Tag Archives: family getaways

Family Ski Vacation: Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge, Co

Breckenridge is a world-class destination for Colorado vacations with kids who are looking to experience a fun Colorado family vacation in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. There are tons of activities and restaurants on and off the mountain and lots of options of where to stay.

 

Parents can also watch their kids excel on the hill after a day of lessons at their world renowned ski school. Adult, Child, and Private Lessons are available for all family members.

Need a break from skiing? Take the kids ice skating, sleigh rides  or snowmobiling. You can even enjoy a ride on Breckenridge alpine slide or just relax in the historic Town of Breckenridge.

When fortune seekers flocked to Breckridge back in the 1800s little did they know they found something better, the perfect ski mountain town.

Family Ski Vacation: Telluride Ski Resort

Telluride

Nestled in the southwest corner of Colorado, 100 miles from the nearest stoplight, Telluride encompasses 2,000 acres of lift-accessible terrain. Once dubbed “To-Hell-You-Ride” from its mining town days, Telluride is now a chic,  modern town.

Telluride Ski Resort boasts some of the steepest, deepest and most diverse terrain of any ski resort in North America.

Family Ski Vacation: Stowe Mountain, Vermont

Stowe Mountain, Vermont

Stowe Mountain Resort is just totally lux and I got very used to having the ski valets run up to me at the end of my run and grab my skis, tag them and whisk them away to storage. The next morning they were magically waiting for me. At $400 a night the rooms were not cheap, but the views were stellar, the restaurant food superb, and the spa was ultra relaxing. Our in-room fireplace made it the perfect evening with a blustery snow storm just outside.

Stowe Mountain Resort, is the definition of the luxury Eastern resort, and provides quality skiing and riding for all levels of family abilities. The area’s lift system includes a gondola to shuttle guests between Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, and its “sister” mountain, Spruce Peak.

Mt. Mansfield  gets 333 inches of average annual snowfall that falls over it’s 2,360 foot vertical drop and 485 acres of skiable terrain.

The Stowe Mountain Lodge, located in the base village, is a 312 room luxury hotel and spa that has been recognized as one of the greenest, most sustainable luxury hotels in the world.

Take the Kids Apple Picking This Fall

It’s always a bit sad to have to say goodbye to summer but the upside to it is that Fall is on it’s way, in all its colorful glory. And one of the fun things about the fall is of course apple picking.  Just about every state has some form of pick your own apple farms.

There’s nothing like getting out in the country with your family and friends and spending the day in the apple orchards. Of course with that often comes sampling homemade doughnuts and apple cider.

Don’t forget there’s also a range of other things to do while you are out there. Puppet shows, baby animal petting zoos, games, hay rides, mini-villages and towns for kids to play in. There’s always something to do at the orchard besides just picking apples.

Here are some tips to make your trip the best it can be.

1) Check the hours of the orchard. Also it’s a good idea to check their websites for updates on when the apples will be ready.

2) Leave the pets at home. There are usually a lot of people and not every facility is pet friendly. It’s best to leave the pup at home.

3) Don’t eat the apples in the fields. The orchards make their money once a year on apple picking and they work hard to make it a great experience for you. Don’t cheat them. Make sure to bring your apples back for weighing, then wash them and chow down.

4) Line up the recipes. You will never be able to eat all the apples that you pick whole. You will of course, pick far more apples than you need, if there are any kids involved in the process. Plan to do some apple pie baking. Apple sauce is a great idea.

5) Make it a tradition. Kids look forward to annual expeditions with you. It’s an adventure your family will always remember.

For the best places to go apple picking, check out this list.

Apple Picking in Any State

Varieties of apples and seasons vary

Places to Apple Pick in New York Area

New York season usually starts after labor day and ends in October. Don’t wait until Halloween, there’s usually not much left on the trees by them.

Picking apples in Massachusetts

September to mid October marks the peak of apple picking season in Massachusetts

Pick your own apples in California

New England doesn’t get to have all the Fall fun, so too do the left coast dwellers. Sept to October is prime season for apple picking.

San Francisco Bay Area

Apple Picking in the Oak Glen Area

Here’s a video that explains how to pick the best, healthiest apples.

Taking The Kids on A Whale Watching Adventure Canadian Style

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If you’re like me, you’ve probably gone on at least one whale watch in your life. Maybe it was a big tour boat, while at the Jersey shore. But if you are ready to up your game in some serious adventure-quality whale watching, then you need to take a ride to Les Escoumin in Quebec. It’s about a 12 hour drive due north of New York City so a four day weekend, is definitely doable.

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Les Escoumin is a little town of about 2000 people located on the St Lawrence River that offers so much for the adventure seeking parent. It’s one of the oldest “high north country” towns on the river. There’s fishing, hiking, mountain biking, camping, scuba diving, kayaking, and blueberry picking, but today we’ll focus on whale watching. In my opinion, whale watching is particularly awesome in Les Escoumin. For starters you can take a ride in a zodiac, the kind you see GreenPeace zipping around in to get between the whaling ships and whales. They are rubber dinghys with a motor and they allow you to get super up close to whole pods of whales.  Here’s a good video I found that shows what you can expect. The boat launched from a nearby town. 

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For your adventure you’ll don an survival suit (The St Lawrence is super cold with Arctic water). Yes, a survival suit. The next thing you’ll do is zip out with the crew to find the whales. There are minkes, blues, beluga, orca, dolphins, and seals. When I went I didn’t know which way to look first. If you really want to get eyeball to eyeball with a whale this is the place.

At LES ÉCUMEURS DU SAINT-LAURENT, the season is from May 30 to early October. Prices at start at $48 Canadian for adults and $38 for kids under 14.
When you are finished with your amazing whale tour, you’ll be happy to know you are in French Canada. And what are the French known for? Food! There are wonderful restaurants, cafes and bakeries in Les Escoumin.To book a room or find out more about Les Escoumin, click here.

More places to book a hotel and tour.