Looking for a wicked good time? Escape the heat and crowds this weekend at the annual Grand Lake Stream Folk Arts Festival. Held on the grassy ballfield downtown--town comprises one store--the two-day festival includes nonstop folk and bluegrass music (and one New York jazz surprise), canoe and quilt exhibits, food, and tents sheltering more than 50 quality artisans: potters, quilters, woodworkers, clothing makers, painters, sculptors, furniture makers, metal workers, basket makers, weavers, jewelers, glass artisans, leather crafters, doll makers, and on and on, and many demonstrate their craft.

FULL ENTRY

The first time I stayed at Colonial Gables (207-338-4000) in Belfast, Maine, I was 7 years old and my family was moving to town. This time, I’m approaching geezerhood — but the motel and cabin colony on the beach is looking better than ever, thanks to ongoing top-to-bottom renovations. My wife and I booked a small cabin with kitchenette (all new appliances) and a front porch overlooking the ocean for (drumroll) $70 a night in high season. We’d expected something seedy, but instead got a spacious room with new fixtures and a comfy queen bed. And it was hard to beat the view of Penobscot Bay that we enjoyed with breakfast on the porch. It could be a base for exploring anywhere in midcoast Maine from Boothbay to Bar Harbor.

Posted by David Lyon, Globe Correspondent

Poor little Augusta. Who really remembers that Augusta is Maine's capital city? Well, on the 4th of July, it's Augusta's time to shine with its Capital City Riverfront Fourth!

The day is packed with all-American fun so rise and shine, hit the road, and make accommodations to stay over - Augusta's got it going on. A pancake breakfast starts things off, followed by the annual parade at 11 a.m. From noon to 5 p.m., there is an Old Time Independence Day celebration at the Old Fort Western, including a Town Ball game, which is a 19th century version of baseball. For dinner it's a chicken BBQ, where lickin' yer fingers is required while you watch some great area bands perform live. The day is topped off by the Westside Waterfront Park for more vendors and live music, as you await the riverfront fireworks show, which begins about 9:15 p.m.

For more information call 207-626-2352.

At the risk of sounding like a curmudgeon, city-sponsored public art displays of painted animals —cows, moose, and the like—are becoming rather tired and predictable. Last year, Belfast, Maine, had painted bears along the steep Main Street that runs down to the harbor. But this year, the city left the artists to their own devices and the resulting show is full of quirky surprises. I met artist Cy Klausmeyer of nearby Swanville making a few adjustments to his Bicycle Icthyopter, a bicycle with metal fish head and tail attached. Climb on and pedal hard and the tail swishes back and forth. Klausmeyer also created my favorite piece: a shiny red tricycle outfitted with two pairs of shiny red wings. It looks like it could fly. “That’s why I have it bolted down,” Klausmeyer said, “so nobody will try to pedal it off a roof.” The art is on display through the summer.

Posted by Patricia Harris, Globe Correspondent

Grab the kids and head for Oxford, Maine, next Saturday, June 28. It's Dozer Day, a hands-on construction-equipment expo with real-life grown-up Tonka Toys.

We're talking the real thing, here. Kids -- and their big folks -- will be able to climb into excavators, bulldozers, cranes, graders, dump trucks and concrete trucks and see a fire truck and ambulance, too.

Not only that, there will be heavy-equipment demonstrations, door prizes, a prize mine, Lego building-blocks competition, free coloring books and photo ops. Sullen teens forced to accompany younger siblings can test the heavy-equipment simulator.

Even better, the first 350 kids will receive a free plastic hard hat (that's kids; not you, dad) and an "operator's license" for the day. Wow! Does it get any better than that?

It's all a benefit for a local independent elementary school, so prepare to shell out $10 for one, $15 for two, $20 for three or four or $25 for a family of five or larger. Dozer Day takes place at the Oxford County Fairgrounds, off Route 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rain date is Sunday. (Okay, we admit it: mud and construction equipment would take the cake).

Free food. Free parking. Free activities. Free concert. All in Freeport, Maine. Really. No strings attached.

This weekend, L.L. Bean hosts a double header, and both events are free. Saturday and Sunday is the 27th annual Paddle Sports Festival, which takes place at the store's Lower Flying Point Paddling Center. Park at the downtown store, then hop a free shuttle to the site.

Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., events include test-paddling kayaks and canoes, taking part in a GPS Techno Treasure Hunt (age limits), and kids craft sessions. Chow down at the--yes, free--oceanside cookout until 3 p.m., and listen to live bluegrass music from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch?). Also available for a $29 fee (reservations recommended) are 90-minute kayak tours for ages 10 and older.

In the evening, the action switches to Bean's Discovery Park, downtown, for a free concert by the swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Bring a blanket or chairs, and prepare to snag a prime spot early.

The “gas-back” deal was bound to happen.

You’d better move fast if you want $2.99 gas for a visit to the Bethel Inn Resort. The Maine resort is giving vacationers who book with the resort for at least two nights between June 15 and Sept. to get 15 a break on gasoline prices. But the catch is that bookings must be made between June 13 and July 4.

Here’s the deal (sort of). When you check in, the staff calculates your round-trip mileage from any point within 300 miles and figures how many mpg your vehicle gets. The spread between $2.99 and the price you paid at last fill-up is credited to your account. That’s a good deal if you’re driving a Suburban, less so if you’re in a Prius. Say you average 25mpg, paid $3.99 for gas, and are coming from 300 miles away. That’s a credit of $24.

Posted by David Lyon, Globe Correspondent

The Today Show had a very cool story about this eatery in Biddeford, Maine, Dan's Restaurant, that lets customers negotiate prices a bit. This is the way it works: Let's say you want a scallop plate; it costs $18, but you only have $10 on you. So you tell the waitress, and she brings you $10 worth.
Apparently Dan's has been doing this for a couple months now. The whole thing started when an elderly woman stopped in a bit ago and after eating said she really enjoyed it and would come more often but couldn't afford it. So, an idea was born.
Obviously, the policy has drawn a good bit of attention. And a waitress there said that she's been told it will go on indefinitely -- particularly given the current tough times.
Bon appetit.

Excuse me while I try to overcome an onslaught of peristaltic contractions. I'm not a ride guy. To me, they are like mechanically induced food poisoning: headache, nausea, oy.
But I know some of you are. So our pals at Travel + Leisure (so what's up with the plus sign?) have compiled a list of the World's Top Ten. Now why do you care? Well because our own Six Flags New England in the lovely bedroom community of Agawam made the list with its Superman Ride of Steel. (The good folks at Boston.com have also compiled a list of the top ten in North America, including footage of what it's like on the Superman ride.)
If you want the details, read on. I think I need to lie down. Got any saltines?

FULL ENTRY

It's not too late to get reservations for some of the primo events at this year's Arts in the Inns, in Kennebunkport, Maine.

The event, June 4-8, provides an inn-side take on fine art and fine food. It highlights local chefs, including such notables as Jonathan Carter of the White Barn Inn, local artists and local inns, pairing chefs and artists in a series of intimate dinners, social events and shows. Other activities include an artist-in-residence program and an inn-to-inn tour.

While the social events are fun and an opportunity to get tips from locals and meet artists and chefs in person–-especially the intimate chef-prepared/artist-attended dinners –- it’s the tour that packs the most bang for the buck. Sixteen inns, each doubling as an art gallery for the occasion, open their doors; tour tickets are $5. And early June is a fine time to visit the seaside village; the summer crowds have yet to arrive.

Posted by Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

The rodeo, with its bronco-riding, calf-roping cowboys and cowgirls, seems about as quintessentially Western as you can get. But the Painted Pony Rodeo, the oldest weekly rodeo in the country, is actually just a few hours’ drive from Boston, in the Adirondacks’ Lake Luzerne.
But tomorrow, the Painted Pony Rodeo crosses into northern Vermont for a show in Highgate. This is professional rodeo, and the event should attract up to 100 men and women from as far away as Texas, who are earning professional points competing in events like bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, and cowgirls’ barrel racing, where riders steer their horses at a fast clip around a set of barrels.
There’s also an opening pageant, as well as rodeo clowns, and a trick roper who can do just about anything with a lasso. Wear your cowboy hat or come early: The first 100 kids children to arrive get a free cowboy hat.
Tickets for adults are $15, for children $10, and ages 5 and under free. Gates open at 4 p.m., and the show starts at 7, rain or shine.
Posted by Kathy Shorr, Globe Correspondent

If you haven't been training, then it may be a little late for this weekend's 7 Sisters Trail Race in Amherst. As the race website promises:

"Very scenic overlooks of the Pioneer Valley with views of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, Hampshire College and the Town of Amherst, as well as a beautiful view of the Connecticut River and Northampton to the west."

