Von Trapp Family Lodge

Located in Stowe, Vermont is Von Trapp Family Lodge. This lodge sits up on a hill overlooking the local mountains. There is a wonderful history with the Von Trapp Family. The Von Trapps were from Austria and came to America to sing in various shows around the country. When it was time for them to settle down, they chose this location as it felt most like their homeland of Austria. The movie Sound of Music is based off the Von Trapp Family.

We visited the Von Trapp Lodge during our daughters February’s vacation week. The area around the lodge is like a little village. There are different options for lodging as well as villas to own, a couple different restaurants, a fitness center and adventure center.

We had a room in the newer section of the lodge with two queen beds, a love seat, table and benches and a large bathroom.

We also had a door onto a patio, where we could connect directly to the ski/hiking trails.

Upon arrival the staff were very friendly and helpful. After checking in and unpacking we walked around the area checking out the adventure and fitness centers. The adventure center is home to the trails and rental equipment. The Fitness Center is where the pool, hot tub, sauna, workout area, yoga classes, massages and rock wall are located.

Dinner was at the Von Trap Brewery. Reservations are highly recommended. You can snowshoe or walk down to the brewery depending on the weather, it is a longer walk. There is a shuttle, but I am not sure of its schedule. I did see an event where you can snowshoe 5k to the brewery and the shuttle brings back to the lodge.

It was an Austrian Brewery. They had a good selection of beers made on site. The food was fresh and well seasoned. The pretzels with cheese were a favorite.

After dinner we spent the rest of the evening in the outdoor hot tub.

We did visit the pool, but enjoyed the outdoor hot tub more.

The following morning we started the day with breakfast at the resorts bakery and coffee shop. There was free tea and coffee for guests. The croissants were our favorite.

After breakfast we hit the cross country ski trails. A trail pass is included in your stay. They do have rentals available. The lady at the ticket counter was very helpful and recommended that we ski to the cabin where they sell hot drinks and soup. She showed us the best route, we knew it was going to be a challenge, but we decided to try it.

Their trails are beautifully groomed and there is ski patrol around the trails if needed.

The ski up to the cabin consisted of moderate to hard trails. It was a steady to steep incline for a total of three miles.

The cabin sells a variety of hot drinks, soups and some baked goods. It was a nice reward after the hard ski up. My husband loved the wood fire.

The ski back down was pretty fun as it was mostly downhill. Some spots were a little difficult due to the steepness and turns in the trail. Overall, it was a beautiful ski and has become one of my favorite trails we have done.

We ended up skiing 6-7 miles. These trails are for those who have some experience cross country skiing. We did see some people taking lessons.

After our ski our daughter wanted another pretzel from the brewery so we went back for appetizers.

After some food we explored the town of Stowe and picked up a couple souvenirs. The rest of the evening was spent in the outdoor hot tub, which was much appreciated after the days workout.

We stayed a total of two nights at the Von Trapp Lodge. We all enjoyed our stay. The skiing was the top favorite, followed by the outdoor hot tub and for my daughter the pretzels and cheese sauce at the brewery. The Von Trapp Lodge is going on my list to visit in the summer time.

5 Places to Snowshoe in the Monadnock Region

The Monadnock Region is host to an array of hiking trails. In the winter many of these trails become perfect snowshoeing trails. Below are five of my favorite trails to snowshoe in the Monadnock Region.

Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail: Located on Old Street Road in Peterborough is a popular year round trail, but my favorite time to explore this trail is by snowshoe in the winter. The trail is fairly flat, except for one hill. It crosses a boardwalk, follows a beautiful stream and ends at a scenic pond. The trail is well marked and only a mile to the pond. It is perfect for those new and old to snowshoeing.

Crotched Mountain Trails: Located on Crotched Mountain Road in Greenfield is a variety of trails depending on how hard of a snowshoe you want. You can go part way up the trail to a lookout area of Mt. Monadnock. If you are looking for more of a challenge you can snowshoe all the way to the top of Crotched Mountain where there are sweeping views of the Monadnock Region. The mileage of this trail varies depending on how far you go.

Harris Center Trails: Located on Kings Highway in Hancock is The Harris Center which offers an array of trails. For snowshoeing I really enjoy the Channing Trail which is a 3.5 mile fairly flat loop through boulder fields and relaxing forests.

Loverens Mills Trail: Located off Route 9 in Antrim is a beautiful winter trail. This trail has some up and downs, meanders through the woods and follows a river. Being over a 3 mile loop this is a great trail to get a good workout while enjoying the peacefulness of the woods.

Wales Preserve: Located on Spring Hill Road in Sharon is a beautiful trail in all seasons, but it is best in the winter months. Following the Gridley River and looping into the woods this trail provides some beautiful winter scenery especially after a new snow fall. This trail is about a two mile easy loop making it a great easy snowshoeing outing.

Living in the Monadnock Region I feel fortunate to have access to so many great trails. in the winter many of these trails become magical after a new snow fall. It was hard to pick my top favorites. I hope you are able to find some of your favorite snowshoeing spots in the Monadnock Region. If you need help picking out snowshoes check out my blog post, Why a Good Pair of Snowshoes is Important.

Weekend at Mountain View Grand Resort

Located in Whitefield, New Hampshire is Mountain View Grant Resort a historic hotel nestle among the White Mountains. This resort offers an array of activities in a beautiful location and we were excited to spend a weekend here.

We left Southern New Hampshire on a Friday afternoon and headed north. We made a side trip for some delicious pizza and refreshing beer at Vulgar Brewing in Franklin.

We arrived at the Mountain View Grand Resort around 5pm to a beautiful hotel.

We had reserved a Vista Studio Room, which is a little larger than your standard room. It has two queen beds, a loveseat, table and chairs, large closet and good size bathroom. The downside to our room was no microwave or fridge, you had to pay at $25 fee to have these in your room. With the high costs of the room, I did not want to pay another fee. The view from our room was beautiful.

Our first stop was the pool area with a pool, hot tub and sauna.

After the pool we visited the game room with air hockey, pool, ping pong and fooseball. We visited another room full of board games and puzzles. I also enjoyed checking out the library, a cozy little area that would be perfect to curl up with a book.

Saturday:

We started the day with a breakfast buffet in the hotel. We are not fans of buffets, I wish we would have brought our own food for breakfast or there was another option. The meal was alright.

After breakfast we went cross country skiing. They had not had a ton of snow, but enough to have a groomed trail. These trails are more of a multipurpose trails vs cross country ski trails. We did a easy two mile loop through the golf course and into the woods. We have some experience skiing and feel these trails were more moderate due to the hills and curves. We had fun exploring the trails.

After skiing my husband and daughter went ice skating on the resorts outdoor rink. I had an appointment in the spa. I have never been to a spa in a resort and it was amazing. The staff was friendly. After changing into my robe and slippers I was taken to my massage and afterwards to my facial. Both services were amazing.

After my spa visit we were going to go tubing and explore the resort grounds, but there was a storm coming in and it was very cold out so we chose to stay inside, play board games and enjoy a couple drinks until our dinner reservation.

There is a couple different dining options at the resort. We ate in the Harvest Dining Room, the same area we had breakfast in. After our breakfast experience we were a little nervous about dinner. Dinner was a different experience. Our server was friendly and prompt. We had some of the most amazing parmesans truffle oil fries for an appetizer. My daughter loved her pizza. My husband enjoyed his steak and I had a delectable winter salad.

After dinner we spent the rest of the evening in the pool area. We had to leave early on Sunday morning, but really enjoyed our stay at the Mountain View Grand Resort. I would love to visit in the warmer months to explore their summer activities. Overall, we loved our stay. The staff was friendly, the resort was clean. There were many activities to do without leaving the resort. I would recommend others to visit the Mountain View Grand Resort.

Outdoor Christmas Gifts of 2021

Every Christmas my husband and I give each other a list of gifts we want/need. Several of the ideas are outdoor items. After almost 19 years together it is getting more difficult to come up with gear we want or need. This past Christmas we got the least amount of gear ever. My husband got a few things for ice fishing and hunting, but not much for our family outdoor adventures. The things we did get I am pretty happy with.

