I fell asleep for the first time ever during a massage at the Spa at Equinox. Guess how highly I recommend this spa?!

The Spa Environment

A newer addition to the Equinox Resort, the spa did a great job of creating a peaceful, Vermont-esque environment in the locker rooms, waiting areas and treatment rooms. Think birch wood, fireplaces, forest green walls, natural sunlight where you would read a magazine and candle light in treatment rooms. If not for the rude guest who was talking on her cell phone in the locker room, (is there any way to avoid wedding guests when staying at a resort?) it would have be perfect

The Treatments

Spirit of Vermont, Signature Treatment
Described as “reflect(ing) that calming energy of Vermont,” it was the first time I tried a 100 minute massage and one of the new age-ish massage combined with Reiki, reflexology and other alternative bodywork techniques. I don’t like the deep massages where I consider crying in pain, so I found the gentle but comprehensive nature of the massage perfect. I don’t know when I fell asleep. I only remember being gently woken up at the end of the treatment and taking about 5 minutes to get off the massage table. Ahhhhhhh….

Custom Facial
A great esthetician closely examines your skin, is willing to switch products mid-treatment, and explains what she is doing and with what product every step of the way. After my massage, they could have probably smeared marshmallow on my face and I wouldn’t have noticed, but my esthetician quickly assessed my skin – rosacea and combination. Using Jurlique products, she skipped the irritating steam treatment, only did minimum extractions, explaining to me why they were there and what I could do about it at home, and finished up with an extra treatment to calm my skin. I was sent home with only a little pink and a list of all the product used, including instruction.

Cost

We had a spa discount with our room rate, but the normal treatments are definitely pricey (>$100/hour). If the spa facility has lots of extras like soaking or hot tubs, steam rooms, et cetera available, I assume that’s in the higher prices. The Spa at Equinox didn’t have all those extras, but with the second best massage I’ve ever had and a thorough facial where education was included in the treatment, I’d say it’s worth it. (And am including a Spirit of Vermont treatment in my budget for our next stay.)

Mirielle relaxing on the porch of the Equinox Resort, Vermont.

I fell in love with the Equinox Resort when the bellman offered to take our dog, MeiMei, to our room while I parked the car. Driving into Manchester, Vermont with it’s right out of an American history book village greenway and steepled white washed churches against the backdrop of the Green Mountains and Mt. Equinox, I fell in love with Vermont.

My whole family enjoying exploring the Resort.

Anytime of year, the Equinox is a relaxing getaway resort where you can experience Vermont with as little or as much activity as you want. A couple of weeks after buying our Connecticut home, weeks filled with ripping out shag carpet, cleaning, spackling, painting and unpacking, we wanted an easy, relaxing  getaway with only enough activity to keep Mirielle and our dog entertained.  For our first trip to the great state of Vermont, we found a reasonable deal at the Equinox where kids, including the furry variety, were welcomed with treats in most staff pockets.

Rooms

Bedroom in the Charles Orvis Inn.

Most of the resort is housed in over 100 year old buildings, so the rooms are smaller than more modern hotels.  As Starwood Preferred Guest members (the Equinox is part of the Luxury Collection), we were upgraded to a one-bedroom suite at the Charles Orvis Inn, a few steps from the main resort buildings and the former home of Charles Orvis, founder of the outdoor equipment company.

MeiMei checking out the spa tub in our bathroom.

The one-bedroom suite, named “The Watson’s Fancy” after one of Orvis’ fishing flies, included a living room with small eat-in kitchen area and adjacent bedroom and bath. It was cozy, comfortable and quiet, even with a driveway outside of our window.  The lobby of the Inn had coffee, tea and other beverages available all day, plus sitting rooms and an outdoor deck.

Mirielle playing office in the living room of our suite.

Food

We enjoyed room service, an early dinner at Marsh Tavern and a breakfast buffet at the Colonnade. My quick assessment – Yum! All the eateries at the Equinox make a successful effort at providing seasonal Vermont cuisine with locally sourced ingredients.  The room service menu was similar to the Marsh Tavern menu including lots of comfort foods and both provided a kids menu.

Colonial style bread plate at Marsh Tavern.

