Winter Wonderland?

I have determined that I'm not a cold weather vacation sort of gal.

It's something I've always suspected but I can now say, unequivocally, that it's a fact.

Last week we ventured into the mountainous New Hampshire wilderness for a family vacation. The fact that my kids now have three different winter breaks propelled me into scheduling a mini-vacation at a time convenient for all.

Reckless fool that I am, it didn't seem worth it booking a flight to some place warm for a mere four days. Ah, the wisdom of hindsight.

Instead, I chose an historic resort in New Hampshire. The place was beautiful. The skiing was right down the road, in addition to tubing, zip-lining, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and dog-sledding (yes, dog-sledding!).

These all seemed like fun-filled and perfectly reasonable activities at the time. And they were, they really were.

Except.

The east coast had that post-Christmas cold snap. Temps shot down to single digits, negative five with the wind chill during the day. It never stopped snowing, heavy at times, but, up until the morning of our departure, there was an endless cascade of flakes. Beautiful to look at. At least for the first day. Or two.

Remember when your kids were little and you spent all that time bundling them up to play in the snow? Extra socks and mittens. Hats and snow pants. Boots and scarves. And then of course, they'd have to pee, a truly monumental endeavor at that point.

Well, that's how I felt the whole time I was there. Bundle up to brave the great outdoors, peel off the layers once back inside. Bundle up. Peel off. A never-ending array of damp clothing and snow streaked floors.

Static electricity on the clothes, in the hair. Dry skin. Hat head. Numb faces and runny, red noses.

Don't get me wrong; we had fun. Tubing was fun. And zip-lining over a ski slope. I've always enjoyed speed.

And there was laughter, at times hysterical. Especially on our horse-drawn sleigh ride in blizzard-like conditions, an experience none of us will soon forget, including Dave, our driver, or Glenn, his trusty draft horse.

"I'm cold, Mommy. I'm cold." This, from my 22 year-old son, curled in the fetal position on his bed after skiing.

Shut up and grow a pair, I wanted to snap at him. Except that I was too busy counting my own frozen digits.

Okay, we admit it. We're wimps.

We tried our best. We persevered. We can check one off the bucket-list.

"The next time we take a sleigh ride, it won't be in a blizzard," First-Born Son informed me.

"What next time?" I stared at him. "I don't know about you, but I'm good. For life."

And while nothing beats sipping a hot-toddy by the warmth of a roaring fire as the winds howl at the windows, I think I prefer a tropical drink with a tiny umbrella in it, while lounging poolside or on some warm, white sand.

Promise me you'll remind me of this next winter, okay?

 

Comments

[KLM]

That sleigh ride sure "looked" like a lot of fun and so picturesque! At least your "twenty something" kids still want to vacation with you, unlike some I know!

[Michele]

Sounds like it was truly cold up there.

I don't do cold so we decided to do the South, New Orleans, Natchez, Memphis, thinking we'd be safe from the cold. Nope, froze our hinneys off. Next year it's Cancun all the way. Though with my luck it will snow.

[Jen on the Edge]

We used to ski before we had kids. We haven't done it in 12 years and I don't miss it one bit. Even with all the right gear and plenty of layers, I hated being cold.

[SuziCate]

I'm with you on preferring the tropical weather to blizzard conditions,but oooooh the wonderful memories. My kids love the snow spsorts as much as the water sports, however, they might change their tune in a blizzard.Now, the carriage ride appeals to me!

[Sprite's Keeper]

I was warned not to say anything about where I live right now since the Northerners may have me maimed... Hope you're warm!

[Lora]

your vacation is my nightmare.

I always say I want to spend a weekend in the Poconos. I don't want to leave a cabin that has the heat cranked up and fires in every fire place and I want a bottle of scotch in every room. And books. And blankets.

[Diane]

Florida, south Texas, Arizona, southern California - all are perfectly good winter destinations. Not to mention the truly tropical resort locales... Yes, these might be more what you had in mind.

Even in my own backyard on New Year's Day. It was not summer weather, but it was sunny and we were enjoying the outdoors sitting by the pool. Not bad for winter.

Taking advance reservations for the guest suite...

Happy new year!

[Ocean Girl]

The best part of any vacation, is to arrive home!

[class factotum]

Oh yeah. Cold. Not my favorite. Not at all.

[Jan]

Oh, this so reminds me of my one and only "winter" vacation. It was when Beloved and I first started to date; he was still in full courting plumage and whisked me away to Winter Park, Colorado for 4 days. Because I'd never seen "real" snow in my entire 36 years on earth (I'm from Dallas, remember!). We did some of the same things you and your family did and had an absolutely *hysterical* time. I think I'll blog about. Maybe soon.

But I'm with you - no matter how much I enjoyed that trip, I do believe I prefer laying on a beach in Hawaii, mai tai in hand and soaking up the sun, during the winter months.

[Lynn]

I love the snow. When it's juuust cold enough to keep it a nice, fluffy snow and without any wind. Then it's lovely. I can deal with that all winter. But add extreme cold and wind? I'll join you in the Bahamas...

[Pseudo]

Beach house in Hawaii next year?

[PLRH]

I'm with you. My trip to Chicago last month was my first trip up north during the winter in 15 years. I kept forgetting my coat every time I got up from a table at a restaurant. Although I had fun the first few days, I finally decided that the coat, scarf, hat, and gloves were all such a hassle. I was so glad to get back to Florida!