Casemate Pelican Marine Series Waterproof Floating Pouch: After visiting Niagara Falls and our kayaking trips this past year I decided I needed some sort of waterproof phone case that I can still take pictures with. My husband got me a great one. The Casemate Pelican Marine Series Waterproof Floating pouch was a little challenging to figure out how to open it. I was afraid I was going to break the opening part. Once I figured it out, it is pretty easy to open. I can still use the phone when in the case. It also has a floatation component to it. If dropped in water it should float for a few minutes. I am excited to try it on our water adventures.

Point Below Lighter: Shopping for my husband is hard, he is very picky or buys most items he wants. During the year I keep a list of gift ideas. I saw the Point Below Lighter on social media and thought it would be perfect for him. It is a USB rechargeable water and wind proof lighter. It has up to 300 lights in one charge. We have used it once during a winter hike. It was wet out and he was very happy with how easy it was to use. A bonus is when the wind comes up, you can still use it.

To get 10% off your Point Below order use coupon code: GettingLostTogether

Stuntman Chest Harness for Cell Phones: Every year my husband asks if I want a Go Pro. I initially think I do, but I think it would sit in the closet like my camera does. When I am skiing, kayaking and even hiking I like to take video’s. My husband found this chest harness that my phone fits perfectly in and is comfortable to wear. I used it on a recent hike to take videos and I was very happy how easy it was to use and I could barely tell I was wearing it. It tilts so I could also use All Trails map on my phone like a portable gps without holding my phone. I know that may be getting kind of lazy, but helpful on a new trail.

You can check out some of my favorite gear on my Gear Page.

With Christmas money and end of the year discounts I ordered two hiking books.

60 Hikes within 60 Mile of Boston: As the title says this books identifies 60 trails within 60 miles of Boston. Living on the New Hampshire/Massachusetts border it is sometimes nice to have options in the Boston area, I am excited to check out some urban hiking.

Haunted Hikes of New Hampshire: There are so many cool haunted trails in New Hampshire with some interesting history I frequent Monson Village, but there are so many more in the state and I cannot wait to check them out.

For my favorite outdoor books, check my Book Page.

This page contains affiliate links for which I may receive a small amount of compensation at no cost to you.

Visting America's Stonehenge

Did you know that the suspected oldest man made structure in the United States is located right here in New Hampshire? America’s Stonehenge in Salem, NH is a “maze of man-made chambers, walls and ceremonial meeting places, at over 4,000 years old.” from American’s Stonehenge Website.

My husband visited America’s Stonehenge over 25 years ago as a field trip for school. When I was studying Sociology in college I had to come here for research for a paper. We figured it was time to bring our 12 year old for a history lesson.

America’s Stonehenge is located on 105 Haverhill Road in Salem NH. There is a sign marking the location. There is dirt parking lot with a picnic area nearby There is a fee to enter this historical site. You enter through a gift shop to purchase your tickets. I highly recommend downloading the virtual tour app and watching the 11 minutes video providing history on the site, both can be found on their website. There is an option to watch the movie in the gift shop.

From the back of the gift shop you walk out to the trail leading up to the site.

The walk is about a half mile. There are markers along the way noting various attractions. This is where the app comes in handy as it gives you information on each marker.

The actual site is not very big, but there are some cool chambers to explore.

I am always amazed by the stone work prior to machines being around. Some people put some serious work into these.

My favorite part was the trail following an astronomical calendar. They have events throughout the year where you can watch the sunrise and sunsets from different viewpoints.

On the way back to the parking lot make sure you stop and check out the Alpaca’s, they are pretty cute.

We spent about 1-2 hours exploring the historical structure. We enjoyed visiting and felt there was enough to keep our 12 year old entertained.

Since we were in Salem I wanted to visit the Tuscan Village. So many people have raved about this and I wanted to see what the hype was.

Located near the Rockingham Mall on Rockingham Park Blvd is the Tuscan Village. There are several shops here, but the coolest part is the outdoor space behind the Tuscan Market. There is a small pond, several chairs and fire pits, a stage for live music, beverage trucks and outdoor games. A perfect place to spend an afternoon or evening. They do hold special events here make sure you check out their website.

Before leaving we took a walk through the Tuscan Market. All the food looked and smelled amazing from fresh pastas, a variety of meats and cheeses, baked goods and so much more. We could not resist picking up a few things before heading home. If you are in the Salem area make sure you stop at Tuscan Market.

Overall, a great day getting in a history lesson and indulging in some refreshing drinks and delicious food.

Niagara Falls and more

Niagara Falls has been on my bucket list for sometime. For our summer vacation we chose to visit Up State New York and Niagara Falls. With the help of North Bay Getaways we planned our New York summer vacation. We broke our trip up into a couple different stops.

New Hampshire to Cooperstown NY

When we drive through Vermont I love stopped at Hogback Lookout. They have a general store, restaurant, apple cider donuts and when it is not cloudy, beautiful mountains views.

The next stop was two different cave tours in Howe Cave, NY.
Howe Caverns was the biggest and more popular tour. Tickets had to be purchased ahead of time. We were a little early for our tour so we had a snack and enjoyed the view. There is also a hotel, ropes course, restaurant and gift shop.

The tour started out with a 180 plus feet decent into the caves via an elevator. We walked about a half mile through the caves on a guided tour.

There was a lot of history and geology explained. The caves themselves were beautiful.

There was a short boat ride before walking back through the caves.

Secret Caverns: This smaller cavern was located about 2 miles away from Howe Caverns and my personal favorite. You descended several stairs to this cavern, it was more enclosed and gave you that natural cave feeling.

At the end of the tour was a waterfall, which was pretty cool to see an underground waterfall.

Cooperstown NY

This was our stop for the night. With it being Sunday many of the restaurants closed early or were not open. Luckily we found Upstate Pub and Grill. We really enjoyed our dinner and my Hibiscus Ginger Beer was amazing.

After dinner we walked around downtown. If you are a baseball fan I highly recommend visiting Cooperstown. It is such a cute town filled with baseball.

Our hotel for the night was Lake House Town House in Richfield Springs. When we arrived it was not what we expected and we were not comfortable staying at this motel. We ended up leaving and luckily found a Red Roof Inn in Herkimer.

Herkimer to Niagara Falls.
Our first stop of the day was Chittenoga Falls which is one of the tallest falls I have seen. The falls is located in Cazenovia. There are several stairs down to the falls. After a recent rain it was very impressive. There are other hiking trails if you are looking for a longer walk. There was also a $5 car fee.

Next stop was Destiny USA Mall in Syracuse. When you are close the 8th largest mall in the country and have a preteen who loves to shop it is a must stop. This mall had a lot of options from shopping, dining, various entertainment such as movie theater, ropes course, indoor tract and so much more.

After a long day in the car and a couple great stops we reached our hotel for the next three nights, Seneca Hotel and Casino in Niagara. We were very pleased with our hotel. The room was clean, had plenty of space and a decent view. The only negative was the room did not have a microwave.

The hotel was about a half mile from Niagara State Park. From the hotel you walk down Falls Street where there is seating areas, outdoor games, food trucks, shopping, bike and scooter rentals and restaurants.

The falls is located in Niagara State Park. This is the hub for everything falls related.

The first night we made reservations at the Griffon Gastropub, which was recommended on several blogs. From the hotel we had to drive, but it was well worth getting back in the car. The food was fresh and delicious and they had a great selection of beer.

Full day in Niagara

Our first full day was packed with activities starting with an 9am tour and Maid of the Mist ride. If you are visiting Niagara this is a must do as the boat takes you right up under the falls. You are provided with a poncho as you will get wet. It was followed by a tour of the area with some history, which was very informative.

I wish we would have planned it a little better and done the Cave of the Winds next, but we had scheduled a jet boat ride, through Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours which was about 20-30 minutes away in Lewiston, NY. The jet boat was my husband and daughters favorite activity. We road up the Niagara River sometimes at speeds of 50-60 MPH. The boat did some fun moves soaking everyone.

Our next stop was Cave of the Winds. This is located on Goat Island in the state park. You can walk over, but we chose to take the Trolly over, which was $8 for the three of us and we could ride the trolley the whole day.

The Cave of the Winds was my favorite activity. This is a walk that gets you almost under the falls. You are given special sandals that keep you from not slipping and a poncho. You walk along the American Falls with opportunities to get almost under the falls.

After walking through the Cave of Winds we walked around Goat and Luna Island to get a different view of the American Falls. This is directly across from the main part of the state park.

From Goat Island you can also get a view of Horseshoe Falls. This is the falls that is famous for people going over in barrels.