Our relaxing dinner on the front porch of the Marsh Tavern got me excited about the food.  Rather than a bread basket, a colonial style wooden tray of bread, corn muffins, apples and carrots was set out, accompanied by olive oil in a stainless steel flask.  I had a hearty stew filled with chunks of seafood and seasonal veggies in a very light broth, served in a cast iron pot.

Meg's seafood stew at the Marsh Tavern.

The breakfast buffet at Colonnade was expensive, but, beverages were included, there was a huge variety of appetizing food, anything that could get cold or congealed was prepared to order, and it was high-fructose free with Vermont maple syrup and local jams available. In fact I would put this breakfast buffet in the top five, I have experienced.

Jack & Mirielle outside the Marsh Tavern after dinner.

One evening we tried to get a drink at the outdoor fire pits of the Falcon Bar.  The idea was Jack and I could enjoy a glass of wine while watching Mirielle run around on the lawn with our dog MeiMei.  Despite few other guests, after 30 minutes we weren’t served. Waving and the usual flagging down didn’t work, though other guests were getting drinks. I felt a little like we were being blown off because we weren’t hip enough to be hanging out at the fire pits.

(Only service dogs are welcome in dining areas.)

Recreation

Mirielle playing on the lawns in front of the pool and spa building.

Without leaving the main resort property, we enjoyed the indoor pool, a playscape, a game room, lots of lawn with little risk of running into the street, and the spa (separate review).  Adjacent or a very short walk are hiking trails that lead to Mt. Equinox, the resort golf course, an archery school, and a falconry school.  Add partnerships with Orvis for fly fishing and shooting and  the Land Rover Experience Driving School, nearby ski resorts and the Manchester Designer Outlets and there is all kinds of things to keep everyone busy.

Mirielle and MeiMei taking a break under the Equinox Resort playscape.

Bottom Line

I would go back to the Equinox again and again, if I can find the right deal.  As a top resort, nightly room rates start well over $200.  We paid $239/night with a $50 gift certificate for the outlets and a few other perks.  I keep my eye out for Friday and Saturday night deals under $199 in any of the rooms. I’m not sure why deals are promoted separately, but keep an eye on the Inns at Equinox where I have seen mid-week rates at $169/night for the contemporary townhouse rooms.

STS-135, Space Shuttle Atlantis on the Launch Pad at Kennedy Space Center, June 2011

Today NASA is scheduled to launch STS-135 Space Shuttle mission, the final mission in the 30 year Space Shuttle program. This is the orbiter Atlantis on the launch pad on Father’s day when I took my family to Kennedy Space Center to experience as much Space Shuttle as we could without attending a launch.

We had lunch with Jon McBride, a member of the first class of Space Shuttle astronauts who piloted the Challenger orbiter in 1984. We took a VIP tour of the Kennedy Space Center which included an up-close view of the external tanks and the the rotating service structure encased orbiter on launch pad 39A.

I’m sad to see the program end after growing up with it and I am equally sad to miss seeing a launch live. As I sit and watch the final launch live on NASA TV, I’m happy I got to introduce Mirielle to the program that shaped my dreams of real space exploration before it is retired.  I also saw that space exploration doesn’t matter much to her yet because there aren’t any big programs, goals or destinations that both capture the imagination and are funded.

Without the compelling story which we’ve had for the past 50 years, a visit to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is one of the best ways to introduce our children to both the history and posibilites of space exploration.

June 8 is World Oceans Day and a great day to visit Boston’s New England Aquarium. This compact attraction packs a lot of enjoyment and education into its small space on the Boston Harbor front.

Inside the New England Aquarium

The aquarium is centered around a circular Giant Ocean Tank with a ramp and viewing windows winding up three stories. On the ground floor, the tank is surrounded by penguin exhibits and additional exhibits are on the outer walls on three levels. This is a popular attraction, but crowds don’t pick up until an hour after opening on weekends and holidays.

Our New England Aquarium highlights:

“Chasing” the Atlantic Harbor Seals. In an outdoor tank (no admission needed) behind the ticket booths, harbor seals swim and play. They are clearly comfortable hamming for visitors, the youngest who like following the seals up and around the tank. It’s a great occupation for kids while mom waits in line to buy tickets.

