My husband and I have been U2 fans going on 25 years now. Collectively we have seen them over 30 times, across 3 countries, and in countless cities with many friends. But we had never seen them with our children.  Our kids are growing up U2 fans the way I grew up a Rolling Stones fan.  My dad would always play their LP’s on his high-fi turntable and, as a college sophomore, I saw their show live with my parents. So for me, it was only a matter of time before countless hours of CD and iTunes listening would give way to a live performance for the entire family.

We surprised our 11 year-old son and 8 year-old daughter with tickets at Christmas (2009) for a summer show in Montreal. Little did we know that they would have to wait more than 18 months to see the band.  A back injury for Bono delayed the U2 360 Tour and put our original show on hold for a year.  With some extra time on our hands, we were able to properly plan for our trip to Montreal.

Using one of my favorite hotel travel web sites, Jetsetter, I scored us a room at the Hotel Nelligan for just $150/night.

We love staying at this property in Old Town whenever we come to the city. With our accommodations set, now it was time to plan for the concert.

I had been following the concert tour on Twitter since it kicked-off using @atu2, @u2gigs, @360FromTheEdge, @atu2comSherry, @u2com and others. U2 fans are a rare breed.  They tweet the show’s set lists song-by-song with a specific hashtag like #U2360MTL so you can vicariously be at the show through the online community.  Yes, I guess you could say I’m somewhat fanatical too (did I mention that my husband and I vetted our wedding bands based on their ability to cover One?) I have also been able to occasionally listen to the concerts live online via 1000.mikes.com when it was available –an extra treat no doubt.

One of the best finds during our pre-trip search was though was a specific twitter account set up to make getting to/from the concert venue as smooth as possible.  This show was being held at the Hippodrome (an old racetrack retrofitted to handle a U2 show). It was being requested that all 80,000 attendees use public transportation to get to this outdoor venue. As we eagerly walked to the Metro stop, we reminisced with the kids about the days when we would take the subway to work in New York City. But we were not fully prepared for this ride. The subway doors opened on the platform and the train cars were already full to the brim with concert go-ers.  With no other choice, we pushed on, put the kids in the center, and had them hold the railing for the next 12 stops.  At each station it was more of the same.  Incredibly more people kept getting on.

Finally the last stop.  The 360 Claw was insight.  We walked towards the racetrack along with the thousands of other people spilling out from the Metro.  Once we passed the gates we reassured our kids many times that we would not get separated. Though we did make a plan to meet at a specific security station and to identify security personnel “just in case”.  We also donned glow bracelets hoping to make it a bit easier to locate each other in the sea of people.

We had chosen General Admission (GA) tickets on the floor thinking that we would have plenty of room in back, as we had in past GA experiences. What we didn’t take into account was that this was a racetrack with bleachers brought in just for this concert, not a true stadium with 3 tiers of seating.  Therefore the floor (or grass in this case) was the primary source of “seating”. It looked to us to be about 40,000 fans in GA — to say the least it was crowded. We quickly maneuvered into a safe spot up against a guardrail so that the kids were protected and we could hold them up if need be.

Lights Go Down, Its Dark

As the opening act Interpol took the stage my daughter admitted to me that she was scared.  I had not given any consideration to what it might feel like for her to be in a space that was accommodating one-eighth the population of our entire state of Vermont.  I hoisted her up on to my shoulders, held her close, and told her it was going to be great –you’ll see.  As soon as Bono and the boys were on stage all of her fears seem to fade away and we were both swaying to the music.  At one point when Bono let the audience sing his lines to I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For she turned to me and asked “Mommy, is this a sing-a-long song?” My heart pretty much melted right there on the spot.

Forty-five minutes into the show, a security guy holding tickets, was scouting out the audience near our corner. He started asking “how many in your party?” As I spewed out in broken French something to the affect of “S’il vous plaît, il y a quatre personnes dans ma famille S’il vous plaît!” I was hoping to become this family. Slowly the guard looked our family over — as well as at the other screaming people around us. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our time but another first time concert going family got to watch the show from beneath the bands feet.

The rest of the concert was great.  As we listened to songs like Miss Sarajevo, Zooropa, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I’ll Go Crazy, Sunday Bloody Sunday and Walk On we danced and sang together at the top of our lungs. And for the encore they played One and a perfectly timed Moment of Surrender until a torrential downpour abruptly ended the show.  Was it the best U2 show I have ever seen? The back-to-back shows in Dublin in 2009 probably win that award in my book, but seeing this U2 show with my kids was magnificent.