We had read that dining may be difficult in Niagara. There was not a lot of options near the falls as many places were closed or had long wait times. We tried Rainforest Cafe first, but they had a hour and half wait. Next we tried the Hard Rock Cafe, which told us was a 45 minute wait. We decided to explore the shops nearby and luckily only had a 25 minute wait. The food was good and the waitress was very friendly.

Every night the falls are lite up after dark. In other years Fireworks are shot over the falls, but unfortunately they were not shooting them off this year. The illumination is so beautiful to see.

2nd Full Day

We had reserved bikes to ride around Buffalo which is about 20 minutes from Niagara. When we got there the bikes were too big for our daughter. The owner was nice and refunded us. We decided to walk around Downtown Buffalo, which is a nice city. We even got to see a movie being shot.

One of my goals on this trip was to at least dip my feet in two Great Lakes. Since we were close to Lake Erie we stopped at Woodlawn Beach State Park for a quick swim. There was a small fee to enter. They had a changing room, gift shop and restaurant/bar. The beach reminded me of being at the ocean, the sand was soft and there were some pretty big waves.

On the way back to Niagara we stopped for some pizza and then stopped at Devils Hole State Park, for a little walk.

This this was our last night in Niagara so we walked down to the state park for one more look at the falls.

Niagara to Lake George

We had about a five hour drive from Niagara to Lake George, so we planned one stop in between. Chimney Bluffs State Park is located in Walcott. What I did not realize when I was looking at the map is there is two different parking areas. One is close to bluffs and one is a little hike to them. Of course we parked at the one that was a little hike, but it was good for us to get a hike in on a long travel day.

You follow a trail down to Lake Ontario, which allowed me to stick my feet in the lake for Great Lake number two.

Then you follow a trail along the lake and into the woods for about a 1.25 mile hike to the bluffs, which were amazing.

Our last night of vacation was in Lake George. We had dinner at 163 Taproom, we have eaten here before and they have a great selection of beer, delicious food and friendly and personable staff.

After dinner we walked around the downtown area and around the lake.

We stayed at Studio Motel located about a mile from the downtown area. The hotel owner was one of the friendliest we have ever encountered. The hotel room was larger than normal, a little outdated, but clean. We spent a couple hours at the pool that night.

Last Day of Vacation

The last day was spent at the Great Escape, which is a Six Flaggs Amusement Park in Lake George. The park didn’t open until 11am so we did a little school clothes shopping at the outlets down the street from the amusement park. The rest of the day was spent at Great Escape.

There is parking fee in addition to the park fee. We were a little disappointment in the park as many of rides were closed and it seemed a little outdated. We were able to make the best of it and had fun riding the rides that were open. We did not do the waterpark.

Take Aways

• Smart Phones are key as many of our tickets and reservations were QR codes, scanned from our phone.

• Our Apple Watch made it easy to pay for everything using Apple Pay.

• This was a wet vacation. I highly recommend bringing clothes that are quick drying or bringing extra. We bought our boot dryer which was very helpful. Also having a waterproof case for your phone/wallet is helpful.

• There is a lot of walking and stairs so make sure you have appropriate footwear.

• We brought breakfast and snacks, which we do not normally do, but this made things a lot easier in the morning or when we needed a snack. I will continue to do this on our vacations.

• We heard that the American side of Niagara is not as nice as the Canadian side. We did not go to the Canadian side, but we felt the area between our hotel and the state park was nice. The state park was well kept. We saw police several times throughout the town and park. With that being said, I would not have left the tourist area of Niagara. The town itself is very run down with many abandon buildings. I’m not sure I would have felt safe walking that area after dark. We did walk between the park and our hotel after dark and felt completely safe.

• If you are driving long distances make sure you plan a couple stops in between it lets you explore some pretty cool places.

• Our travel agent was able to get us better deals on hotels than I was able to find.

• Plan out the restaurants you want to eat at, especially with the current shortage of restaurant workers. Many places have reduced hours or require reservations.

• We could have done one less day in Niagara. We did everything we wanted to do in that first day. I feel two nights is enough.

• In regards to hotels we decided that we need to stick with chain hotels and do not try to save so we do not run into a bad hotel.

  Overall, we really enjoyed our vacation, Niagara has been on my bucket list for many years. We got to do a lot of fun activities and see some beautiful places. We decided this is a one time vacation, now that we have seen it we have no desire to return unless we are driving through.

Disney 2021

As restrictions were lifting with COVID, my family and I were itching to get out of New England. We went back and forth on a few places, but finally agreed that our daughter has had a challenging year and would love a trip to Disney. We booked the trip 4 weeks before we left. Our last trip, two years ago we had such great success with Rachel from Travels with Family Magic that we decided to use her again.
Due to some ticket restrictions we were not able to get tickets to Magic Kingdom, there were no fast passes, no meal plans and limited reservations for dinner. Despite some changes we still had some fun things planned. Below is an outline of our trip.

Day 1: We had an early flight out of Logan in Boston and after hearing some challenges with the airports we decided to only use carry ons, which we were glad we did as it cut our time getting through everything.

We arrived in Orlando around 10:30am. Disney has The Magic Express Bus which takes you to your resort. I was shocked at how long the line was. After 45 minutes we were on our way to our resort.

Caribbean Beach Resort: We knew wanted a moderate resort, which is a step up from the value resort we stayed at before. There were not a lot of options so we chose the Caribbean Beach Resort. I had stayed here as a child, but I do not remember much of it. This is a large resort. There are 5 sections each named after Caribbean’s islands and they each have their own pool. There is also a main pool with two water slides.

There are a couple places to eat and a gift shop. There are beaches with hammocks and lounge chairs, there is no swimming here. There is a playground and activties like movies under the stars. For transportation there is access to buses and the sky liner. The only downside is there is a lot of walking to get around. Which I don’t mind, but if you have young children or unable to walk long distances it could be tough. Our room was a basic room with two queen beds, a twin size Murphy bed, a small table, refrigerator and bathroom. It was a little outdated, but clean and had everything we needed.

We spent some time at two different pools. In the evening we took the bus and walked around Disney Springs that has everything you can imagine for stores/souvenirs, restaurants and some activities like a movie theater, bowling alley, NBA center and more.

We had dinner at City Works which had over 50 beers on tap, many of them local. Our food was good. I tried a Hot Chicken Wrap, which is a spicy southern chicken. A different kind of spicy, but I liked it.

After exploring Disney Springs we took the bus back to our resort and rode the sky liner to get a birds eye view of the area.

Day 2 Animal Kingdom: The park opened earlier than expected. We grabbed some breakfast at Creature Comforts, which is a Starbucks. Since it was early we rode the safari first. Many of the animals were out eating along with their babies

We got to ride all of the rides at least twice and see a couple shows. The longest we waited was 30-40 minutes, which is really good. Our favorite rides in Animal Kingdom were Avatar and Everest.

We grabbed a late lunch at the Satu’li canteen, which is our favorite restaurant in Animal Kingdom.

Crispy Tofu

The nice thing about Animal Kingdom is it is very shaded, helping it not feel as hot. By 5pm and we had done everything we wanted. I wanted to check out The Boardwalk so we rode the bus there and walked around, then took the sky liner back to our hotel.

2nd Full day Hollywood Studios: My husband was up at 6:45am to get in the virtual queue for the Rise of the Resistance Ride. You are not guaranteed a spot, but luckily my husband was able to get one. I recommend watching a couple Youtube Video’s or talking to your travel agent about the best way to get a pass. We rode the sky liner to Hollywood studios. They opened park 30 minutes early. We got through the Smuggler’s Run ride line in under 30 minutes, which is a very popular ride. My husband and daughter loved it, it made me nauseous.

I liked the Rise of the Resistant Ride a lot better than the Smuggler’s Run.

We were able to do all the rides in the park at least once. Most we did 2-3 times. The only ride we did not do was Rockin’ Rollercoaster, as my daughter was not ready for it. We did not eat breakfast and got an early lunch at Pizza Co. It is ok food. We did not see a lot of good options in the park that were quick services. We tried to ride Slinky Dog Dash twice, but due to technical difficulties and rain we didn’t get to.

We had a late dinner at Riviera Resort and this was one of the best meals we had at Disney. The Riviera is next door to the Caribbean so we were easily able to walk back and forth between resorts.

