Tag Archives: family travel

A First Timer’s Guide To Mont-Tremblant Resort

As a relatively new ski family we’re always looking to visit new mountains.  With growing kids and living in the Northeast, we are lucky to have many options but visiting CANADA has been on my mind for quite some time. We’ve only heard great things and this was the year to find out for ourselves!

We’ve now been skiing for several seasons, and I’ll admit, I can slowing relax with the kids becoming more confident with their skills. We’ve visited many different resorts in the U.S., but Mont-Tremblant has been on my bucket list for awhile. I’ve always heard how wonderful this year-around Canadian Resort is, and we now have some memories of our own!

Just a short 40 minute flight from Newark airport, we couldn’t believe how convenient it was. After landing in Montreal, we rented a car and drove approximately 1hr and 45 minutes to the resort.  Just for reference, for anyone living in the Tri-State area, you could also make to the resort in about 7 hours depending on your appetite for driving.

We were greeted by the most picturesque and quintessential ski village, and I could instantly tell this was going to be a ski trip we would all remember! There are many different lodging options on site with shopping and restaurants everywhere you turn. There was a casual and approachable feel with plenty of selections that could suit any mood.

 

Mont-Tremblant is a destination that can give you as much as you need. The mountain runs from 8:30 to 3:30 and when you’re not enjoying the beautiful trails, the village itself was our favorite part of the trip. Our three kids ages 15, 10 and 8, spent their time trying new foods, throwing snowballs, and relaxing by the fire at the end of a long day.

I’m sure many people have been on ski trips where you’re  hauling your ski gear all over (+ your kids) , waiting for a bus, walking, or all of the above! The gondola system at Mont-Tremblant is a game changer and made getting to the base of the mountain so easy. It continuously runs from 8:30-3:30 and zips you up in no time. We were surprised how fast it actually went and made things so easy to move around. The kids felt independent and of course us parents were as happy as could be without hearing complaints.

One thing I was concerned about was the temperature. We were told by many people to be prepared for much colder weather than we were used to in the Northeast. I listened, and prepped as best I could. Make not mistake it was definitely COLD, but nothing we couldn’t handle with extra layers, handwarmers, and a few extra breaks in the day. The mountain is magnificent and I’m so lucky we were able to experience it on a beautiful day.

We didn’t spend all of our time on the mountain with so much to do around the resort. There is a new indoor water area that was so much fun and the kids played here for hours. With multiple slides, interactive water toys, and a hot tub, the kids had a great time!

With the mountain closing on the early side, there’s plenty of time for apres-ski. There are so many chic restaurants with fabulous menus and some even have outdoor dining with cozy heat lamps. Come as you are in your ski boots and relax after a busy day. We found the restaurants to have plenty of options for adults and kids and loved the French influence of the resort.

One day we were feeling extra adventurous and traveled a short 10 minutes outside of the resort to the most epic snow tubing trails we’ve ever seen! The best part is no walking back up the mountain! A pulley system allows you to stay in your tube. The kids stayed much longer than I anticipated in the cold temps and had an absolute blast! Don’t miss this if you are at Tremblant!

As with any family travel, the unknowns are always the hardest to prepare for and in my opinion also the best things to look forward to. We loved Mont-Tremblant so much and have been spreading the word how amazing this resort is. Thank you for having us Canada and we look forward to visiting again one day! For more information be sure to VISIT HERE

 

 

 

Italy with Kids and discovering La Dolce Vita

My inspiration for writing this Family Travel article is simple. I want everyone who has ever dreamed of taking a trip to Italy with their kids to know YOU CAN DO THIS! Our 10 day, 9 night trip last summer to VENICE, ROME, and the AMALFI COAST was not something I planned years in advance. In fact, we only had a 30 day window once our airfare was booked and my husband and I started planning our epic adventure. For reference, my kids were 13, 8 and 6 at the time of travel.   Continue reading Italy with Kids and discovering La Dolce Vita

Weekending at the Woodstock Inn & Resort

Winter travel is a something our family looks forward to every year. After all, living in the Northeast area, there’s endless options for scenic and fun destinations. We always seek out places that are family friendly, not “too” far of a drive and of course places that we’ve never been.

When I first heard of the Woodstock Inn & Resort, I’ll be honest…my mind immediately went to Woodstock, NY?  I know I ‘m not alone based on feedback I received from the trip. The Woodstock Inn is actually located in Vermont!!! Pre-pandemic, we always tried to visit beautiful Vermont at least once. Granted, it’s a little further of a drive than our comfort zone, but worth it! For reference, we live in lower Manhattan and the drive was under 5 hours with traffic.

