Top 5 Close to Home Ski Slopes

This year, looks like I will be skiing closer to home.  Last seasons adventures in Utah were great, but airfares seem to be up, new TSA rules are definitely a factor and I bet some others are thinking along the same lines. So….2009/2010 ski season starts with a road trip!

For the benefit of our readers  here’s a list I compiled of ski slopes you can actually drive to (and can afford):

1. Mountain High Ski Resort
2. Hidden Valley Ski Missouri
3. Big Bear Ski Resort
4. Snow Creek Ski
5. Mt Pinos Ski

Of course, if you are lucky enough to actually live in Vermont, drive to Stowe Ski.

Good luck out there and look for more adventurous posts later this season (or next winter).

Road Tripping on a…Bus?

It is too expensive to own my car. Insurance, gas, and upkeep take nearly half my paycheck and basically all I ever do is drive back and forth from work; I never do anything exciting anymore even though there are so many fun things to do in DC. (Yes, I got a job, and no, it doesn’t help that I drive a 1982 jalopy.) I’ve decided to sell my car, yet I refuse to believe that that means the end of roadtripping. In fact, I think considering my last cross country excursion, I’m pretty well equipped for any sort of travel!

Here’s my plan: My dad is actually paying for a flight out to Madison to see him (thanks dad!). I’ll be with him for a few days and then take the Madison to Chicago bus (I think it’s Van Gelder Bus Lines). I’ll be in Chicago for 4 days and I’m already got a list of places to visit in Chicago that’s as long as my arm.

Okay, so then some more long bus rides—this time to Denver. Got another long list of places to visit in Colorado, both in Denver and Colorado Springs, and I even found AN AMAZING deal on a shuttle from DEN to COS which is great because…I have a conference for work (my first!!) in Colorado Springs and then they’re paying for my flight back!

Meanwhile, when I get back to D.C., I think I’m going to start to like my car-less life. The Metro goes straight from my apartment to work and I figure that since I work for an environmental lobbying group (yes, I got my dream job J), it’s really the right thing to do. And since I’m new to the area, Greyhound is going to become my new best friend as I explore all the cool places to visit in Washington, D.C. I’ve been there for months and have barely done anything.

Wish me luck!

(P.S. Ryan and I broke up. Last I heard he was working on an Orlando Casino Cruise….It’s a long story, but all I can say is…Good riddance!)

Top 10 Most Adventurous Ski Slopes

I’m not 100% confident with my skiing abilities that I’m up for the MOST adventurous slopes, but…maybe…

In terms of my travel plans, I’ll be flying out to Utah next week – ski place is yet to be determined. I’m still taking recommendations! I’ll be there for a week, and then will be driving back with a bunch of friends, one of whom needs to get his car back to the east coast. So….hello roadtrip!

In the meantime, here’s a list of the top 10 most adventurous ski slopes, courtesy of Cheap O Air, which, if you know anything about me and my spending habits, you’ll know is right up my alley.

1. Squaw Valley Ski Resort – Olympic Valley, California
2. Jackson Hole Ski Resort Area – Teton Village, Wyoming
3. Chamonix – France
4. Mad River Glen Ski Resort – Waterbury, Vermont
5. Whistler – British Columbia
6. Val D’isere – France
7. Alta Ski Resort Area – Albion, Utah
8. Verbier – Switzerland
9. Snowbird Ski Resort Area – Salt Lake City, Utah
10. Crested Butte – Colorado

Good luck out there at these death trap capitals! (I’m not saying I don’t see the attraction…but it’s good to know what you’re getting yourself into.)

