Category Archives: Ski

Blue Mountain Apres Ski in Flip Flops & Shorts

19 Monday Mar 2012

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The skis are getting prepped to be put away in the attic after an amazing St. Patrick’s day getaway to Blue Mountain.  We left the overcast skies of Toronto to find sunshine and 25 degree weather up in Collingwood!

Posing on the slopes

As we got dressed to ski we debated what layers we needed – apparently most clothing items we did not need! I skied in a long sleeved T and ski pants without gloves.

Skiing in the spring conditions is tiring and the patios were calling to us so we packed it in and headed to a patio.  But before we could enjoy a drink and the sunshine we had to head to the shops.  I think I was the only one in the entire village who did not know about the early arrival of summer… I had to buy shorts and flip flops to fully enjoy the apres!

We spent a couple hours patio hopping, enjoying a few drinks as we moved through the village and of course we didn’t realize we probably should have put on some sunscreen much earlier in the day.

Enjoying a drink at the base of Blue

While I know that this weather is wrong and we shouldn’t be wearing shorts and sunning after a couple hours of skiing in March, I have to say that it was a fabulous weekend where I really did relax and have a great time. I do hope though that the season lasts much longer next year!

 

A unique dining experience in the Tremblant Village

10 Saturday Mar 2012

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This is the third and likely last post on Tremblant as I reminisce about the great weekend. (I sadly don’t have time time ski this weekend and with the temperatures in Ontario I don’t think there will be snow next weekend)

La Savoie

Our one night in the village we decided to try something we haven’t had before and settled on La Savoie – a fondue restaurant.  What is better than a pot of metled cheese! One warning – you must book a reservation and there are two sittings 5:30 and 8:30 (or at least that is all that was available when I called!)

Filet Mignon waiting for a bath in red wine

It is a quaint nordic themed restaurant and great for larger groups since you need two people per fondue type.  We settled on a red wine one with filet mignon but got the melted cheese appetizer to satisfy my need for melted cheese! Some of the tables order the platter that actually gets you a wheel of cheese suspended over a heat source; you shave off soft, warm chunks of cheese.

Our meal was delish! As was the merlot. (sadly we can’t get this Australian bottle of Pfeiffer at the LCBO or even the SAQ) I will likely be back to this restaurant with a larger group to try more of the menu.

Melted cheese!

(I was not compensated for this post, it is just a recount of my wonderful dinner in Tremblant!)

Skiing at Tremblant makes up for a strange ON ski season

06 Tuesday Mar 2012

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If you live in Ontario and are a skier, you are probably like me and feeling like winter ripped you off! I even have a pair of new skis for this season. This past weekend I took my first trip to Tremblant and I fell in love.

Stunning scenery & great skiing

We stayed two nights outside the village and one night in the village and while they were very different experiences, both were wonderful!

Outside the village we stayed at Chateau Beauvallon which was comfortable and elegant. Our room had two bathrooms and a small kitchen.  We took their shuttle to the mountain during the day and sat in the outdoor hot tub apres ski.  I would recommend this place to everyone, even at regular price.  I, of course, had a Team Buy voucher.

In the village we stayed at Homewood Suites which was less elegant but right in the village.  The village is busy so you have to want to be in the middle of things; for us it was a nice contrast from the first two nights. You can literally walk out the door and over to the lift.

This video (that I was asked to watch as part of a survey) Take me to the top, sums up most of my weekend! I definitely plan to return next year for a longer stay.

(I was not subsidized in any way by Mont Tremblant, Homewood Suites or Chateau Beauvallon – although I wouldn’t turn down a free night or lift ticket! – the above post is simply me sharing the details of my weekend!)

A trip to the Scandinave Spa Tremblant – Does this qualify me as a polar bear?

03 Saturday Mar 2012

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First stop on a weekend in Tremblant is the Scandinave Spa! Booked for massages we went early to take some time in the waters. For those of you who haven’t done this type of spa, you alternate between:

  • Heat
  • Cold
  • Relaxation

Winter Oasis

This was my first trip to this type of spa in the winter and at night so it takes some getting used to; walking around in your bathing suit and flip flops in the snow! The landscaping and design is just wonderful. You can hear waterfalls and smell wood burning. It is very tranquil (especially since there is to be no talking – yes, that is hard for me, we had a few whispered conversations while in the hot pools).

Now part of this process, that has tremendous health benefits is the dip in the cold pool and in addition to cold pools this location has the river. You can actually head down for a dip in the river.

It is as cold as it looks!

I will always try something once!  It is cold… everything went numb and tingled… everything! I went in the river twice in the process before heading in for a massage and would encourage anyone at the Tremblant Scandinave to give it a try!

(I should mention that I have not been compensated by the Scandinave Spa Tremblant and that this post is just chronicling my trip to the mountain)

A busy upcoming 6 weeks… (busy in a good way!)

22 Sunday Jan 2012

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Hope everyone had a great weekend! I did. I spent the weekend in Ellicottville with friends. While the conditions at Holiday Valley were cruddy the weekend was filled with good friends, food, wine and fun. Lola & Otis even made it down on their first

The wonderful village of Ellicottville

international adventure! In the next 6 weeks I have a lot of travel and am open to suggestions for places to eat, things to do and even in some cases where to stay.

This is what the next six weeks look like:

  • Greensburg to visit family then to Seven Springs to ski (anyone ever been there?)
  • Horseshoe for a night to ski (bought that one on Groupon)
  • Blue Mountain for two nights (bought that one on Fabfind)
  • Mont Tremblant for a long weekend (bought that one on Teambuy)

And, I almost forgot I am in Stamford for business and Ottawa for business and pleasure (visiting with a girlfriend and her baby boy who I haven’t met yet).

I need suggestions on where to stay for one night in Tremblant, a place to eat in Stamford (although I have yet to have a bad meal there) and any other suggestions you may have!

Here is hoping to some good skiing.

Apres Ski!

Have a good week everyone!