When planning your New England getaway, Tanglewood should be at the top of the list.  Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra located in Lenox, MA, has now announced the summer schedule for its 2010 season.  Opening the festivities on June 27 with a performance by the Mark Morris Dance Group, the season goes throughout the summer, ending with the annual Jazz Festival, September 3-5.  Tickets for the 2010 Tanglewood season are now on sale to the general public, with several events already sold out, so do not delay if you want to attend some of these spectacular concerts.  (more…)

If you are traveling on the Coast of Maine, one must see is Camden, a quintessential Maine village “where the mountains meet the sea.”  This acclaimed “Jewel” of the Coast, became a famous tourist destination in the 1950’s when the classic movie “Peyton Place” was shot there.  It has never looked back from that time and is replete with wonderful shops and bed and breakfast inns, many converted from 18th and 19th Century Sea Captains houses.  It is also one of the epicenters of Maine’s resurgent restaurant explosion.  Some of the finest eating establishments in New England are located right in the village,  just a short walk from one of Camden’s award-wining Bed and Breakfast Inns, the Camden Maine Stay.  Of course, this is also one of our great Distinctive Inns of New England.  For your culinary delight, here are our favorite eating establishments in this wonderful village, aptly put, “The Best Restaurants in Camden, Maine.”  A visit to the Camden Maine Stay Inn gets you to your choice of any of these fine eateries. (more…)

Tuckerman’s Ravine is a skier’s paradise for those craving adventure.   It is often referred to as Tucks and is a large glacial cirque located on the east side of Mount Washington.  The preferred time for skiing the headwall is spring, although snow stays on parts of Tuckerman’s until mid summer.  Everyone is encouraged to check for avalanche warnings prior to setting out for the hike, so do take care.

How to get to the top?  Skiers must hike in via the Tuckerman Ravine trail, and carry along their skis and boots.  The trail leaves from Pinkham Notch and is about a 3.1 mile hike to Lunch Rocks, which is at the base of the Ravine.  From there, the trail gets a little steeper until you reach the top of Tuckerman’s.  By the time you have reached the top of the ravine, it only leaves time for about one run per day. 

Just below the ravine is Lunch Rocks.  This is where on-lookers gather to watch the ski runs and cheer for all involved.  It has been told, that the cheers get even louder for the great wipeouts of the day.  Lunch Rocks seems to become the place for an all day party and certainly there is reason to party after making the run down the ravine.  

Skiing Tuckerman’s Ravine takes skill, experience, and the desire for the rush of adreline.  Certainly not for the faint at heart, but a worthy experience!  After a day of Tucker’s treat yourself to a massage and dinner at the Inn at Thorn Hill as you will certainly have deserved it!

by Rebecca, Quantum Hospitality

One of our Distinctive Inns of New England just keeps racking up awards from noteworthy travel publications; and no wonder!  Our own Rabbit Hill Inn, in Lower Waterford, Northeast Kingdom, Vermont, has been named to the Top Five Best Romantic Winter Experiences by Boston Magazine, and Most Romantic Place to Stay in New England 2010 by the venerable Yankee Magazine.  One of the clear reasons for these accolades is the incredibly scrumptious food produced by their chefs, especially their breakfast offerings.  Now they have divulged one of their favorite recipes, recently published on the web by InntheKitchen.com. 

Here is a fantastic and easy recipe for Cheddar Egg Strudel with Spinach Cream Sauce.  Made up of eggs, cheese, puff pastry, spinach, and cream, among other ingredients, this recipe is designed to make any home chef a winner in the culinary department.  Innthekitchen.com is the website made popular by Chef Rachelle Lucas, innkeeper and travel blogger.  Rachelle personally selects and tries all recipes on this site, and each one is displayed with great pictures and sometimes with video.  In this case, the recipe is broken down into really easy to follow steps, and the result will amaze you. 

So try this great breakfast dish out on your own, or better yet, come to Rabbit Hill Inn for the real deal, plus romance to spare.  This is one great place to stay at any time of the year, but we think it is best in the quiet time of winter.  Enjoy and bon appétit.

by Howard, Quantum Hospitality