Hot Springs Spas in America

Yes, I’m still a little spa crazy, but this time it’s with a new twist. I went on an impromptu weekend getaway with another recently divorced girlfriend (though I guess for me it’s been over a year already – wow.) to the Ojo Caliente Mineral Hot Springs Resort & Spa in New Mexico. I really feel like my first massage was some sort of gateway drug. Now I just can’t get enough and I’m trying more expensive and more intense varieties. So now, not only do I love spas, but I love spas with hot springs on their premises or nearby. What better way to relax both before and after a spa treatment then by soaking in hot mineral waters, sweating out toxins, feeling the cool air whisk around you, and to just feel cuddled up in healthy warmth? Especially as it gets colder out, these hot springs make for fantastic warming up – though when it’s cold outside, it does make it nearly impossible to get out of the pools! So apparently this one in New Mexico is not so unique (though it was spectacular and I highly recommend it). There are hot springs spas all over the country. It is a genre of relaxation that you must try! Here are the ones I could find:

• The Chena Hot Springs Resort – Fairbanks, Alaska
• Calistoga Spa Hot Springs Resort – Calistoga, California
• Indian Springs Resort and Spa – Calistoga, California
• Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa – San Luis Obispo, California
• Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa – Desert Hot Springs, California
• We Care Spa – Desert Hot Springs (Palm Springs), California
• Dr. Wilkinson’s Hot Springs Resort – Calistoga, California
• Indian Springs Resort & Healing Waters Spa – Idaho Springs, Colorado
• Hot Springs Lodge and Pool – Glenwood Springs, Colorado
• The Historic Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa – Ouray, Colorado
• Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa – Pray, Montana
• Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and Spa – Anaconda, Montana
• Boulder Hot Springs Inn and Spa – Boulder, Montana
• Potosi Hot Springs Resort & Mountain Flower Spa – Pony, Montana
• David Walley’s Resort, Hot Springs & Spa – Genoa, Nevada
• Ojo Caliente Mineral Hot Springs Resort & Spa – New Mexico
• Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat – Detroit, Oregon
• The Homestead Resort & Spa – Hot Springs, Virginia
• Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort – Olympic National Park, Washington
• Carson Mineral Hot Springs Resort – Carson, Washington
• Greenbrier Resort & Spa – White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

Enjoy!
Martha

Snowboarding Paradises – Terrain Parks in the US

In continuation of my ski research, I’ve decided to include some info for snowboarders. I’m the occasional snowboarder and have been thinking about trying to work on some of my “moves” this winter. And like I said before, if I’m going to trek all the way out west for a ski trip, I want to make sure that I’ve chosen the right places to go to. Here’s a list of some of the best terrain parks in the country, according to some of my friends (who are mostly skiers, but definitely are in the know about snowboarding too) and just general research from the web. If anyone has any more to add, please let me know.

• Squaw Valley Ski Resort Area – Olympic Valley, California
• Sierra at Tahoe Ski Resort – Lake Tahoe, California
• Homewood Ski Resort – Lake Tahoe, California
• Northstar at Tahoe Ski Resort – Truckee, California
• Boreal Ski Resort Area – Truckee, California
• Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort Area – Bishop, California
• Keystone Mountain Ski Resort Area – Dillon, Colorado
• Snowmass Ski Resort Area – Snowmass, Colorado
• Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort Area – Vail, Colorado
• Breckenridge Ski Resort Area – Breckenridge, Colorado
• Copper Mountain Ski Resort Area – Eagle County, Colorado
• Buttermilk Ski Resort – Snowmass, Colorado
• Hyland Ski & Snowboard Area – Bloomington, Minnesota
• Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort – Government Camp, Oregon
• Timberline Lodge and Ski Resort – Mt. Hood, Oregon
• Loon Mountain Ski Resort Area – Lincoln, New Hampshire
• Mountain Creek Ski Resort Area – Vernon Valley, New Jersey
• Beaver Mountain Ski Resort – Garden City, Utah

Note: These aren’t all specifically for snowboarders; many of these are open to skiers as well. So if you’re looking for a snowboard-exclusive park, make sure you inquire within.

These should keep you busy for a while.

Meditative ski slopes

If you’re like me (which is probably in general not something to aspire to…), you like skiing, but hate the skiing experience. Sometimes I go out to Hunter Mountain, which is pretty close by, and then regret it almost immediately. Basically: I HATE CROWDS. I HATE COMMERCIAL SKI SLOPES. I HATE SKI SCHOOLS THAT CROWD MY MOUNTAIN. Yeah, that’s right, I get a little possessive. I usually drive for hours or even days to get to the slope of my choice, spend a crapload of money, and then can barely move as I get pushed down the icy, well-too-worn slopes. This winter, I’ve got one roadtrip planned and my goal is to find some empty slopes where not only can I ski in peace, but I can meditate and relax. Is it possible? We shall see.