Vegetable Kabob with quinoa and a pita.

3rd Full Day Epcot:

Epcot does not open until 11am so we slept in and got breakfast at the hotel. Our biggest challenge this day was getting to the park. We were going to take the sky liner, but it was down due to technical issues. We were directed to the bus stop behind our hotel. After waiting a few minutes a cast member ran over and said a bus was not coming there and directed us to the Riviera, about a half mile walk away, where we waited another 45 minutes for a bus. This being our only challenge is not that bad.

The parked opened about 30 minutes early, which was nice. We were able to get right on Soarin, which is one of my favorite rides. We rode all of the rides in the beginning of the park, except for Test Track as it was closed most of the day.

The Flower and Garden Festival was going on and there were many kiosks with a variety of food and drinks. We found a exhibition center right after Canada where there was a lot of options for food and drinks, along with some live music. This was a perfect place to escape the rain.

My goal was to eat and drink around Epcot. I was about 75% successful. We had some really good food and drinks in different countries. The constant rain caused some of the kiosks to close down.

After eating and drinking around the world we rode a few rides again and were able to get in line for Test Track and ride it twice, staying until the park closed. This was our last day in the parks as we had an early flight the next morning. Even though our stay was short, we were able to get in a lot of fun.

Below are some take aways in no particular order:

• A smart phone is a must to pre order food, check wait times and navigate around the parks.

• Some places did not accept cash. We used our Apple Watches or Magic Bands to pay for everything

• Make sure you bring a water bottle as there are refillable stations.

• Breakfast was difficult to find, our resort cafe did not open before we left for the parks and the only option in the parks were Starbucks and the lines were always very long. Next time I will make sure we have food in the room.

• It rained/stormed everyday, which is expected for June. Make sure you have rain gear.

• The weather caused the rides and sky liner to shut down several times.

• The food is so so at Disney. We found that the higher end resorts and Disney Springs had better food options. We also enjoyed the kiosks in Epcot for the Flower and Garden Festival.

• We found it cheaper to eat without a meal plan. You have to order the majority of your food ahead of time through the My Disney app. We saw very little options to walk into a restaurant, get seating and order unless you had reservations somewhere. For quick service you can order off the kids menu to save some money.

• I said this last time we went and I will say it again. I’m so glad we waiting until our daughter was nine to go. We saw so many parents struggling with young kids having meltdowns from standing in line, the heat and the rain. You know your kids the best, but there is a lot of walking, we averaged 10-12 miles a day. There is also a lot of standing around in Disney, which can be hard for many kids.

• The photo pass is worth the $200 to help capture memories of the trip. .

• We enjoyed not being on a timed schedule. For this nomadic family we enjoyed being able to explore as we wished and not have to run to a ride or reservation.

• We thought we wanted a moderate hotel, but we were never there. We were at the parks 10-12 hours a day and never used the pools or other amenities at the resort other than the first day.

• Overall, it was a great short trip. We will probably not go again for a while, but Disney is such a fun place for a fast paced vacation.

Winter in Waterville Valley

Last summer we visited Waterville Valley for the first time and fell in love with the small New Hampshire resort town. When thinking about where we wanted to spend a couple nights for winter vacation it was an easy decision to go back to Waterville Valley.

Since it was a last minute decision we called the main number to the resort and asked what was available. We were able to get a suite at the Valley Inn at a decent price. When we checked in I heard the receptionist quote a caller $50-$60 more a night than we paid. If you are planning a trip there I highly recommend calling a few days in advance if you are not picky on where you stay.

We were able to check in about two hours early, our room was a little outdated, but had everything we needed. Our suite had a bathroom, kitchenette with a two burner stove, microwave, large fridge, sink, along with the kitchenware we needed to cook and eat. We had a living room with a pull out couch and a bedroom. The bed on the pull out couch was not super comfortable, but it was fine for our daughter.

Since we were able to check in early we visited the Fitness Club which has a large pool and two hot tubs. This was included with our Freedom Passes which is part of your stay.

After our swim we walked around town to help us decide what we wanted to do on our visit. We explored the Town Square where there are shops, restaurants, the Adventure Center where you get your cross country ski passes and/or rentals and the ice arena.

We also walked over to the golf course where they have a small tubing hill. You do have to walk up the hill, but they have a snowmobile that brings the tubes up for you.

That night we cooked in the room. The only downside to staying in Waterville Valley is the food choices are not great. There are a few restaurants, but we have found the food mediocre. I always recommend people get a room with a kitchen so you can cook your own food.

That night we had tickets to the Ice Castles in North Woodstock. It was about a 20-30 minutes drive from our hotel. Tickets need to be purchases in advance. We went to the Ice Castles six years ago and they have added on a lot over the year. This is also a new location with a lot more space.

They have added a small tubing hill, sleigh rides and a walking path.

If you have not checked out the Ice Castles I highly recommend visiting as they are beautiful.

The next day we wanted to cross country ski. We have our own gear and just had to purchase trail passes for the day. I wanted to ski at the North End, which you need parking pass as the parking lot is a couple miles away from the Adventure Center. The skiing was perfect, we got there right after the groomer left and did not see a lot of people on the trail.

We skied a 3-4 miles loop on a Green Trail. The nice thing about the Green Trails on the North End is that coming back is gradually downhill most of the way making it a fun and fast ski back. There was not much for views, but the woods was sure pretty.

We headed back to Town Square and tried to ski from there, but as it was warming up the trails were getting icy for our liking.

My daughter was really looking forward to ice skating so our next stop was the Ice Arena. We brought our own ice skates and with our Freedom Pass were able to skate for free. If you need rental skates there is a small fee. My daughter skating for two hours straight. The area can tend to get a little packed, but everyone was respectful.

After skating we were all pretty hungry and our daughter wanted Mexican so we stop to get some dinner at La Hacidenda. The views on Yelp were not great. When we first arrived the restaurant was pretty quiet, but it was late afternoon so not technically dinner time yet. It took us about five minutes before someone acknowledged we were there and sat us. Everything else about our meal was prompt. It is your typical hot plate Mexican restaurant. There was not anything wrong with our food, just not a lot of flavor.

After dinner we walked around the village and explore some of the cute trails.

We spent the evening enjoying the pool and hot tubs. They had some lights set up in Town Square, but we were tired and did not check them out.

The next day we checked out right before 10am and head to the North Conway Area to do some sight seeing. We had another wonderful stay in Waterville Valley. We did not downhill ski or go tubing, but feel we were able to get in a lot of activities while we were there. If you have not been I highly recommend checking out this cute village.

Why I Don’t Have a Group of Girlfriends.

Recently I have been seeing a lot of blog posts out there about the importance of close knit girlfriend groups. These are the same group of women who do everything together. They have their girls weekends, celebrations for all occasions and are there for the good and bad in each other’s lives. They are friends for life. As I have read several of these posts, I find I do not fit into these “groups.” Does that mean I am doing something wrong in my friendships?

Then on a recent hike with a friend we were having a conversation about friendships and how the older we get the harder it is to make friends and stay in touch. Some women make it look easy with their group of consistent friends. This got me thinking, I don’t have the same group of friends I hang out with consistently. I have a variety of friends that complete me.

The childhood Friend: I am fortunate to still be very close with my best friend since 3rd grade. Despite her moving several states away when we were in 7th grade we have remained close for over 30 years. We can go several weeks without talking, pick up the phone and act like we just saw each other yesterday. She is the person who knows everything about my life, the good and the bad, and still loves me. No matter what is going on in our lives we have always been there to support each other.

The adult BFF: This is the person who I’ve known since our kids were babies. My emergency contact on my child’s school form, my financial adviser, career consultant and overall life coach. We share many of the same beliefs and keep each other sane in this crazy world. We have a secret love for finding a good deal, decluttering and bartering goods with each other. It is rare we go a day without talking. We are fortunate our husbands are also good friends as we enjoy many laid back evenings with food, laughs, and maybe some alcohol.

The social work friends: I have a confession, at work I am not quick to befriend my co workers, I have a strong belief that you shouldn’t mix your work life with your personal life. This is nothing against my co workers, many of them are amazing, but I like to keep these two parts of my life separate. With that being said, after I leave jobs I have stayed in touch with some of my former coworkers who are now some of my closest friends. Being a social worker you can have some tough times in your career and it is important to have other social workers you trust to confide in for your own self care. Plus who needs a therapist when you have social workers as your friends?

