Our Vacation Up North

OK where to start? After spending a fun-filled, long weekend in West Newfield, Maine last July, we were headed back for some much needed relaxation. Jay and I decided it would make the most sense to get a head start and arrive Wednesday night instead of Thursday morning. We stopped for dinner on the way up and got into West Newfield at 10:30 PM. What we couldn't see as we maneuvered up the long, steep driveway was the thick sheet of ice! As we were driving up, we slid back down and spun around until we were stuck horizontally. The car would not budge. We decided to get the girls up to the house and deal with the car in the morning. That meant carrying three kids uphill, on a sheet of ice, in the dark of night. It was awful. We finally made it up, only to discover the snow on the walkway was chest deep. It looked like the owners hadn't been there the entire season. And where was the key to open the door? Under the mat on the porch. The porch that was covered in snow and ice. We had to slip and slide back down the driveway, while Jay used our snow scraper to try to dig the key out from under the mat. There was so much ice, it was impossible. Especially without a light, in the freezing cold. Seems like no big deal - except the car is stuck in a snow bank. And we have NO CELL PHONE RECEPTION! Long story short - after being towed out of the driveway, we made it to a hotel at 2:30 in the morning! It was an awful night and the kids were awake most of the time (adding their two cents in, of course.) It was pretty scary. At one point it felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, with no way out and no one could help us. We did have the option of breaking into the house. But honestly, it was late and cold and the vacation was pretty much tarnished at that point for me, so I wanted away from the whole ordeal.

The next morning Jay and I decided that there was a black cloud hanging over us. We couldn't just head home, we were determined to make the most out of the trip. And that meant getting the hell out of Maine and away from this negative energy. We drove aimlessly (because we are crazy like that) until we ended up in Vermont.



The hotel was amazing. We stayed in a suite with a fireplace and a jacuzzi. The best part was that the New England Culinary Institute (Alton Brown of Food Network) study and cook at the hotel, so the two restaurants are extremely great. Possibly the best food I have ever had. The rooms are decorated differently, ours was colorful and funky. And we were able to get the kids down each night and rent in-theater movies and order room service. I've decided that having martinis delivered to you in bed is the ultimate experience. I could have stayed for a month. During the days, we toured The Vermont Teddy Bear Co. and Ben and Jerry's! We're settled in at home again and Hillary has her Calliou back. She began having withdrawals a few hours from home. I guess even a luxury suite doesn't have everything...like a DVR stocked full of her favorite shows!