The Great Northeast :

Best known as the site where two Winter Olympics were held, Lake Placid is home to Lake Placid Lodge, an exclusive mountain retreat right on the shore of the lake itself. Each cabin not only comes with a view of lake action but also of Whiteface Mountain, where the skiing events of the Olympic games were hosted. Through the years Lake Placid has put on quite a show for the sporting world from The Miracle on Ice hockey game to Eric Heiden’s five gold medals in speed skating. Those visiting this part of the country can learn more at the Olympic sports centers, most of which are open to all, or by being more hands on and actually trying one of their favorite sports. Take a bobsled run in either summer or winter or even try your hand at ski jumping, offered year round.

If speed isn’t quite the thing, perhaps a hike up the 5,344 foot Mt. Marcy, the highest peak in the entire state of New York, would be more pleasing. Not a technical hike, the trek to the top of this landmark will take most of a day, testing stamina but also revealing mountain pleasures such as small streams or pools for dipping or soaking feet. There are also 13 golf courses in the region, 30,000 miles of pristine rivers and streams for fishing, and miles of winter trails for cross country skiing.

Though fall is a particularly favored time to visit for the colorful foliage, there is much to do in Lake Placid through out the year. Festivals abound with favorites including the Lake Placid Horse Horse Show held June 26-July 8 at the North Elba Showgrounds. More than 1,200 horses compete each week making this one of the nation’s largest hunter-jumper shows. There’s also the Ford Ironman USA/Lake Placid held this year on July 22. This is one of only four official Ironman Triathalons held in the U.S. and it draws competitors from around the world. Winter brings the 111th Annual Winter Carnival on Saranac Lake, one of the oldest Winter Carnivals in the country. And the Empire State Winter Games returns to Lake Placid next February.

Visitors to Lake Placid Lodge may choose simply to lie back and soak in the breathtaking views surrounding this exquisite lodge. For spa services check out the nearby Mirror Lake Inn or simply make an old fashioned splash in one of the many swimming holes dotting the property. For shopping, check out the rustic furniture stores in the area such as the Adirondack Country Store with seven large rooms packed with unique gifts and furnishings. There are handmade items you won’t find anyplace else in the world from the famed Adirondack Chairs to Bent Hickory and Oak furniture.

A short distance from Lake Placid lies Saranac Lake and the former Rockefeller estate which now houses The Point, a Relais & Chateaux treasure that recreates the Great Camp Era. Outdoor lovers will find nearly every recreation at their fingertips from tennis on site, to golf only a couple miles away, road and mountain biking and, of course, fishing, sailing, and kayaking in the Saranac Lake Region. Though any sort of water activity is possible, canoeing may be the most popular here because the Saranacs are enhanced by dozens of bays and inlets that bring a quiet communion with the surrounding wilderness. Imagine floating along listening only to the songs of the loons or watching the Blue Heron and American Bald Eagles take flight. Choose one or more of the lakes for a half or full-day excursion. Together there is nearly 30 miles of waterway for individual or family trips.

Back on terra firma there are plenty of sights to take in as well. The Adirondack Museum tells the stories of how the people of the Adirondacks lived and worked through the ages. It has a number of historic structures to explore including a log hotel and a one-room schoolhouse. Or take a ride on the Adirondack Railroad, a 20 mile round trip high peaks wilderness train adventure departing from either the Lake Placid Station or the Saranac Lake Union Depot. When the train stops, take your time walking through the villages of either Saranac Lake or Lake Placid before heading back.

Check out the work of master taxidermist Charles Kickert at the Charles Dickert Memorial Museum, who practiced his craft in this region for many years. White Pine Camp, an Adriondack “Great Camp” was built in 1907 and served as the summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge in 1926. It has played host to a number of dignitaries through the years. Currently undergoing a major renovation, it is nevertheless spectacular to see, particularly the setting on 35 acres of pine woodland and wetlands. Finally, the Wild Center/Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks is a key stop during any visit to this region. It features live exhibits including animals, birds, amphibians and fish indigenous to this part of the world.