Here’s a list I’ve found so far, posted a year ago on ForbesTraveler.com – but doesn’t the fact that it’s already been advertised as “crowd-free” for one year mean that all the crowd-avoiders will be there, thus making it a bit crowded? Well, maybe you’ve got insight—please let me know if you know of more crowdless slopes. (Though I understand if you don’t want to share—publicizing them would sort of defeat the purpose, right?)

• Grand Targhee Ski Resort Area – Alta, Wyoming
• Telluride Ski Resort Area – Telluride, Colorado
• Whitefish Mountain – Whitefish (Kalispell), Montana
• Kirkwood Ski Resort Area – Kirkwood, California
• SnowBasin Ski Resort – Trappers Loop, Utah
• Taos Ski Valley Resort Area – Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Big Sky – Big Sky Ski Resort Area – Meadow Village, Montana
• Silverton Mountain Ski Resort Area – Silverton, Colorado

Enjoy! Hopefully I won’t see you out there – you know what I mean.
(Thank you, forbestraveler.com for the list.)

Good Info on Skiing in General

• Skiing in Alaska
• Skiing in Mid Atlantic States
• Skiing in the Midwest
• Skiing in New England
• Skiing in the Rocky Mountains
• Skiing in the Southwest
• Skiing in the West Coast

Maui slideshow

If I could hop in my car and drive to Hawaii right now, I would. I just saw a slideshow of pictures from this stunning island and I want to be there! It looks like such a peaceful, mystical place, filled with a rich tribal history that is still so very much alive. Even the picture at the spa makes me want to go, and I’m not really such a spa person. So there are 11 slides and I just wanted to look up a bit about each of the places that are highlighted. You need to go to this slideshow and check out these pictures! I’ve cut and pasted the tag lines—the slideshow goes pretty fast and you may not get a chance to read them.

1. Far-flung Maui has long been revered as a pure and pristine getaway.
2. The pool at the Hotel Hana
3. Pineapple growing on the side of the scenic Hana Highway
4. Wind chimes at a fruit stand along the road to Hana
5. A view of the Pacific Ocean from Kihei
6. Local leis and headdresses in Lahaina
7. The Misty ‘Iao Valley
8. Carving a totem at the Old Lahaina Luau
9. Snorkeling in La Perouse Bay in South Maui
10. The Spa at the Grand Wailea
11. An Old Lahaina Luau member sounding the conch

I think what appeals to me most about Hawaii (and I haven’t given this much thought before coming across these pictures, so just hear me out) is the combo of the old and the new, of tradition and modernity. Obviously there’s a lot of cheesiness going on in Hawaii with the tourist industry and all, but at the same time, native life has been brewing in Hawaii untouched by corporate America and such for longer than in most other places in the country. There’s still so much in Hawaii that is wild and rustic—the volcanoes, for example. I mean there’s only so much taming and commercializing you can do to a still active volcano, right? Anyways, my point is that I want to go. I want to walk around in a bikini and sip milk from a coconut on the beach. Is that too much to ask?

Ghost Towns, USA

I’m baaaaack! And I appreciate all of your emails of concern. I did not get eaten by mountain lions, as one of my very humorous readers asked. In fact, I am, sadly, back in New Paltz, the land of the living dead as I like to think. Back to the cubicle, back to grind. Gotta build up the cash stacks before my next adventure…I’m thinking somewhere colder this time. The northwest, Alaska, or I may even *gasp* cross the border into Canada.

There is so much I haven’t told you about the remainder of my Southwest/Midwest journey. It will take time, my friends, for me to put it all in words. And so, in celebration of Halloween Month (that’s what we called it as kids), I thought I’d share a bit about my Ghost Town travels. These totally came out of nowhere. I was hanging out with some completely random people in Colorado and they brought me around on their ghost town tour. We also went to the Ghost Town Museum near Denver. A rollicking good time was had by all.