Only problem is, those views come while humping up and down very rocky terrain for 12 miles.

If you need a bit more time to get in shape, there're always the races at the Pineland Farms Trail Challenge, in New Gloucester, Maine.

Those races are bit longer, at 25 kilometers, 50 kilometers, and 50 miles. And as the web site warns: "The trails are wide and non-technical, but very hilly. Although there are no major climbs the rolling terrain is unrelenting."

Happy trails...

Beat the rush: Now until Memorial Day weekend is the best time to get a good deal on a hotel room with an ocean view in Maine. In fact, from May 1-23, inns and hotels participating in the Maine Innkeepers Association Hospitality for Habitat program are making a certain number of rooms available for half their regular price in exchange for a $35 donation to Habitat for Humanity. Reservations must be made in advance and the contribution must be in the form of a check, payable to Habitat for Humanity. From Boothbay Harbor to Vinalhaven, more than 40 inns, hotels, motels, and resorts are participating.

Stole a summer afternoon from spring, heading north with my son yesterday for a noon first pitch at Hadlock Field in Portland for a game between the Sea Dogs and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Cost of two reserved seats down the third base line with a nine-inning view of near big-league ball: $17.

Afterwards, we stopped in Ogunquit to walk the rocks and grab a bite on the cove-side deck at Barnacle Billy's.

Price of one five-inch lobster roll, with chips: $17.50.

I know, I know. It's full-blown spring, but don't put those skis away just yet. Sugarloaf and Saddleback are both still 100 percent open, and the skiing is fabulous. Sure it's soft at the base, but you don't have to ascend too high to find delicious spring corn, butter and sugar conditions.

Saddleback closes Sunday, but the 'loaf plans to remain open until May 4. So resist the urge to grab the tennis racket or golf clubs--you've got all summer to play those games. Sure the neighbors might think you're a bit wacky when you load the skis on the car, but you'll get the last laugh when you scream one down Gauge or drop over the Back Side at the 'loaf or pay homage to the Professor at Saddleback.

Speaking of Saddleback, one more reason to go is to get one last ride up the summit T-bar. Next season it will (finally!) be replaced by a quad chair, opening up the summit to all abilities. And while you're at the summit, don't miss a ski out America, an easy going trail with perhaps some of the best views in New England skidom. Really, it should be a National Scenic Byway.

It may be the closing act, but the final scene is far from over.

Uncle Samuel, dude that he is, has just raised the caps on the amounts that airlines must pay to passengers who get involuntarily bumped.
The rule changes, which take effect in May, double the limit carriers must cough up to The Inconvenienced.
This is the way it will work: If you get bumped and the carrier gets you on another flight and to your destination less than an hour late, you get nothing, nil, nada, zilch.
If, however, they get you there between and hour and two hours late (or between 1 and 4 for international flights), they owe you compensation of 100 percent for that flight, up to a cap of $400. If it's more than two hours (or 4 for international flights), they owe you 200 percent, with a limit of $800.
Still unclear? OK, let's say you booked a round-trip for $600 to San Jose (as in: do you know they way to), and you get bumped. You were supposed to arrive at 3 p.m. But they get you on another flight and you land at 4:30. They owe you 100 percent -- or $300 -- for the one-way leg they messed up. Got it?
Bear in mind this does not affect you if they tell you they're overbooked and you voluntarily give up your seat. Then the compensation is a matter of mutual agreement (usually, when they ask for volunteers they tell you what they're offering).
The rule changes also cover more flights: any flight with 30 seats or more (before you had to be on one with 60 seats to qualify).
The US Department of Transportation has been working on these changes for months. But the final rules couldn't have come at a better time as we are just about to hit the busy summer travel season and folks have gotten skittish -- and understandably so given the nearly daily bad news about delinquent airline safety checks, flight cancellations, and poor treatment of passengers.
More to the point, with the airlines raising fares, cutting flights, and pushing to make sure every seat is filled, there can't help but be more overbooking so more bumping. Given what's going on, it's worth committing these rules to memory, hombre.