Beautiful Day

The next day we had breakfast in the hotel and took our bikes for a spin on the Quays of Old Port.  It is mostly flat, except for few cobblestones here and there.  We wove in and out of the canals, stopped to watch the locks being filled and enjoyed the beautiful views.  There are so many great things to do on the Quays like, Cirque de Soliel, the Labrinth and the Science Center but the day was far too nice for us to spend it inside. After a quick walk and lunch in Old Town it was time for us to head home.

We visit Montreal several times a year.  It is less than two hours from Burlington.  We create lasting family memories everytime we are there. However, no trip will ever be as special as this one.

The season to find your way through a corn field has arrived. Farmer’s cut intricate paths in their fields providing hours of fall fun for your family.  These mazes aren’t just a walk in the park, they are an adventure you need to prepare for.  No strollers here, jogging or otherwise.  Little ones are best transported in a backpack. Bring plenty of water and snacks. Corn mazes can take several hours to complete.

Corn Mazes

Great Vermont Corn Maze – A 2 acre corn maze with 2 miles of trails that is best enjoyed by adults with kids under 14. Other activities include barnyard golf, laser tag and a kids village.  Teens and other extreme terror loving fans might enjoy Dead North when no flashlights are allowed.

“What a great way to spend a fall afternoon! We went with my almost 3 year old and 3 month old. We wandered around the “big” maze for a while, then tried…read entire review“

Weybridge Gardens – A big maze, a small maze and even a haunted maze. Hayrides are available on Sundays.

“There are miniature fairy scenes hidden throughout the maze, and the kids loved chasing each other around. The owners were…read entire review“

Hathway Farm & Corn Maze – Celebrating their 250th year! 12 acres, a scavenger hunt, text trviva in the maze, a mini maze for toddlers and farm animals.

Every year the Hathaways come up with a really cool theme, they give you clues from start to finish and off you go. Great…read entire review“

Fort Ticonderoga – What activity combines solving puzzles and testing your knowledge of history with fresh air, sunshine and over two miles of winding trails? For those looking to up the ante, check out their Flashlight nights when the maze is open after dark.

Check out the rest of these great mazes this season.

I am so thrilled to be joining the best and the brightest traveling moms in the industry. Best Family Travel Advice is a group of top family travel writers who understand the complexities of vacationing with kids.

These gals know their stuff.  They’re able to answer all sorts of travel questions like how to best navigate an airport with two small children in tow or how to make visiting Washington, D.C. affordable. Because these bloggers have been there and ‘done that’, they can offer some helpful advice.

If you are setting off on an adventure this year and need to know which cruise lines are the best for families or what hotel or resort will please everyone in your bunch, chances are the women at Best Family Travel Advice have got an answer for that (or two).

The Champlain Valley Fair is more than just midway rides, games, fried dough and fabulous concerts.   Did you know there is pig racing, giant sand sculptures, rattle snakes, a milking parlor, and a flying trapeze show?  Once inside the gates, the fair has plenty of free entertainment that is included in the price of admission (Adult $10 | Children $5 | under 4 Free).

Did you know you can also ride a camel? Yep, in Vermont!

In order to go on the the midway rides you will either need individual tickets or a bracelet.  Rides are 3, 4 or 5 tickets each.  For example the Ferris Wheel is 5 tickets/ride.  A $30 bracelet gives you unlimited access to the rides (except on Speed) from 11:00 – 11:00 on the day of purchase.  We found this was definitely the more economical way to go even though we only spent 2-3 hours in the midway.  Smart parents would have taken advantage of the advance purchase bracelet for $25. This is a must for us next year.

We took our own 9 & 12 year old kids, plus a bunch of their friends, to the fair. We started the day with the most classic ride of all – the carousel.  With all the giggles and smiles we saw as they rode the ponies up and down, it just proves you never really outgrow this.

The fairgrounds are rather large. Even getting from the parking lot into the fair can seem like a lot for little legs.  We would suggest bringing a stroller or even a wagon for the kids.  But if you don’t, we spotted these on-site available for rent.

Our bigger kids enjoyed all types of rides. Ones that kept their feet close to the ground…

…and ones like the Stinger that put them high in the sky and upside down.

The Big Top Circus puts on a show 3 times daily – 11:30am, 2:30pm and 6:00pm.  Find their tent located at the east end of the Midway.

With roller coasters, bumper cars, sheep shearing, slushies, carmel corn, fried oreos…

…tea cups, flying helicopters, hypnotists and more everyone is bound to find something at the fair that they love.

Our night ended in a teen/tween dream.  My girlfriend and I took the kids to see Big Time Rush — THE boy band of the moment.  In a strange way this was actually the highlight of the whole fair for me.  The sheer joy on their faces was truly priceless. I totally relished watching my 9 year old and her friends dance (and scream) to the music they love.  It only got a bit better after the show when we let them try to sneak a peak at the band over the fence :)

The Champlain Valley Fair closes at Midnight on September 5, 2011.

