Rail Explorers in Portsmouth, Rhode Island - Rail Bikes with young kids

Northern Ramble with Kids (3 and 5) 

Since any of us could remember, our son Whitney loved trains. Toy trains, riding trains, shows about trains, trains were life. We spent mornings riding the steam train (special events like Thomas the Train and Polar Express included), afternoons riding the Shoreline East rail to go grab pizza, and evenings building elaborate wooden toy tracks. We celebrated Whitney's second birthday with a Chugga Chugga Two Two party and nurtured his love of trains. 

As he got older, the wooden trains came out a little less often but he still asked to "go the train track way" and stopped to point out a rail spur whenever we saw one. When I found out about the rail bike adventures around New England, I knew this would be a fun way to explore with our train-loving son. 

Two days (and a long run) in Rome

Recapping my time in Italy (back in April) has truly been a slow burn. Having young kids and running a company does leave little free time for leisurely writing but Rome was our last stop on our trip and far too special not to share. Every city we visited during my trip to Italy absolutely exceeded my expectations. Not only does Italy have the food, wine, and culture as a whole, but each city has its own flair and identity. 

Florence was cobblestone streets and sunsets over the river, tile buildings and affogatos in the piazzas. Venice was a maze of canals, beautifully colored houses by the sea, a carless city where ferry boats are the mode of transportation and it is a sort of magic to be buzzing around the twinkling city at night. 

Rome is different. Rome is time traveling, it’s walking down a road and turning the corner to see the Colosseum so casually framed between two buildings. It’s walking through a park that used to house hundreds of thousands of Romans watching chariot racing. It is living and wandering around an ancient city where everything is out in the open, a lesson in the Roman Empire that isn’t blocked behind a paywall. 

Parco Cafrella

We only spent 2.5 days in Rome but was able to experience a lot of the city in 2.5 days. We spent our first afternoon getting our bearings and exploring the northern end of Parco Cafrella. It was a Sunday evening and on a Roman Sunday, the city slows down and everyone soaks up the Italian sun at the park. Picnic were packed, trail runners were out, dogs ran around the fields and Italians lounged in the evening air. The birder in our group was happy to scout out new species, while I was eager to see what Rome was like from the local standpoint. After our evening in the park I planned to spend the next day soaking up some of the history of Rome. 

8 Mile route through Rome

Long Run Around Rome - Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Castel Sant'Angelo, Tiber, Colosseum, and Roman Forum

I knew that the center of Rome is famous for its crowds, with the Colosseum being the most visited spot in Italy. I knew that if I wanted to find some solitude, I would have to be willing to get up early; easier said than done with the jet lag and time change. Nonetheless, I did some research and mapped out an 8-mile route from our Airbnb outside the city, to some of the major sites through Rome. 

2 Days in Venice, Murano, and Burano

When this trip came to be it was planned out to be four days in Rome with an overnight excursion to Florence. We quickly received an email letting us know our flight was being moved a day and so, with the extra day, the trip shifted a bit to two days in Florence, two days in Venice, and two days in Rome. Venice for me, was a chance to see the famous canal city. Venice for Corey was a chance at a whole new list of birds. A last-minute addition of two days in Venice was a slice of Italian magic and we loved being on the water. We had no agenda for our two days in Venice and we wandered in and out of shops, enjoyed cocktails in piazzas, tried different restaurants, and soaked in the culture of the canal city.

A Wanderer's Guide to (two days in) Florence

Adam and I made plans to each take the kids somewhere fun this year while the other had a chance for some kid-free time. 

For my part, I took the kids to Florida to visit my snowbirding parents in Daytona Beach Florida, while Adam and some friends had a guy's weekend skiing at Pico. In turn, Adam was taking the kids to South Carolina with his parents to visit family, and I had a 4-day weekend to myself. I quickly started searching around google maps, the only way I ever book a flight, and instead of something "simple" like Florida, a round-trip flight to Rome priced at $380 caught my eye. From here, an idea was born. Why spend a long weekend in the US when I could spend it abroad for truly a fraction of the price. An inexpensive flight, cheaper lodging and food, public transportation and no rental car needed. And of course, the chance to explore Italy with a glass of wine behind a plate of pasta. 