From here, the short trip to Kennebunkport, Maine will bring you to the historic White Barn Inn where guests will find themselves in the center of a region with wonderful architecture, beaches, art galleries, boating and much more. Begin with the fact that The White Barn Inn restaurant has been honored with a 5-Star rating in the Mobil Travel Guide 2006, one of only 15 restaurants in the country to receive such a coveted award. Meals are served in the original 1800s Barn and feature innovative New England cuisine.

The next day work off the calories with a walk on some of the most stunning and accessible beaches on the Atlantic Seaboard. The Kennebunk Beach, a string of beaches, some sandy, some rocky, are all connected by sidewalks perfect for walking, biking, or even rollerblading. The Goose Rocks Beach is also a fine place for exploring. With its fine silver white sand it takes its name from the barrier reef rock formation offshore known as Goose Rocks. Trek through the sand dunes and beach grass looking for piping plovers and lesser terns who live here. You may even find a sand dollar or two.

Those interested in history and architecture will find a number of interesting and educational walking tours here. Pick up a brochure from The Kennebunkport Historical Society which details three different village tours revealing the many architectural styles and influences comprising this seacoast town through the centuries. All are between one and one and a half hours in length. Be sure to include a stop by the Brick Store Museum, an old dry goods store dating back to 1825. Today it serves as a regional history and archives center.

Artists have long favored this scenic beach community and the result is some of the finest galleries in the Northeast. Check out Goose Rocks Pottery and Tile Works with hand-thrown pottery created by Bob Lipkin and handpainted tiles by Lou Lipkin. The Gallery on Chase Hill, located in the Captain Chase House, is a showplace for original artwork. The beautiful gallery space shows off works by some of the region’s best known artists. Home & Away is the only gallery in coastal New England with Native American art from the Inuits, Yup’ik, Inupiaq, Alutiiq and other tribes. The Great Pine Gallery lies on the Kennebunk River Basin and represents some of the most renowned local and regional artists.

In any seaside community you may expect a myriad of outdoor recreation and Kennebunk is no exception. Visitors to The White Barn Inn will find everything from sailing, canoeing to a private yacht charter right on site. There are numerous fishing charter companies, golf courses, kayaking companies, and even whale watching. Explore the seas aboard a lobster boat, check out the blow holes on Ocean Avenue. You can even get a glimpse of President Bush’s summer home - Walker’s Point.

That leaves only what time of year to plan a visit. Events and festivals take place year round. At the end of May comes the Art in the Inns and Garden Tour, celebrating all types of art from watercolor productions to culinary masterpieces in the kitchen. Dine with the artists and private chefs then move on to art showings and garden tours. August brings American Heritage Days with live western music, black powder musket displays, western line dancing and more for the entire family. Come in September for the Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival, two days of exhibitions from more than 100 artisans who show their work at a lovely seaside setting. The end of November brings the Lobster Trap Tree Lighting ceremony, one of the most original tree lighting ceremonies found anywhere. Whenever you come, Kennebunk Beach and The White Barn Inn concierge will be ready to design the perfect seaside vacation.

Head directly inland to find Vermont and the charismatic town of Warren at the base of Sugarbush ski and golf resort. Here The Pitcher Inn and Spa offers tranquility, antique-filled rooms and award-winning American cuisine in the restaurant which boasts a most impressive wine cellar. Located at the southern end of the Mad River Valley, Warren, Vermont is a small rural town with just over 1,500 residents who live in and around its historic village center. Overall the pastoral Mad River Valley is best known for its spectacular rural countryside. Once you’ve seen the town of Warren, take a drive along VT RT 100 through the hamlets of Waitsfield, Fayston and Moretown for more gorgeous landscape and architecture. Along the way, take in views of the mountain ridgelines, rivers, hillside farms and steepled villages.

Recreationalists may think they’ve found heaven in this part of the country starting with The Long Trail which goes right over the top of Sugarbush on its way from Massachusetts to the Canadian border. This 272 mile trail is reportedly the first long distance hiking trail in the U.S. and provides opportunity not just for hikers but for mountain bikers and cross country skiers and snowshoers in winter. In summer, Sugarbush’s Robert Trent Jones Sr. Golf club is considered one of the best courses in the East. There’s also tennis and, for high fliers, soaring from the Sugarbush Airport. Families are more than welcome here. Besides all the offerings at Sugarbush the town of Warren has numerous boutiques, galleries and plenty of those oft photographed covered bridges.