Disclosure: While I was invited to the Champlain Valley Fair and they paid for some of my admission fees and tickets, my review reflects the honest opinions of my experience without outside influence.

Best Local Photographers

We all want our family memories to last a lifetime.  It seems like kids go from 0-10 in a flash. Sure you probably take zillions of pictures all the time, but wouldn’t it be nice if you were actually in some of those pictures with your kids? Using a professional photographer puts the focus on the family and the pressure off of you to get just the right shot.

Maternity Shoots, newborn sessions, family portraits, playful candids or holiday cards — these local Vermont Photographers do it all. Find one today and let them coax the smile out of your kid. They will snap gorgeous photos of your family looking your best.  With the Holidays coming wouldn’t pictures just make the best gifts for Grandma and Grandpa?!

Beltrami

Picture this: New England’s most award winning photographer, Beltrami Studios creating a photo shoot that is so relaxed, so fun, and genuinely engaging with your child that the finished results just are priceless.  From the moment you walk into Beltrami’s, the staff makes you feel completely at home. Christy, Bryan and their staff work with children and their families to capture each child’s unique personality. Bryan has a way of making even the shyest of children feel comfortable and at ease through the shoot. The finished results are beautiful, captivating and endearing. Photographs capture moments in the child’s life – their spirit and personality. The photos aren’t just about how the child looked on a specific day- they capture who the child is. Beltrami offers photo shoots for children, families, teens and maternity.

“I really don’t know how they do it – it’s like photographer magic combined with a wonderful sense of parenting- but to get all four of my kids, aged 2, 3, 5, and 7 to all be smiling, looking beautiful (not a hair out of place) in a very natural pose is something not just anybody can do. I’m so glad I’ve entrusted Beltrami to…” Read entire review

Bonus offer: Mention FindandGoSeek and receive 75% off a family session and 25% off of your portrait order.

Wild cLOVEr

Jenn and Jess are true friends and two loving mothers who give breathto their ideas and capture the moments in your life that are full of WILD LOVE. They particularly love photographing babies, bellies, children, families, graduates, couples, boudoir……. and, starting this summer, weddings!! Wild cLOVEr would be honored to be your photographers.

I wish there were more stars to give. This wonderful women took beautiful pictures of my “not Hollywood-looking” family. They made my bear of a husband comfortable (and got him to SMILE!) and wrangled my 7 year old twins and my active 2 year old. It was, by far, the best photography experience I’ve ever had. I loved…” Read entire review

Bonus Offer: Mention FindandGoSeek and receive a free 8×10 print.

AMV Photography

Shooting your best side requires more than just point and shoot. Ann-Marie Vannucci launched AMV Photography in 2000. As the Owner/Photographer, Ann-Marie incorporates organization, attention to detail and the balance between art and business into the studio and the work. AMV does their utmost to have every photograph be as close to perfection as possible.  They make sure that you enjoy the process of creating that photograph with them and they strive to give you an art piece that you loved creating!

“Ann Marie has a special connection with kids and the expressions that she can encourage are priceless. I was reminded of the…” Read entire review

Bonus offer: Mention FindandGoSeek and receive 25% off your next Weekend/Holiday Special or Fine Art Portraiture Session Fee.

Ambient Photography

Everyone has a story. Some are tales of survival and strength, others are simpler.  One mother never wants to forget the feeling of her son’s tiny hand as he reaches up to hold hers.  Another wants her children to see the determination in her eyes as she fought breast cancer.  One father wants his son to be able to look back and see how small he was at under 4 pounds so that he would always know how far he came – and that the world could not hold him back. Ambient Photography strives to tell your story through their images. The documentation of the emotion and love and passion that fills your days. Let Ambient tell your story.

“They are amazing artists with a beautiful eye for gorgeous pictures. We had our family photos taken at their home in the fall-wow!!!! What a picturesque setting – truly beautiful and exactly how you would picture Vermont in the Fall. I was 7 months pregnant and we had our very active almost 2 yr old-I was a little…” Read entire review

Bonus offer:  Mention FindandGoSeek and receive a choice of either $50 off a session fee or 25 complimentary holiday cards you book a session.

Now in its 19th year, the South End Arts + Business Association (SEABA) is presenting a remarkable exhibition of visual art, Vermont’s largest, at the South End Art Hop. The Art Hop is a two-day event occurring on the weekend following the Labor Day holiday. This must see, must do event attracts over 30,000 visitors. Folks flock to Burlington’s South End to visit artist’s studios, and local businesses that are refit as art galleries and exhibition sites. The event celebrates the unique characteristics of the Pine Street corridor, in particular the development of concentrated creative and artistic activity that has been established in numerous re-purposed factories and warehouses within the District.

