Skiing is sweet on Sugar Mountain

"March Madness" fun on Sugar Mountain.

We arrived in Boone, NC around 5 p.m. March 6 to ski the next day at Sugar Mountain.

We have traveled to the area about five or six times over the past 15 or 20 years.

Your's truly out for a good time

On occasion we went right before Christmas. On others is was during the President's Day weekend and now we look to go when school is out for Mardi Gras on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Last year, Mardi Gras was a little earlier.  We didn't manage the trip then for whatever reason.

This year Mardi Gras was a little later. Using the holidays in our area is good, but when they come later in the year, the snow  on the mountains some 600 miles away begins melting. 

But then again when this happens, with the skiing season winding down, the businesses reduce their prices, which is good.

We were wondering how it would be this year. I had kept on top of the weather reports. Rain was in the mix for the week leading up to our arrival.

Longest run down mountain is right at a mile

Some of the weather websites were reporting rain through Sunday afternoon and hinting of snow on Sunday night.

They were right.

Light snow  began to fall as we arrived in Boone. Upon arriving at the ski lodge the next morning, we were told that they had had about four inches.

Taking a lunch break

All in all, the weather turned out to be perfect for the day. Skies cleared, the sun came out and with the overnight snow, the hillsides and trees were all white.

It was a true winter wonderland. 

Crowds were sparse for the morning. The first two hours ( 9 to 11) I did five trips each on Easy Street, the beginner slope. 

Temperatures started out around 29 degrees and went up

Wifey started out on what could be called the extreme beginners slope. We joined up for a number of trips down Easy Street.

I would sometimes branch off on the "Little Nell" run. The first two or three times, this was great, but with the sun beginning to beat down, this trail began developing a number of bare spots.

Wifey skied one run after lunch. I managed to stay on the slopes until 3 p.m.

Mostly during this time I took a different lift and got off to ski the Easy Street extention on the right, or worked back to the left of the lift on the main run down the major hill.

I didn't make it to the top of the mountain as I had done in the past. Maybe if someone else had challenged me, that would have happened. 

Maybe next year. I'll only be 67 then.

(Note: Wifey took all of these pictures because of a camera malfunction with my equipment)

Next post: Tuesday, March 15, 2011

It is like going home, almost

Comfort and familiarity is important.

Especially when traveling long distances or just taking a weekend trip.

We do try new places to stay during our travels, and if we like the location, and price, then it becomes a mainstay.

Dancing waters on courtyard fountain

During travels to New Orleans, we have stayed in a number of different lodging establishments.

Years ago, when we had a smaller vehicle, we stayed just off Jackson Square. The accommodations were comfortable, fit within our budget, and one could just step out the front door and be in the activity of the French Quarter. They also had a really good continental breakfast in a charming room. Or one could go out and make use of tables in the garden.

Hotel Provincial courtyard

Our vehicle would fit in their parking garage, and there wasn't any additional fee. We moved on to a larger vehicle and it wouldn't fit. They also started doing like others throughout the country and began charging for parking, which amounted to almost one-third of a night's stay.

We looked elsewhere. . .

. . . and went back to a place we had visited years earlier, the Hotel Provincial on Chartres, east of Washington Square.

On our first visit they put us in a room on the second floor overlooking Chartres Street. As well as I could remember, the room was full of antiques or items resembling antiques.

I do remember that, after having spent a little time in the room, I looked around for my keys, with the hunt taking me to the door. The keys were on the outside.

When heading back to the Big Easy, this hotel is now on the top of our list.

Add caption

We stop off at the Louisiana visitors center on Interstate 10 and obtain a flyer  that allows for a (walk-in) discount price on the room and complimentary parking (don't expect such a good deal on holidays or special events. The fee for weekends is higher). They also offer a nice continental breakfast.

Other hotels and motels have flyers at the visitors center offering discounted rates and such, but we know there won't be any problem parking our van.

Light breakfast at the Provincial

Adjacent upscale restaurant

We have stayed at the Hotel Provincial the last three times and look forward to our next visit.

Next post: March 8, 2011

International crises to affect travel

World problems may add to cost of cruises

I traveled the world today.

It was just on the Internet, but none the less, I got a taste of what is happening.

The crises in the Middle East are pushing up the price of oil. 

For those who desire to travel, this means a lot.

Cruise lines have a fine print addendum to their prices saying that if the price of a certain kind of oil increases (usually more than $60 a barrel), a fuel surcharge will escalate to cover the costs.

Airlines will be charging more.

And if you're traveling  by the lowly motor vehicle, yes, even that will cost more.

We are on tap to go skiing near Boone, NC in a few weeks.

Gas prices may not surge enough by then to keep us away. The only problem may be that it will turn warm and most of the snow will melt.

Elk browses lawn of Grand Canyon hotel

Two years ago we took a roundtrip to California, more than 6,000 miles, during the height of the last oil spike.

We paid as much as $5 a gallon for gas, but just 5 gallons. That was in Tonopah, NV. The price over the course of the 30-day trip averaged somewhere around $3.80.

When the price of one thing escalates, we check to see if we can get something else we need as a lesser price -- such as a motel stay.

Smokys visit on agenda for spring snow skiing

Even when motel-tripping, we don't always eat each meal out (at a restaurant), unless "out" means on a picnic table or sandwiches in the confines of our van.

A cruise in May is still on tap providing the world doesn't come to an end.

Have fun and always keep travel as a priority.

Next post: Tuesday, March 1, 2011