Mom friends: It is always important to know who your child is hanging out with and it’s a bonus when you become friends with the moms. These woman are helpful during the difficult times in motherhood when you feel you can’t do anything right as a mom. They are someone to call when you are in a jam and need help with your child and right along with you celebrating your child’s victories and hugging you during the struggles. Living in a small town I am thankful for my mom friendships.

Hiking friends: It is always nice when you have friends who share the same passion as you. I have made several friends and have been able to maintain friendships thanks to hiking. There is nothing better than knowing you always have a hiking partner, someone up for early morning sunrise hikes or trusting you while exploring a new trail. I have had some of the best conversations, laughs and education in the woods with these women.

Looking back on my life, I have never really been part of a certain “group” of friends, but had a variety of friends with different interests. I do not believe there is anything wrong with having the same group of friends, it’s just not for me. Do not feel like you are doing something wrong if it is not for you either. The various friendship I have fill a purpose in my life and make my life better. Remember your friendships do not have to be perfect, just perfect for you. I would love to know what friendships look like in your life.

Why A Good Pair of Snowshoes is Important

YouTube Video of Snowshoe Review

Living in New Hampshire we usually have a good three to four months of snow and colder weather. For those winter lovers a fresh snow means endless outdoor possibilities.

I have many outdoor winter sports that I love, but there is something about snowshoeing through a fresh powder that is not only a good workout, but relaxing.

Recently, I was having a conversation with a friend who noticed she tired more quickly when snowshoeing vs hiking and did not understand why. She is very active, walking and hiking several miles a week. This got me thinking, does the snowshoe matter?

For over 10 years my husband and I used GV Snowshoe. They were fine for what we did. I mostly used them to break trail for cross country skiing behind my house. The last two winters I found my feet and legs really hurt after using them and it got to to the point I did not want to go. I also found it would take me a really long time to snowshoe a trail because I tired easier than when hiking.

Me being on the ground is not a result of the snowshoe, but my clumsiness.

A few years ago my parents got me the MSR Evo’s I was looking for a smaller more light weight snowshoe for packed trails. These are perfect for walking packed trails. The bindings took a little getting use to in regards to how to use them, but once I learned they work great. I prefer a longer snowshoe for breaking trail since I usually cross country ski on the trail after it is broken out. My husband has used these through powder and really likes them.

For Christmas husband got me the Tubbs Panoramic Snowshoe. Due to the lack of snow this year I have not had a chance to use them until recently. After a recent storm I broke out about a mile trail behind my house and when I came back I noticed that I did not have to stop and did not feel that tired. Since then I have gone snowshoeing two other times and have been surprised how much easier it has been. I have been able to go further without getting as tired as I use to. What I realized is that these snowshoes are a lot lighter in weight than my GV’s. In addition to these snowshoes being very lightweight, the bindings are so easy to use as they have a BOA binding. A BOA Binding is a quick adjust cable binding system. I have not had to stop to adjust them on the trail, which as those who snowshoe a lot know how much a pain some bindings can be.

If you have children in your life that you want to get snowshoeing, I highly recommend Tubb Flex JR Snowshoes. My daughter has had hers for about seven years and they work really well with her hiking books.

Footwear is also important when snowshoeing. I wear my hiking boots which are Oboz with Darn Tough socks and my feet are never cold. My daughter and I have tried wearing our Boggs Boots with them and they just don’t work. I know others wear a winter hiking boot. Make sure the boots you have will work with your snowshoes.

For my friend I discussed in the beginning, I recommended her trying a lighter weight snowshoe to see if that helped with her stamina. We will see if my assumption is correct. My overall thought on snowshoes is think about what you want to use the snowshoes for, such as, are you grooming trail or not, will there be an elevation, the weight of the snowshoe, the bindings and your weight. I recommended going to an outdoor sports shop like REI or EMS and talking to an associate to help determine your snowshoe needs.

This page contains affiliate links for which I may receive a small amount of compensation at no cost to you.

I am not a registered guide, these recommendations are based on my experience and opinion.

1000 Outside Hours Challenge

In 2020 I was looking for a different outdoor challenge for my daughter and I. I came across the 1000 Hours Outside and thought it was perfect for us. I knew we spent a lot of time outside, but I was curious to see how much.

In the days of technology it is important to remind children and adults that importance of being outside. So why 1000 hours? As explained on the 1000 Hours Outside Website, “Our original foray into extended nature time was influenced by a friend who was influenced by Charlotte Mason. Charlotte Mason was a British educator who lived from 1842 to 1923. She had many philosophies about children and education that still stand strong to this day. Mason recommended that children between the ages of zero and seven spend 4 – 6 hours outside every day. This amount of time is backed time and again by research that shows the astronomical health, social, and developmental benefits that accompany time in nature. Four to six hours a day, three to four days a week puts us right around 1,000 hour outside within a year - which gave way to the challenge!”

We printed off a tracker and and joined the Facebook group and started. The colder months were a little difficult to get in 2-3 hours a day, but we got creative with skiing, hiking, sledding and playing in the snow. One of our favorite things to do in the winter was to go for a hike, build a fire on the ice and have a hot dog or heat up some hot chocolate. If we were able to build a fire, we could bring out our MSR Pocket Rocket Ultralight to heat up a drink.

As we came into the warmer months and social distancing it became easier to get in the outside hours with yard work, playing sports in the yard, biking riding, swimming and exploring local trails, One of my favorite hikes we did was Honey Hill in Swanzey.

Since we were not able to travel we decided to treat ourselves to an inflatable hot tub. This provided hours and hours of outside fun. This was perfect for our preteen and her friends.

With not being able to travel many places we started on some home improvement projects that kept us inside more than I hoped for the spring and summer months. Despite the home improvement projects we were still able to get some exploring in around New Hampshire and get more outside hours in. My favorite getaway was to Waterville Valley which provided an array of outdoor activities.

I found when we were home we were spending more intentional time outside either going for walks, having meals or reading outside, spending time in the garden, doing workouts or enjoying a campfire. My daughter and her friends spent a lot of times with the pool, hot tub or playing around our yard.

As the fall and winter months approached and we were back to remote learning it was even more important to get outside time in. Everyday after school/work we would spend a hour or two outside to help us unwind and step away from the screens.

I do admit that when the time changed happened it became more difficult to get outside, but we still managed an hour or so a day.

In the end we did not make the 1000 Outside hours. My daughter got 920 and I got 864. Even though we did not get the 1000 hours I am proud of the time we did spent outside. Having a preteen is not easy to convince to go outside all the time. With all the extra time on technology I feel this challenge really helped us get outside and get creative with our time. This was also a great way for my daughter and I to spend quality time together and have some great conversations.

I highly recommend this challenge for anyone who wants to spend more time outside. Even though my family and I spend a lot of time outside this has been a good challenge for us to see what we can always show improvement.

Explore the Granite State Challenge

Every year I like to take on a new outdoor challenge. When thinking about an outdoor challenge for 2021 I was having difficulty finding one, so I decided to create my own. If there is one thing that 2020 taught my family and I, is that we live in an amazing state with many wonderful places to explore. I wanted to create a challenge that helps others explore and get to know New Hampshire aka The Granite State.

View from Kancamagus Highway

I have come up with 80 different activities and places to visit around New Hampshire. Not all are outside, but most of them are. The goal is to complete 50 of them in a two year span. All activities and places are something I have done or have on my list to do. Some of the challenges are straight forward, some require a little creativity from the participant.

Great Bay on the Seacoast

Some of the examples of the challenges are hiking, visiting various attractions around these state such as Cathedral of the Pines, Canterbury Village, state parks, and the worlds longest candy counter. There are also winter activities, water activities, visiting restaurants and so much more. I have included five extra spots for you to come up with your own activity if you wish.

Below is the link to a PDF of the challenge.

When you are finish, email a photo of your sheet to gettinglosttogether1@gmail.com and I will instruct you how to pay the $10 fee for a patch and two stickers.

You can follow my adventures on instagram make sure you #Explorethegranitestatechallenge on your own adventures on social media. You can join the Facebook Group ideas and to share your adventures.

This is an at your own risk challenge, Getting Lost Together does not assume any responsibly for the participants in this challenge. Please use caution while doing outdoor activities and take proper precautions. If you have health issues please consult with your doctor before embarking on an outdoor adventure.