Canvasing the Landscape

Arthop paints a portrait of a family affair.  New this year, mini Monets can grab a passport on Saturday and hop along Pine Street visiting family-friendly venues that feature hands-on creativity, music and fun. This event is designed for families with children ages 3 – 12 in mind. Kids can pick up their passport at any of these six sites, between 10:00-2:00, and have it stamped:

1. Champlain Elementary – Art Display in honor of Bentley Seifer and Children’s Art Show
2. StoryWalk – Enjoy finding 20-25 storyboards along the Art Hop route. Begin at the Burlington Electric Department and move north on Pine Street.  Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
3. Maltex Tent – Multiple hands-on craft activities
4. Davis Studio – Children’s art show & beading pool activity
5. Art Putt Mini Golf- An arty, 9 hole mini golf experience located at 339 Pine Street for people of all ages
6. King Street Center – Activities and entertainment with a royal theme!

Imaginations take flight with Davis Studio activities in the Maltex Tent. Kids will find paint, pencils, watercolors, recycled paper, found objects, feathers and more.  Children can get creative and make:

• Mad Hatter Hats
• Roller Coaster Paper Sculptures
• Rain Sticks
• Big Box Vehicles (collaborative project)
• Portrait Sketching Station
• Musical entertainment by the Fiddleheads at Noon!

The Parental Paint Box

Elements of a successful outing at the hop mean Mom and Dad might need to know where to wash up, places to eat and more. So parents should know that port-a-pots will be available north of the Maltex Tent where Kids Hop is being held (4 regular-1 handicapped.)  Other bathroom options include Champlain Elementary,  Lake Champlain Chocolates, Curtis Lumber, Soda Plant and the King Street Center.

The Art Hop route can be long for little legs. Using strollers, wagons or even bikes can be a good option for getting around. There will be also be SSTA shuttles running from 5:00pm-10:00pm on Friday and noon-11:00pm on Saturday.  Shuttle stops include:

• Burton Snowboards-  on Industrial Parkway
• Burlington Subaru- Shelburne and Flynn
• Flynn Dog- Flynn near the railroad tracks
• Lake Champlain Chocolates- Pine Street
• Innovations Center – 175 Lakeside Avenue
• SEABA Center/Maltex Building- Pine Avenue near Howard
• Soda Plant- Pine Avenue/Kilburn
• KSV- Maple and Battery Street
• Main Street Landing- Main and Lake Streets

Pine Street can be a busy street even during a regular weekend and the Art Hop will certainly increase traffic. In order to switch sides of the street safely, SEABA will have crossing guards at Pine and Howard Streets and Pine and Kilburn.

It is essential to know where to feed your hungry brood. In addition to the six food vendors (Amir’s Kebabs, Amaizing Kettlecorn, Dr. Tamale, Pizza Papillo (wood fired), Ahli Baba Kabob Shop,and Samosa Man) along Pine Street, New World Tortilla, Great Harvest Bread, and Handy’s Lunch are a few good family friendly options.

Mark September 9-10 on your calendar now. Make Burlington, Vermont your destination for and art adventure with your kids at Art Hop 2011.

Burlington Vacations

Everyone knows that August is the height of fair and festival season in Vermont.  This year we have teamed up with the Champlain Valley Fair so that 10 lucky families will get to go to the fair for free!  Those 10 winners will then be entered into a grand prize drawing to win tickets to see Big Time Rush, the band that stars in one of Nickelodeon’s biggest shows!

How to Enter

We hope you have spent this summer exploring Vermont, finding great things to do with your family.  Perhaps your child went to a new camp, maybe you found a wonderful new playground and got a creemee afterward.  Whatever you have been up to lately, parents everywhere want to hear what is great (or not so great) about your family’s experiences. So to enter the free drawing:

• Log on to FindandGoSeek
• Find the listing or event you want to review
• Write and submit your review

Now you’re entered–it’s that easy! Note: you can enter more than once by submitting reviews for as many things that you have visited.

Contest Rules

To be eligible, you must be at least 21 years old and a registered member of FindandGoSeek.net. After becoming member of FindandGoSeek, you must write a review that characterizes your specific experience (good or bad). Accepted reviews are automatically entered into the random drawing. Contest starts at 2:00PM EDT on August 15, 2011 and ends at 3:00PM EDT on August 25, 2011.

Writing A Review

Some things to remember about writing reviews on FindandGoSeek. Reviews are your own opinion of a specific place, event or activity. Be objective and truthful.  Tell us how your really feel and why.  Useful reviews are detailed and specific, and give the reader a feel for your experiences.  Think about what kind of information you want you ask a friend or relative to recommend a day camp, pre-school, restaurant, playground or hiking trail for your kids.

