New Hampshire Family Vacation

As you sit at the office thinking of plans for the weekend, it may be a toss up between taking the golf clubs out on the back 9 or taking a trip north to enjoy the last few turns of the season.  Sure, your "to do" list may seem a bit overwhelming with the upcoming Easter Holiday (don't forget to pick up the spiral ham!), but I have a solution that will make everyone in your family, especially you, absolutely thrilled. 

Turn this sunny April weekend into a short New Hampshire family vacation- Loon Mountain has an action packed weekend full of events, apres ski parties, and, you guessed it- SUN!  Be sure to arrive early at your lodging facility Friday night- if you arrive early enough, swing by the Bunyan Room at Loon for the ever-so-popular Guinness Promo!  Be sure to get some rest, however, the registration for the Slush Pool Party starts at 9am on Saturday in the Bunyan Room--this is a popular event and is sure to put a smile on EVERYONE'S faces in the family- bring Grandma, she'll love it too!  

After testing the waters (and hopefully not sinking into them) at the Slush Pool party and enjoying some of the finest New Hampshire skiing around, don't forget to grab a cold, smooth draft at the Bunyan Room with our friends from Coors Light- prizes, music, and fun are all on the docket for some end-of-the-day fun!  Grab some dinner at one of the amazing restaurants in town to curb your appetite and hit the hay- it's going to be an early day on Sunday!

The Easter Sunrise Service rivals any holiday service offered- Reverend Skip Schwartz is always entertaining, inspiring, and comical.  The gondola starts loading passengers at (gulp!) 5:30am and will only load until 6:15, so be sure to get there on time!  I must say, it is an incredibly peaceful journey to the summit at such an early hour!  The service begins promptly at 6:30am at the summit.  Following the service, light refreshments will be served in the Summit Cafe before skiers and boarders head down for the first of first tracks, that's for sure!  Grandma, Grandpa, even Uncle Harry, or anyone who is not a skier or boarder can download the gondola and meet the rest of the family at the Octagon Lodge for PANCAKE BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY!  Yes, you heard it right here- the Octagon Lodge will host the EASTER BUNNY for breakfast at 7:30!  Before your friends have even started to make breakfast for the family, you have covered the services, breakfast, AND first tracks!  The Easter Bunny and your favorite NH ski resort, Loon Mountain, have it all covered!

After a delightful pancake breakfast, join in on the Egg Hunt starting at 9am on Lower Bear Claw!  A treat for all the skiers/riders in your family!  If you are still hungry and craving some lunch before heading back on the slopes or for the journey home, stop by the Cornerside Cafe for some phenomenal paninis-  leave the cooking and dishes to us!   

Problem solved- you CAN have your ham and eat it too.  Start a new family tradition for the Easter Holiday weekend!  Take advantage of New England ski deals and New Hampshire ski and stay packages this weekend by visiting www.loonmtn.com.   There aren't many golf courses that offer a mini New Hampshire family vacation complete with the Easter Bunny, Sunrise Services, and SLUSH POOL fun!  I sure wish my parents opted for an Easter Weekend at a New England ski resort instead of a weekend at Grandma's with dinner at the kids' table (yes, until I was 18) with 12 of my cousins....  

My daugther, Tabby, has been on school break this week, so we've been taking our own little New Hampshire family vacation right here at Loon every few days.  It's been a lot of fun being a "customer" vs. "the marketing girl."   

Like many eight year-olds, Tabby can ski all the trails at our very own NH ski resort, and she brags about skiing down Rip Saw- Loon's double black diamond.  I'm sure many parents reading this have experienced a New England ski area by way of the "snow-plow-behind-child."  Luckily, we are two years out of that and we're able to rip it up together, making laps on the Gondola, North Peak, East Basin, South Peak.  And let's not forget the laps on Little Sister- hanging out in Burton Progression Park.  Together we are both learning to ride the rails and hit the jumps.  She has informed me that we have best terrain park (even if I don't let her ski in the big one yet..) and it refreshing to know that I probably have 1-3 years left of being a cool mom....

Now here is my question- Does it make me a bad parent if I say, "Yes, there is something better than skiing with your kids?" It has certainly been a great week hanging out with my A#1 soul-sister, Tabby Lopes.  But as I sit here looking at the snow still flying outside, I'm thinking about this morning's first tracks.  A few words to describe my time on Angel Street and Upper Walking Boss this morning: heaven, uplifting, inspirational, fuel-for-the soul. 

Fellow blogger, Kevin, and I headed up on a mission for the photo of the day.  We usually can get this done in one run.  But.... c'mon.  On a morning like this, we needed to seriously test the product.  I wouldn't say the snow on Angel Street was knee-deep, but it sure felt like as I was cutting through the powder down the steeps.  Then we headed up North Peak.  It was time to meet the Walking Boss.  I think the best snow of the day was, by-far, on the skiers' right of Upper Walking Boss.  It was totally giggle-yourself-happy type of snow.  

As we approached Camp III, we glanced over to Brookway Extension, which was a blanket of white- just waiting for one of us glide through its beauty.  And that's what we did.  Then, down Brookway to the base, where we were both slapped with the reality that it was back to work!  

It certainly was a dream, and I'm thinking, it's only the last weekend in February.  For sure, I have a couple more mornings like this in my long-range forecast.

So to wrap this up- skiing with your kid is incredible, but sometimes you have to take time for yourself.... 

Catch you on the next powder day... 
Stacy

Valentine's Day has come and gone, and if you were one of the lucky ones to say "YES" when your special someone popped the question, you are probably elated with joy and excitement, and overwhelmed with planning the "big day". Believe me, I plan weddings in my sleep, and it isn't as difficult as you may think.  Most engaged couples think of different ways to make a memorable impression on their friends and family--veering away from the typical stuffy banquet halls and cookie-cutter wedding festivities.  Did you know that Loon Mountain is a New England ski resort specializing in weddings in the summer and fall months? 

Picture this: Your guests will take the four-person gondola to the summit of Loon Mountain, a premier New Hampshire ski resort. They'll be seated at the summit amphitheater, where they'll witness you and your new spouse exchange vows with the spectacular White Mountains as your "decoration" (heck, they are already there, so no need to pay a florist for that backdrop!). After the ceremony, guests will take the gondola back down to the base area to one of our tastefully-appointed base lodges for your cocktail hour and reception.  There is nothing cookie-cutter about that!

Add in fall foliage, hiking, biking, horseback riding--all of our fabulous summer activities offered at New Hampshire's favorite ski area--you have an amazing New Hampshire family vacation for your guests!  Destination weddings don't need to cost a bundle for your guests--and they can park their cars and make a long weekend event of it!  It doesn't get much better than that!

Our wonderful sales staff, including yours truly, is on hand to help in any way we can--from recommending local vendors to helping with decorations, and just wait until you taste the amazing cuisine from our fabulous chefs!  There are certainly many memorable ways to make your big day 2,100 vertical feet above any other, but think no further than Loon Mountain, not only a phenomenal New Hampshire ski resort, but also an out-of-the-ordinary wedding destination!