With Winter upon us once again and the ski season heating up it's time to to strap on your boots and feel the sting of crisp air on your cheeks as you carve up the slopes in some amazing ski locations.

With so many parks spread across the US, Canada and Europe to choose from it's easy to miss out on the most perfect ski vacation for you by overlooking some of the lesser-known locations or settling for the closest ski resort. Whether you're looking for for an adrenaline-filled snowboarding weekend, a fun family vacation, or a relaxing winter holiday spent curled up next to the fire in your lodge and sipping hot chocolate, your perfect winter wonderland is waiting for you - and finding it isn't as difficult as you might think.

There are some good websites out there that detail the facilities available at a number of resorts, but if you're wanting a taste of the atmosphere along with some great suggestions and information you can't go past the range of audio tours that are available for over 50 snow covered destinations.

Audio tours are a quick and easy way to learn all about a place, with a personal guide providing you with inside information on everything the location has to offer. The tours, which are downloaded to an mp3 player and can be replayed as many times as you like, bring the world to life with evocative sounds and informative interviews.

Each audio tour will explain the terrain in your desired ski location and describe what is available for beginner, intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders so you can choose the perfect resort for your level of expertise.

Your guide will let you in on the best places to stay, eat and shop and you'll also be informed about the nightlife in the area.

You'll learn about the many activities on offer, ranging from horse drawn sleigh rides and backwards ski racing to zip lines through open growth forests and heliskiing.

The distinctive features that set each location apart are also revealed and can include anything from delicious risotto served in bowls made of parmesan to the traditional mountain huts that serve drinks and hearty food at the top of Austria's slopes.

With so many treats and surprises in store it would be a shame to miss out on your very own winter holiday heaven. So step out of your comfort zone and try somewhere a little bit different this season - I know you won't be disappointed.

If you would like to know more about ski resorts in the US and Canada, there is a good selection of audio tours available here.

If a European escape is more your style, there are over 30 tours available for download at LoDingo.com.

Gordon is the Managing Director of LoDingo Digital Download Megastore. Be coached by a business mentor, conquer your fear of flying, develop your parenting skills, improve your golfing swing, get motivated by a personal trainer or just relax with an audio book. LoDingo has a Digital Download for just about everything.