Playing the light game with the African Penguins. It’s easily overlooked but along the railing of the African Penguin pool, right before you get to the Little Blue Penguin pool, is a joystick and red button. The joystick guides the light along the bottom of the pool, and penguins chase after it like a dog after a mailman. Mirielle I must have spent 15 minutes playing with the aquatic birds, giggling up a storm the whole time. The penguins seemed just as amused.

Count the rows of teeth (and be thankful for the thick glass).

Watching divers feed the Sharks. It must have been the first time Mirielle saw a scuba diver, but she became instantly fascinated with what they were doing with the fish, how they were breathing underwater, how many were in the tank, what kind of clothes they were wearing, etc. I loved sitting in the windows with Mirielle waiting for the sharks to swim by the window, close enough to count all three rows of teeth.

Mirielle chats with a Honu (Hawaiian for Sea Turtle.)

Counting Giant Pacific Octopus legs. The octopus is an under appreciated animal. It’s funny looking and moves slowly, but it’s one of the smartest (and tastiest if prepared well) fish in the sea. There is nothing more beautiful than watching the octopus “walk” by curling and uncurling it’s legs and Mirielle was excited to work with nearby kids to count the legs.

Forget life imitating art, Jellyfish are where life is art.

Trippin’ out with the Jellyfish. I avoid them in the water, but love to watch their fluid play in stylishly lit tanks. They were tucked away in a corner of the aquarium, but worth searching out.

We are looking forward to visiting the new Shark & Ray Touch Tank on our next visit and maybe taking a Whale Watching Tour. Adjacent to the aquarium is an IMAX theater which shows aquatic & naturalist films. Admission is extra and buy in advance.

Lunch at Harbor View Cafe.

Also on site is the Harbor View Cafe which serves a variety of foods including sustainable seafood in a pleasant environment designed to keep the whole family happy.

Even penguins take showers.

New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA, (617) 973-5206. Take the T to the Blue Line Aquarium stop. Check the website for hours and admission at http://www.neaq.org/index.php.

Dear Katie:

We talked spending a week in Vermont with the kids during August.  While I visited Smugglers Notch recently for a winter ski trip, I think it might be the perfect family summer destination.

Location

It’s located less than 45 minutes from Burlington on Vermont’s highest peak which provides summertime alpine activities plus easy access to other places we might want to take the kids, like the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury Center, ECHO Lake Aquarium, Shelburne Farms and Lake Champlain.

Lodging

4 kids can comfortably pile into this bedroom at Smuggs

There are a range of condos available from studios which sleep 4, to 5-bedrooms which sleep an army. All of the condos have sleeper sofas, so we could get a two bedroom and have lots of flexibility on sleeping arrangements for us, the kids, and our spouses.  In addition to full kitchens, the units have laundry which will save us a lot of hassle.

There are restaurants, a deli, a pizzeria and a grocery in the village so feeding the kids will be easy if we don’t feel like cooking.  The on-demand shuttle service is great.  We probably could even put the kids on it by themselves to send them off to camp.

Scallop and apple salad at the Mountain Grill

Entertainment for Kids

Smugglers‘ is set up as a family resort which means there are lots of activities for the whole family, activities for the kids, and activities to keep kids entertained so parents get grown-up time.  Summer isn’t summer without swimming, and Smuggs has multiple heated outdoor pools & water parks.  The Fun Zone is full of bounce houses, skee ball and mini golf.  Smuggs hosts lots kid-enchanting activities with different events every afternoon and evening (both Mirielle and Jack were hooked by Marko the Magician.)

Friendly Pirate show at Smuggs.

Here is what really appeals to me, Smuggs’ Summer Fun University, aka, summer camp. Programs for 3-17 year olds run from 10am-4pm, 7 days a week and are segmented by age. Based on Mirielle’s ski camp experience, they really know kids.  They do a great job of mixing free play and structured activities, learning by experiencing, presenting characters & shows that keep kids attention and frankly, knowing kids well enough to know when to push them and when to let them rest.

Designed for young children, Treasures Child Care at Smuggs.