While I was more than happy to go alone, I quickly ran through my friend list of people who would A) be interested in traveling abroad and B) were okay with traveling the way I travel. I choose to travel in a budget-friendly way, focused on wandering and experiencing the culture through good food and a lot of walking instead of high end resorts and seeing big ticket items through tours. Instantly, Corey came to mind as someone who was wildly easy-going, and was okay with skipping the tourist high-ticket items in exchange for a long lunch filled with seafood. It was a pretty quick yes and from there, our Girl's Trip to Italy was born. 

A week at Lake Brome, Quebec, Canada

I consider myself wildly lucky to be surrounded by friends who love to travel, especially the international ones. My friend Mary Ellen, who invited us to join her for a week in Italy, invited us out of the country again but this time, a little closer. She booked a house on a lake in Canada, making an out-of-country getaway a bit easier with kids by making it within driving distance to the amazing lake area of Lake Brome. 

Lake Brome is about a 5.5 hour drive from coastal Connecticut, and just over the border of our northern neighbor. It is only 40 minutes over the border but you instantly notice the change of scenery and culture and you enter the very french area of southern Quebec. While there is plenty to do in the area, you are also only an hour drive from Montreal and three hours from Quebec City. We went up in August which was the perfect time of year to float on the lake, bike the recreation paths, and enjoy a different culture so close to home. 

We loved the area, and loved this relaxing week away with friends and wonderful weather. It is truly a perfect family destination with outings to local zoos, a trip to the city, and slow days spent at local parks and playgrounds. Canada does open spaces and parks so much better than we do, and we enjoyed free access to public pools, splash pads, parks, and recreation trails. There is such an emphasis on the outdoors, and making it accessible to families, that makes you envious of a bit disappointed we don't hold those same values here in the United States. 

This post is a bit different than most as it isn't a formal travel guide. We truly just spent the week relaxing on the lake, enjoying all it had to offer. I included some highlights which highlight some of our day trips and activities as we ventured around the area. 

An Ode to Olive

In 2011, I applied to several different rescues with the hopes of adopting my first dog. I was finally out of school, out of my parent's house, and into my first rental in the quiet little town of Essex, Connecticut. It was the first real time in my life where I could get my own dog and I convinced my boyfriend at the time that a puppy was a great idea for our early 20 somethings lives together. I didn’t have the normal prerequisites rescues often require like a fenced in yard, or big dog experience. What I did have was a passion to rescue, and a marathon training plan with an open spot for a training partner.

I applied to cute bouncy little puppies all throughout the state, a white shepherd mix, and countless others. Each time, I was met with the same answer - no fence, I was only renting, and there were better applicants ahead of me (especially for the puppies). While their reasons were completely valid, and the reason so many dogs are returned, I was frustrated and knew I would have to get a little creative if I wanted to adopt. 

It was 2009 and Facebook Marketplace didn’t exist yet. Craigslist was the local web yard sale for everything from used cars to kid’s toys for sale. Craigslist is also a dangerous place for rehoming dogs as there is often little to no vetting process. It is where “free dogs” find themselves being rehoused into a dog fighting ring, or some other awful situation. 

Not for Olive. It was there on Craiglist that I saw an ad for a “Lab Mix Puppy”. I can still remember the photo like it was yesterday, a little black lab puppy with long black ears,  laying down resting her head on a floral print chair. 

 Year in Review 2025

This year was a wild one. Between the news, the kids, and my company, it felt like I was chasing my tail for 12 months straight. It was crazy and chaotic but in all the ways that makes life rich and full. It was full of all the things that make a life worth living with people I love in places I thrive in. We took the kids abroad (first time we took both of them together), I learned a new hobby (weekly tennis lessons all year), Whitney started a Pre-K program at his elementary school, and my business thrived. We balanced weekends home with camping trips, skiing weekends, and a road trip to Canada. Winter was spent on the slopes, spring at home, the summer in all the water split between Cedar Lake and the beach, and fall in our favorite northern states. It was a magical year for their ages (2 and 4) and a year that challenged us as parents and partners. We grew, we changed, we filled out calendar and enjoyed our neighborhood. 2025 was good to us and I can't wait to see what the new year brings. 

