Travel Notes - Vermont Massachusetts New York

Travel Notes - Vermont Massachusetts New York: I flew a mixed ticket (JB/SW) to Albany for $227. JB's crew was late arriving and I almost missed the 12am closing time for Hertz. I rented a Kia K4 for $302 for the week. Received a brand new Toyota RAV 4. 9 miles! The return flight on SW was flawless. One page online check in. Kiosk print it out. Nice plane. No baggage hassling. Better class of customer. I had avoided them for years. No longer. The even fly out of a better terminal here. Only issues were no seat back entertainment and no boarding pass download. I stayed the first night near the airport at the Baymont (Expedia 5.8) for $76 because they had a free shuttle. I originally booked here because I thought we might be late because of weather and was getting ahead of cosmic mischief (not getting the rental car).

The next day I drove 66 mi on 7E to 9E to 100N at Wilmington. I stayed at the Hideaway Inn (Expedia 8.6) at Mt Snow in Dover for two nights at $202. Didn't love the self check in, robo-staff, room location and oppressive heat. I drove to the ticket office to buy a ticket for Mt Snow. They closed that office, so, I drove to the one area still open (Carinthia) and let them rip me off for a ticket two days later at $149. I drove fifteen miles to Stratton Mountain and bought a lift ticket for the next day at $80. Came back and rented skis ($70 at the resorts) from the one guy still renting (World Class) for $50 a day. I bought some wine at Black Diamond Spirits for $34. Most things were closed until summer. I drove back to Wilmington for cheese and crackers and a whole smoked chicken at River Valley Market for $27. Not many hotels around Stratton.

The next day I drove to Stratton and skied. Back to Dover and bought some salami, english muffins and mini pies at 7-11 for $9 to add to the leftovers. Lunched outside. Watched the Masters.

The next day I skied Mt Snow. A pathetic six trails open. One lift. And this is the bitch part of the resort. Returned the skis. Drove 9W to Bennington and 7S to Lenox MA. I stayed at a Howard Johnson's (Expedia 7.6) for $88. Drove the Main St through Pittsfield. Bought wine and brie and hommos at Guido's Fresh Marketplace for $25. Bought hamburger meat (nuked it in the microwave in a coffee cup) and crackers at Price Chopper for $7. Watched the Masters.

The next day I drove to 9D in NY through Red Hook, Rhinebeck and Hyde Park. Went to the Vanderbilt Mansion NHS. I had already been to most of sites including FDR sites. Ate an ok turkey club with fries for $21 at Eveready Diner (3D). I stayed at the Red Roof Inn Plus (Expedia 6.6) halfway house in Poughkeepsie for $95. I'm still high. Drove to Wappinger Falls (10 miles) and saw the Hudson Valley Renegades play for $21 and $10 parking. First row/home plate. Stayed the whole game! Received a free hat! Drove back. Bought surimi and shrimp salad and empanadas at Shop Rite. Watched the movies. FYI - This was the last of the agenda. I was just filling time after this.

The next day I drove north through Marist University and Culinary Institute of America. Their restaurants (American Bounty, The Bocuse, Caterina di Medici, Apple Pie Bakery, The Tavern and Al Forno) weren't open Sunday morning. I stopped at a sake brewery (Dassai Blue) having a festival. It wasn't open for another hour. I tried to find a winery from a sign called Clinton. Didn't. I learned it was out of business. Found one (street sign) called Milea Estate Vineyard in Staatsburg. Wasn't open for an hour. I stopped in Rhinebeck for some dumb house called Wilderstein. It wasn't open until May. Hopped the gate. Back in town, I had a shrimp salad sandwich at Matchbox Cafe for $25. Tried to eat at a diner in Red Hook. No parking. Saw the first public school in NY in Clermont. Followed 9N (there are many alternates). Saw Union College in Schenectady. Through Albany to Sarasota Springs. Took 9D to Lake George. Stayed at the Fort Willian Henry Hotel for $112 plus $20 RF (negotiated rack rate). Greatest view. Bought goat cheese, bologna and cashews at Price Chopper for $13. Two bottles of wine at Duffy's Liquors for $31. Watched the Masters and the view.

The next day I drove 9S through Glen Falls (Harding Mazzotti Arena) to Sarasota Springs. Saw Skidmore College. Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn (Expedia 8.0) for $105. Grabbed so-so corned beef sandwich (tough) and very good matzoh ball soup at the Broadway Deli for $24. Most places were closed on Monday. Watched tv. Grabbed a meatball sub combo from Subway for $10 because it was the closest walk from the hotel. Yes, I had been to the track. No, I didn't try the springs.

The next day I grabbed cauliflower soup with bread for $6 at Mrs London. Egg and cheese panini at Putnam Market for $7. Most places hadn't opened yet. Drove 9S to Albany/Latham. Was there way too early, so, grabbed a chicken salad sandwich at Metro 7 Diner for $11. Returned car.

Gas was around $4. Most places were empty. It was a joy driving around on non-interstates. 30 degrees when I landed. 80 when I left. Did this instead of Colorado because of cost and I am always saying I am going to ski these places. These were closest and still open. I bypassed all the breweries. Spent $698 in hotels. $61 in gas. $333 on skiing. $21 on games/parking. $121 on airport parking. $263 on food and bev. $21 on misc. Total of $2047. Skiing is a budget buster.