Champlain Valley Fair Giveaway

Ten Family 4-Pack Winners

One winner will be chosen daily, at random from the reviews the reviews posted on FindandGoSeek.  Drawing will be done daily at 3:00pm from August 16, 2011 – August 25, 2011. That winner will receive one family 4-pack of tickets to the Champlain Valley Fair:

• Four Admission Only Tickets (Parking Not Included)
• Valid August 27, 2011- September 5, 2011.
• Good for One admission only on the date punched on the ticket.
• Prize Value: $40.00 per family.

WINNERS

• Day 1 – wpringle
• Day 2 – BusyMama
• Day 3 – Shanrock512
• Day 4 - TricksMom
• Day 5 – Hoku*Akala
• Day 6 – katiebug_1530
• Day 7 – sbo
• Day 8 – Bizzybee
• Day 9 – traceywilliamsvt
• Day 10 – mpc

Big Time Rush Concert Ticket Winner

The 10 daily winners will then be entered into the grand prize drawing to win tickets to see Big Time Rush on Sunday, Aug. 28. This drawing will be done at 3:00pm on August 25, 2011. Winner will receive one family 4-pack of tickets to the Big Time Rush Concert:

• Four tickets to the Big Time Rush Concert at the Champlain Valley Expo on August 28, 2011 at 7:00pm
• Includes a Parking Pass
• Prize Value: $187.50 per family

All winners will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to contact us to claim their prize. The winners will also be posted on this website within 12 hours of being selected.

If you have previously won anything from FindandGoSeek, you are not eligible to participate in this giveaway. Employees and Contractors of FindandGoSeek are not eligible to participate. Offer is not redeemable for cash.  Additional restrictions may apply.

Good luck and thanks for participating!

I am pretty lucky, in my job I get to play tourist in my home state almost 365 days a year.  My favorite times are when friends and family come to visit.  I have an opportunity to plan a few days of touring around Burlington hitting all of my favorite spots and showing them the sites and sounds that make me want to call Vermont my home.

Recently, my college age niece and nephew came for a weekend visit.  They arrived on a Thursday evening.  We grabbed some pizza from Leonardo’s and headed down to Battery Park to enjoy the last of the Burlington City Arts Free Concert Series. We heard great music by the Saints of Valory.  Afterward we walked up to Church Street Marketplace to grab a drink and dessert.  We sat at one of the many outdoor cafes, people watching and listening to music.

Friday the kids wanted to play golf.  There are so many beautiful public golf courses in Vermont.  This time we choose to play 9 holes at Catamount located in Williston. It is convenient and great for beginners. Later that evening my husband took our niece and nephew up to Montreal for dinner while I met up with other friends who were visiting from Atlanta. We ate at one of our favorite local restaurants, American Flatbread.  Again after dinner we walked around Church Street, this time our destination was Ben & Jerry’s for an after dinner treat.

Saturday morning, we ate our way through the Burlington Farmer’s Market before heading down to the waterfront for a sail.  We went out on a 2-hour charter ride with Let’s Go Sailing.  This 30ft boat is the perfect size for a group of 6 to spend a few hours out on Lake Champlain. The boat is clean, the crew is friendly and the whole process is completely hassle-free. Just show up and they take care of the rest. Back on shore we grabbed a quick bite to eat at Splash at the Boathouse.  This is one of the best places to take in the picturesque landscape that makes up the Lake Champlain Basin.

Finishing out our weekend, on Sunday night we stayed downtown at the Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor. This hotel is ideally situated on the waterfront. It is just a few short blocks from Church Street, which is bustling with shops and restaurants. It is also in close walking proximity to the bike path, sailing, ECHO, Battery Park, the Skinny Pancake, and Burlington Bay Market & Café.  Other local attractions like Shelburne Museum and Shelburne Farms are just a short car ride away.

We stayed in a lakeside room on a high floor.  We recommend paying a little bit more for this – the view is incredible! We had a king sized bed, a pull out couch and a rollaway.  This was plenty of room to accommodate our family of four.  All rooms have a 32” flat screen TV and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi. There is also a small empty fridge in the room should you need to store snacks or drinks for your children. Guests will find lots of local art and old Vermont photos throughout the hotel. Making it feel more like a boutique and less like a chain hotel.

Dinner at the Harbor Lounge was such a pleasant surprise.  Menu items included Blueberry soup, the BBLT (Brie, Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato), burgers and fish. As a member of the Vermont Fresh Network they use plenty of local, seasonal ingredients. On Friday and Saturday night there is live music. After dinner we took a swim in the small indoor pool located on the ground level of the hotel. The deep end is only 5 feet.  There is also a hot tub and towels are provided.

