After four visits to Lake Placid in the last couple of years, we finally did it: we skied Whiteface. And it is definitely the best skiing in the Lake Placid area. This has been a mountain we’ve wanted to conquer for a year or two, but didn’t feel like we were ready skill-wise until this…
Jay Peak Water Park & more indoor winter fun
(I updated this Jay Peak Water Park post on Jan. 14, 2025.) It wouldn’t have been the first time we arrived at a ski resort to find conditions less than ideal. But Jay Peak Resort in Northern Vermont — a mere six minutes from the Canadian border — has thought of everything for times the…
Ski in Canada and beyond for one price with the IKON Pass
Ski resort memberships are changing. While there are still plenty of independently owned resorts that have their individual season passes, there are bigger collectives forming and offering outstanding value. The IKON Pass — which at last count housed 38 resorts around the world under its member umbrella — has two different passes, both of which…
Hotel North Woods review
Please note that Hotel North Woods has been re-branded The Great Adirondack Hotel, so this review may not adequately cover new amenities, dining, etc. as we have not stayed there since it changed hands. We had the pleasure of visiting Lake Placid during its annual Holiday Village Stroll. This Hotel North Woods review (who graciously hosted us…
The essential ski gear & skiwear guide (2019)
When I curated my first ski gear guide in 2016, we’d only just started our ski adventure. And you know me — I’m such a gear nerd that all I’ve done in the three years since is try out new brands and products over and over again in the hopes of locking down the secret…
Big White Ski Resort with Air Canada Vacations
Before kids, I was the kind of person who loved the occasional spontaneous travel experience — booking a flight and maybe a hotel at the destination and figuring out the rest on the fly. But with demands on my time at a premium and four people to book and pack and get on their way,…
Lake Placid Holiday Stroll
Seriously: start planning for the next Lake Placid Holiday Stroll (also called the Holiday Village Stroll!). It’s in December each year and we just returned from the 10th installment — of which we loved every minute. So consider this your perfect planning tool for where to stay, eat and play for next year’s Lake Placid Holiday Stroll…
Casino Mont-Tremblant & more: the perfect weekend away
(This Casino Mont-Tremblant & More post was updated Feb 16, 2022.) It was ski season No. 4 for this gal and I couldn’t have imagined starting it off any better than at Tremblant’s opening weekend. There were drums and tambourines. There was hot chocolate laced with Baileys. There was even a red carpet to the…
Les Manoirs: Tremblant chalet review
(This Tremblant chalet review of Les Manoirs in Mont-Tremblant was updated on Feb. 16, 2022.) This Tremblant chalet review is of Les Manoirs, just a short drive or shuttle ride to the Mont-Tremblant village. I’ve had the pleasure of staying at several different kinds of accommodations and lodging in and just outside of the Tremblant…
The best spa services + wellness classes at Ste. Anne’s Spa
I started my love affair with Ste. Anne’s Spa when I was pregnant with The K Man 11 years ago; one of my besties and I did the day-spa experience specifically designed for pregnancy. I’ve probably visited at least five times since — from romantic escapes with Big B to girlfriend getaways and even work…