Trips
Skiing at Pico and Killington (solo and with the kids)
Backcountry skiing the Sherburne Trail in New Hampshire 
10 Days in Ireland with the kids 
Summer Killington/Quechee Gorge, Vermont
A week in Canada at Lac-Brome

Camping
May: Witch Meadow Lake, Connecticut
June: Hammonasset State Park in Connecticut
July: Riverside Park Campground, Maine
September: Lake Taghkanic State Park, New York
October: Maple Brook Campground, Vermont

January

January is always a slow month which is what we always need. After the chaos of the holidays, we slow down and savor the slower month before the birthday month of February starts the chaos again. We skied a Powder Ridge, baked in the kitchen, took the dog for hikes, and spent a lot of time in Whitney's new power wheels rolling through the neighborhood. 

Skiing with Whitney

Piper at Adam's new piano

Whitney's new power wheels

Hikes with Piper and Otto

Mini chefs

Storm King Art Center - New Windsor, New York

Storm King was a name I had heard from friends and a sign I had seen in passing while wandering around New York. I didn't know a ton about it but I knew 1) it's an outdoor sculpture park you can walk around 2) you can rent bikes and enjoy the art center on two wheels 3) it seemed like a quaint way to enjoy the outdoors and art. So now that I've been, I can tell you what exactly is Storm King Art Center is (a 500-acre outdoor museum open rain or shine) and how much I enjoyed it (10/10, will be back). 

Let me start by saying that I am not a big "art person". I will quickly cruise through an art museum if you ask me to go but it isn't my preferred outing. I figured I would like this larger art form, especially in this outdoor setting with some physical activity involved. The art center is about 2.5 hours from home on the Connecticut Shoreline so while it's a doable day trip, it is a longer one. Storm King was on my list for a bit and when work asked if I would visit an office literally next door, I happily said yes, excited to finally experience the sculpture park. 

Mirror Fence, 2003, Alyson Shotz - my favorite piece at the park

Bathroom view

Fall Views of Storm King

Fall Views of Storm King

Storm King Welcome Center and Ticket Booth

From the moment I pulled into the parking lot, I was impressed. You are greeted by the beautiful welcome center building and you immediately understand that everything about this art center was thought out and planned. The bathrooms were stunning, with a gorgeous modern structures and open air style that was truly like an art piece in itself. 

I visited the art center on a rainy day in the end of September and I am so glad I didn't let the rain scare me away because it set me up for the perfect day. It was a Thursday and the day went on with a light drizzle but warm humid temperatures. Because I was alone, I decided to forgo the bike and turn my outing into a trail run through the park which basically turned into a private viewing. In a normally crowded art center (especially in the fall season), I only saw two couples and I was able to enjoy the park in all its beauty and quiet. The moody lighting and clouds really set the scene and I felt so calm and rejuvenated, enjoying the quiet and the beautiful art throughout the park. There were beautiful willows, fields, ponds and bridges, benches everywhere, and the park landscape itself is beautiful. The large form art dispersed throughout the park elevates the experience even further. 

Gravel trails through Storm King

Joel Shapiro, Untitled, 1994

Zhang Huan, Three Legged Buddha, 2007

If you visit the park, you have a few options. You can walk the paved paths and choose the paved roads, wooded trails, or gravel options throughout the park. You can rent bikes from the park (you cannot bring your own), and access the park on a bike. You can also hop on and off a trolley and visit the art and sculptures without having to walk the entire park.  You can grab a map to help navigate and all of the sculptures have a naming plaque where you can read more about the art in your brochure. 

A visit to Storm King would make an amazing date day, a great girls trip with a picnic (or stop at the cafe for lunch), or even a fun way to get kids into art in a more active and outdoor setting. You are free to wander and play and it feels like a great way to get kids outside and around art in a fun and low key setting. The art is also interactive and you can walk underneath and through the structures, a playful way to enjoy the outdoors and the creativity of the artists features at the art center. Plan a trip in the fall and you can enjoy the beauty of the park through the lens of a Northeast Autumn. 