The next morning before checking out we ate breakfast at the Park Cafe. Again, the food was good. We choose to eat from the buffet although the do have eggs cooked to order. It was nice to see that they price the buffet cheaper for the kids. At $6.95/child it was a deal.

I would recommend the Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor to families looking to stay in downtown Burlington that want to be close to the waterfront and be able to walk to shops and restaurants.  You won’t find nicer accommodations anywhere.  Also if you are thinking of visiting for July 4^th Weekend, a lakeview room will provide you with the best seat in the house for the fireworks!

Disclosure: While I was invited to the Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor and they paid for meals and lodging, my review reflects the honest opinions of my experience without outside influence.

Lake Placid, NY is less than 2 hours from Burlington via ferry. This summer we stayed at the Mirror Lake Inn Resort for two nights.  This resort has wonderful Adirondack charm and is set on the edge of one of the prettiest lakes in upstate New York.  The inn first opened in 1924 and is rich in Olympic history. Both the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympics were held at Lake Placid.  On display in the lobby you will even find the bronze medal won by Andrew Weibrecht, son of the Inn’s owner, from the 2010 Winter Olympics. This hotel has expanded over the years and is now comprised several buildings.  Depending upon where your room is located, you may have to walk quite a distance to main inn or restaurants.  Keep this in mind when booking your room.

We stayed in the Terrace building which overlooked the outdoor pool and  lake.  We had a “mixing bowl” – 1 king room that connected to a room with two queens. Our rooms were appointed with Adirondack-style furnishing including oak mission-style beds, 2 large dressers, and a pullout sofa in the king room.  With all of the fish print textiles and duck photos on the walls it felt like something right out of an Orvis catalog.  I found all of this made the room dark despite having many lamps in the room. There is also a small, empty refrigerator and bar sink in the room. This is great if you need to bring stuff for the kids.

Upon check-in, each of our kids each received a scavenger hunt backpack.  We did the hunt Saturday morning after breakfast, finding little treasures all over the property. We found it to be a useful way to acquaint ourselves with the hotel.

The Spa-aah Factor

Lucky me, I got to indulge in a spa treatment the first morning while my kids were still sleeping.  I snuck away to this oasis on the bottom floor of the main inn to experience the signature massage.  I have been around the block a few times when it comes to spa treatments but never have I had a massage like this!  Your therapist starts you off in a “dry float soft pack system”. Translation ease yourself into a warm water cocoon that envelops your whole body making it impossible to ever think about leaving. While you are in there she massages your head. If you haven’t fallen asleep you then finish the treatment with a customized full body massage on a traditional table.  This was the ultimate in pampering!

Waterworks

In front of the Terrace Building there is a very nice, heated outdoor pool with an attached 1-foot deep kids pool.  The surrounding deck area is fenced in with a childproof lock.  There is plenty of shade, however most of it seemed like it was at the deep end. Located in the Main Inn you will find the indoor pool facility.  This serene area includes a 60’ pool with a waterfall, a sauna and a whirlpool. At this pool there is a very large, extended first step that is only 1 & ½ feet deep.  This is perfect for smaller children to hang out on.

Lakeside

We enjoyed a full day at the lake. There are no motorized boats on this lake making it peaceful and quiet. Families will find a small a sandy beach, a grassy area with shade, and several lounge chairs. I appreciated that the main dock it is clearly marked with how deep the water is. This is a good thing because after the first rope demarcation the lake drops off severely and gets quite deep. It is 12 feet at the end of the dock.

There is plenty at the lake to keep your family busy. We took out the four-person paddleboat to test our teamwork skills. It was nice to paddle close to shore and see town of Lake Placid. Back at the boathouse there are also kayaks and canoes available for guests to use. There are plenty of towels and the resort provides all sizes of life preservers. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase, including bottled water.  We were disappointed not to find large water coolers as it was quite warm and kids could become easily dehydrated.  Nearby there is also a separate fishing dock.  You will need to bring your own poles and bait.  The water is crystal clear and we could see just by looking in that there is plenty to catch.

Little things our kids loved about the resort:

•  You can get as many free postcards as you want from the front desk and they will and send them out for you free of charge (great dinner time activity).
• Their famous chocolate chip cookies are everywhere! Just my daughter’s kind of place! You will find them at front desk 24/7, they are served after dinner at the view and you will even get a to-go bag upon check out.
• Afternoon Tea is served daily in the Main Inn from 3:30 – 4:30. This is a special grown-up ritual they enjoyed participating in.

