"The malls are epicenters of activity and entertainment, from indoor ice skating and downhill skiing to aquariums, and of course, the high-end luxury shops, " Anderson said.

CNN: Discovering Dubai's urban vibrance

It includes ice-skating and skiing competitions, photography exhibitions and even rime-inspired poetry competitions.

BBC: The quest to see China��s extraordinary frozen fog

With practice areas for figure skating, ice hockey, skiing, snowboarding and speed skating, among others, this network serves as the main East Coast training center for winter-sports Olympians.

WSJ: Defrost Your Inner Olympian

Here, skiing and skating are less leisure pursuits than ways of life adapted to the ice-bound landscape.

BBC: The perfect trip: Lapland