NYC Ski Daytrip: Mt. Peter

If you're just trying to expose your kids to skiing, there are several easy ski spots not so far outside of NYC, which make for an easy half day trip. We went to Mt. Peter, which was about 1.5 hours from Brooklyn, which means it's completely feasible to leave by 8, and even make it back for a late lunch. (That is, if you don't make stops along the way, like we always do.) And if you do stay there through lunch, they do serve hot dogs and hamburgers--get them from the outside grill...and there is a full bar inside.

Here are a couple of other places--all of them great for beginners.
Campgaw Mountain--this is just 20 miles from the GW Bridge, making it the closest skiing to NYC.
Mountain Creek in NJ
Tuxedo Ridge, NY

Winter Getaway: The Pitcher Inn

Last week I went to Vermont with my husband Matt for three nights, and four whole days (the longest ever we've been away from Clara). The first night, we stayed at The Pitcher Inn, and it being a weeknight, it wasn't busy, so we were able to see most of the rooms.  All of them are themed--we stayed in the Mountain Room--there's Trout, Schoolhouse...they are really nicely appointed, each with their own Nespresso machine, super nice sheets, and many with steam room shower/tub setups.  


We loved our breakfast there--it was maybe one of the best omelettes I've had.  The pastries were so good--loved the scones--and when are scones ever that good?

It's in this sweet little town called Warren, which is about five minutes from Sugarbush, if you are into skiing.  There's a cute little store across the street from The Pitcher Inn, called The Warren Store, which has a very organic local menu that serves breakfast and lunch, although we were too stuffed to try anything.  They have beautiful bottles of maple syrup from very small producers, and a very good edit of wine.  

When we checked out, I spoke at length with Ari, the general manager of The Pitcher Inn.  He's such a sweet guy, and so knowledgeable about the area.  He and his front desk person Michelle mapped out so many cheese producers for us to check out, called and made an appointment for us to visit American Flatbread, and told us about the local food coop, and the Woodstock Farmer's Market, where he said we had to stock up on our cheese on our way out of town.

(my kind of heaven--selling stacks of kindling at the local coop)

Road Trip Switzerland Part 1

For a completely charming winter wonderland, that will please skiers and non-skiers alike, check out the Waldhaus Sils Maria.  Sils Maria is a small little town that is probably 15 minutes drive from St. Moritz, but the people who go there, most likely never go there.  The Waldhaus is a grand old family hotel, that's been in the same family for 100 years, and gets the same families there for generations.  When we went there, we saw babies with parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.  It's totally family oriented--when we checked in, they were having an early evening party for the kids, with the largest red balloons I have ever seen, floating around the lobby.  There's a lovely indoor pool, and a ski school.  But our favorite part was the horse and carriage ride.  You get picked up right in front of the hotel, and are seated in a carriage that is covered with sheepskins, and then you are covered with huge sheepskin blankets, and whisked away up into the mountains, to a sweet little village, where you sit down for a lovely tea or hot chocolate, or lunch.  We had the most perfect "rosti", which is basically like a perfectly formed circle of hash browns, with an egg on top.  Afterwards, we walked back down the hills, to the hotel, working off lunch. From here I will send you towards Thermalbad Vals, one of the sexiest, yet family friendly, mineral spring hotels.  More later.

Escape From NY-Whiteface Lodge, Adirondacks

This summer we went to the Adirondacks, our first time. It's such a huge area, that I will do several posts about our time there, but for those of you looking for a getaway that might involve skiing, definitely some snow activities, and a perfectly done lodge, I have the place.  Whiteface Lodge is in Lake Placid, which is pretty much in the middle of the Adirondack State Park, which is 6 million acres, and, according to Wikipedia, that's the size of Vermont.  So it's huge. To get to Lake Placid, home of the Winter Olympics of 1980, you should plan about 5 hours--it's 288 miles.  It's straight up the Thruway, which they call the Northway once you hit the Adirondacks.  It's really like you're in a different state, and one that's very far away.  No mini malls.  Lots of businesses that have been family run since the 40s.  No bad developments.  But back to the Whiteface: an Olympic skier who became an entrepreneur, concepted the place, wanting to have a lodge that harked back to the great camps that were so prevalent in the 19th century. It's totally grand in its huge beams and high ceilings, but also very cozy with lots of wood and fireplaces. The rooms are nicely appointed, the beds comfortable, and a family of four could easily fit into a  one bedroom suite, the smallest room, as it has a queen size bed, and a queen size pullout couch.  I just looked online, and they have a winter special, that has a winter rate of $395 per night over the weekend, and that includes breakfast, and all of the amenities they offer.  Now usually, I don't get too excited about those, but listen up: movie theater, game room, indoor and outdoor pool,bowling, ice rink, kids club, complimentary shuttle into town (which has no parking so you will actually use this), free valet...and the best part? They have a washer/dryer in the common area, with complimentary laundry detergent!  I couldn't believe it.  The food at Whiteface is excellent--we loved the breakfasts--granola, eggs, pancakes, waffles, organic yogurts, juices...etc...it isn't a skimpy free breakfast.  We didn't eat lunch there, but dinner was great.  They have a bar area where they have some live entertainment (it was a great singer/guitar player one night, and the next it was a little hokey), and we just got drinks, and a pizza for Clara, from their wood burning oven.  They have a nice menu for kids, which is a step above average--good quality version of the classics.  The wine list was great. And it's in the middle of everything--which you'll read about on the next couple of posts.