Technophiles take note: In order to maintain tranquility, there is a “no cell phone policy” throughout the resort. Signs everywhere will tell you so.  If you must keep your phone with you they request your phone be on vibrate at all times.  I suggest taking it seriously, I didn’t see anyone talking or texting the entire time I was there and fear it is likely frowned upon. Additionally Wi-Fi is fee based even in the public areas.

The Restaurants

The View is the most formal restaurant at the resort, like the kinds that asks for “neat, casual attire” in the dining room.  To accommodate families with smaller kids they do offer an Early Dinning program which begins at 5:30 sharp. You will receive one free child’s meal with each adult meal purchased.  There are also some rules they would like families with small children to follow so you should know ahead of time that they will likely “seat families with children in and area less apt to disturb others” in case your children become “fussy” or fidgety.”  They also request that children who are eating in The View to “stay seated for their safety and the safety of others.”  Our own children are 9 & 12 so we did not dine early, nor were we seated in a special seating area.

The kid’s menu offers Pizza, Grilled Cheese, N.Y. Strip Steak, Chicken Tenders and Spaghetti.  Each meal includes applesauce, as an appetizer, and a dish of ice cream and their famous chocolate chip cookie for dessert.  I found the prices for the Children’s menu to be extremely expensive ($12.95-21.95).  Perhaps that is a good reason to make sure you take advantage of the 5:30pm “Kids Eat Free” seating option.

The ambience in the View is definitely white glove service.  So if you kids aren’t up for it, then you might choose the Cottage or the Taste Bistro instead.

The Cottage – On Saturday we ate lunch at the Cottage. It was very crowded and unfortunately we were unable to sit outside on the porch and take advantage of the stunning views. They don’t take reservations so be prepared to wait if you’d like the table of your choice.

This casual restaurant serves pub fare using the same menu for both lunch and dinner. We sampled the spinach and artichoke dip ($10.25) and the Cucumber Basil Egg Salad ($8.75).  Both were only ok. The kid’s menu consists of PB & J, Cheese Nachos, Kraft Mac & Cheese, a Tuna Salad Sandwich, Cheese Quesadilla and Hot Dogs ($4.95 each). My daughter had the cheese nachos, which were nothing more than some tortilla chips with cheese melted over them. My son wanted just plain pasta for lunch. They were unable to accommodate this request. It appears that some of the food in the kitchen is pre-cooked because even though there is pasta to be found on the menu, in both the kid’s Mac & Cheese and the Bowtie Pasta Salad, they couldn’t boil any pasta for him.  Overall, I was unimpressed with the quality of the food served at the Cottage.  Perhaps you come here more for the view than the food.

Taste Bistro and Bar -  This relaxed setting was perfect for families and our server Art was great. We liked dinning on the wrap around porch with glass windows that give you an incredible view of the lake at sunset.  The kids’ menu is the same as The View but adults can find more causal fare here like burgers and sandwiches.  After dinner we moved from the porch into the bar area to listen to the live music.   We played a round of cards and finished out our evening there.  The Bistro is connected to the lobby and lounge area.  You can find classic board games to borrow like Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Monopoly, Life. Sorry and more.

I would recommend this hotel to any family looking for a mountain retreat vacation.  The Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is definitely a great place to get away from it all.  The setting is spectacular. The staff is warm and friendly. Although there are plenty of things to do on property throughout the year, the Inn’s close proximity to the town of Lake Placid and nearby Whiteface Mountain makes it easy to partake in many other outdoor activities.

This review is based on a complimentary visit to the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa. I received no other compensation besides the hotel stay, some meals at The View and the Spa Treatment. The business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view. All of the opinions I expressed are my own.

Lake Placid Vacations

Boston is only 3.5 hours from Burlington.  We don’t take advantage of visiting this city as often as we should, but with a little advance planning and some major social media smarts, we were able to swing 48 hours in southern B-town that yielded us tons of fun.

Using twitter, I spied a special on @Trazzler for the Fairmont Boston –$237/night in a gold level room (plenty of space for 4 and concierge-level services) that also included a $100 food credit. Knowing it doesn’t get much better than that for a luxury hotel, I jumped on it.  Plus the location was ideal for many of the things we wanted to explore in the short time we would be there.

The first day it was divide and conquer.  The boys were off to a Red Sox game.  The girls were headed to the Boston Children’s Museum.

The Green Monster

It has been my son’s dream to sit on the Green Monster for a Red Sox Game.  Sure we could have probably paid a lot through an on-line ticketing agency, however, we scored our $35 standing-room-only tix using the lottery on the official Red Sox web site. We signed up in early January in hopes we would win the right to purchase tickets on the Green Monster. The lottery drawing was done in February, when we were conveniently on an “unplugged” vacation. However when we were notified that we won, my husband was given a hall pass to sneak off and purchase the tickets.  Prices are $35 standing-room-only (SRO) or $160 seated seats.  We choose standing. After seeing the standing section, we wouldn’t recommend that option for anyone under 5ft.