Storm King Map

Visiting Storm King

Contents: Over 250 works of contemporary outdoor sculpture, said to be the "possibly the largest collection of contemporary outdoor sculptures in the United States"

Highlights: Includes large-scale sculptures and site-specific commissions

Established: Founded in 1960

Visiting: open year round - Closed Tuesdays (check out their hours here)
Open rain or shine and entirely outdoors (except for a small museum building) - dress accordingly!

Bike rentals: No outside bikes allowed, two-wheeled and three-wheeled bikes, as well as kids tag-along bikes and kids trailers or strollers are available to rent

Terrain: Paved roads (no cars except for the trolley), gravel roads, fields/lawns, and wooded trails

Bathrooms: There are indoor bathrooms throughout the park as well as port-o-pottys at sections of the park

Cafe: You can bring outside food or enjoy food at the ourdoor cafe. 

Kids: If you are walking, you can bring your own stroller to the park. There is also an option to hop on and off the trolley to access the park and sculptures. 

Fee: As of 2025, adult price is $25 weekday, $28 weekend 

Jeffrey Jenkins, Mermaid, 2000

Bea Blue, Arlene Shechet, 2024

Trails through Storm King

Three-fold Manifestation II, Alice Aycock, 1987

Figulo, Mark di Suvero, 2005

Fall Views of Storm King

Ireland (with kids!) 8 Day Itinerary and Video

If you are just tuning in, we spent eight days in Ireland with our two young children, 2 and 4 years old. We chose Ireland for a few reasons: 1) easy flight direct from our local airport in Hartford, Connecticut (no need to drive to New York or Boston for a direct flight). 2) It is a relatively small country that makes it easy to explore with kids, we knew we could rent a car and see a lot . 3) English is spoken making it easy to communicate and navigate. 4) We heard it was a beautiful country with friendly people 5) it was relatively affordable (cheap car rentals, affordable airbnbs, and food). 

I am here to report that Ireland exceeded every expectation. We had 8 days of absolutely perfect weather (a perfect sunny 70 degree day every day in the first week of May). The people were lovely, kind, and welcoming. The food was actually amazing. The country was so beautiful and we loved exploring it with our kids and my in laws. It was such a beautiful trip and easy enough to get to that we know we will be back to explore the country in the not too distant future. 

Are there things we would have done differently? I would love to spend more time in the Connemara region and more time hiking. I would definitely take a boat tour out to explore some of the islands off the west coast. I would have skipped the detour to the Cliffs of Moher. If I didn't have the kids I would have spent a half day in Dublin before heading out to see the rest of the Country. We also did not have enough time to explore northern Ireland, or the eastern coast. What we did do was the areas high on our wish list, spending a few days in two different home bases to really enjoy the area and not be on the go with the kids every single day. While we spaced out the timeline to enjoy the area, there is a decent amount of driving and if you are from the US (and a lot of the world) you will be on the wrong side of the road on the wrong side of the car on very narrow winding country roads. 

We loved Ireland and if you are planning a trip (especially with kids) this guide might be helpful for you. I really truly hope these posts also inspire you to get out of your comfort zone and travel abroad with your kids. 

Day 8: Connemara and Kylemore Abbey

Our last full day in Ireland was spent driving around the beautiful Connemara area to experience the National Park and the famous Kylemore Abbey. This area of Ireland was so beautiful and we didn't have enough time to explore it. The abbey itself is about an hour and 15 minutes from downtown Galway making it the perfect day trip if you have a car. If you don't have a car, there are a lot of options for tour busses heading out to the abbey and around the coast. 

We made our way to the abbey driving the loop, passing through the rocky, barren mountainous terrain. that Connemara is known for. We were blown away by just how beautiful and untouched a lot of this part of Ireland was. The Pine Island Viewpoint off N59 was the perfect pit stop to take in the views in the area. This is the point where we vowed to come back to Ireland to spend a few days exploring this area alone. 

