Digital Camera Freedom

I have an Olympus camera, which I really like, because it's shock-proof, waterproof, and I can throw it in the sand. The only thing is, I am not in love with the quality of the images. Not that I print them out--no, I still have a film camera for that. (Yes, I am one of those kind of people.)

So, I was very excited to see this article in the NY Times about these new underwater cameras, that are apparently easier, and take great pictures. This could be a good thing to angle for with Mother's Day coming up in less than a week.

Unexpected Spring Break: Hacienda de San Antonio

I love having a six year old--it's one of my favorite ages--but now that she's in first grade, we have to take vacation when everybody else with school-age children does.  Since I have such a problem with finding places to go, where the rest of the family world isn't going, I thought I'd start writing once a week about this issue.  I'll post about places that usually don't get booked up in the winter or spring breaks, or destinations that you might not usually think about, but they are actually fine in the off months.  It makes me crazy to see flights to Florida and Cancun for $900, and then paying top dollar once you get there.  I'll do a mix of high and low, so don't worry that the first one is expensive--I promise the next one will be cheap.  (I just really like the pics of this one!)

Hacienda de San Antonio in rural inland Mexico is one of those off the beaten path luxury estates, that you'd think is a gazillion dollars, but it actually is well priced, especially for what you get.  Okay, it's not cheap--suites go for $720 a night, but you could easily have a family of three in one, and then you can get the meal plan at $140 per person.  It is a lot, but it is a place that really feels like it might be the nicest place you've ever been.  Part of its charm, and lack of crowds, is the perseverance it takes to get there--you do have to take a connecting flight to get to the nearest airport in Colima, or you can fly into Guadalajara (then it's a 2 1/2 hour drive), or Manzanillo, a 2 hour drive. It gets booked up the most over the holidays, and it isn't billed as a "family hotel", so it isn't something that gets families in droves. 

The rooms are insanely beautiful--large, tall ceilings, views onto the gardens, or the distant volcano.  Furniture is beautiful, sourced from Oaxaca, Guadalajara, and Europe, by the owners. The food is great--our favorite was the tortilla soup (below).  We asked for the Mexican meals every night--sometimes the chef wanted to do French, and it just wasn't the kind of food we want to be eating in Mexico.  Most of their food comes from their own organic farm, and their own animals.  They make their own cheese there, and roast their own coffee (there's also a shade grown organic coffee plantation there).  At night, they set up dinner for us in a different place each evening--once it was  outside on the terrace, in front of a chiminea, another night we were inside in front of a grand fireplace, and they created a table with an intricate design done with tiny beans.  It's such a special place.

Every day you can do long walks on the property, horseback rides, tennis, or just sit at the pool.  I'll write about our day trips in another post next week.  Note:  this is the sister property to Cuixmala, which I wrote about in another post , and while the Cookie website is still up, you can read my story about both places online.

Road Trip Switzerland Part 1

For a completely charming winter wonderland, that will please skiers and non-skiers alike, check out the Waldhaus Sils Maria.  Sils Maria is a small little town that is probably 15 minutes drive from St. Moritz, but the people who go there, most likely never go there.  The Waldhaus is a grand old family hotel, that's been in the same family for 100 years, and gets the same families there for generations.  When we went there, we saw babies with parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.  It's totally family oriented--when we checked in, they were having an early evening party for the kids, with the largest red balloons I have ever seen, floating around the lobby.  There's a lovely indoor pool, and a ski school.  But our favorite part was the horse and carriage ride.  You get picked up right in front of the hotel, and are seated in a carriage that is covered with sheepskins, and then you are covered with huge sheepskin blankets, and whisked away up into the mountains, to a sweet little village, where you sit down for a lovely tea or hot chocolate, or lunch.  We had the most perfect "rosti", which is basically like a perfectly formed circle of hash browns, with an egg on top.  Afterwards, we walked back down the hills, to the hotel, working off lunch. From here I will send you towards Thermalbad Vals, one of the sexiest, yet family friendly, mineral spring hotels.  More later.

Escape From NY-Whiteface Lodge, Adirondacks

This summer we went to the Adirondacks, our first time. It's such a huge area, that I will do several posts about our time there, but for those of you looking for a getaway that might involve skiing, definitely some snow activities, and a perfectly done lodge, I have the place.  Whiteface Lodge is in Lake Placid, which is pretty much in the middle of the Adirondack State Park, which is 6 million acres, and, according to Wikipedia, that's the size of Vermont.  So it's huge. To get to Lake Placid, home of the Winter Olympics of 1980, you should plan about 5 hours--it's 288 miles.  It's straight up the Thruway, which they call the Northway once you hit the Adirondacks.  It's really like you're in a different state, and one that's very far away.  No mini malls.  Lots of businesses that have been family run since the 40s.  No bad developments.  But back to the Whiteface: an Olympic skier who became an entrepreneur, concepted the place, wanting to have a lodge that harked back to the great camps that were so prevalent in the 19th century. It's totally grand in its huge beams and high ceilings, but also very cozy with lots of wood and fireplaces. The rooms are nicely appointed, the beds comfortable, and a family of four could easily fit into a  one bedroom suite, the smallest room, as it has a queen size bed, and a queen size pullout couch.  I just looked online, and they have a winter special, that has a winter rate of $395 per night over the weekend, and that includes breakfast, and all of the amenities they offer.  Now usually, I don't get too excited about those, but listen up: movie theater, game room, indoor and outdoor pool,bowling, ice rink, kids club, complimentary shuttle into town (which has no parking so you will actually use this), free valet...and the best part? They have a washer/dryer in the common area, with complimentary laundry detergent!  I couldn't believe it.  The food at Whiteface is excellent--we loved the breakfasts--granola, eggs, pancakes, waffles, organic yogurts, juices...etc...it isn't a skimpy free breakfast.  We didn't eat lunch there, but dinner was great.  They have a bar area where they have some live entertainment (it was a great singer/guitar player one night, and the next it was a little hokey), and we just got drinks, and a pizza for Clara, from their wood burning oven.  They have a nice menu for kids, which is a step above average--good quality version of the classics.  The wine list was great. And it's in the middle of everything--which you'll read about on the next couple of posts.