Did you call before you drove out to Logan? You should have.
Today's toll is estimated to hit at least 1,000 nationwide, including 17 flights at Logan, mostly to Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth, affecting about 1,900 customers. Nationwide as estimated 110,000 travelers were affected. Yesterday, American canceled about 460 flights -- as many as five at Logan -- of its MD-80 planes to check the bundling of wires in some planes, the same issue that forced both it and Delta to cancel a combined total of more than 700 flights last last month.
American has said that flight safety has not been

compromised.

Passengers wait at the American counters at O'Hare Airport in Chicago Wednesday morning. (AP Photo)

The tighter scrutiny on safety checks is happening as the FAA has tightened inspections since coming under fire from Congress and others for letting Southwest fly planes that had missed safety check-ups. Airline spokesman Ned Raynolds said that it was highly likely there would be more cancellations tomorrow but he couldn't give a better estimate. Bottom line: Got a flight with American? Call before you go.

If you're planning to fly with American Wednesday it might be worth making a call before you head to the airport.
American said it was canceling as many as 500 flights to check the bundling of wires in some planes, the same issue that caused it to ground more than 400 last month.
At Logan, the airline said there were as many as five canceled flights. Representatives for American, which operates about 2,300 daily flights, said they expected there would be more throughout the system Wednesday.
The airline said the Federal Aviation Administration raised concerns about recent inspections of the wiring in its approximately 300 MD-80 aircraft. Company representatives said that the problems did not pose safety threats.
The FAA has tightened inspections since coming under fire for letting Southwest fly planes that had missed safety inspections. American and Delta both canceled hundreds of flights late last month to do wiring-related inspections and repairs.
The hits just keep on coming.

Whatcha doin' for dinner Friday night? Sam Hayward, James Beard award-winning chef at Portland's Fore Street, is taking a road trip to Carrabassett Valley, Maine. Nah, he's not skiing at the 'loaf; he's volunteered to prepare a five-course fund-raising dinner at the newly opened Poplar Stream hut, the first in the new Maine Huts & Trails network.

For $250, you get to work up an appetite by hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing about 2.5 uphill miles into the snowy Maine wilds , bed down (don't forget your sleeping bag) in one of the four- to 12-bunk dorms, and savor both that five-course dinner--with wine pairings--and breakfast prepared by Hayward. Space is limited. For more info and the menu go to the site; for reservations, call 877-634-8824.

After returning to civilization on Saturday, mosey over to Sugarloaf to watch the US Alpine Championships downhill race, which will feature some of the best Alpine skiers in the country, many fresh off the World Cup trail. The championships continue through March 26.

Posted by Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

Hola, muchachos. Comment ça va? My pal Carolyn Johnson has a cool story in this morning's Globe about a social networking website, MyHappyPlanet, started by a Harvard Business School student that helps people learn languages.
Sites like this one let members dust off those language skills by communicating through written messages, talking, or IMs with each other (yes, dude, in foreign languages). MyHappyPlanet also has features that lets users correct grammar and vocabulary when sending messages and includes a phrase translator.
The site also hosts a series of user-generated videos that give you a taste of cultures and languages around the world. I had to include one of them here, "One Semester of Spanish Love Song.'' But, WARNING, DANGER, WILL ROBINSON, it's a parody. So if you happen to be an earnest, serious student of language you might want to avert your eyes or least mute the sound. Ciao. Adjö. Sun-kia. Do svidanja.

Magellan Press is out with a guide for hungry travelers: ''Where the Locals Eat: The 100 Best Restaurants in the Top 50 Cities.'' That's US cities, and Boston is included.

Entries include a range of food and prices. Boston restaurants include Brown Sugar Cafe for the best Thai and the Cask 'n Flagon for the best sports bar.

If you think the $11.95 price is too steep, particularly for a guide that includes only one New England city, check their website for more foodie news and blogs.

And if you have your own local winner, share your tip with us.

Attention all slacker moms (and dads): now’s the time to start thinking about summer camp for your kids, in case you haven’t heard. Here’s an option: if the kids whine about adults not having to go to camp, why not take the bull by the horns and go with them? Hog Island Audubon Center in midcoast Maine has one-of-a-kind family camps. The center's Family Birding Adventure (June 29-July 5) focuses on bird-watching activities. Family Camp (July 6-11) is about all things outdoors, including locating Atlantic puffins, harbor seals, and bald eagle nests. The Labor Day Family Retreat (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) includes easy strolls on Hog Island, a boat cruise, and a lobster feast. Hog Island is a 330-acre island about four hours north of Boston and run by Maine Audubon, which supports wildlife conservation. And now, dear readers, a question (or three): Where do you send your kids to camp? Is it a sleep-away or day camp? Do you try different camps every year or stick with tried-and-true camps? This slacker mom wants to know.