[LPC]

I hear Barbados is lovely right about now...

[~The South Dakota Cowgirl~]

Now, see Maureen, if you lived here where I did, you'd be used to that cold air, and snow, and you'd have the dressing for it down to a science like I do. The carriage ride looked like so much fun. I really hope I get to do some skiing this year. My skis are longing for some snow! Now If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go write about how living in the snow isn't all it's cracked up to be!

[Mama Badger]

Jan hadn't seen snow until she was 36 and now she lives in Ohio? Bwa ha ha ha! That comment alone made today's visit worth it.

However, down to serious business. What the hell made you take a winter vacation to the NE when you live in the NE? You're supposed to get away from the cold for vacation, Maureen! Silly islander, snow is for tourists (and Christmas cards).

[Jane]

Here's hoping that next year all of your schedules (and finances!) will collide in such a way that a trip to Hawaii or the Bahamas will be do-able. Fingers crossed!

[Kristen @ Motherese]

Like some of your other commenters, I thought of a winter "vacation" of my own while reading your post. A few years back, Husband and I visited a lovely mountain resort in upstate New York only to be completely snowed and iced in. Next week, we're traveling from the Midwest to Florida with our boys - supposedly to escape the cold. Unfortunately, it's been in the 40s there all week. Well, I guess that's better than the 10s we've had here.

[selkie]

"i'll remind you" said the mouthy irish woman in arkansas sitting in 19 degree weather.

oy.

[Menopausal New Mom]

Oh I feel for ya! We had a New Year's Eve in the park for the kids this year right across the street. It must have been well below freezing, I thought I was gonna stick to everything it was so cold outside. My daughter was bundled up and so was I and we still near froze! Yes, we had that same cold snap here, we are just north of New Hampshire so I hear ya!

[Vincent]

If you put a bubble to the draft-horses mouth cartoonlike, I suspect the entire bottom right of the keyboard would be in use as well as much of the top row.
Nor I suspect would it start 'I met a lady from the south who said'.

[Gropius]

It's so wrong--so obviously wrong--for getting dressed to take so long. Suffice it to say, it's colder than a well digger's ass in Florida right now. Which could only mean one thing up where you are. It's REALLY cold. Brrrrr... Stay inside! Blog! We love you.

[Erin]

I've driven through that notch in blizzard conditions. It's soo not fun. And while that area is one of my favorite hiking destinations and we do 'vacation' there in the summer, I don't think I would go there on purpose in the winter. :-) Don't you know that mountain has the craziest weather on the planet?
Although, you did get blog fodder...

[Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings]

My God woman! What were you thinking! I've lived in the Northeast my whole life. Snow, cold, winter, ice...yadda, yadda. Give me sun! Sun I tell you! I mean, not too much sun because then I get hot and cranky. So give me temps in the 70s. Yeah, that's good.

Oh screw it! I'm never happy!

[Beth]

I think I'm a warm weather girl myself. Which works out nicely since Georgia has summer for approximately 9 months out of the year.

[kathryn]

Okay...so, we'll remember this as "Winter of Maureen's Temporary Insanity", copyright 2009...or, WOMTI for short.

Next year, the only chill you should feel is the ice clinking in your cocktail.

(The zipline sounded like fun, until I realized how COLD it must've been! No. thank. you.)

[Dreamfarmgirl]

Thank you for reminding me why I should stay put in Texas, even though the endless weeks of triple digit temps make me want to flee in the summer. You had me hooting at your 22-year-old son whining to his mommy. Sleigh rides sound romantic to me, but I guess I never imagined it in such bone-chilling cold. BRRRRR!

[jessica]

my sister has a ski place in Vermont and invited us to go. My only response? "why would I want to do that?"

[Heather]

You are one-of-a-kind, girl! Too funny your son whining!

At least you all had a good time together!

[debbie]

You crack me up! There are so many times I want to tell my sons to grow a pair:)
I would not have done well with that vacation either:)

[Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt]

At least it will be a trip you won't soon forget.

Glad you're home safe and warm!

[Mrsblogalot]

To me, vacation and cold don't mix...not even with a heavy Irish coffee
I'll happily send you a remdinder(-;

[Casey]

I promise to remind you but to a Southern girl like me, it sounds magical. I've never lived in the snow and have always wanted to. I told someone today that if my parent's (and babysitters) weren't close by, I'd be outta here.

Sorry your vacation was so chilly but you would have been cold here too, it's been in the 30's and 40's here all week, 20 degrees below normal. Brr.

[faemom]

Yup, you would never find me doing that. It's my personal hell. Snow. Yuck. I'll stay in the warmth, thank you very much.

[Kimberly]

I love it! All my East Coast friends are whining about the cold temps while I'm here whining about the 80 degree weather we are having in JANUARY!. I went to college in NH and it's so beautiful there, but very cold. I don't know if I could do it again, but seeing all this winter makes me miss it a lot!

[Jason]

Cold vacation=bad vacation.

[Smart Mouth Broad]

Would you hate me if I said this sounds delightful. It's our sub-tropical climate. Makes me long for snow. And it's not so sub-tropical at the moment so it might as well snow.

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

I'm a warm-weather gal myself. I never would have left my room. It sounds like the experience of a lifetime!