500 Miles in a Year Challenge

Every year I like to do an outdoor challenge this helps me stay accountable for the year and also helps me find new places to explore. The last two years I had done the 365 Mile Challenge and both times finished on or right before New Years Eve. This year I was looking for something different. I had started on the 1000 Outside Hours and Views and Brews Challenge. I felt this was enough for the year.

A local woman had started a 500 Mile Challenge through a private Facebook group in my community. A friend had invited me to the group, but with struggling to complete the 365 Miles Challenge the last two years I was not up for the challenge and declined the invite. A week or so later I was invited to the group again. After exploring the group, I saw it was mostly runners. I am not a runner and felt a little intimidated so declined the invite again. I was invited a third time and felt I could not decline again so I finally accepted the invite.

The goal of the group is to get in 500 miles walking, hiking or running in one year. January and February are always difficult months for me to get miles it, but I started slowly chipping away at it. I had found a printout online that helped me keep track of my miles.

Towards the end of February I started having some blood pressure issues. I was already on a blood pressure medication and my doctor told me I had to go on another one to keep my numbers low. I was not happy with this, but complied. A couple weeks into taking the medication I started having sides effects of a consistent dry cough, which if you look at the time frame was around the time COVID-19 started impacting New England. The last thing I needed was to have a persistent cough. I told my doctor I had to stop the medication. She allowed me to come off it to see if I could manage my blood pressure on my own. I started walking before work, on my lunch break and after work, averaging about 3-4 miles a day.

Dirt Road near my home.

During a follow up doctors approving my blood pressure numbers were so good that I ended up coming off the other mediation, meaning I was no longer on any medication. For my own health I wanted to keep this up so I became even more committed to completing this challenge.

With social distancing happening during the spring we made an effort to get out of the house every weekend and what better option to social distance than to hike. Fortunately I know many trails that are not crowded so we were able to get a lot of hiking in.

Deering Wildlife Sanctuary

As the warmer weather of summer approached and some home renovations started, my average miles were decreasing, but still managed to get out almost every day. I was very thankful I had options of places to walk at work. Even if it was just a half mile I would try to get out. Plus walking at lunch gave me the mental clarity and energy to finish my work day.

Walking path near my work.

As we got into fall and my daughter went back to school on the hybrid model I felt it was important to make sure she was getting outside and exercising every day after spending several hours in front of a screen. As soon as I got home from work we would got for a 1-3 mile walk.

About 99% of my walks were done outside. I have a treadmill, I hate using it, I prefer to be outside. I would walk in all weather, cold, rainy or hot. These walks helped me when I felt overwhelmed with all the COVID restrictions and day to stay stressors.

On November 21st I finished my 500th miles by walking from Temple Mountain to the Sharon Ledges with my family.

My tops hikes and walks of this year were Boot Hill Preserve, exploring Waterville Valley and the Berry Pasture Trail.

View from the Berry Pasture Trail

Even though I was intimidated by this challenge and doing it with runners, I am so glad I did. Not only was it a benefit for my physical health, but my mental health. This gave my family something to do as businesses were closing down and allowed me to connect with friends on the trail during a time of social distancing. To those who are afraid to step out of your comfort zone, it is the worth stress and you may surprise yourself.

Beauty Counter Skin Care for the Outdoor Woman

“Wow you don’t look over 30,” said a cashier who recently carded me. “You need to take skin care advice from your mom, she has great skin.” Said my dermatologist to my daughter. I take pride in these compliments about my skin as I recently had a milestone birthday of turning 40.

As a teenager I spent my summers in the sun, applying tanning lotion and seeing how dark I could get, then two winters in a tanning booth. As a teen I did not think or care about the risk of skin cancer, sun spots or aging. In my 20’s I started paying a little more attention, wearing face lotion with SPF. Enter my 30’s, I started my yearly dermatology appointments, really paying attention to what went on my skin and how I could prevent anti-aging and skin cancer.

When I am not working I am usually found outside in a variety of weather, sun, snow, hot, cold, windy or in the water. To say this lifestyle can be damaging to my skin is an understatement. A few years ago I started researching a variety of skin care products and what would be the best for me. This has not been easy and at times expensive. In the end I have always returned to Beautycounter products.

Below I have highlighted my weekly skin routine

Sunday Night: by 7pm I have probably spent much of the weekend outside so my skin feels pretty dirty. Before bed I do a Charcoal Face Mask from BeautyCounter. The face masks stays on for 5-10 minutes until it is fully dried. This removes all the dirt, oil, sweat etc from the weekend.

After wiping it off, I apply Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion and Countermatch Eye Rescue Cream.

Morning Routine:

• Face Wash I have been washing my face with Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser for over a couple years and have been happy with it. I have tried changing in cheaper face washes, but this BeautyCounter pore cleanser works the best at keeping blackheads and pimples at bay.

• Vitamin C Serum this has helped reduced any dark spots, circles under my eyes and overall even out my skin ton. The All Bright C Serum has become a must in my daily skin care routine.

• Daily Moisturizer and SPF

  • Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion for additional moisture on my face

    then

  • Dew Skin from BeautyCounter: If I want with one with a little foundation in it I use this. I have some friends that use this while hiking and working out, but I do not like the way it feels on my skin when I sweat. I primarily use this on work days. It is SPF 20.

    or

  • Countersun Daily Sheer Defense for Face: A daily SPF 25 on top of my lotion. If you buy one skin care product it needs to be a facial lotion with SPF. This is a great one.

Week Day Evening Routine:

Every night I wash my face with Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil an oil based cleanser.

1-2 times a week I apply BeautyCounters Overnight Resurfacing Peel. This is a popular one. After applying it, you may feel a tingling sensation. This is normal. About 2-3 minutes after applying the peel I apply the Adaptive Lotion and eye cream mentioned above. This stay on my face all night. In the morning my face always feel well hydrated and smooth.

Other things I do to help my skin is stay well hydrated with several glasses of water day and I try not to stay in the direct sunlight all day. I hope this helps with your skin care regiment. It has also taking me a few years of trial and error to find out what works for me. I would love to hear what you use and love.

I have been using Beautycounter Products for a few years and love their products that I decided to become a Beauty Counter Consultant. Please reach out if you have questions or would like to try some samples. Please use my link if you would like to place an order. BeautyCounter Link

Disclamer: Some pictures on Beautycounters website may be different than mine as they have changed some of the packaging. If you have sensitive skin or allergies make sure you do your own research. This page contains affiliate links for which I may receive a small amount of compensation at no cost to you.

Spending a Day in Waterville Valley

On our summer vacation we did not have a lot planned. We camped for a couple days, but nothing else was scheduled. My daughter really wanted to go to Whales Tale Waterpark which is one of our favorite waterparks. My husband wanted to spend one more night away so we started looking for hotels in the Lincoln area. We searched and searched and had difficulty finding one that we could agree on. After numerous Google searches I stubbled across Waterville Valley. I have only been there once many years ago to hike the Cascade Waterfall Trail. Since we have not spent much time in that area I decided that was where we would spend the night.

Waterville Valley is located southeast of Lincoln, NH. It is a small town nestled in the White Mountains that focuses on outdoor fun. We arrived at 2pm and was able to check into our hotel early. We stayed in Town Square Condos. These condos were directly above the shops and restaurants in Town Square.

Our room was on the 3rd floor and there was not an elevator up to this floor. Luckily we travel light. We had a pleasant surprise when we opened out door. We thought we were getting a one bedroom with a pull out couch. When we opened the door we had a nice two floor, three bedroom, two bathroom condo with a full kitchen. It is nice when we are traveling to have our own bedrooms and a full kitchen i I apologize i forgot to take pictures of our condo.

At check-in we were provided with a Freedom Pass for each of us. This pass offers a variety of activities in the area. Since we only had until 9am the next morning we wanted to get the most out of money. Below are the activities we did.

Chair Lift up Snow Mountain: This is a smaller mountain in the area. The chair lift is older and only two people are allowed on at once. It is about a 10 minute ride to the top. From the top you can hike down the various hiking trails or play disc golf. There is not much of a view from the top. On the way down there is an ok view. I am not sure i would have paid for this scenic lift. The staff were extremely friendly.

