We love winter....and Mt. Abram!

As I look at my window...I am hoping "please snow"!!  I know most people want warmth and sun.  My family and I just can't wait for snow.  Because snow means skiing.

I rediscovered skiing when about 8 years ago when my friend Lauren bragged about skiing and this place called Mt. Abram in Greenwood, Maine.  Well --after one weekend trip, we were hooked and my family became weekend ski warriors for the next 8 years.

I was never a good skier but now I love it.  (still not a great skier but who cares).  It gives me and my family a chance to be outdoors all winter long.  We even kind of enjoy the long car ride because we know the prize at the end of the trip.  Not to mention our beloved mountain.  Mt. Abram and their lodge "Loose Boots" have been our home away from home each winter.  Mt. Abram may not be the largest mountain but it is the most fun.  The people that work and ski there are very special and it feels like being back in college again.  Mt. Abram is perfect for young families as it gives you a chance to do something great with your family.

When you become a parent you sometimes lose your sense of your old fun loving spirit.  As your kids get older--you become not just a caretake but a driver---as you are now driving your kids from one program to another, always sitting on the sidelines --just watching but not participating.

When you ski--even a grown up gets to have fun.  And you can leave all your day to day stress at home. Your kids are well taken care of by the incredible Mt. Abram instructors  and staff and you get to ski and then even enjoy apre skiing at Loose Boots.

Mt. Abram is always helping us parents enjoy all things social.  Always good music, very fun bar (at all times of the day), great pizzas and food and my new favorite-- are the moonlight hikes.

We have grown with the mountain and so have the many families that come back year after year.  It is our version of "Cheers" where everyone knows your name and each year you just resume your winter life and fun.

8 years later my boys look forward to ski season as much as or more than summer and Christmas.  They are now ski and snowboard instructors ready to take on the tiny tots and patrol the Saturday night kid's movie night.

I invite you to come and enjoy our winter magic at Mt. Abram.

Have a perfect Holiday and very happy New Year!

Cape Cod-Life as it used to be and should be

Cape Cod is the way life used to be, should be, and in many regards still is, Once you get here, you feel like you took a step back in time. We have a Cape Cod commission that has worked really hard to keep our towns, small town-like.  Each town has a main street, library, local events, bike trails, road races, music festivals, and the beaches are voted some of the best in the world. It is not high-tech, but it is a simpler life. When you come here you really feel like you are on vacation.

The Cape Cod National Seashore is a must see while vacationing here. In 1961, President Kennedy signed the legislation that makes this what it is today. It is a 40-mile stretch of unspoiled sandy beach in Outer Cape Cod, with 559.6 miles of beautiful and also unspoiled coastline.

There are hundreds of light-houses, which some people like driving from light-house to light-house. We are famous for our seafood, in fact some people get their clamming license for the weekend. We just have cute quaint villages with that typical New England architecture. Most all the houses are that salt box cape style with natural shingles having pretty yards with beautiful landscaping.

Ice Cream! Cape Cod is super popular for Ice Cream. All of it is homemade, and there is competition between the ice cream venues. There have been many traveling road-shows coming to Cape Cod to sample that ice cream. On any given night you can see the lines of people waiting to get ice cream.

For the baseball enthusiast, Cape Cod has the best summer league for current college baseball players all across the country. It offers a great family outing while staying on the Cape during your vacation. This is part of our lifestyle. Every little town has a baseball team. All the talent scouts from all the major league teams come to watch these players in the summer. It doesn't cost anything to go to the games, you can donate a dollar or two or more if you want. It is old-fashioned fields with old fashioned bleachers. The kids can meet the players on the field before the game starts.

Every town in the summer has their own music festivals, art shows, craft fairs, antique shows, and so many things for kids. The Cape is also a great vacation get-away for those that like to run. 

The Cape is also famous for road races.Every weekend starting in the spring, all the way through the fall, you can find a race to participate in. They can be as small as 5k or up to half marathon. We have runners that book their vacations around these races.

Come on Say yes to the Cape!!