New season ahead - Vacations are over!

Not sure we really took some vacations! We took a small week off, going to Boston for one day and visiting the aquarium.

There were so many people in the streets and the weather was beautiful! We had a wonderful lunch (as usual when we go to Boston) at “Le Sel de La Terre”, a “French” restaurant by the aquarium. I would have loved to find a good grocery store where French food is sold, but didn’t find any on our path. If any one of you know about good European food we can buy and where, please let us know! I am looking for something like cured meat (saucisson, ham…), sausages (andouillette), pate, regional dishes (cassoulet…). So far, I’ve been online at Dartagnan.com but would love to actually shop in a store such as Wegman’s that we had in New Jersey!

We also went on the short but very nice visit to Remick Country Doctor Farm & Museum, here in Tamworth. It is a really good place to go with or without kids and learn about the past of a country doctor and see the tools that were used in a farm a long time ago.

We also took a half day to go for a hike up to Diana’s Bath. The waterfall was spectacular! Claire loved it.

We are now a week from Memorial weekend. We are opening the pool within the next days and installing the air conditionners in all the rooms. The new season is starting ahead! Hope to see you soon!

 

Finally some vacations

It is our first day of vacations in a year and a half we’ve become innkeepers! April is “mud season” and since the beginning of the month, we’ve had only 2 guests! We were closed during weekdays, which allowed us to do some Spring cleaning: We repainted 2 suites, 1 room and 1 much needed bathroom ; we refinished (again) the wood flooring in the dining room ; started preparing the decks that need to be painted (when the snow will be totally gone) ; covered half of a wall with wood to protect the stair case (our guests don’t pay attention to the wall when they climb up the stairs with their luggages, and the wallpaper was ripped). We also worked hard in preparing the next season, networking with other businesses in the valley to offer great packages.

Winter was long, very snowy and very busy. No time to rest. We woke up at 6 am every morning, no exceptions. We were really exhausted by the end of March, but we needed so much such a Winter!

 

Now, we’re on vacation! I just can’t believe it yet. Claire, our 7 year old daughter, is very excited to have her parents available for a week. We are planning on going to the aquarium in Boston (probably Wednesday), visit UNH for our oldest son Antoine (he is going to college in a year) and probably do some hiking if the conditions are good. Guillaume is going to spend 2 days at Cape Cod with a friend and his mom.

In the meantime, the weather is fantastic today, almost a summer day, and we are going to spend some time Downtown North Conway, probably at Schouler Park and take our time.

 

 

Gluten free food - Need help

At Cranmore Mountain Lodge, we try to accommodate every diet and welcome a lot of guests with celiac disease. We are soon going to host a “gluten free symposium” in association with Eastern Mountain Sports at the end of June, and I have been looking all over the place to find a good thick gluten free toasting bread to make French Toasts. I currently use an excellent bakery down our street to make the “regular” French Toasts (that are excellent) and I am trying to find the enquivalent, gluten free. So far, I found the usual brand and the bread is too thin! I can’t possibly make my own gluten free bread (lack of time!) and I’d like to find a good online store where I can buy wholesale. Any suggestion welcome! Thank you.

SKIING SEASON EXTENDED!

Check this out: Cranmore Mountain is only 1 mile from us and  April is low season lodging rates! 

Cranmore Mountain Extends Season Into April

New Season Pass Prices Announced for 08-09 and Valid for Rest of This Season

NORTH CONWAY, NH – Cranmore Mountain today announced it will extend its winter operating season into April, with skiing and riding offered through Sunday, April 6, and its tubing park open weekends through Sunday, April 27.

With over 135″ inches of snow so far this winter and more in the forecast, Cranmore’s sunny south facing slopes will be the place for fun, sunshine and skiing with their latest closing date in over 10 years.

“We reviewed our snow reports for the last 10 years and cannot find a closing date later than April 1st, so this is truly a remarkable winter for us. We have been enjoying above average snow conditions and above average skier interest this March,” stated Cranmore General Manager Ben Wilcox. “With the support of our staff and the encouragement of our guests, we made the decision to stay open later than usual and add the extra week of operations to our original plans.”

Currently operating with 100% of its 42 trails, 6 glades and 3 terrain parks, the resort plans to keep the bullwheels turning for skiers and riders through the end of the first weekend of April.

But spring fun in the snow won’t be reserved only for those on boards and skis. New Hampshire’s most popular tubing park, the Arctic Blast Tubing Park at Cranmore , plans on operating weekends through the end of the month. The Park will keep its regular hours of operation through Sunday, March 30 (Thurs. 3-9pm, Fri. & Sat. 9am- 9pm, and Sun. 9am – 4pm). After the 30th, the park will operate weekends only, Sat. 11am – 7pm and Sundays 11am – 4pm through April 27. Prices for the tubing park are $18 for a 2 hour ticket and $24 for an unlimited ticket.

To celebrate its extended season, Cranmore will offer 2 for 1 midweek ski lift tickets from Monday, March 31 – Friday, April 4. This means 2 people ages 19+ can ski for only $49, or $24.50 each.