Day 7: Exploring Galway the with kids

Before going to Ireland, I didn't have a ton of knowledge about the city of Galway besides a few lyrics in an Ed Sheeran song. When planning our trip to Ireland, I knew we were going to avoid the major city of Dublin and Galway looked like a smaller and more kid-friendly city to spend a few nights for the last part of our trip. 

I am so glad we did because we had so much fun exploring the city of Galway. Like most cities, you have your options of shops and restaurants, bars and cafes, and a mix of urban and suburban landscapes. We stayed just outside the city walking distance to a big town park. When we went into the city, we spent some time walking the pedestrian streets (always a peek especially when traveling with kids), visiting the playgrounds, and stopping for treats like donuts and ice cream. 

We had a car so it was easy for us to slip in and out of the city and to use it as a launching point for other day trips. We stayed by Doughiska playground which was perfect for daily trips to let the kids play and meet other kids. 

After lunch, we discovered a scenic river cruise on the Corrib River and Lake through "Get Your Guide". We spent 42 euro on two adult tickets and kids are free 3 and under. The ride was 1.5 hours round trip and the boat had a full bar, coffee and snacks available for purchase. A river cruise was the perfect way to soak up the day of Irish sun and slow down a bit. The kids loved being on the boat and the adults loved enjoying a cold Guinness on the top deck in the sunshine while the guide narrated the river cruise and shared some history of the area. 

Galway with kids highlights:

• Doughiska playground
• Millennium Children's Park on University Road (near Galway Cathedral) 
• Walk Quay Street, the pedestrianized street in the heart of the city
• Scenic river cruise on the Corrib River and Lake through "Get Your Guide"
  
• Amazing donuts at Dungeons And Donuts

Day 6: Drive from Killarney to Galway (stops at Cliffs of Moher and Limmerick)

Day 6 was the day we left beautiful Killarney behind and headed to our second home base of the trip. We had spent four nights in Killarney and used that as our home base to explore Killarney National Park, the Gap of Dunloe, Blarney Castle, and Kinsale.

The last and final leg of our trip would be spent exploring the City of Galway and Connemara National Park on the Connemara Peninsula. We loved the trip until now, having Killarney National Park in our backyard and the resort at our fingertips really made the trip special. We were trading in our resort for an AirBnb just outside the city of Galway, specifically picked for its proximity next to a big park and a short drive into Ireland's fourth largest city on the western coast. Planning the trip in this counter clockwise direction also put us a 2 hour drive from Dublin when we had to catch a mid-day flight back home. 

Day six was our longest drive yet and we made an out-of-the-way detour to explore Ireland's famous cliffs. Spoiler alert, the Cliffs were quite skippable, at least the way we saw them from the visitor's center, but more on that later. 

Mungret Park, County Limerick

DAY 5: Southern section of the Dingle Peninsula

Day 5 in Ireland had us change up the routine a little bit. Instead of heading out in the morning for an adventure, we had a slow day around the town. We rented bikes from the resort, headed out to the playground in town, and spent some time in Killarney with the plan to head out on an adventure in the afternoon. There was something special about the change in pace, the slow start to the day followed by a bit of adventure in the evening. No one had to be ready by a certain time and the kids had a chance to play before getting into the car.

I read that Dingle Peninsula (and the smaller part of the peninsula Slea Head drive) is a beautiful part of Ireland and one of the best scenic drives. Scenic drives can be tough with kids with longer times in the car. While a lot of options to get out of the car and stretch your legs help, it's a lot of in and out of car seats which comes with its own set of headaches and tears. Traveling with kids means a lot of "less is more" so we decided to shorten the drive and do a few spots on the southern part of the peninsula instead of the entire 58 mile loop. 

We stopped at Inch Beach, Minard Castle, and a sheep farm before turning back and having dinner in Dingle. If you are interested in the full peninsula loop, check out this map from The Irish Road Trip and head to their page for the full loop details. 

