Hello faithful readers & followers of the Player Highlife movement! Today, I wanted to cover winter getaways. There's nothing like you and your special someone getting in your car and just taking a road trip to some place that's off the beaten path, putting on some hot chocolate, turning up the fireplace, and just kicking back & relaxing! Everyone should, at one time or another, make an effort to go off on a winter excursion (even if you have to scrimp & save) because it is truly one of the most wonderful experience that you can ever have. The ambience, the environment, the people & the potential stories you can both hear and create are well worth the $. Simply, it's creating memories for a lifetime...
I'm going to cover 3 particular spots that are very lovely: The Pitcher Inn in Warren, Vermont; The Akwaaba Mansion in Brooklyn; and Black Bear Inn in Lake Tahoe, California. Let's get started!
The Pitcher Inn (Warren, Vermont)
Out of all of the places in the United States that are beautiful during the winter, nothing can quite compare to the Northeast. New England happens to have a certain type of charm. The Pitcher Inn happens to epitomize that charm. Built in the 1850's, it originally started as a small country inn that catered to weary travelers that crossed over the mountains. Over the years, it has expanded into a Relais & Chateau. Located in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains, it is the perfect vacation spot for someone who is in New England for a winter vacation.
The Pitcher Inn has a total of eleven rooms and suites, of which nine are unique double-occupancy rooms located in the main house and two are two bedroom suites, situated in the barn which is adjacent to the main house. Excluding extra beds, it can accommodate 13 couples or 26 people. For exclusive use and house party events, with extra beds and pull out sofa beds, this number can be increased to 33 guests. Each room was designed and decorated to be distinctly different but with a common Vermont theme. Appointed with original art, memorabilia and antiques, the guest rooms provide a comfortable and subtly luxurious atmosphere. All rooms feature individual air-climate controls, three line telephones with DSL data port and Wi-Fi access, CD music player and concealed television with VHS player. In addition, all private baths have Jacuzzi tubs and radiant floor heating. Some rooms also offer steam showers and the majority have wood burning fireplaces and king beds.
The two suites are known as "Stable" and "Hayloft". These are located in a barn next to the main house and are ideal for the traveling family or two couples. Stable is a two-bedroom suite, located on the lower level of the barn. The master bedroom has a king size bed, while the second bedroom has two twin beds with each bedroom having private ensuite bathrooms. There is a living room with a comfortable seating area and a view of the garden. True to its name, Stable is decorated with bridles, saddles and equipment that usually can be found in a stable. Decorated with antique barn supplies, Hayloft is located up-stairs, on the second level of the barn and features two identically sized king bedrooms with a common living room separating them.
The Pitcher Inn aims to provide guests with ample opportunity and variety to enjoy the pleasures of the table. As a member of Vermont Fresh Network, the Inn is committed to using the freshest local and regional ingredients which allows the Executive Chef, Sue Schickler, to change the menus seasonally as well as introducing special dishes based on that day's market's bounty. Vermont raised lamb, quail and rabbit, organic heirloom tomatoes, local free range eggs, artisanal cheeses and seafood from the country's finest purveyors provide the culinary team with ample materials to create superlative meals. In addition, all breakfast goods are baked daily on the premises as well as delectables for afternoon tea, served in the Library.
The Main Dining Room has an à la carte dinner menu emphasizing quality ingredients and culinary mastery, drawing inspiration beyond Vermont from France, Italy and the Pacific Rim. Tracks, our lounge, offers a small plate dinner menu and cocktails, ideal for something a little more casual whilst perhaps playing a game of pool or shuffle board in the Maple Room or just enjoying the warmth of an open fire. For Private Dining, it offers a Wine Cellar for tasting menus up to six people or the Brook Room for larger parties up to 30.
Dinner reservations for the Dining Room and the Wine Cellar are recommended prior to your arrival; The Pitcher Inn prefers that you call upon confirmation of your reservation your preferred time as well as any special dietary requirements. The Dining Room, Tracks and the Wine Cellar are closed on Tuesday evenings but they are more than likely to assist with local recommendations.
Breakfast is served from 8:00am to 10:00am in the Main Dining Room or on the verandah (weather permitting);
Coffee, tea and muffins for those early risers from 7:00am in the Continental Breakfast Nook;
Afternoon Tea for resident guests is served in the Library or in Tracks from 4:00pm to 6:00pm;
Tracks is open for cocktails from 4.30pm and for light fare from 6:00pm;
Lunch or gourmet picnics are available across the street at The Warren Store;
Room service is available during kitchen hours but please note that an automatic 20% surcharge will be added;
The Pitcher Inn boasts an award winning Wine List, recently honored with the "Best of Award of Excellence" by Wine Spectator with nearly 600 bins from the world's most celebrated wineries, offering eclectic finds as well as classic vintages. Of these, nearly 30 are available by the glass or you may chose from a superlative selection of Champagnes and Sparkling Wines. The Sommelier, Ari Sadri, exudes a knowledge and dedication that guarantees guests will be able to find the perfect bottle for any occasion.
