Monday, June 6, 2011

Summer in The Mountains - Smuggler's Notch Resort in Vermont

Close your eyes and picture yourself gliding across a beautiful mountain lake in a canoe, hiking through a green mountain forest, and then soaring high above the trees to get a bird's eye view of mature strands of hemlock, white birch, and sugar maple. Imagine days filled with tennis, golf, pools & water slides, family picnics, and  geocaching. Well, all of these adventures and much much more await you at Smuggler's Notch Resort in Vermont. Summer at Smuggs' is the experience of a lifetime!  Smugglers' Notch guarantees fun and they know how to deliver!

Smuggler's summer programs for children ages 3 to 17 offer nature discovery, pool outings, and arts & crafts as well as many other great ways to fill the day. Kids 7 to 10 can choose to focus on special interests such as performance, adventure & games, and a variety of other programs. Specialty camps in Tennis, Skateboarding, and High Adventure are also part of the wide range of activities Smuggs' provides.  The popular High Adventure Camp features four days of active fun including kayaking, taking on the High Ropes Challenge course, Notchville Park's climbing tower, and an exciting Via Ferrata experience with zipline. Via Ferrata, also known as "the Iron Way",combines hiking, rock climbing, & high ropes adventure. Guides will clip you in and lead you on a hike through the woods, rocky terrain and stream beds near Smuggs'. Safely traverse local gorges, scale huge boulders and walk along picturesque trails. No experience necessary!


With 8 heated pools and 4 water slides to choose from you can spend your days lounging poolside as the kids splash and play in the sun! At Rum Runners' Hideaway, Smuggs' scenic 6-acre reservoir located high on Morse Mountain, your family can enjoy fishing, picnicking and swimming. In the swimming area, there is a Fidget Ladder Climb and Aqua Jump, a 25-foot diameter water trampoline with attached Slide Walk and Aqua Launch for bouncing and launching into the water—a great way to have fun and soak yourself and your friends! 

Your family will also love Smuggs' llama treks, which provide an opportunity to hike and picnic with these gentle creatures in the woods and trails around Smugglers' Notch. These 3 hour treks are fun for all ages. You may just fall in "llove" with a llama! 


Have a little one that's too young for the outdoor adventures?  No problem! Just drop your munchkin off at Treasure's, Smugg's state of the art Child Care Center. Children ages 6 weeks to 3 years can enjoy time in this 5,400 square foot wonderland. Giant fish tanks in every room, a multitude of age-appropriate toys, and a large outdoor playground make it a perfect place for your children while you have some Mom/Dad time out on the mountain.  

My older children and husband were thrilled to experience the Arbor Trek Zip line canopy tour, the newest addition to Smugg's attractions. The Tour follows a mountain brook from high above Smugglers' Notch Resort Village. The 2 1/2 to 3-hour Zipline Canopy Tour will have you soaring down more than 4,000 feet of zip lines, crossing sky bridges, and rappeling from trees. There is a minimum weight requirement (70lbs) but, there is a tandem option with an instructor for those that don't meet it.


Adults can choose from a mix of activities that include health and wellness programs, guided hikes, cooking classes with the chefs of the Resort's renowned Hearth and Candle Restaurant , and the new weekly Indulgence Tour . Indulge yourself in this day trip that is designed to pamper you with coffee, chocolate, wine, maple syrup, Vermont history, and covered bridges. This trip includes stops at Brown & Jenkins Coffee Roasters, Snowflake Chocolates, Boyden Valley Winery, VT Maple Outlet, and Covered Bridges. As well as a stop at the Old Red Mill to view the Snowflake Bentley Collection.





From down on the ground to high up in the sky.. indoor play ( be sure to check out Smuggs' FUNZone ) to the great outdoors.. and from tot to teen and in between, Smuggs' has it covered! Every member of your family will discover plenty of ways to have an unforgettable vacation!


For more information and to choose a Summer Vacation Package that fits your family's needs please visit their website at  www.smuggs.com  or call 1-802-644-8851.






RAIN - A Tribute to The Beatles

Let it RAIN!!!


My family and I recently had the opportunity to travel back in time. This magic was thanks to RAIN- A Tribute to the Beatles, a show that transports the audience to the past to experience the iconic music and presence of the Beatles.

You're not just watching a show, you are participating in a performance with John, Paul, George, and Ringo. RAIN makes you feel like you are right in the middle of a Beatles concert, listening to them perform songs over the span of their careers. There is no "play" to see, just an excellent selection of hit after hit performed at such a high caliber it's as if the actual Beatles are in front of you playing live.  Video screens display clips of real Beatles footage, commercials from the time period (which are hysterical), trivia, and the audience members enjoying the show.  There is nothing quite like dancing and singing to great music with your kids and we were up on our feet and enjoying every minute of it!

We were lucky enough to meet the extraordinarily talented cast of RAIN, Steve Landes (John Lennon), Joey Curatolo (Paul McCartney), Joe Bithorn (George Harrison), and Ralph Castelli (Ringo Starr).  My teenage son Sam had the chance to ask them a few questions.

We were lucky enough to meet the extraordinarily talented cast of RAIN, Steve Landes (John Lennon), Joey Curatolo (Paul McCartney), Joe Bithorn (George Harrison), and Ralph Castelli (Ringo Starr).  My teenage son Sam had the chance to ask them a few questions.

Sam:    How long have you been together performing?

Joey:   More than 20 years. Our newest member (Steve Landes) has been with us 12 years.

Sam:    How long have you been fans of the Beatles?

Joey:   We are 1st and 2nd generation fans, I actually saw them perform on the Ed Sullivan Show.
 

Sam:    How are you able to imitate your characters so perfectly?

Joey:   We studied them and still study. We really listen, constantly. It's an ongoing process that we tweak and tighten all the time.

Sam:    What is your favorite song to perform?

Joe:     We love them all and love the audience interaction.

Sam:    Which of the Beatles songs has a message that resonates most with you?

Joe:     Well, right now "Revolution" because of what is going on in the world today.

Steve:  All of the songs have a positive message..peace, love, how regular people can change the world. The messages are just as relevant today as they were back then.

Sam:    That's true. I was surprised that some of their music sounded country

Ralph:  As the times changed they expanded their repertoire to include something for everyone.

Sam:    What advice would you give to someone ( like me) who wanted to pursue a career in music?


Ralph:  Be well rounded. Learn and listen to all different types of music.

Sam:     Thank you so much for speaking with me, I can't wait to see the show again!


RAIN is a fantastic experience for the whole family! Bring the kids and bring the grandparents, everyone will have a great time! RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles is touring Nationally and showing on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre 256 West 47th Street, New York, NY  10036 . For more information or to purchase tickets go to www.raintribute.com