DAY 4: A Day Trip to the Blarney Castle and Kinsale (with kids)

I spent some time going back and forth, trying to decide if a visit to Blarney Castle would be worth it. By now dear reader, you probably have noticed that I don't love crowds and I tend to chose the path less traveled (and in the shoulder season). It's always a fine line when it comes to some of the more popular tourists attractions. Popular places are usually popular for a reason but sometimes, they are just tourist traps famous for a silly gimmick or a few instagram worthy photos. I did some research and decided that the consensus was this: the Blarney Stone (a very small part of the castle) is very skippable, the castle itself is beautiful, but its the garden and grounds that really make a trip to the Barney Castle worth it. I decided it was the perfect place to lets the kids explore, experience an Irish castle, and my mother in law was looking forward to kissing the Blarney Stone.

We spent a few hours at the Blarney Castle and grounds and I whole heartedly agree with the reviews I read. The castle is lovely and worth visiting but the grounds and castle collectively make the fee and drive over worth it. The grounds are stunning and kid-friendly with a little playground, awesome walking trails, various gardens, a cafe and courtyard, caves to explore, and more. Because we visited during the week in the shoulder season, we were able to get through the castle rather quickly and my in-laws were able to kiss the Blarney stone with just a five minute wait. The day felt like it was out of a fairy tale, spending the morning with my kids wandering the iconic grounds. If you are wondering if it's worth visiting with kids my answer is yes. Head out early, avoid the weekends, try to travel in the shoulder season, and enjoy. 

DAY 3: Gap of Dunloe and Boat Ride through the Lakes of Killarney

This day is Ireland may have been one of the highlights of our entire trip. While many people visit the major attractions like Killarney, after talking to friends who had visited Ireland, no one had heard of or visited the Gap of Dunloe. I spent some time reading through travel forums on ideas of what to do while abroad and this mysterious Gap of Dunloe kept coming up. One of the comments stood out when he commented that the day he spent in the Gap, hiking through and taking the pony trap with his new bride was still one of his favorite memories 20 years later. I immediately planned the trip, booked the necessary guides and tours, and Adam and I gifted this beautiful day to my in-laws for Christmas. We had the most perfect 65 degree sunny blue bird day for this adventure and we all loved every aspect of the trip. 

Ross Castle

The day went like this

1. Meet at the Old Weir Lodge in downtown Killarney
2. A bus takes you to Ross Castle
3. From Ross Castle, you hop on a 1.5 hour boat ride through the lakes and rivers of Killarney National Park
4. From there, you have lunch at an old hunting lodge, Lord Brandon's Cottage
5. From the cottage, you have the option to hike the 7 miles through the gap (a now paved tiny single lane road), or hire one of the ponymen for a pony trap (horse and carriage ride) down through the gap.
6. The hike or ponytrap ride takes you to Kate Kearney's Cottage. From here, you can grab a coffee or a bite and wait for the bus to take you back to your car at Old Wier Lodge. 
   You can book the tour here

Day 2: Killarney, Ireland (Castlerosse Park Resort and Killarney National Park)

We spent days 2 through 6 in Killarney (Sunday through Thursday, 4 nights) and it was magical. Ireland's beauty is quiet here in the states in the sense that you don't hear much about it, but it is so apparent when you spend time in this country, especially outside its major city. The greenery, the restaurants, the outdoors, the friendly people, the amazing food, we fell in love with Ireland and it started right here in Killarney.

Between the resort we stayed at, the access to the trails and National Park, the city/downtown area itself, and the launching point to Gap of Dunloe, Blarney Castle, Kinsale, and Dingle Peninsula, this corner of Ireland was our favorite. The town itself is dreamy with busy cobblestone streets, live music, quaint shops, a ton of restaurants with outdoor spaces, and everyone out on the sidewalks enjoying a pint. 