New Englanders looking to escape the snow may find better deals this year by flying beyond Florida.

Travelers leaving from Logan International Airport can reach some popular destinations in the Caribbean for 5 percent to 35 percent less than they could last winter, while flying to Florida vacation spots can cost 5 percent to 15 percent more than a year ago.

The reason? Airlines are shifting large planes from domestic routes to more lucrative international routes. Fewer seats on flights within the United States and more seats to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Latin America, and South America drive domestic airfares up and international ticket prices down. Additionally, while airlines have been tacking hefty jet fuel "surcharges" on domestic fares, they've been adding smaller fees or even rescinding them on tickets to some popular Caribbean destinations amid intense competition on those routes, said Rick Seaney, the chief executive of FareCompare.com, a Dallas consumer airfare research website.

"It's supply and demand," said Seaney, whose website crunched for The Boston Globe the yearly data for February and March airfares between Boston and these winter getaway destinations. "The more supply, the cheaper the price."

But in most cases, it's still much cheaper to stay in the United States. Sun-seekers on a budget will still probably prefer Florida, where they can reach beach scenes like Miami, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale from Logan for $180 to $190 round trip, including taxes and fees. Although, travelers who have been eyeing an island escapade but have hesitated because of the higher airfare may find the time is right, with $240 to $300 round-trip prices to St. Thomas, Bermuda, and Nassau, Bahamas.
Posted by Nicole C. Wong, Globe Staff

FULL ENTRY

JetBlue announced today that six of its winter snowbird routes will now be available throughout the year.

For New England, JetBlue will offer year-round service between the Orlando International Airport in Florida and both the Burlington International Airport in Vermont and the Portland International Jetport Airport in Maine.

Those service expansions will give New Englanders additional connecting-flight options for traveling south of the US border.

In March, JetBlue will introduce its first international service from Florida with nonstop service from Orlando to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Cancun, Mexico.

The carrier hopes to begin offering service from Orlando to Bogota later this year but is waiting approval from the US Department of Transportation.
Posted by Nicole C. Wong, Globe staff

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine -- After spending a winter day outdoors
skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling, it's nice to come home to a hot

meal. "Sugarloaf Cooks" provides plenty of options for preparing one.
It also dishes on plenty of good ways to start the day, from Swedish
oven pancakes to meal-in-a-muffin. Sure, there are the expected crock-
pot favorites, pastas and chiles, but these are balanced with
creative recipes ideal for entertaining, such as salmon with orange-
champagne sauce and Roquefort-stuffed tenderloin with duxelle
topping. The cookbook, published in autumn 2007, is a fundraiser for
a new library/community center for Carrabassett Valley, home of
Sugarloaf Ski Area. It's available for $15 at shops throughout the
area. It's a great souvenir for a good cause.

And speaking of Sugarloaf, mountain crews did a fabulous job grinding
up yesterday's, how-shall-I-put-this-gently, "hardpack," and turning
it into loose granular with even a few spots that approached powder,
at least on the trails I skied this morning: Tote Road, Sluice,
Spillway, Binder and Scoot. If tonight's predicted five inches
blankets that, it should be a fine weekend, indeed.

Posted by Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

There's white gold in them thar hills. Rain and sleet elsewhere in New England today was glorious powder at Sugarloaf in western Maine. Although high winds closed lifts early in the day, by late morning, skiers and boarders were tracking up about eight inches of fresh snow, and by mid afternoon, the sun was peeking through the clouds. Some kids were lucky enough to have school canceled -- not a bad way
to kick off the Martin Luther King holiday weekend.