And while your little girl is an easy baby, the Treasures Child Care center for 6 week- 3.5 year olds is a model for child care centers and would give you some “I’m more than just a Mommy” time.  When I toured the center, I was impressed with how clean it was at the end of the ski season.  It says how much attention the staff at Treasure’s pays to details.  There are age appropriate rooms, an outdoor playground, food made on site from an organic CSA in the summer, and an impressive, talented staff that could get 12 preschoolers to stay in one place and pay attention after snack. (A lot of the staff at Smuggs could make a living running parenting seminars.)

Flexibility for Parents

Of course, with the kids in camp or at Treasures, that leaves lots of time for us to nap, hike, kayak, hang out by the pool (or in the hot tubs), take the zip line tour, have a massage, or with wifi available, I could even work a few hours everyday.  At night, there are kid-only activities a couple of nights a week so we could eat in the adults-only dining room at Hearth & Candle. Did I tell you about the flatbread with garlic, caramelized onions, pork confit, goat cheese, pesto and balsamic reduction we had there?

Pricing

There are a variety of packages available that include housing, access to facilities & events, and shuttle service and then we can look at if the camp-inclusive or camp discount would better suit our needs. The camp at Smuggs is less expensive than the one at Mirielle’s school and Smuggs has far better facilities for outdoor summer fun. We could take a budget approach and get a one bedroom, or if the men are going to join us, we could get a two or three bedroom.  The prices, packages and specials can be found out their website.

When you’re back in town, lets get our summer calendars and budgets together and see if Smuggs would work for a Vermont getaway.

Regards,

Meg

Thanks to Smugglers’ Notch for teaching my family to ski.  They provided lodging, ski rentals, lessons, and lift tickets for our visit. I was not asked to write a review or express any specific opinion.

When traveling, especially since Mirielle joined us on our travels, we spend more time just walking around different neighborhood than visiting sights listed in a tour book. Sometimes it’s because we get a little lost, other times it’s misinterpreting distances on a map, confusing addresses led us ‘astray’ in Delhi, but, usually it’s just that strange need to walk around more when we’re not at home.

Wandering around a very nice neighborhood near the Hauz Khas Delhi Metro station, we saw how Delhi’s rich live while trying to find an address (that was no where near the Metro, I mean, why would Hauz Khas village be near the Hauz Khas Metro station?)

Adjacent to the ritzier neighborhood, this middle class housing block has a large Muslim community including a mosque, goats grazing in the parks, women and men with head coverings, and kids playing everywhere.

The urban Dehli version of the tire swing?  A couple of bicycle intertubes tied together and around a tree limb.

This very friendly resident of the housing block switched with her friend, above on the tire swing, to come meet us and practice her English.

For all the stereotypes I can conjure about a “third world” country (seriously, is that a relevant term anymore?), playing with 18th/19th century toys was not what would come to mind.  Using old bicycle tires and sticks, the boys would chase the tire around the field, propelling it with a swat of the stick.  The last time I saw anything like this was visiting Old Sturbridge Village, a living history museum where an 1830′s New England village has been preserved.

Most park entrances had these little gates to keep motorcycles off the fields and theoretically, to deter animals from grazing.  It was tricky navigating with Mirielle in the Ergo, but she was being stubborn about walking, and we weren’t ready to let it slow us down. (Plus, we were too lost to find a cafe to take a break.)

My husband works for our local power company, so he was excited to see Delhi’s own (very well maintained facilities he said, though local residents think very highly of the reliability.)  Was the trip now a work-related tax write off?

Trash and pollution do lead the list of stereotypes about developing nations (trying different expressions.)  Behind one of the markets, we found this puddle of radiator fluid surrounded by motorcycles and scooters. How many gallons does it take to make it that green?

Visiting markets or grocery stores where the local residents buy their daily provisions has always been a favorite activity of mine.  While it’s often to check out local products or regional packaging, the kiosk filled markets in Delhi were about people watching, picking up a few things and learning how the supply chain works.

While there might be 10 different kiosks selling personal products (shampoo, toothpaste, shaving cream), each kiosk carried different brands, sizes or products.  There was some overlap and competition, but looking for shampoo, each of the first three kiosks we stopped at had different merchandise.  It was similar for other products as well.