Ireland with Kids Day 1: Red Eye, Rock of Cashel, Aherlow and Mallow Castle

International travel has always been important to me. I love to experience a new culture, new food, new scenery, and a different part of the world. You probably won't believe me but I promise I've done the math but more often than not, a trip to Europe is more affordable than a trip I can take within the states. While flights sometimes cost a little more, everything is cheaper once you are there, lodging especially. I knew when we had kids the gift of international travel was something I wanted to share with them and so, every year we try to visit a new country. Whitney has a few stamps on his passport first to Portugal at 15 months (Lisbon and the Algargve), then to Italy and Switzerland at 3 (focused on the Lake Iseo region). This year his newest passport stamp was Ireland and our newest challenge was traveling with both kids at the challenging ages of 2 and 4. Let me start by saying that traveling with kids is not for the faint of heart and it will test you and your marriage in ways you can't imagine. Yet, every time we do, we get through the hard parts, we have an amazing trip watching our kids enjoying life abroad, and do it all over again.

I picked Ireland for my first international trip with both kids for a few reasons: direct flight from our smaller international airport right in Connecticut, affordable with a lot of options to explore the outdoors, and a relatively small country that is easy to see with kids. With that being said, I knew a few things were going to be challenging: the time of the red eye (6pm to midnight - truly couldn't be any worse), the 5 hour time difference, and driving a car on the wrong side of the road and the wrong side of the car. 

Essex Steam Train Half Marathon - 10 Years Later

Essex Steam Train Half Marathon

In March, I ran my first half marathon since having kids, my first half marathon in ten years. 

Ten years ago I was 27 years old, living in Utah and in amazing shape. I was running, hiking, biking, as much as I could and when you live so far from your family, you have a lot of time for the outdoors.  Ten years ago, I ran my fastest half and set my PR, the Salt Lake City half marathon. I was running against my Garmin time of 1:55:36 at 13.15 miles which was a PR for me. AFTER the race, and only after, I logged back into the race website to see it was an entirely downhill course, and my official race time was 1:59:15. It's always best to go with the race timer knowing you add a bit of distance as you wind your way through the course (the course is measured on the shortest route possible running the tangents etc).

Intro to Backcountry Skiing - Tuckerman Ravine to Sherburne Ski Trail with Inclusive Ski Touring

Birthdays feel special to me. So often we celebrate the milestones: 16, 21, 30, 40, 50 and on, but we kind of let the rest of the birthdays go on as ordinary days in between the bigger milestones. I choose to savor and celebrate all the birthdays in between. Throughout my 20s and into my 30s, I embraced my love of winter and snowy birthday month, usually celebrating in the snow. I spent many birthdays on a ski slope, my 30th birthday dog sledding in Canada, 31st birthday snowmobiling in the Adirondacks, so on, and so forth. My birthday ski celebrations were put on pause for a few years thanks to my winter pregnancies, but 2025 and my 37th birthday was the time I crossed something big off my bucket list, while using my birthday to coerce Adam into joining me. Instead of just heading west or north for a ski trip, we were headed to the backcountry to hike up a portion of Mount Washington and ski down the back country on New England's famous Sherburne Ski Trail.

Weekender's Guide - Winter in the Berkshires

There's something about a mountain town in the winter. Cozy restaurants, Adirondack chairs around a fire pit at a lodge, family-friendly ski mountains, a classic diner, and decorated Main Streets. Vermont, New York, Maine, and New Hampshire offer some of these quintessential and oh-so-nostalgic mountain towns. They do, however, come with a longer travel time and higher cost.

A solution for the coastal Connecticuters who want a more budget-friendly option that is also a little closer to home? The Berkshires. The Berkshires are a section of Western Massachusetts where the Vermont-based Green Mountains spill into the Bay State.

The largest municipalities associated with the Berkshires cultural region include Pittsfield, North Adams, Great Barrington, Williamstown, Stockbridge, Lee, and Lenox. The highlands of Massachusetts don't boast towering jagged peaks but instead, host smaller peaks ranging from about 700 to 1,200 feet. The area is home to a few different ski resorts, Butternut, Berkshire East and Jiminy Peak being the most well-known. The mountain towns on a small scale which generally means easy access, less crowded, and more affordable options.

Couples trip, girls weekend, solo exploring, a long day trip, or a weekend away with the family. If you want to explore mountain towns in the winter, the Berkshires are a great option.