First, what IS a ghost town, you ask? Well, wikipedia will tell you that it is “a town or city that has been abandoned, usually because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as flood or war.” But I would add, that a ghost town is an isolated, desolate, haunted area. Many of the places on this list I’m about to make used to be near railroads, but were abandoned when people moved out to the highways. Some were old mining camps. But all of them are spooky. mooo hooo hahaha! (That was my spooky cackle.)

Here are some ideas for Halloween fun if you happen to find yourselves out in the middle of nowhere in Colarado. The key to a good ghost town experience is to go with the right people. You have to be in the mood to pretend to be scared (because shhhh…they’re not really scary.)

• Visit the deserted cemetery in the Vicksburg Ghost Town.
• Visit Chipmunk Crossing at the St. Elmo Ghost Town.
• Tell some ghost stories near the mine at the Nevadaville Ghost Town.
• Go on an off-road adventure at the once thriving but now sadly devoid of life area of Animas Forks Ghost Town.
• Hike up a mountain to visit restored buildings and storefronts at the Ashcroft Ghost Town.

And if you happen to be in California, take the “walk you’ll never forget”—the Calico Ghost Walk, a 90 minutes after-dark tour of the Calico Ghost Town in Yermo (Barstow).

Happy Halloween!

Back in North Carolina… with a car!

Back to school this year is definitely at its most exciting. First of all, it’s my senior year, which is pretty cool in itself, but more importantly…I have a car! My mom got a company car, so my dad took her car and I got to take his! I drove back down to school with another friend from Richmond and now I’m parked outside my dorm, ready to make a list of all the things in North Carolina that I want to do in the next few months. I plan on driving all over the state and seeing and doing everything! Senior year is supposed to be fun, right? This area I’m starting with is kinda near Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Asheville. Sort of near the North Carolina-Virginia Border in the Southern Appalachian Mountain region.

• Tweetsie Railroad Theme Park – Blowing, North Carolina – Looks totally cheesy, but I doubt I’ll have any trouble filling up the car for this one!
• Pisgah National Forest – North Carolina – This is near Tweetsie Railroad, so maybe we’ll do some camping while we’re there.
• Western North Carolina Nature Center – Asheville, North Carolina – Why not?
• Blue Ridge Motion Pictures – Ashville, North Carolina – Who knew there was a movie studio in North Carolina?
• Chimney Rock Park – In the Appalachian Mountains, supposed to be beautiful, and if we plan it well, there are concerts and festivals going on every so often.
• Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa – Ashville, North Carolina – I’m going to have to think of a really good excuse to get my parents to chip in towards this one…

It’s gonna be a great year!

New York Fall Foliage

Sure New York City is mostly cement and buildings, and sure in the winter whatever trees there are have shed their leaves and just look sad. And sure the summer is so hot and sticky (or rainy, like this summer) that whatever trees and flowers there are are overlooked on your run from the train to your air conditioned office. So, now that it’s fall, let’s make sure that we take advantage of the beauty in New York City’s fall colors that is so often overlooked during the rest of the year! There are so many scenic drives, beautiful hikes, botanical gardens, and other New York fall foliage options that can be explored before it gets cold and wet and the train to office dashes begin again!

There are more parks in New York City than people realize. Obviously there’s Central Park and Prospect Park, but there’re so many more, too! Check out Alley Pond Park, Forest Park, High Rock Park, Inwood Hill Park, the Staten Island Greenbelt, and Todt Hill. The best viewing time for these is the end of October through the first half of November. And the best way to appreciate them is with a bike, a picnic, and some good friends (in my opinion at least).

Going to botanical gardens is another way to appreciate the cool weather and changing colors of autumn:

• Conservatory Garden in Central Park
• The New York Botanical Garden
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden

You’ve only got a few months before it starts getting cold…so go have a picnic in the park and enjoy the beautiful weather!