Posted by Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

I was beginning to think that snow isn't good for anything but shoveling,
when I got an email from the Birches Resort on Moosehead Lake (Rockwood,
Maine) about their snowmobile programs. Think New England winter sports and
you usually think of the big downhill ski resorts. But even with Big Squaw
Mountain ski area in nearby Greenville, the Moosehead region is more a land
of wide-open spaces, and this compound of cabins, cabin tents, and yurts has
come up with a much more off-the-beaten-path winter outing. Instead of a
one-horse open sleigh, you dash through the woods on an Arctic Cat
snowmobile. The three-night guided excursion starts at the Birches Resort,
journeys to cabins (with hot tubs) in Baxter State Park, then on to a
traditional lumber camp on the northern edge of Moosehead Lake before
returning to the Birches in time for lunch. The open sleigh was probably
more environmentally friendly (apart from equine methane), but I've been
told that newer snowmobiles are no longer the ear-splitting, blue-belching
beasts of old. Guided Lodge-to-Lodge Snowmobile Excursion trips start in
January. For more details visit www.birches.com or call 800-825-9453.

Posted by Patricia Harris, Globe Correspondent

Big Sky Airlines, which flies to small and medium-size communities under the Delta Air Lines banner, is ending service to eight destinations on Boston routes after Jan. 7. Those cities are: Allentown, Pa.; Burlington, Vt.; Trenton; and Massena, Ogdensburg, Plattsburgh, Saranac Lake, and Watertown, N.Y. "Sustained unusually bad weather, disappointing revenue, and record high fuel prices have significantly disrupted their operations to the point that they are not sustainable," Delta said. (Nicole C. Wong, Globe business staff)

I know you're out there because I've seen you all the way down in Florida, those of you crazy enough to drive down the East Coast from New England to the Sunshine State. Yeah, I've done the deed too. The only way it can be kind of fun is if you stop and smell the exits. Road maps and highway signs tell only half the story, which is why you need to carry a copy of "Drive I-95," by Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner (Travelsmart, $23.95, with 72 full color maps. At bookstores or online, or call 888-GUIDE95). For some reason (maybe because the state is so darn long), Florida wasn't included in their exit-by-exit guide until the recently published fourth edition. So hooray for that!

Some of the invaluable information the Posners impart: detailed services at exits, radio stations, places police officers like to point their radar guns from, Internet availability, pet-friendly accommodations, travel trivia, and off-beat stops. Do you think you could find the Ava Gardner Museum (Exit 95, near Smithfield, N.C.) on your own?

Posted by Diane Daniel, Globe Correspondent

It must be peer-group pressure. Southwest has sprung a fare sale for the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Discounted one-way fares for travel between Nov. 28-Dec. 20 start at $107-$109 from Providence to a number of western states and Florida. Fares start at $109 from Hartford. You have to book seven days in advance, and the fares aren't available for Fridays or Sundays
Start the stopwatch: The offer lasts until midday Monday.

New England is home to three of TripAdvisor’s "Top Ten Overlooked (and Under Budget) Ski Destinations in the US"
Editors at the Needham-based travel company rated ski resorts that featured mountains with a 2,000 foot vertical drop on average that offered less-expensive lift tickets and more affordable lodging and night life than many of the country's more celebrated resorts.
Jay Peak in Westfield, Vt., (adult ticket, $62) came out king of the mountain. "Located in a snow belt that generates a remarkable 350 inches of snow on average annually, Jay Peak has developed a reputation for its excellent powder skiing with adventurous off-piste opportunities, and with less traffic than Vermont's trendier ski spots," the report said.
Taking fourth place is Cannon Mountain, in Franconia, N.H. ($54). "Experience wonderful skiing and a bit of history on Taft Slalom, one of the first ski trails cut in the US."
Saddleback Mountain, in Rangeley, Maine ($40), came in at No . 9. "After undergoing renovations in the past few years, Saddleback now boasts great skiing along with a new ski lift, additional ski terrain and a new lodge at an elevation of 2,460 feet -- the second highest in New England."
The rest of the best:
2. Solitude Mountain, Solitude, Utah, $55
3. Schweitzer Mountain, Sandpoint, Idaho, $55
5. Durango Mountain, Durango, Colo., $60
6. Taos Ski Valley, Taos, N.M., $63
7. Diamond Peak, Incline Village, Nev., $48
8. Big Mountain, Whitefish, Mont., $56
10. Gore Mountain, North Creek, N.Y., $115 (2 day pass)

