February 8th, 2010
Chapman House
This past week I had my extended family visiting the Okemo Valley from the Boston area. Everyone stayed at the Chapman house, a six bedroom bath vacation rental property. The house is right at the base of the Okemo access road, an ideal location.
We were blessed to have the best skiing of the year, Okemo Mountain had a good base and snow off and on throughout week. On Friday we started our day at Mountain Riders for quick tune on my board, and a rental snowboard package for my cousin. Mountain Riders is about a minute from the base of the access rd, located in downtown ludlow.
The conditions were perfect, especially since we always head over to the south face, (our favorite terrain). One of our favorite runs, Dreamweaver is at the leftmost edge of the resort. In case you’re wondering it is possible to reach 57 mph in a full tuck position going down Dreamweaver. (According to my cousins GPS unit.)
The perfect PIE !
After a long hard day skiing be sure not to miss the new Outback Pizza, located at the base of of the access road. (Directly next door to Chapman House) Outback pizza has a warm, fun and festive atmosphere. A perfect place to bring the family for dinner or a great after-hours place. They have entertainment after 9 PM on weekends. The pizza was awesome.
On Saturday we went snowmobiling! What a great activity to bring the whole crew. We stopped at the chamber office across the street and Marji gave us a Passport to Savings Coupon Book. Wow, some great money saving offers . . . check it out! We used the $10 off the backcountry tour at Okemo Snowmobile Tours. A good time was had by all!
Posted in Misc. | No Comments »
January 31st, 2010
Heads -up. If it’s cold and you just want to stay warm AND watch the fireworks at Okemo mountain, check out the parking lot at the Church Of The Annunciation on Depot street in Ludlow. Pull in, face the mountain and you have a Bob Uecker… front row seat… only warm. Ain’t this a great place to beee. Jack
Posted in Events | No Comments »
January 29th, 2010
If you ever feel like you want to have a meal that you will never forget, in a place that will forevermore be a lifetime memory, go to the Inn at Weathersfield.
Share an evening with hosts David and Jane and enjoy a meal you will remember with chef Jason Tostrop. I had the pleasure this past week and an evening at the Inn (or longer if you are from out of town) becomes a highlight of my year.
Jason is gifted in the kitchen, a true gentleman if you have the pleasure to talk with him, and a wonderful person if you are lucky enough to call him friend.
David and Jane have created a place where you can truly enjoy food, company and great wine. Do yourself a favor and find this inn tucked into the hills of our little valley.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
January 13th, 2010
Funny how it takes a friend visiting from out of town to get you checking shops you go past every day. My friend and I stopped by the leather shop on the Chester Green yesterday. I hadn’t been in for months. We spent the better part of an hour trying on new and previously owned leather jackets, coats, purses, backpacks and hats. Then we fished through a basket of polished stones like a couple of kids rifling through a treasure chest. Gifts, jewelry, handmade leather goods of all kinds; belts, purses, vests, hats and even saddlebags made it an adventure in shopping.
We didn’t leave empty handed ! What a shop !
Tags: shopping
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
January 4th, 2010
The Okemo Valley is a winter wonderland. Today it’s 17 degrees and sunny. The mountains are all covered with fresh powder. It’s a beautiful day to be out in nature.
January hosts a series of things to do from make-up parties, to culinary weekends, to “The Little Prince presented by the Opera Theater of Weston.” There’s always sleigh rides and Okemo hosts Fireworks and Pro-Tour Comedy night in January. Please click on our calendar of events for details: www.yourplaceinvermont.com
We wish you a happy, joyous and peaceful New Year.
Posted in Events, Misc., Packages, Specials | No Comments »
December 30th, 2009
It’s hard to decide where to go for New Year’s Eve in the Okemo Valley with so many choices. Families can enjoy a quiet meal with the kids at The Cool Moose Cafe in Ludlow. Dinner with entertainment include a New Year’s Eve Party at the Fullerton Inn in Chester, a family New Year’s eve party at the Jackson Gore Inn in Ludlow (wristbands), to our newest dining establishment Outback Pizza’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve party in Ludlow or MacLaomainns Scottish Pub New Year’s Eve party with dancing in Chester. All restaurants are offering special New Year Eve menus.
Some things to do on New Years Day include Skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sledding as well as shopping and dining throughout the Okemo Valley. We wish everyone a healthy, safe and happy New Year.
Posted in Events | No Comments »
December 29th, 2009
Well, it’s the day after Christmas and it snowed for a while so I thought it might be a good time for a walk. I strapped on the snowshoes and bundled up and headed outside. The sun was peeking out from behind pretty dark clouds, so despite the intermittent blue sky and blinding sunshine, a squall was not far away. I walked fast.