Winter is a favored time here for skiers, snowmobilers and cross-country enthusiasts, who have hundreds of kilometers of tracked trails. Something you won’t find in other regions is the clouds of steam rising from sugarhouses as local sugarmakers boil sap while making that delicious Vermont maple syrup produced here. Summertime brings near idyllic temperatures hovering in the mid-seventies or low-eighties with plenty of sunshine and a relaxed atmosphere.

The Mad River Valley has long been a mecca for artists, sculptors and other craftsmen who find themselves inspired by this landscape. The Vermont Festival of the Arts takes place throughout the month of August culminating with the Mad River Valley Craft Fair on Labor Day weekend. The most beautiful time of year is certainly fall when the intensity of colors from the changing of the leaves lures travelers from around the world. At the same time, the Farmers’ Market which takes place every Saturday runs through the fall ensuring a feast not just for the eyes but for the stomach as well.

A world onto itself lies only a short plane ride away in the idyllic Edgartown on the renowned island of Martha’s Vineyard. Here you’ll find The Charlotte Inn with its manicured English gardens and refined French restaurant. Far less developed than nearby Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard is nevertheless a vibrant and lively place particularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day when the weather is fine and the culture in full swing. Edgartown is one of the island’s most charismatic communities. Its first colonial settlement, it has also served as the county seat since 1642. There may not be such a picture book setting anywhere in the country as Edgartown’s Main Street with its scenic waterfront filled with the tall ships and massive yachts. Its narrow streets are lined with stately and historic captains’ homes and elegant boutiques.

Though summer buzzes with barbecuing, beach tanning and evening parties, the island is increasingly becoming a year round destination. In fact, there are many who prefer the quieter winter months when temperatures drop along with the crowd numbers which can swell from 5,000 to as many as 50,000 during peak season. The best times of all may be the shoulder months - spring and fall - when the weather is still warm enough to enjoy island activity but with much more peace and simplicity than the celebrity scene that often accompanies summer.

Whenever you go there is much to see and do in Martha’s Vineyard and Edgartown in particular. Architecture buffs will have trouble figuring out what to see first. The Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust has acquired, preserved and now manages many of the key landmarks of the Vineyard, many of which are open to the public. In Edgartown the Vincent House is the oldest residence on the Island dating back to 1672. Its five rooms have been furnished with period antiques depicting life on the Island throughout the last four centuries. Tours run regularly from May 1st until Columbus Day. A favorite for weddings and private affairs is the Dr. Daniel Fisher House in Edgartown. Built for a whaling ship owner in 1840, the mansion was redecorated as the first Martha’s Vineyard Designer Showhouse in 1992. It will take only a small sidetrack to visit the Flying Horses Carousel in neighboring Oak Bluffs. It is the nation’s oldest operating platform carousel and has been captivating island children since 1876. Check out the beautifully painted horses with manes of real horse hair.

Outdoor activity is practically a requirement for all who visit here. The Charlotte Inn offers tennis, sailing, canoeing, horseback riding and much more. Much is centered on the unspoiled beaches of the Vineyard, some open to the public and others reserved for residents and summer visitors staying in the towns where the beaches are located. In Edgartown, Northton’s Point, known as South Beach or Katama, is a famous barrier beach which stretches for three miles. Great for walking, beware of heading into the surf which can often be rough. Wasque and Cape Poge on Chappaquiddick are favored by bluefish and bass fishermen, while Lighthouse Beach off North Water Street near the town’s center has calm waters for swimming and great views.

Get into the backcountry at the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, 350 acres managed by the Massachusetts Audubon Society just three miles outside Edgartown. There are miles of hiking trails, woods, marshland and many naturalist-led events.

Martha’s Vineyard has also earned renown for its five diverse lighthouses. Just ask any lighthouse afficionado. All are located on the north side of the Island and look out over Vineyard Sound and Nantucket Sound as well as over the entrance to Edgartown Harbor and Cape Poge. The original Edgartown Lighthouse, built in 1828, was replaced in 1938 by one that was rafted to its current location from Ipswich. The old one had a location more than a quarter mile from shore while the current structure sits right on shore making it easier to visit. This, along with any of the other four lighthouses make for wonderful touring and should be included during any visit to the Vineyard.

