In a perfect world there would be no sickness, right? We would all be washing our hands with soap and water. We’d cough and sneeze into our elbow. Each doorstep would host a chemical shower so we could hose off after being coughed in the face by a total stranger. That is what utopia looks ...
There are so many microbreweries located around the Adirondacks and more popping up every day. Though I like to visit because the beer is delicious, I really enjoy the various breweries' connections to their neighborhoods. Each place is different. Some breweries offer a larger public house and ...
We have been waiting for the Lake Placid Toboggan Chute to open. It’s a winter highlight for my family and one of our “go-to” winter activities for visiting family and friends. Sliding down an icy ramp onto a frozen Mirror Lake is not something people get to do everywhere. It is unusual ...
A month may seem like an eternity to your children and writing an original 10-minute play may seem like a breeze. That doesn’t mean that all Adirondack Park middle and high school students can’t start working and perfecting their winning entries for the annual Pendragon Theatre Young ...
This is my public service announcement. Parents, please stop gossiping about other people’s children. I was waiting in line at a coffee shop not too long ago and overheard a conversation between two mothers. It was not my intent to overhear, but they were talking so loudly that I’m not sure ...
This is a year for ice and with that comes an automatic stop at the Lake Placid ice track on Mirror Lake. Though there are plenty of skating opportunities around the Adirondacks, one reassuring aspect of skating on Mirror Lake is that the North Elba Park District graciously keeps it clear of ...
The Wild Center is one of our favorite places to visit. It houses all the essentials for a multigenerational family: coffee, animals, coffee, interactive activities, coffee and wonderful trails to work off all the caffeine consumed. I enjoy the exhibits and am constantly amazed at how this ...
Living in the Adirondacks and being able to look at a darkened sky filled with glimmers of planets and stars is something I never take for granted. I admit my view of the sky is more mystical than practical, though I can identify some common constellations. My family makes time for a full moon ...
The weather might be a tad bit inconsistent, but there are still many activities to check off the winter To-Do list. Taking a horse-drawn sleigh ride is one of them. Adirondack Sleigh Rides at Lake Placid’s John Brown Farm, Lucky Clover Sleigh Rides at Lake Clear Lodge and Retreat and the ...
I love winter, the winter solstice and the Christmas holiday. I love it when the decorations are finally on our tree and the house smells more like a winter walk than a golden retriever. I could keep that balsam up all year if it didn’t become a fire hazard. We’ve finally stored the bins ...
Recently I was put in an awkward situation where a contractor brought his children to work and I ended up babysitting. For starters, you do not know this person. It happened out of this area. But by the end of the story, you will probably know someone like him. Do not think I did this out of ...
It can be challenging to find ways to nip the holiday focus on commercialism. We survive Black Friday, attend Small Business Saturday, and search through the Cyber Monday deals. If we are careful, it’s easy to get caught in the drama of wanting the most popular “must-have” items. To ...
Our Christmas tree tradition always involves sturdy boots, a saw and lots of layers. Though not a planned segment of our seemingly idyllic Adirondack ritual, we always manage a snowball fight where someone gets hurt. It’s tradition. Our neighbors generously invite us to search for a tree on ...
It has been a challenging couple of months. I sometimes feel that if I’m given one more obstacle or ball to juggle, everything is going to just crash down around me. The reason that I’m writing this is in spite of the obstacles I’ve been given, I have also been given the opportunity to ...
I’m already nervous about how my turkey dinner is going to turn out and I don’t even eat turkey. Our family has been focusing on the North Country Ballet Ensemble’s 34th production of The Nutcracker in Plattsburgh and Lake Placid. (Yes, a shameless plug.) I’ve also got to figure out ...
I’m so excited for the snow. It’s not that in the past I’ve not enjoyed it, but sometimes the snowy weather really needs to stay in its own lane. I need to finish the yard work and remember where I left the garden tools. Don’t worry. I’m constantly reprimanded by family members that ...
A few years ago, the frost line went so deep that water pipes in homes across the Adirondacks were freezing in the middle of winter. Thankfully my house was without water for only a few days. As soon as our water came back on, we had neighbors showering at our house and taking buckets of water ...
Winter comes every year whether I’m ready for it or not and I never seem to be ready. It has nothing to do with not enjoying the snow. It’s because I haven’t crossed off all the autumn tasks from my list. I can always use one more day to try to accomplish my “to- do” list, but my ...
I’m not one for jump-scares or frightening movies, but I do love an opportunity to dress up. I also look forward to all the creativity that comes out for this celebration of the ghoulish and grim. Now we all know Halloween isn’t just for kids so if you are over 21, make sure to head ...
I think my dog can sense when I’m taking her for a walk along the Bloomingdale Bog Trail. Most of the time we want a quick, easy trail that gets us outside and is appropriate for all family and friends of various skill levels. Any segment of the flat Bloomingdale Bog trail fits the ...