hiring alternate methods of transportation between the disjointed railways. Now, every two years, travelers have the opportunity to spend 28 days getting acquainted with Africa in a way folks have only dreamed of for centuries.

TAZARA Railway

Source: upload.wikimedia.org

Another train trip for exploring Africa, the TAZARA railway joins the massive port city of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to the small town of Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia. Though the trip that is scheduled to take 36 hours, frequent delays can extend that time to upwards of 50.

First Pasage To The West

After winning countless awards, it's safe to say that this Canadian train experience operated by Rocky Mountaineer is probably worth a try. Traveling over the Canadian Pacific Railway, this route goes between Vancouver and Banff over the course of 4 days.

El Chepe

One of the finest ways to travel to Chihuahua and the surrounding areas, El Chepe (also known as the Chihuahua-Pacifico train) has been operating for over 50 years. Connecting Chihuahua to the state of Sinaloa, El Chepe takes you on a 405-mile journey that includes canyons, villages, valleys, and waterfalls.

Douro Line

Portugal's premier scenic train ride, the Douro line hugs the Douro river in a Portuguese wine-growing valley, and was built between 1875 and 1887.

The Venice Simplon Orient-Express

Tell me this doesn't sound like an amazing trip: London-Paris-Venice-Florice-Rome. That's the route that the historical Venice-Simplon Orient Express does every couple of days (since the trip itself takes just two days to complete).

Hiram Bingham

For charging the jungles of Peru in style, the Hiram Bingham luxury train offers one-way and round-trip jaunts to Machu Picchu from Cuzco. The trips take just over 3 hours (one way) or 6 hours (round trip), and include time time to experience the site and ruins.

Napa Valley Wine Train

There are a lot of ways to take in California's famous wine country, but few will let you leisurely sample the wine as you go. Traveling from Napa to St. Helena, the Napa Valley Wine Train motors on for three hours over historic tracks that were built in the 1860's.

Bergen Railway

The best part about the gorgeous 7-hour, 308-mile trip from Bergen to Oslo is that (while an incredible standalone adventure on its own) you'll have the opportunity to tack-on an additional bonus mini-trip: the almost-as-popular Flam branch line between Voss and Myrdal.

Qingzang Railway

The famous train tracks that connect China to Tibet, the Qingzang railway spans 1,215 miles of farm fields, open plains, and mountainous terrain. Bonus: During the trip you'll cross over the Tanggula Pass, which at 16,640 feet is the highest length of train rails in the world.

The Empire Builder

With a name like "The Empire Builder," the expectations are pretty high for the level of epic this train needs to deliver. And it does. Amtrak's Empire Builder Route goes from Chicago to Portland/Seattle along the northernmost states of the country. It does demand 46 continuous hours of train riding, but is the perfect complimentary return route for other cross-country trips like The Sunset Limited.

Manakara Express

One of those great railway journeys that adventure travelers fantasize about, the Manakara Express traverses the 100 miles between Madagascar's Fianarantsoa and Manakara over 8-16 hours.

Bernina Express

Connecting the great countries of Switzerland and Italy, the Bernina Express takes you on a 4 hour moving tour through some of Europe's most breathtaking winter scenery.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

If big trains aren't your thing, perhaps India's "toy train" might be more up your alley. Traveling the 48 miles between Siliguri and Darjeeling, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has been running on the same rails since the late 1800's, and explores altitudes that range between 328 and 7,218 feet.