For nearly its entire existence, Martha’s Vineyard has been an artist’s haven. That is very apparent today in the sheer number of galleries spread throughout the island’s communities. Right in Edgartown itself there are many. The Christina Gallery, Inc has two floors of traditional art, impressionism and expressionism by contemporary artists. Another to check out is Hammond Harkins Galleries with a broad array of American and European contemporary artists. Take your time and browse through the streets of Edgartown to come up with your own list of superb boutiques, galleries and other ways to occupy your time in this elegant community.

More laid back but no less resplendent, Nantucket is home to the Wauwinet Hotel and Restaurant, built in 1850 and updated to the blissful resort it is today. Located nine miles from Nantucket (complimentary shuttle service runs every hour), Wauwinet is poised between the ocean and the bay giving it, like all of Nantucket, has a myriad of seaside activities. Sailing, kayaking or just sunning on one of the wide white sandy beaches can make an ideal getaway all on their own. If you’ve never been lobstering this is a perfect place to learn the craft. Cruise Nantucket Bay on the Wauwinet Lady or even try some night time swimming in phosphorescent waters. It’s all here and more.

Nantucket itself has a rich history as a whaling port and the hundreds of 18th- and 19th-century cottages which line the streets give it a “lost-in-time” appearance. Nearly 40 percent of Nantucket is currently protected conservation land. There are plants and animals found here that are nearly extinct in other parts of the world. But there is also enough cultural activity for the most intrepid traveler. Boutiques, art galleries and museums help celebrate Nantucket’s rich cultural heritage. Like Martha’s Vineyard, summer is the most popular time to visit Nantucket. But springtime brings fields of daffodils and autumn finds the water still warm and the crowds at bay.

There are some events which have become synonymous with Nantucket and have given the town real cultural credence. The Nantucket Wine Festival has blossomed over the past decade in one of the region’s most celebrated May events. Winemakers symposia, grand tastings, food seminars and special events are all part of the four day party. In June comes the Nantucket Film Festival, a collaboration between filmmakers, actors and assorted film lovers. It starts early in the morning with coffee and a film discussion and runs to late night story telling.

There are a hundred things to do while staying at The Wauwinet. Or nothing at all. Some choose to stroll this historic village of ‘Sconset, known for its cottages and rambling rose gardens. Located eight miles from Nantucket (bikepaths link the two communities), this lovely village is a step back into an untroubled time, with untrampled beaches and a rare serenity. The Whaling Museum is a former whale-oil candle factory. It has a huge number of artifacts including more than 700 paintings, 800 pieces of scrimshaw, more than 2,500 whaling tools and complete skeletons a 40-foot Finback and a 47-foot Sperm whale. Another step into Nantucket’s past is a visit to the Jethro Coffin House, the oldest residence on Nantucket built as a wedding gift in 1686. It has been restored several times and now stands as monument to the region’s early day settlers.

Some like to go walking at Sanford Farm, a 600-acre property managed by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. There are a series of walking trails here including a loop between the east and west sections of Hummock Pond. Canadian Geese, Northern Harrier hawks, deers and many, many swans calls this home, perhaps because no vehicles except bikes are allowed here. Many visitors also head to Great Point, site of a historic light house dating back to 1784. It has an intense history including several destructions and rebuildings. Most recently $2 million in federal money was set aside for building a new Great Point Light. Great Point itself is now part of Coatue Wildlife Refuge, a nesting site for the endangered piping plover. From May to October the trustees offer a daily tour.

End your day with a treatment at the new Wauwinet Spa or dinner at Topper’s, with its lobster-heavy menu and other delightful American entree choices. Stroll through the chef’s herb garden or hang out on Private Bay Beach, reserved just for Wauwinet guests. There’s really no better way to see the Northeastern part of the United States than a stay at this or one of the other exceptional relais & Chateaux resort getaways.

The Great Northeast : nearby Relais & Chateaux properties