Bike Rentals: Waterville Valley is a biking community. I felt there were more bikers than cars, which is a good thing. There are several trails in the area for all levels of bikers. We do not ride bikes a lot so this was a perfect opportunity to get some riding in. We rode around town and then took one of the easier dirt bike paths. With it being later in the day we did not go out for more than an hour, but were able to get in almost 5 miles in. The trails are nice and well marked.

After biking we were hungry, unfortunately there was not a lot of restaurants open. In Town Square there was a Mexican Restaurant and a Pizza Shop, I believe there was a restaurant open at the golf course and there was another restaurant at the Athletic Club. Since we had to drop our bikes off in Town Square we decided to eat at the Mexican Restaurant, La Hacienda. It was actually pretty good. Some Mexican Restaurants you can tell it is is a lot of hot plate food, but this food tasted fresh and it was large portions. The margarita’s were also pretty good. They had outdoor seating in the square which was nice.

White Mountain Athletic Club: After dinner it was time for a swim. “The Athletic Club offers a lot of activities outdoor pool and splash pad, indoor pool & hot tub aquatic center (outdoor pool open seasonally), whirlpools (saunas & steam rooms currently closed), indoor walking/running track, and weight & cardio rooms. Other amenities such as racquetball or massage available for an additional fee.” We were disappointed that the steam room was closed, thank you COVID, but we were just as happy to use the two pools and hot tub. The views from the outside pool were nice.

After staying at the Athletic Club until they closed at 8pm we headed back to our condo to relax. The next morning we had breakfast in our condo and then walked around the Village until we have to leave for the water park.

I was disappointed that the Paddleboard Rentals were not open when we were there. There is a small pond that you can rent boats at, but while were were visited they were only open on Wednesday and Saturday. At the pond is also a small beach for sunbathing and swimming.

My husband wished he would have brought his golf clubs as he would have loved to do a round of golf. There is also a Tennis Court available. Unfortunately many of the stores were closed so we could not browse them. There was a trolly available to take you around the village, but we did not use it.

We spent less than 24 hours at Waterville Valley and packed in a lot of fun. There were very little people there, but we were told that it has been fairly busy all summer. The Freedom Pass was a nice surprise and they also do something similar in the winter. At check out the women was very friendly as I asked about cross country skiing. She was able to find me a map and told me if we came again to call the reservation desk as we would get 10% off our stay moving forward. I forgot to ask if that was just at Town Square or any of the other over night accommodations available.

I fell in love with Waterville Valley, the beauty of the area, the array of outdoor activities and how friendly everyone was. I am usually more of a lake girl, but the vibe in this town had me. i cannot wait to go back and do more outdoor adventures.

5 Places to Visit in the Katahdin Region

The Katahdin Region nestle in the middle of Maine will always be near and dear to my heart as it is where I grew up and learned how to love the great outdoors. When I was not exploring the woods around the Allagash Wilderness Waterway I was exploring the woods around the Katahdin Region with my parents or friends. I was fortunate that many friends were willing to explore with me. When people think of this area they usually think of Mt. Katahdin. I am going to share my favorite places to visit that are not hiking the mountain. While the mountain is beautiful I hike, I have some other favorites in the area. Below are my top five.

Katahdin Air Service- If you want a birds eye view of the Katahdin Region make sure you take a scenic plane ride with Katahdin Air Service. They do a variety of scenic flights around the area as well as do drops offs for the Appalachian Trail, camping and remote sporting camps. This is where I spent my summers working as a teenager and it was one of the best jobs I ever had. The flying service is located about 10 miles north of Millinocket on Ambajajus Lake.

View from the docks at Katahdin Air.

Katahdin Stream Falls- If you love waterfalls, like I do, you have to check out Katahdin Stream Falls in Baxter State Park. The trailhead is located at Katahdin Stream Campground. The trail is the easy side of moderate hike, my daughter did it when she was 5. It is a little over one mile to the falls. There is nothing better than sticking your head under this icy cold waterfall.

Katahdin Stream Falls in all its beauty.

Gauntlet Falls- Located in the Jo-Mary Region southwest of Millinocket is one of my all time favorite places to swim. You need to enter through the Jo-Mary Gate off the Brownville Road/Route 11 and get directions from the gate keeper. There is a fee to go through the gate. I frequented this swimming hole a lot in my teen years. I have since taken my family back and it is still a favorite. The water can be swift here depending on the water levels. At times you can swim up under the falls and others the current is too strong. There are various heights of rocks to jump off. I have never been able to figure out exactly how deep it is. The water is usually chilly. There is also a campsite located here if you want to spend the night.

Jumping in to the cold water

Ledge Falls-This is another favorite swimming spot. Located in the North End of Baxter State Park about 15 miles on the Park Tote Road from the Gate House of Baxter is this amazing natural waterslide. I visited several times as a child and have taken my family back since. We all love sliding down the natural waterslides. The rocks can be slippery so use caution. This area provides a whole afternoon of fun. There could be a fee to enter the park.

Sliding down the natural waterslides

Passamagamet Lake- This location is a little more challenging to get to, but worth it if you are adventurous. As this is where one of my favorite beaches is. If you have a motor boat you can put in at Ambajajus Lake and head towards the Boom House and up the Penobscot River. Right before Passamagamet Falls you bear left onto the lake and a beautiful long beach. This is a great place to spend the afternoon swimming and enjoying the beach. You can also wade out several feet before it gets deep. If you do not have a motor boat you can drive past Ambajajus Lake on the Golden Road to the Grant Brook Road where you can put in a canoe or kayak and paddle up river to the lake. The paddle from here is about 45 minutes. There is a trail to hike into, but I am not familiar with the trail.

Not the best photo of the beach, but me in college with my parents puppy, Misty on Passamagamet Beach with Mt. Katahdin in the background.

I hope you enjoy and are able to check out some of my favorite places in my hometown.

What Is In My Pack: Summer Edition

I am always curious what people carry in their packs during the different seasons we have in New England. This past winter I wrote a blog post, What’s in My Pack: Winter Edition, I thought I would follow it up with a summer addition. Below are the items I carry with me in the summer, not all at once, but for different hikes/activities. Some of the items are duplicate to my winter pack.

My Pack: When I was an ambassador for the 365 Mile Challenge I got a Deuter Speed Lite 22 Hiking Backpack. This pack has been perfect for all my hiking needs in all the New England seasons and variety of activities my family and I participate in. it is comfortable and fits everything I need to bring with me. In the summer my back does not get too sweaty from wearing it.

Fire Starting Tools: Knowing how to make a fire and having the right tools can be a life saver. Thanks to spending a lot of my life in the woods and having a knowledgable husband. I can make a decent fire, most of the time. I carry a lighter, a ferro rod, and Gofire Fire Starters which are water proof and have a 10 minute burn time to help get a fire started in wet conditions.

Survival Tools: A knife, compass, flashlight, emergency blanket, first aid kit, which contains the basics chapstick, tick and bug spray, sunscreen and biodegradable wipes.

Water and snack: Yeti Bottles hold ice and keep my water cold for a long time and they fit well on the side of my backpack. Kates Bars and Vermont Meat Sticks are my go to snacks on the trail.

Hat/Bandana/sunglasses These are all great for helping with the sun. I am not a fan of sunglasses while hiking as my face gets too sweaty. I prefer a hat to keep the sun out of my eyes. I do like a bandana or a Buff as they are great to stick in a cold stream and wrap around my head on a hot day.

Pack Towel- This is a new item to my back this year. I love to hike/walk to places that I can swim and found carrying a beach down was too bulky especially for three of us. I have found this towel light weight, compatible and dries you off well.

Solar portable charger: My parents bought my a solar charger this spring. This has been a nice addition. You can hook it on your pack while you are hiking and charge you phone. It does need direct sunlight and the charger does not hold charge.

Water Filtration System: this has come in handy if we have used all of our water and there are no springs near by. It is pretty easy to use as well.

Hammock: This is for fun. I love bringing this to a summit that has some trees and it is fun for kids to use as well.

I hope you enjoy the gear that I enjoy and find most helpful during the summer months. I would love to know what you carry in your pack.

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Winter mini vacation in the Lakes Region

During February vacation week we usually take a couple days to explore somewhere around New England. It is always hard to pick a place, as there are so many good ones. Growing up I spent every summer visiting friends in the Lakes Region, but since our friends moved away we do not visit as much. When we were researching places to go we decided to head to the Lakes Region in hopes of spending time at Gunstock, cross country skiing, tubing and riding mountain coaster.

