We hope you have been enjoying long summer days and warm summer evenings, the beach and maybe a few rounds of golf. But if you're like me, you feel like something is missing: an adrenaline-filled day that can only be realized by skiing or riding your favorite mountain. In fact, I was riding my bike to the beach on Sunday morning and, though the day was nearly perfect, I still thought about how much I would have rather been riding a gondola en route to knee-deep powder.

Though it's counterintuitive, we highly suggest you begin planning your 2008/2009 ski vacation. Not only is this is the best time to ensure that your preferred flights and lodging options are available – especially for the popular December, Presidents Day week and Spring Break travel periods – it's also the perfect time to snag an early-booking deal.

If you haven't been to http://www.ski.com/ in the past couple of weeks, check it out. We have just enhanced the design and now display our best specials, early-booking options and exclusive offers right on the homepage. We also look forward to introducing some new functionality we will be adding to the site in the coming months.

And, if you're a part of the Facebook phenomenon, become a fan of Ski.com. We encourage you to stop by, view and share photos and videos and join or start a discussion about skiing, snowboarding or whatever's on your mind. In the meantime, check out Ski.com's specials or call 800-299-0656 today to speak with a Ski.com Mountain Vacation Specialist and plan your winter getaway