Tag Archives: family adventure

Fall Family Adventure, Ski & Snowboard, Travel, Winter Adventure, Winter Travel

Family Ski Vacation: Okemo Mountain Resort, Vermont

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Ski at Okemo Mountain Resort

I like Okemo because it’s not Killington. Don’t get me wrong, I love Killington, but Okemo Mountain Resort has a family friendly vibe AND it’s just a little bit further down the path than Killington.Okemo Mountain Resort Ski
So while everyone’s heading to Killington and meeting up at the Wobbly Barn to party (I still can’t believe that thing has not come down), head over to Okemo for the same great snow without the volume of humanity that you get at Killington.

Located in the heart of Central Vermont’s Green Mountains, Okemo offers eight different properties, all with their own character and charm. Okemo Mountain Resort has plenty of trails for all abilities.

Okemo has:

  • 121 trails and glades
  • 667 acres of terrain
  • 96% of trails covered by snowmaking
  • Novice 32% Intermediate 36% Advanced/ Expert 31%Vertical Drop: 2,200 feet (most vertical in southern Vermont)
  • Base Elevation: 1,144 feet
  • Summit Elevation: 3,344 feet
  • 1 high-speed six-pack bubble chair with heated seats
  • 9 quad chairs (4 highspeed quads)
  • 3 triple chairs
  • 7 surface lifts
    Okemo map

Other cool things to do at Okemo:

Snowcat Excursions

Ever watched those snow cats go up at night to groom the hill and get a twinge of jealousy? Some brilliant person came up with a way to make everyone happy. See the mountain from the view from inside a specially-designed cabin, attached to an Okemo snowcat! See the top of the mountain, and the valley below like you’ve never seen it before, lit up at night.

Each ride departs from the Jackson Gore base area and will last just over one hour, with time to get out at the summit, take pictures and learn a bit about the mountain and the area along the way. You must register in advance to take in this incredible experience, and we will begin offering rides as soon as weather permits.

Ride a Mountain Coaster

The Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster is Central Vermont’s favorite four-season attraction, offering a scenic and exhilarating ride through alpine forests and along the contours of the mountain at Okemo’s Jackson Gokemo coasterore. The roller coaster ride heads down 3100 feet of track following the contours of the mountain with added waves, camel back and banking loops down the mountain, at up to 25 miles an hour. Sled-like cars carry two passengers in comfort but can be handled easily by one alone. The riders are in control of the speed, and this gives them a unique hands-on experience, encouraging repeat visits.

Guests will load and unload the Timber Ripper in the Jackson Gore base area, near the bottom of the Coleman Brook Express lift.

Click here for more information on the Okemo Mountain Resort.

 

Educational Adventures, Fall Family Adventure, Halloween, Parenting, Things to Do, Travel

Fall Adventure: Go Apple Picking with the Kids

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There’s nothing that says Fall like a crisp, sunny day out in an apple orchard picking apples with friends and family. You may end up wondering what you are going to do with all these apples (seemed like a good idea at the time) but that’s not a big deal. Apple sauce is always a safe bet and the least time consuming. If you are looking for a good place to go Women’s Day magazine has compiled a great list, one of the places on the list, Applewood Orchards in the Hudson Valley of New York is a frequent family favorite. Check out their story here.
10 best Apple Orchards for Apple Picking and Family Fun.

take the kids apple picking

How To, Parenting, Summer Adventure, Summer Travel, Things to Do, Travel

Surfing Lessons for the Kids (and You) Waikiki Beach, Honolulu Hawaii

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Surfing is a great sport for kids. It gets them out in the fresh air, surf and sun, teaches them balance and is something the whole family can do. But you don’t want to take them out into the big surf without being prepared. Waikiki Beach in Honolulu Hawaii is where surfing was invented. There’s a great section of the beach that for all intents and purposes makes for a perfect bunny hill for wave riding. There are non stop lessons going on everywhere you look.  We visited Waikiki to check out the surf and we weren’t disappointed. We got together with friends and took lessons through Big Wave Dave’s Surf Shop. It was a great day of mom and daughter bonding. At one point we even got up on the boards at the same time. That’s something we’ll never forget. Big Wave Dave is where my friend, a Hawaii local takes her kids for lessons and I couldn’t recommend them more. Prices are reasonable and you can get a package of professionally shot photographs (with a long range telephoto lens) to capture the moment. Click here to sign up for surfing lessons   kids learning to surf Hawaii Waikiki Beach

How To, Summer Adventure, Things to Do

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.