The markets were filled with the forbidden “street food” including donuts.  Okay they had another name, maybe gulab jamun, but fried dough sprinkled with sugar?  Of course I can’t tell you how good they were, no matter how much I want to.

Most of the places we walked, especially where tourists were uncommon, people would come and say hello.  Young children and mothers were friendliest. Generally, if someone could speak or understand some English, we would talk.  President Obama’s visit to Delhi coincided with our visit, so we were always able to talk current events and US-India relations.  Most of the time, people just wanted to say hello, find out where we were from, ask about how we liked India, and pose for pictures like these kids.

There is a myth about travelers who want to really connect with the local people/culture, see the real country/people, or not be tagged a tourist.  We weren’t trying to be those travelers.  But, through tourism by walking around, we glimpsed the everyday life of Delhi-wallas. Talking with a unusual range of people did help us learn more about India and connect with local people.

Mostly though, it was relaxing, fun and interesting.

Arrival of Delhi Metro Car

Weeks before our arrival, Delhi’s Metro system was greatly expanded as part of infrastructure improvements for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.  The Delhi Metro is wonderful and makes visiting India’s capital easy.  While I wouldn’t suggest bypassing an auto-rickshaw ride or walking the side streets of old Delhi, the Metro is a cheap, clean, air conditioned way to travel around Delhi, without the hassels of traffic and gridlock.

From our guest house in south Delhi, it was about a 30 minute and US$0.40 ride to Old Delhi and less to Dilli Haat, Hauz Khas, and other areas we visited.

Tunnels at newly opened Delhi Metro station.

Important things to know about the Metro:

Visible security presence in the Delhi Metro

1) Security is taken very seriously.  Everyone must go through a screening before entering the platform with separate lines for men and women. Armed miliary personel can be seen in many stations, and photos are prohibited (found out after taking these, I promise I did not sneak them.)

Navigating on the Delhi Metro

2) Guide books are not updated for the recent metro station expansions.  I learned the hard way, don’t rely on a guidebook or even station names to get to a destination on the Metro.  Get specific directions from as many Delhi-wallas as you can find and don’t be hesitant to ask for directions.

Making friends on the Delhi Metro platform.

3) The Metro is very popular, and train cars get very, very crowded at all hours. Despite the crowds (and stares), we found everyone but the older Indian women to be very considerate. (An Indian-American friend warned me about the older women’s aggressive elbowing tendencies and WOW, she wasn’t exaggerating.) I highly recommend the women-only car for mom’s and young children which is less crowded.  Dad can stand at the back of the women only car if it isn’t full.

If you’re headed to southern Vermont this weekend with the kisd for the Vermont Maple Open House, stop by Sweet Maple Alpaca Farm in Westminster, VT. Located less than 30 minutes north of Brattleboro, VT along the steep banks of the Connecticut river, Sweet Maple Alpacas is owned by a sixth generation Vermont farming family. (Wow, families stay in the family business in VT; no wonder it produces such great food.)  Currently the farm focuses on breeding and raising alpacas and maple syrup production.

During our Vermont Maple Open House Weekend visit to Sweet Maple Alpaca’s last year, we were able to meet the alpacas, check out their lineage, learn about their various breeds and breeding, shop for knitwear made with alpaca fibers, visit Sweet Maple Alpaca’s sugar shack to taste maple syrup, and, if we wanted, buy an alpaca.  There were lots of activities that included the kids (if getting up close with furry animals isn’t enough for them) and lots of young ones in attendance.

Sweet Maple Alpaca Farm, 154 River Road, Westminster, VT  05158, 802-376-9846/802-380-075, http://www.sweetmaplealpacas.com.  Check out the website for open house details.

About 15 minutes outside of Brattleboro, VT, Dwight Miller & Son Orchards has been tapping sugar maples since before Vermont was a state.  The claim to be the first white men in Vermont to tap sugar, may be supported by the eight plus generations of this family farming the land and tapping their sugar bush.  Eight generations also means that this family knows sugaring and is a wealth of information if you want to learn about the sugaring process.

