Spring break, New England style
In New England, spring is just a rumor at this point. We hear about it from friends and relatives down South or out West who torment us with tales of early season cookouts, walks on the beach, or trips to spring-training games. Yeah, thanks.
The urge to hop on a flight and head for Florida or the Carolinas is almost overwhelming, but the airlines and hotels prey on sunshine-starved Northeasterners this time of year by jacking up prices to even mediocre destinations. And if you take a look around and use a little imagination, there are plenty of quick trips you can take right here in New England that have all of the trappings of spring break without the hassles and expense of heading for the lower latitudes.
For many people, spring break conjures somewhat hazy memories of sun-soaked days and beer-drenched nights on the beaches of Cancun or Key West, usually involving 10 or 12 people sharing a $75-a-night hotel room and eating Taco Bell four times a day. If you're still young enough to hang with the college and 20-something crowd without seeming desperate and needy - or like to think you are - then grab your skis, pack the car, and head north on I-93 to New Hampshire's Wildcat Mountain on April 5 for its annual Spring Fling fest of beer, music, and snow.
The event is a kind of last-chance, late-season blowout to give skiers a chance to hit the slopes one last time and then chill on the deck of the Wildcat Pub for a few hours of sun and adult beverages. The Spring Fling, which is sponsored by Corona (how perfect is that?), features a DJ and a ton of contests and give aways that rival anything going on at the dives in Ft. Lauderdale. Corona will be giving away a new snowboard, and the entire afternoon event is free of charge. No word on a wet T-shirt contest. Wildcat typically has plenty of snow on the ground into May, so there will still be a number of trails open for skiing and snowboarding that weekend as well.
Even if you're not a skier, springtime in the New Hampshire mountains can still offer a break from the winter blues. Wildcat is located in the White Mountain National Forest, which boasts some of the best backcountry camping and hiking in New England in the Tuckerman and Huntington ravine areas.
Wildcat Ski Area, Route 16, Pinkham Notch, N.H.
If you're a little too, ahem, mature, for the ski-and-suds thing but still want to get your drink on, fear not. As Napa Valley is to wine enthusiasts, the western half of Vermont is to beer lovers. A lovely three-hour drive from Boston, Burlington and its funky environs are littered with craft breweries large and small that offer the perfect opportunity for a long weekend of drinking, eating, and drinking. The Vermont Brewers Association has set up a program that allows beer enthusiasts to visit some or all of the 18 participating breweries and brewpubs while earning prizes like T-shirts and pint glasses. Think of it as the more sedate and less stomach-churning cousin of the traditional spring break bar crawl.
"There are so many great breweries up here, and they're all within easy driving distance of each other," says Willie Docto, executive director of the association. "People love the idea of getting a prize for drinking beer."
Burlington, home to the University of Vermont, has the feel of a Northern California hamlet that someone picked up and dropped on the shore of Lake Champlain. Set up camp at one of the many inns or bed and breakfasts in the area and then head for the hops. Within a short drive of downtown Burlington, there are about a dozen craft breweries of varying size and ambition. Probably the best known of these is the Magic Hat Brewing Co., makers of Magic Hat No. 9, Feast of Fools, Thumbsucker, and Circus Boy, among other fabulously named beers. Smaller operations include the tiny Switchback Brewing Co., Zero Gravity Craft Brewery, and Orlio Organic Beer Co.
Vermont Brewers Association, 802-244-6828. vermontbrewers.com
Sure, Florida is nice and all, but let's face it: Some of the best oceanfront real estate in the world is about 70 miles south of Boston on Cape Cod. Hyannis, the ancestral home of the Kennedy clan, is a perfect spot for an early spring getaway. Not only are the prices lower than they are during the summer, but you don't have to deal with the crowds of tourists from Jersey and New York who pronounce the town's name as if it rhymes with a certain body part.
Although Teddy and his family aren't currently accepting reservations at their place on the Cape, you can still live it up during a stay at the Cape Codder Resort, a legendary hotel and spa that's home to the only indoor wave pool in New England. Take the kids for some body surfing on 2-foot waves or a zip down one of the long water slides. The Cape Codder also has a special kids' program next month that includes daily shows by Mikey Maestro, who throws dance parties for the under-10 set.
While the kids play, you can hit the spa for a massage and then take the whole family out for a walk on one of the delightfully empty beaches. Then head over to the Cape Cod Potato Chips factory for a tour and a sample.
Cape Codder Resort, 1225 Iyannough Road, Route 132 & Bearse's Way, Hyannis. 508-771-3000. capecodderresort.com
There was always that one group of kids who somehow had the scratch to fly to Las Vegas and throw down in style for a few days. It was never really clear where the money came from or what went on during the trip, but you can see their spring break fun - and raise it - by heading for the Foxwoods casino in the woods of Connecticut.
If you've never been, you might not know that Foxwoods is the largest casino in the world, with all of the luxury and amenities of the palaces on the Vegas strip. Foxwoods is also a magnet for serious poker players from all over the globe. Starting on April 4, the casino hosts the Foxwoods Poker Classic, a six-day World Poker Tour tournament with entries open to anyone willing to pony up the $10,000 entry fee. The tourney is one of the bigger ones on the annual schedule and attracts some of the game's top players.
If that's too rich for your blood, you can hit the spa and salon for a little Vegas-style pampering or head over to the monstrous Grand Spa pool and sip a few fruity cocktails. You'll never know you're in Connecticut, honest.
Foxwoods, 39 Norwich-Westerly Road, Ledyard, Conn. 800-369-9663. foxwoods.com
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