When I first learned to ski at the age of 40, I expected to fall—a lot. I expected the learning curve to be far steeper than a bunny hill. I expected it would be a long time before I would climb aboard a real lift and ski down a real slope. I was wrong. My initiation to the sport happened in Stowe, Vermont with two beginner group lessons. In the morning, our Stowe for Starters instructor started us off with {Read More}
Car Shopping at the Washington, D.C. Auto Show
January 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment
For our first family ski trip to Vermont a few years ago, we drove our 2006 Honda Odyssey. We were headed to the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, a six-plus hour drive north of home outside of New York City. My Odyssey is a good car—a minivan with lots of room for the girls to spread out and be comfortable on longer road trips, a fact that’s helped us out on more than one drive down to Florida. It’s also {Read More}
10 Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Next Family Ski Trip
October 8, 2015 by 2 Comments
Let’s face it, skiing is far from cheap. With lodging, equipment rentals, food, and lift tickets, a family has to make a substantial investment in order to take a ski vacation. Even if you don’t stay overnight you can easily drop $500 for just a day on the mountain. But there are ways to avoid blowing a huge chunk of change to have a family that skis. Since skiing is one of Kids Unplugged’s favorite ways to get everyone outdoors in {Read More}
Bolton Valley – Vermont’s Friendliest Mountain
April 7, 2015 by 1 Comment
It started the moment we pulled up in front of the Inn. The wind whipped the blowing snow into a funnel, wrapping us in its arctic vortex and sending our smallest daughter sailing across the parking lot. We threw our arms in front of our faces to keep the tiny flakes from stinging our eyes and muscled our way to the back of the car to unload our gear. Two red-cheeked ladies swooped out of the icy blitz, swinging into {Read More}
Taming the Beast – A First Timer’s Guide to Killington Resort
March 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment
As a newer skier, I like to know what I’m getting myself into. I’m always afraid to go up a lift and not be able to get back down. I also tore a ligament in my thumb a few weeks ago, so I’ve been wearing a hand brace and skiing without poles (note to self–newbies shouldn’t ski too fast). Consequently, I haven’t wanted to find myself at the tops of any runs that are out of my league. So before {Read More}
The Gray Ghost Inn – Cozy Digs at the Foot of Mount Snow
February 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment
What are some of the things people look for when choosing a place to stay for a family ski trip? Close proximity to the mountain? Inviting rooms that comfortably accommodate the whole family? A relaxed, welcoming environment where you can snuggle up by the fire after a day on the slopes? Accommodations in Vermont ski areas run the gamut from simple village B&Bs to luxurious slope side resorts and everything in between. On a recent, spontaneous overnight to Mount Snow, {Read More}
Ice Storms and Torchlights – A Quick Trip to Mount Snow
January 27, 2015 by Leave a Comment
It was Tuesday’s snow report that finally pushed me over the edge. Staring out the window at my winter-bleak backyard–brown grass and no snow in sight–a ding signaling a new email pulled my attention back to my computer screen. A new edition of The Lift, Mount Snow’s digital newsletter, had arrived. It touted the fact that contrary to the backyards like mine in areas further south, Mount Snow and the surrounding town of West Dover, “looked like winter,” with the {Read More}
2014 Passports with Purpose – Support Sustainable Harvest International
December 1, 2014 by Leave a Comment
With the holidays rapidly approaching it goes without saying that it’s the perfect time to put aside our own families’ wish lists to focus some of our attention toward the wishes and needs of others. I am so happy to be joining the efforts of Passports with Purpose this holiday season for what will hopefully become the first of many years to come. And I’m delighted that Kids Unplugged has received a fabulous donation from the Bolton Valley Ski Resort in {Read More}
The Trapp Family Lodge – A Taste of the Alps in Stowe Vermont
December 1, 2014 by 1 Comment
Steeped in rich family history, one which is inexorably linked to the 1965 classic The Sound of Music, the Trapp Family Lodge is surrounded by 2,500 acres of stunning woodlands, farmland, and mountains in the charming village of Stowe, Vermont. The Trapp family, whose matriarch was the Baroness Maria Von Trapp, once portrayed by Julie Andrews in the famous film, has been a mainstay of Stowe hospitality since 1950 when they first opened the doors of their family home to {Read More}
The Trails are Alive! Cross Country Skiing at Trapp Family Lodge
March 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment
As avid hikers we know that trails covered in deep snow can put a damper on winter treks and for folks all across the U.S. this winter has been an absolute doozy. We’ve missed our woods walks these past couple of cold, snowy months as trudging through a minimum of 8-inches of snow for any length of time wouldn’t be fun for anyone. Because the conditions have been so limiting this year, we were all really looking forward to sliding {Read More}