When our family take a weekend trip, there’s little to no downtime. We have our routine and everyone knows we want to take part in all the experiences a particular location has to offer. There is no denying the beauty of the Woodstock Inn & Resort. Upon pulling up around the grandeur driveway at this picturesque building, even my kids were screaming with excitement.

The main lobby was busy with guests enjoying the serenity of the very large fireplace. Instantly we had the “warm and cozy vibe. The rooms are beautiful and from what I hear all very unique. Our elegant suite was plenty large enough for our family of five and we even found a warm and delicious welcome gift! I was immediately  drawn to the bathroom. Very modern in style, it contained full size bath products that were 100% dreamy! They can all be purchased from the spa… just FYI!

The next morning we made the short drive to the local mountain, Suicide Six. I learned that Suicide Six is one of the oldest ski areas in the country! And would you believe America’s first uphill ski conveyance was introduced in Woodstock in 1934? Despite it’s name, the mountain is extremely family friendly and also one of the most picturesque trails I’ve been on. My kids all had a lesson and my youngest finished the day strong. I’ll have to have a mom brag moment and tell you THIS is the place she decided no more bunny hill!!! She’s good to go and Suicide Six gave her the confidence she needed to catch up with her siblings! Thank you Suicide Six for a memorable day we will not forget!

After a great day on the slopes, my family worked up an appetite and we were so excited to eat at the hotel’s restaurant, The Red Rooster. This award-winning restaurant was truly beautiful and served some of Vermont’s best local fare. The menu is seasonal and lucky for us it just changed over according to our fabulous waiter. It was hard to decide with so many options, but we all made the right choice and I’m pretty sure there’s no bad one! The Red Rooster made meal time fun for the kids. With coloring activities brought to the table and a kids menu, there were no restless little ones at our table! The Vermont cheddar fondue was hands down amazing and the fresh heirloom ingredients reminds me all the reasons I love Vermont!

After dinner we ventured down to the vintage game room. My kids had a blast discovering games they’ve never played before. This charming hotel really has so much to do for all ages. There’s another beautiful parlor room upstairs where mainly adults played checkers or chess. When is the last time you sat down to play a game? I was a little rusty, but by game two,  I had to warn my husband, I was in fact a checkers champ! ha

The Woodstock Inn and Resort has an incredible breakfast buffet each morning at the Red Rooster restaurant. Everything was so fresh and amazing!!! We really enjoyed this meal before we headed out to the Billings Farm and Museum.

Before we headed back to New York City, the Billings Farm & Museum was highly recommend to us as a must visit! I’m so glad we did because it’s regarded as one of the nicest outdoor history museums in the county. Not to mention, there are daily educational activities and demonstrations. I was surprised to see what a “hands on ” museum this was and our family had a wonderful visit. We all saw how maple syrup is made which was really intersting and of course we stopped by the gift shop on the way out to purchase some syrup and Vermont cheddar to take home.

Today the Billings Farm & Museum is also a thriving dairy farm with an award-winning herd of Jersey dairy cows. My daughters loved looking at the various milk bottles and hearing about the milk delivery days. The Billings Farm even had their own trucks!

Being the history aficinado that I am, it was interesting to learn how Laurance Rockefeller and Mary Rockefeller created The Woodstock Foundation, Inc. which is a charitable and nonprofit entity. This encompasses their vision and dreams of promoting conservation, sustainable land use, and heritage that are essential to our culture and community. Future generations can now visit and enjoy this beautiful farm and learn about the agricultural practices through educational programming.  Thank you to the Billings Farm & Museum for a wonderful day!

xoxo,

Suzanne

BIG things await at Big Sky Resort

Winter sports are a relatively new activity for myself and family. Living in New York City, we have plenty of ski resorts within driving distance which is wonderful to have options close to home. Growing up in the South I certainly wasn’t near any mountains and therefore never learned to ski. In all honesty, I surprised even myself when I discovered the love of snow skiing. It’s a good reminder there’s no expiration date on having fun and trying something new! Continue reading BIG things await at Big Sky Resort

Weekending at Woodloch

It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since the world turned upside down. Navigating through these uncertain times has been challenging to put it mildly. While our family wants to remain safe and cautious, we also felt it was time to slowly start spreading our wings. Our recent trip to Woodloch Resort in the northern Poconos was exactly what our family needed as a reassurance that we can do this! Continue reading Weekending at Woodloch