While we didn’t know either when we stopped by during the 2010 Vermont Maple Open House Weekend, we walked away with hands on sugaring experience, a peck of organic empire apples, a couple of bottles of organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, and three bottles of different grade organic maple syrup.

Maple syrup bottling operation (very big 'pot' on stove with bottles.)

Read Miller, who currently runs the farm with his family, shared the history of the farm, explained the sugaring process to visitors, and even brought us down to tap a tree.  His wife was also in the sugar shack bottling and labeling the latest batch of syrup. The informality of the open house allowed visitors to ask lots of questions.

The Miller’s sugar shack/farm store was filled with historical pictures and maps of the farm, but heading out to tap of tree was my favorite part of the day.  With a cordless drill, small metal tap, a mallet and bucket, we walked down the lane to a sugar maple.  One of the visitors drilled a hole and pounded in the tap, basically a 3/4 inch wide metal pipe with a hook on the underside.  The bucket was hung from the hook on the tap and the maple sap began to run from the tree like a steadily leaking faucet.

Maple sap running through the vacuum tubes in the sugar bush.

Nothing like the syrup you put in your pancakes (and oatmeal, fish, roast veggies, cheese, apple pie, and more) the sap is like a maple-flavored sugar water.  We were able to dip our finger in the catch bucket to taste. It’s only after hours of boiling to remove the water through evaporation that the sap thickens to what most of us are used to. It was surprising how much sap came out of the tap in just a short period and a tree can produce up to 3 gallons of sap in one day.  Good thing as it take 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup.

For more info, including farmers markets and visiting opportunities, check out Dwight Miller & Son Orchards website http://www.vtfarmorg.com/.

I expected brutal winters when I moved to New England two years ago, but my first winter was much milder than I expected and I figured I overreacted, right? Payback is a dog’s mother because this winter has been brutal with one or two snow days a week through January, ice storms, arctic temperatures and zero budget for a sunny getaway (the thoughtfully paid price of that trip of a lifetime to India.) February and March have teased us with a couple of warm days quickly forgotten with high winds, more ice and single digit temperatures.

So for our (wish it were) Spring Break this year, I am embracing with mitten enclosed hands, the two good great things about this winter: maple syrup and skiing. We’re heading north to Vermont to enjoy the 2011 Vermont Maple Open House Weekend, March 19-20, then joining Smugglers’ Notch for a few days to see if the #1 Family Ski Resort can teach my daughter and husband to ski.

Maple Syrup Wood Fired Evaporator

Maple syrup is made from boiling down the sap of the sugar maple tree. The sap of the sugar maple runs when temperatures alternate between below and above freezing, usually night and day.  The cold weather we lacked last year combined with the teasing warm days are making for a great season once maple farmers can trudge through the snow to tap their trees.

Snowless Maple Tapping

Due to the mild winter last year, I missed out on the regional treat, sugar on snow, and hope to make up for it this snowy winter. I’m also planning on including some cheese, ice cream, and wine tasting along with the maple syrup (these are often combined in Vermont to my taste buds’ great joy.)

While it will be work for me (you can read about it later this month,) Smugglers’ Notch will be hosting me and my family for a few days, so, we will finish our Maple Open House Weekend at Smuggs. After Mirielle’s first experience on skis, I’ve been hesitant to get her back to the slopes for fear I’ll put her off skiing completely.

Mirielle's first run at 2 years old

With age-specific programs, instructors who know how to teach kids to ski, a cohort of similarly aged new skiers to learn with, and lots of non-skiing activities to entertain, Smugglers’ Notch’s children’s ski programs should get Mirielle on skis, down the slope, and very excited to go back again and again.  Passing her dad on the bunny slope as he skis for the first time may help too. (“No daddy, bend your knees this way, daddy.”)

MeiMei charging right through our New England winter.

Sure, some families are seeking sun and warmth for Spring Break.  As we rebuild our travel fund, we’re embracing lower cost, regional getaways for weekend breaks.  Mother Nature has given us a brutal winter, so we’re escaping to the warmth of sugar shacks boiling maple and will be sinking our skis in the powder soft snow.