As far as activities, they offer:
Alpine skiing and snowboarding
arts & crafts
road & mountain biking
canoeing & kayaking
farmer's market
fishing
golf
hiking, walking, and nature trekking
ice skating
leaf peeping
Nordic skiing
performing arts
horse, wagon, & sleigh rides
snowmobiling
shoeshoeing
soaring
swimming
tennis
VermonTouring
$425-$800/night
275 Main Street,
P.O. Box 347
Warren, Vermont 05674
Tel: (802) 496-6350
Fax: (802) 496-6354
http://www.pitcherinn.com
*be sure to mention "Player Highlife" when you decide to travel there.
Akwaaba Mansion (Brooklyn, New York)
Moving on, The Akwaaba Mansion in the New York City borough of Brooklyn is the perfect getaway for city dwellers. Built in the 1860's the meticulously restored Italianate villa features exquisite architectural details, including 14-foot ceilings and ornate fireplaces, while the décor is a blend of antiques and Afrocentric elegance. Located in historic Stuyvesant Heights, Akwaaba Mansion is nestled in a quiet tree-lined community with some of the city's finest brownstones. The historic neighborhood is rich in culture, and the excitement of Manhattan is only 20 minutes away by subway or car. Each room comes with a full breakfast.
Owned and operated by husband and wife team Glenn Pogue and Monique Greenwood, Monique and Glenn fell in love with the idea of inns when they stayed at their first bed and breakfast back in the early '90s. As guests, they enjoyed the hominess and comfort of the bed and breakfast experience. Monique quickly discovered that innkeeping combined all of her personal passions – architecture and interior decorating, entertaining and meeting new people, and helping others create wonderful, lasting memories.
Monique and Glenn are the fifth owners of the Italianate structure, which features original details, such as 14-foot ceilings, ornate fireplaces, intricate parquet wood floors and gaslight fixtures, along with modern conveniences, such as a private baths in each guestroom with oversized Jacuzzi tubs. The original owners from 1860 were wealthy beer barrens. Monique and Glenn purchased the home from the Lilly family, a working-class African-American family who lived there for over 50 years after the parents and their eight young adult children pooled their money together to buy it as the family home.
Monique and Glenn completed extensive restoration of the property, including wood stripping and sanding, painstaking interior and exterior painting, all new mechanicals, four new bathrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen and a huge paved courtyard where they've had dinners for more than 100 guests. The entire process was documented by the popular HGTV series "Restore America."
$175-$190/night
347 MacDonough St.
Brooklyn, NY 11233
866-inn-dulj / In NYC: 718-455-5958
http://www.akwaaba.com
*be sure to mention "Player Highlife" when you visit
Black Bear Inn (Lake Tahoe, California)
Voted one of the best bed & breakfasts in California, Black Bear Inn is an elegant, rustic lodge in South Lake Tahoe offering luxury accommodations in a relaxed mountain setting, close to all mountain and Lake Tahoe activities.
Black Bear's main lodge has five comfortable guest rooms, each with private bath, king bed and gas fireplace. Three spacious, romantic cabins of varying sizes and a hot tub gazebo sit on the back grounds beneath the pine trees. Each cabin has a private patio. Every morning a full, hot breakfast is served. (Breakfast is included in the rate, dinner is not.) Each lodge room also includes TV with DVD player, telephone, daily maid service and the rate includes a full breakfast. Free wi-fi blankets the entire property.
Wintertime is when Tahoe shows off its fifteen ski resorts, including Heavenly Valley (just one mile from Black Bear), Squaw Valley and Kirkwood. Tahoe winters are famous for huge dumps of light powder and beautiful blue skies. This is world-class skiing at its best.
15 ski resorts
cross-country skiing
snowmobile tours
ice skating
horse-drawn sleigh rides
snoeshowing through the forest
dog sled rides
Whatever the season, Lake Tahoe has several casinos that happily welcome anyone of legal age. The larger casinos have major entertainers, shows and concerts. Shopping at one of the many stores in town is another year-round activity. A lot of guests like to kick back in the lodge and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi set up.
$225-$265/night (on-season; Jan 1-March 31)
1202 Ski Run Blvd.
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(877)232-7466 (530)544-4451
http://www.tahoeblackbear.com
*be sure to mention "Player Highlife" when you visit
In closing, I'd like to leave you with this thought:
"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right."
Live well.....it's the best revenge.