Our getaway started with a stop at Kettlehead Brewery in Tilton for a late lunch. The beer and food were delicious. I highly recommend stopping if you are in the area. They also have a small arcade, which was perfect of our daughter. This brewery is part of the Views and Brews list.

After lunch we headed to our hotel. The Summit Resort is located near Weirs Beach in Laconia. When I initially booked this room, I thought I was booking at Steele Hill in Sanborton, which we have stayed at many times. This is it’s sister hotel. Due to a deal through hotels.com we were able to upgrade to a suite. Which was pretty nice.

We spent the afternoon enjoying the pool area. Which had a hot tub, sauna, two water slides and a pool area.

DAY 2

Unfortunately we woke up to rain, which put a damper on our outdoor plans. After a lazy morning we headed to Funspot for some arcade and bowling fun. Early in the afternoon the rain let up and we headed over to Gunstock to do some tubing and ride the mountain coaster.

They were both fast, fun and amazing. Lots of laughs on both rides.

We planned to do some cross country skiing, but with the rain it made for poor skiing conditions.
After visiting Gunstock for a few hours we stopped at Prescott Farm to explore their trail system. They hold a lot of different outdoor events throughout the years They also have a very cool Nature Playground.

The best part of these trails is they connect to the hotel we are staying at so I was able to hike back to our hotel.
The rest of the afternoon was spent enjoying the pool.

That evening we had dinner at Patricks Pub. The food was alright. It was not anything that impressed us, it felt like chain restaurant food. I would not want to visit again. When in the Lakes Region we always have difficulty finding a good restaurant. If you have a favorite I would love to know.

Day 3

On our last day we planned to head straight home. Since we were not able to get in a cross country ski we decided to venture north to try to find snow. After check out we headed towards North Conway. On the way to stopped in Moultonborough at Winnipesaukee Bay Gulls. These were some of the freshest bagels we have had. A must stop in the area if you love bagels.

We were able to find ample snow at Jackson Cross Country Ski Center and had a wonderful time skiing. Despite recent rains, the trails in the woods were perfect condition to get a good glide. If you love to cross country ski or have been wanting to, I highly recommended visiting Jackson.

Since we were in the North Conway area we stopped at the outlets for a little shopping then a drive home through the Kancamagus Highway.

The last stop was at Rustic River Restaurant in Lincoln for pizza. The staff were prompt and friendly. The food was fresh, flavorful and very tasty. We will keep this on the list of places to visit next time we are in the area.

Overall I really enjoyed our little mini vacation and cannot wait to plan the next one.

An Afternoon Exploring Peterborough

We love to spend Saturday afternoons exploring new areas around New England. After a morning of basketball and more basketball tomorrow I was not feeling like doing a lot of driving. We were going back and forth on what to do. We decided to explore around Peterborough.

First Stop was Miraposa Museum on Main Street near Roys Market. I have driven past this museum so many times and always wondered about this museum. The museum is three floors. The first floor is where you pay, it was $21 for the three of us, and a gift shop. The lady was very friendly at the register. The second floor is the museum and the theme changes throughout the year. Today there was a variety of dolls, hats, various figures and more. There were also some interactive exhibits.

The third floor was the best part of the museum, especially for children. There was a variety of musical instruments and games for children of all ages to play. We ended up spending about an hour in this area playing the games.

As well as playing with the various musical instruments.

After spending a couple hours at the museum we walked across the street to Vicuna Chocolate for some hot chocolate. This is an adorable little chocolate shop. They sell a variety of chocolate drinks, homemade chocolates and a small assortment of baked goods. They also do tours or the chocolate factory, which I think need to be set up head of time as I did not see any chocolate being made while we were there. My daughter loved that the decor was llama’s. My daughter and I both had hot chocolate. My husband had mocha latte. We all loved our drinks. Next time I want to try to Cacao Tea.

After our delicious drinks we walked next door to Remarkable, an adorable shop with a “Creative mix of re-purposed items, home decor, antiques, vintage, gifts, clothing and accessories.” I am not a huge shopper, but they have a lot of cute items and nice looking clothes. I ended up finding a good pair of sun glasses and my daughter found a cute pink fluffy chair for her desk.

Our last stop was not a new place for us, but a fun place. Bowling Acres is a family fun bowling, arcade and pizza place. There is also a bar for the adults. We did a round of bowling and played a few arcade games.

We did not hike any trails. I think our daughter needed a weekend without hiking. If you are in the area and want to do a small hike there are several options like Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail, Shieling Forest, Hiroshi Hayashi Conservation Land Trail, Freemont Trail, Evans Flat Trail, Edward MacDowell Reservoir Loop or Casalis State Forest Trail.

We also did not eat any meals out, but in the past have enjoyed meals at several of the area restaurants like Thai Cafe, Green Grocer, Coopers Hill, Waterhouse Restaurant, The Pearl and Harlows.

Peterborough is a great town to explore for all areas. I hope I have inspired you to get out and explore it.

Hiking Trail Etiquette

I have debated on writing this blog post. After thinking about it, it is important to get out there the importance of good trail etiquette based on my own experiences. There are the common trail etiquette guidelines to follow such as if you are descending step off the trail and let those coming up go by. If you need to use the bathroom step way off into the woods. Do not mess with cairns. Keep your cell phone on silent and do not make loud calls. While hiking this past summer we encountered some behaviors on the trail that did not set well with me.

When I am out on the trail I am there to connect with nature, be alone with my thoughts or spend quality time with family and friends. I wanted to share what I find of importance of respecting the trail and others who use it.

Music: I love listening to music, especially if I am doing a workout. When I am on the trail I prefer to enjoy the sounds of nature. Birds singing, flowing streams or wind through the trees. Many people who hike are doing it to destress and get away from noise of day to day life. Nothing ruins that peacefulness then someone blasting music on the trail. If you feel you need to listen to music please use ear buds or headphones so others can enjoy natures music.

Children: If you have followed my blog for a little while you know that I am all for children on the trail and how important it is for their overall health. With that being said, it is important to teach your children appropriate trail etiquette. This past summer my family and I were hiking on a trail we had never been on with some beautiful views. Halfway up the trail we could hear children yelling and screaming behind us. When they got a little closer the kids were running up and down the trail, past us and then going back yelling and walking on plants, We could not hear or see the parents. While we were at one lookout point the two families caught up to us and one of the adults said, “Oh I didn’t realize there was anyone in front of us, I hope we weren’t too loud.” I did not want to start something on the top of a mountain so I just smiled and we continued back down the trail so we would not have to be near them on the way back. I am not going to lie I was very frustrated with the lack of respect for the trail and other hikers by these families. This instance is what prompted me to write this post. If you are going to hike with children teach them to have fun without disrupting other hikers and how to respect nature.

Trash: I wish I did not have to write about this one, but every time I am out on the trail I also see trash and I wish that was not the case. Please pick up after yourself on the trail. Mother nature is not your trash can.

Wearing Orange/Bright Colors during Hunting Season: Living in New Hampshire many of the hiking trails are also open to hunting. Hunting Season is open September thur December in New Hampshire. When we were out hiking this fall I was surprised with the amount of people not wearing orange or bright colors in areas that were open to hunting. For the safety of yourself and people you are hiking with make sure you wear orange or bright colors during hunting season.

Be friendly and kind: I know i should not be, but I am always surprised at the amount of hikers who keep their head down and do not make eye contact when hiking. Out of respect of other hikers and to just be friendly be kind and friendly to other trail users. You do not have to make conversation, but a smile a head nod can go a long way. Over the years I have learned a lot from other hikers about gear, local trails or other attractions. If the opportunities comes, it can be fun and educational to strike up a conversation.

Bathroom Use: Ok it happens you are on the trail and you have the sudden urge to go to the bathroom and cannot wait until you get to a bathroom facility. This has happened at least once to the majority of the hikers out there. The proper think to do is step several feet off the trail, dig a small hole got to the bathroom and then burry it. Recently, I have heard several stories of people defecating in the middle of trails and leaving toilet paper behind. There are biodegradable wipes that you can bury as well if needed. .

I hope this post helps you think about your own trail etiquette and what you can teach others about being on the trail. If I missed something that is of importance to you, please let me know.

This page contains affiliate links for which I may receive a small amount of compensation at no cost to you.