Cranmore also announced that its Happy Trails Season Pass for 08-09 is for sale at the resort. As a special bonus, the pass will be valid for the remainder of this winter, plus all of next season, at no extra cost. Happy Trails Passes, valid only at Cranmore Mountain, are available at the following price through the May 31st deadline at which time prices will increase:

19+ Anytime Pass (ages 19+) $399
Teen/Senior Anytime Pass (ages 13-1 $249
Youth Anytime Pass (ages 6-12) $149
19+ Limited Pass (ages 19+) * $259

* 19+ Limited passes are valid any day of the Winter Season except: 12/27-31/08, 1/17-18/09, 2/14-21/09.

The Happy Trails Pass is offered in addition to the new Threedom Pass, valid at Cranmore, Bretton Woods and Waterville Valley ski areas, which also is good for the remainder of this winter at all 3 resorts when a pass for next winter is purchased. For information on the Threedom Pass, visit www.threedompass.com.

Cranmore is taking advantage of its deep snow base and long sunny days with a full array of activities. Upcoming special events include:

Saturday, March 22
Biodiesel Day
Complimentary lift ticket and VIP parking for drivers of hybrid vehicles plus learn more about this eco-friendly fuel and how it’s being used at Cranmore.

Apres ski entertainment
The Bodacious Babes will perform their award winning cabaret act in the Eating House.

Saturday, March 29
Mountain Dew Spring Splash
Everyone’s favorite spring event! Ski down the slope into a Mountain Dew slush pool and see how far you can go!

Sunday, March 30
Cranarchy
Enjoy the last terrain park competition of the season with this freestyle jam in the park.

Cranmore is located in the heart of North Conway Village, NH and offers skiing and riding on 42 trails and 6 glades with over 200 acres of skiable terrain. For hotel, lift ticket, lesson and daycare reservations, visit Cranmore.com or call 1-800-SUN-N-SKI.

FATPACKING special! Change of dates

Please note the change in dates for this special week: It is now from June 20 to June 27, 2008. For more information, visit www.cml1.com/fatpacking.html .

Thanks!

White Mountain Waterfall Excursion

Come for a weekend of hiking adventure to see Northern New Hampshire’s most picturesque waterfalls!

Spring is the best season to discover the most beautiful waterfalls in the Mt Washington Valley, and with this Winter’s record snowfalls, you are sure to view the best waterfalls during their most impressive season.

Check-in to Cranmore Mountain Lodge on Friday night and rest up for your big weekend. EMS guides will meet you in the lobby after breakfast on Saturday morning at 9:00 to go over your gear and the day’s trip. They will discuss as well your meeting time and plan for Sunday during your first trip.  An energizing trail lunch will be provided to power you through the day. After the four or five hour hike, you can unwind in the hot tub or relax in one of the cozy reading rooms.

These weekend hikes are designed to get everyone out enjoying the Spring weather. If there is snow on the ground, you’ll hike with snowshoes. EMS guides can accommodate most any fitness level and will show you the best views as well as the local secrets.

• 2 night stay at Cranmore Mountain Lodge
• Full country breakfast each morning
• 2 days of guided tours with EMS Adventures, Treks & Trails
• Packed lunch
• All equipment, including snowshoes and poles
• Discount coupons to EMS stores
• Discount coupon to area restaurants

2008 Dates and cost
April 4-6
April 11-13
May 2-4
May 16-18
May 30-June 1
June 6-8

Standard private room, double occupancy: $327 for 2 persons
Standard private room, single occupancy: $295/person

Private hike can  be arranged any day of the week for $150 (guiding rate only)

Group size
2-10 people - This package is perfect for couples, groups of friends and families with children 12 or older.

Contact EMS Adventures,Treks & Trails directly at 888-755-TREK

FATPACKING Special !

From June 22, 2008 to June 29, 2008

Get in shape with Fatpacking while lodging at Cranmore Mountain Lodge for one full week.

Fatpacking is a weight loss backpacking. A guide will take you for 1 week of hiking in the wilderness of the White Mountains, providing you with a supportive environment in which slower hikers can feel comfortable and enjoy themselves. If you love the outdoors, but are a little overweight or older and prefer not to feel rushed by super-fit athletes or obsessive hi-mileage hikers, Fatpacking could work for you.

There are no austere eating programs with Fatpacking. You can and should eat all you want while backpacking.

• Lose weight
• Get in shape
• Rid yourself of stress
• Increase core strength
• See beautiful remote places that cars can’t access
• Make close friendships

Visit this link for an overview of the 2007 trip.

If interested, please contact fatpacking (Steve) directly by phone at (781) 773-1115 or by email .

If you’ve done that trip before, please don’t hesitate to leave your comments here!

White Mountains SnowShoe Adventures

Explore the White Mountains with EMS Adventures, Treks, and Trails. This adventure offers one or two days of guided snowshoeing with a knowledgeable EMS Adventure guide, all equipment including snowshoes and poles are provided, while staying at Cranmore Mountain Lodge.

Next trips are:
February 23rd & 24th 2008
March 1st & 2nd 2008
March 15th & 16th 2008

For more information, visit the EMS website at http://www.emstrek.com/us_whitemtnsnows.html

See you soon!

Hello world!

For ice or rock climbers, mountain bikers, fly fishermen, hikers, snowshoers, skiers, snowboarders, horse riders… the Mt Washington Valley, NH, is the ideal vacation spot. This blog is intended to connect all these outdoor enthusiasts together. Do you want to come rock climbing but don’t want to do it alone and would like to find a partner? Do you want to share the cost of a room? Do you want to share your outdoor experience in the White Mountains of New Hampshire? Just log in here and start your trip!