Posted by Diane Daniel, Globe Correspondent

I was rushing through Logan last week when I picked up the latest issue of
Travel New England. Located around the airport and in South Station, the
newspaper is free and geared toward travel agents. However, travelers would
be wise to read it next time they're killing time at Logan. In their
"Airports New England" column, they talk about new carriers and/or flights
going in and out of the region. Several years back they mentioned that TNT
Vacations in Boston was starting a new charter flight to Barbados. Their
first flight out was over Christmas week, when prices are usually
exorbitant, to gouge that family traveler who only has two weeks off from
school during the winter months. The TNT charter price was less than half
the price of American Airlines and my family had a great vacation on the
island. Now I read that starting Dec. 17, Skybus Airlines will begin
nonstop service between Portsmouth, N.H., and two Florida
airports -- St. Augustine and Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda. Skybus,
you may recall, was offering incredibly cheap tickets to Columbus, Ohio,
over the summer, starting at $25 each way. They charge extra for
everything, including luggage, but it's still very affordable; certainly
worth a look for people wanting to leave the chill of winter behind.

Posted by Steven Jermanok, Globe correspondent

I’m always amazed at the number of people who’ve never heard of Roomsaver.com or its affiliate publication Traveler Discount
Guide. The guide -- which seem to be available for free at pretty much every interstate rest stop and state welcome center -- and its accompanying website offer coupons for discounts of up to $20 to $50 off regular room rates at more than 4,000 hotels in 48 states.
This is an example of the kinds of savings we’re talking about. Say you’re headed to Portland, Maine. On a late October Friday, I called a Holiday Inn on Riverside Street and was told the lowest price for a room for two for Saturday night was $109.95. Roomsaver’s coupon rate was $84.95.
Two caveats: Most of the offerings appear to be for midprice major chains on or near highways. So you aren’t going to score a deal for The Pastel Floral Print Chenille Bedspread Inn, or, say, The Ritz or Taj. And, these are pretty much walk-in rates (which means you can’t make a reservation using the discount and if the hotel is booked you’re out of luck). But you might be surprised at the number and variety of offerings. If you haven’t looked, it’s definitely worth checking out.

It's the season for art shows. Nov. 23-25 come celebrate some 55 of Maine's premier artisans at the United Maine Craftman's 33d Annual Arts & Crafts show in Rockland. Don't deny any show with free gift giveaways every hour! This show is three days long so plan to spend a night in this gorgeous coastal town. Many historic inns and B&Bs dot this region - try The Berry Manor Inn [Bobby Flay was here with the Pie Moms!], the Captain Lindsey Inn, or the LimeRock Inn for starters. And if your shopping is still not done, swing on over to Camden, one of my all-time favorite places in New England.

This month's Conde Nast Traveler touts its 20th annual Readers' Choice Awards, The Top 100.
Twelve New England gems made the list of Top 100 Mainland US Hotels: The Charlotte Inn on Martha's Vineyard (12), Pitcher Inn in Warren, Vt. (23), Blantyre in Lenox (26), Boston's Four Seasons (35), White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine (39), Twin Farms in Barnard, Vt. (44), Nantucket's White Elephant (54), Boston's Fifteen Beacon (62), Taj Boston (65), Boston's Hotel Commonwealth (73), Wequassett Resort and Golf Club on Cape Cod (81), and The Wauwinet on Nantucket (88).
If your favorite place to stay in New England didn't make the cut, think about voting next year.
And be sure to give Boston the nod for top US city. This year it made the cut, but it was No. 10 out of 10.
The winner among US cities: San Francisco.

I usually spend Thanksgiving with my husband’s family (who are scattered across Massachusetts and Rhode Island) but last year, all his siblings spent the holiday having dinner with various inlaws. So my husband and kids took the holiday ‘‘off’’ and stayed at the Eagle Mountain House in Jackson, N.H. They offer a nice, low-key brunch buffet on Thanksgiving. We took a long walk, drank hot chocolate by the fire, played ping pong in the game room, and vegged out in the Jacuzzi. It was one of the most relaxing holidays I’ve ever had.
This year, The Balsams in Dixville Notch, N.H., is open for Thanksgiving (in the past it has closed between Columbus Day and the Christmas holidays). There will be live entertainment, movie showings, and a Thanksgiving feast. Doubles start at $258 (including Thanksgiving dinner) and kids under 10 stay free. Sure, extended family is wonderful and I’m grateful for each and every one of them. But sometimes wonderful is someone making your bed and cooking your dinner.