The boys went to a Wednesday 1:00 game. It ended up raining and they were able to snag 2 seats rather than having to stand for the whole game – what luck.  There isn’t really a bad seat in the park, but being on the Green Monster is a really unique experience for any Sox fan.

There are only two places for food in drink inside the Green Monster area.  Choices are limited to burgers, hot dogs, sausages, and peanuts. This cordoned off space requires you to show your ticket and have a hand stamp in order to come and go. This is good as it helps with crowd control, but FYI there is no bathroom in this area.

Parking around the stadium isn’t optimal, so they took the subway. They closest stop only a 5 minute walk. This seems to be the best mode of public transportation to/from the stadium.

Boston Children’s Museum

My daughter and I decided to walk the 25 minutes from the hotel to the Boston Children’s Museum, with a quick stop at Faneuil Hall for lunch.  We choose to sit and have wait service at a restaurant rather than go to the large food court and have to vie for a table. We choose Dick’s Last Resort.  Personally I wouldn’t recommend it, unless you like “service with sarcasm”. Translation = “rude server”.

When we got to the museum we found we were able to use our Burlington, Vermont ECHO Membership to gain free access to this museum (savings = $24.00).  I can’t say enough about this amazing museum.  From the moment we walked in we were both visually drawn in.  Immediately past ticketing, in the Atrium, kids can’t help but want to head straight for the three story climbing sculpture.  My 9 year-old had no problem weaving in and out of the spaces and making her way to the top.  But I saw kids of all ages mastering the task.

After that we spent several hours wandering through the museum seeing 3 floors of exhibits that included a very cool Arthur & Friends town setting, Kid Power, Peep’s World (sand and water tables), The Construction Zone and the new exhibit: The Wizard of Oz.  Personally, I was glad that I had only taken my my 9 year-old daughter.  I felt like the museum was a bit too juvenile for my 12 year-old son.

There are a few things worth noting that we observed but didn’t take advantage of.   On the second floor there is a special Play Space designed for kids 0-3.  There is a very cool Countdown to Kindergarten exhibit. From the mock school bus to the model classroom, this area is sure to help with the transition for the first day of school.  On the first floor there is a large lunchroom. You can bring your own lunch or buy from the adjacent Au Bon Pain.

Fine Dining

When we met back at the hotel that evening, everyone was pretty tired from their day.  I was grateful for that we had the $100 food credit to use at Aragosta, the Fairmont’s Bistro, as I couldn’t imagine setting out again.  Earlier in the week when I tweeted to the @Fairmontbattery that we were excited to for our upcoming stay with them, they tweeted back to make sure I used foursquare to check-in at the restaurant because they were offering a special.  Sure enough, my check-in earned us an order of free Tapulo Fries!

New England Aquarium

The morning of our last day it was literally a “heads or tails” decision between the Aquarium or the Museum of Science.  A flip of the coin determined our plan for the day — the Aquarium.  Again we choose Fanuiel Hall for lunch but this time we opted for the food court so everyone could pick their own meal.  What a smorgasbord of dinning choices for even the pickiest eaters! My pizza/burger boy was tempted into the fried shrimp.  You can’t help but be swayed.

When we arrived at the Aquarium I was surprised to see such a long line outside with an estimated wait time of 25 minutes just to buy tickets!  Meanwhile, I was thinking for an entry fee of $77.80 for our family of four (not including IMAX) it better be worth the wait.   Just an FYI: there is no museum reciprocity here of any kind.

Our first stop once inside was the touch tank for the sharks and sting-rays.  The kids enjoyed how the sting-rays felt; “slimy” and “gushy”.  Our kids didn’t get a chance to touch any sharks.  They seemed to be afraid that day and were hanging back.  Apparently this happens when their are too many eager little hands in the tank. Two museum staff members were constantly talking the kids through the rules, yet educating them at the same time about the fish.  Also in this wing of the building are the Jellyfish. Don’t miss them. They are downstairs in quiet area.

Next we were off to the main area, a four story, giant ocean tank. The staring attractions here are the penguins which surround the bottom of the tank. You can’t help but stop and stare at these creatures.  Next wind your way up the and around this massive space admiring marine life everywhere you look.  Finally arriving at the top where you can peer down into the tank and and ask questions to the diver on hand.

Boston is a city with so many fun family things to do.  I felt like we did a lot in a short amount of time, but there is so much to see. First stop on our agenda next time will the Museum of Science!

Boston Vacations