I thought I’d heard it all after learning about no-pants subway rides and nude flights. But those underdressed endeavors seem tame compared to naked skiing and sledding: neither wind, nor snow, nor hail can keep these sports' cold, bold athletes from careering down mountains in the buff.

Among the best ski resorts for nude skiers are, evidently, Squaw Valley; Telluride; and Obertraun, Austria, where clothing-optional cross-country trails have earned it the mantle “Europe's nude ski mecca.” It sounds like one awkward après-ski scene to me.

I’ve never been much into the Olympics, but after a trip to Vancouver and Whistler in January I caught a bit of a bug. Anxious to keep the spirit alive as I waited for the Games to begin, I planned an early February trip to Lake Placid, NY, home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games and a place both entrenched in and proud of its Olympic history. From ‘Miracle Monday’ specials at the famous Dancing Bears Bar to the photos of champion Olympians past hanging on the walls at the High Peaks Resort to the signs all over town wishing ‘good luck’ to local Andrew Weilbrecht, member of the US Olympic Alpine Ski Team -- the Olympic ties practically hit you over the head at every turn in this tiny town in New York’s Adirondacks.

Today is Groundhog Day, which always seems the unofficial point at which most people take a look at Old Man Winter, shake their fists, and say, okay man, enough is enough. It’s clear to me, however, that none of those people have been to Mammoth Mountain, set in the Sierra Nevada, where the fun of winter is very much alive, embraced, and holding sway.

With Presidents Day and school vacations fast approaching, parents may want to consider a ski getaway for their family. Watch this video for tips on planning your ski trip, where to go, where to stay and what to do once you get to your destination.

This year, the Winter Games are kicking off in Vancouver, giving Canada a chance to showcase its glorious slopes and friendly citizenry. But that doesn't mean Whistler is the only Olympic-powered playground.

As it turns out, both the U.S. and Canada are packed with professional-grade terrain just ripe for the carving. So even if you can't make it out to the 2010 festivities, you can still bundle up and trace the tracks of the Olympic skiers, figure skaters, curlers, bobsledders, and other athletes that starred in Winter Games past.

Lake Placid, New York
1932, 1980

Nicholas Wolaver is a PR man by day and an Olympics superfan and historian by...well, also by day. He’s managed to marry his interests with a career that’s sent him to a half-dozen Olympic Games—experiences he blogs about at Olympic Rings and Other Things. From his temporary post in Vancouver, he talked to us about his travels, Vancouver and Whistler tips, and social media at the Olympics.

I find choosing a destination for a ski trip daunting, so I can only imagine how big a decision it must be for someone who can actually ski—wherever I end up, I spend a disturbing amount of time sprawled in the snow anyway. (Destination requirement #1: soft powder.) But with a friend living in Park City, Utah, this year, my destination was sealed—and what a magical one it is.

The town touts itself as the country's most convenient ski base, boasting three ski resorts within 35 minutes of Salt Lake City International Airport. And it’s true: not only is it easy to fly in and ski the same day—for free!—but there are frequent free buses running between resorts, and there’s even a lift going directly from Main St. up the slopes of Park City Mountain Resort.

It wouldn’t be the season without a place to strap on skates and glide in a spectacular setting, and with Thanksgiving just around the bend, ice-skating rinks are opening up across the nation. From the bare-leaf trees of New England to the palm trees of Southern California, here are seven ultimate U.S. spots to practice your figure eights and triple lutz jumps.

I'm all about getting sporty on my trips. When I was training for the NYC marathon, I had to visit Washington, D.C. at a crucial point of my training. Instead of halting training or spending hours running on the hotel treadmill, I hired a running guide through City Running Tours who took me on a sightseeing run through our nation's capital.

So when I heard about a physical fitness event  -- again, in Washington, DC -- coming up on October 11, I thought I would share it with you. Bike for the Heart is a day-long event put on by the Sister to Sister organization, a group dedicated to educating women about heart health and risk prevention and providing free heart health checkups.

The day consists of four events:

 - a family-friendly five-mile bike ride around our nation's capital (this would be my choice)

Recently I crossed something big off my must-see-before-I-die list: Machu Picchu. I took a day-trip to the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site during my volunteer vacation to Cuzco, Peru. Machu Picchu is situated 8,000 feet above sea level and Cuzco, where I spent the majority of my time, was at 10,800 feet.

Leading up to the trip, every single pamphlet, website, and guidebook I read discussed how to avoid altitude sickness and I must confess, I skimmed it. It didn't feel like there were any good options. For instance, the side effects of the prescription medicine for altitude sickness are often worse than the actual symptoms of it. One woman on my trip who was taking it kept saying, "My nose is tingling! I can't feel my fingertips!" Uh...no thanks.