One of the most wonderful things about walking in the Vermont woods is the absolute quiet. Aside from the sound of my own snowshoes and an occasional blue jay squawking his displeasure, the quiet stretches all around you. Only a whisper of snow rushing past on the wind breaks the silence.
The contrast to this peace and quiet are the hundreds of tracks in the snow. The animals must have been here just before me. It feels like every creature in the whole state passed by this very spot just a few moments ago.
Rabbits, squirrels, deer, coyote, fisher cat; there is a story everywhere I look.
A group of deer moving along a trail that is invisible to me leave a highway of tracks. I see squirrel tracks running along the ground and disappearing up a tree. A rabbit hopped, paused, changed direction and hopped off into the bramble. A fisher cat walked over a huge rock, down and under the lip where a cleared spot waited. And he waited. I saw no signs of struggle or injury, so his ambush must have been fruitless.
An hour or so and my walk was drawing to a close as the cold on my face signaled that squall was approaching. I headed toward home and the woodstove that would feel so much warmer after the cold outside.
It was a wonderful Christmas. It was a wonderful day after Christmas. I hope you have a chance to experience the peace and quiet (and amazing busy-ness) of the Vermont woods on a winter day.
Happy New Year !
Tags: walk in the woods
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 20th, 2009
It is almost Christmas. We finished decorating today and I did a little last minute shopping on the Green. I found a sweet little stocking stuffer at J n B Country Shoppe, two great books for gifts at Misty Valley Books and then made my way to DaVallia where I was thrilled to find a gorgeous handblown ornament for my friends on Cape Cod.
There is something so wonderful about finding just the right gift for someone you care about, and it is made so much better when you can share the holiday excitement with the good folks who own these businesses in our small town.
Giving a gift is a powerful opportunity to surprise someone with how much we know about them. It is a special way to show them how much we care about them. Is there anything better?
Merry Christmas
Tags: holiday shopping
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 16th, 2009
Sitting at my desk anticipating how much fun we’re going to have tonight at the Chamber Holiday Party. Can’t wait to introduce the 2010 calendar Men of Okemo Valley! Everyone can get their calendars autographed and vote for their favorite month, cutest, bravest of them all, etc.
Have great programs planned for 2010 and can’t wait to share them. If I was any more excited I would be out of my skin!!!
Tomorrow I’m interviewing two new Chamber member companies on LPC-TV. Shelley Sas from Waterwheel House Quilt Shop in Londonderry and Jason Marechaux and Suzanne Ebel of East Coast Collision & Restoration in Mount Holly. We have such great businesses in our Okemo Valley.
We had a scavenger hunt on December 5th through Ludlow and Chester. Everyone had such a good time and asked us to do it again. We’ll plan another one in February.
Well, got to go. Will check in later.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 11th, 2009
After waiting patiently, we finally have snow and lots of it. Okemo Mountain Resort is open and Jackson Gore Inn opens Saturday 12/12! (Guess the bears have gone into hibernation).
The Chamber had its annual meeting at the Gill Odd Fellows Home in Ludlow the night of the big storm. That didn’t stop 30 people from coming, along with Secretary of State Deb Markowitz from Burlington. We learned about www.StartaBusinessinVermont.net website which is a one stop shop to learn how to write a business plan, build management skills, finance a business, find new customers and increase sales. We also received hand outs regarding SBA Resources and Vermont Alternative Lender Matrix. Copies are available from the Chamber office.
The Chamber introduced the following new programs for 2010:
1. Travel with the Chamber. Our first trip is scheduled for November 4-13, 2010 to Tuscany! Everyone is welcome to travel with us. Make sure you come to Bella Luna in Ludlow on Wednesday, May 12 from 6-8p for more details from Collette Tours. The Chamber office has brochures available now.
2. Chamber Mail. This is a direct mail program targeting new residents to the Okemo Valley area. This program will provide our business to consumer chamber members an opportunity to reach new customers. www.okemo.chambermail.us
3. Customer Service. We will have our January 13th mixer at Newsbank Conference Center in Chester and will have an interactive presentation about our Customer Service Promise for the Okemo Valley. We want to be a “5 Star Region”.
4. Men of Okemo Valley 2010 Calendar. Don’t forget to come to the Cool Moose Cafe on Wednesday, December 16th from 6-8pm in Ludlow for the Calendar Men “reveal”. The men can autograph your calendars and you can vote for your favorite month, cutest, bravest, etc.
Hope to see everyone soon!!!
Marji
Posted in Events, Misc., Packages, Specials | No Comments »
