Après Ski - A Guide to Winter Fun Near Country House Bed & Breakfast!

Après ski, definition: literally French for "after ski," and it's a general phrase to describe the social activities that take place after a day spent hitting the slopes. (1.)

Confession: I live in the Adirondacks and I don’t ski. I don’t snowboard, snowshoe, or go tubing. Rope tow? Oh, the horror! My ski story came to an abrupt halt as a child when the meaning of the ski term “snowplow” became me plowing into a group of students at the bottom of a practice hill when I couldn’t stop. My fears took hold of me and I did not attempt the sport again.

Now that that is out of the way, here is what I do love to do: shop, dine and enjoy a great cocktail!

I guess you could say, I wasn’t a natural skier, but was born a natural APRèS skier!

Whether you are an avid skier or a devoted après skier, like myself, let me offer 3 local mountains and 3 fun things to do after you’ve come down from them!

West Mountain and Outlet Shopping!

West Mountain is located in Queensbury and is the closest ski mountain to Country House Bed & Breakfast. At the bed and breakfast, you can see the lights of the mountain by night. I have grown up watching the snow make its locally infamous shapes on the trails from afar. It isn’t spring until all that snow is gone from West Mountain! If I did ski, I imagine I would be at West Mountain all winter with the many activities available to do there. There is day and night skiing and snowboarding, tubing, and fun events. After skiing at West Mountain, you can stay right at the mountain and enjoy the West Mountain Bar & Eatery or West Express Café! If you care to venture 10-15 minutes north, you will find an amazing shopping experience at the Factory Outlets at Lake George and French Mountain Commons. Some favorite stores there are Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic, J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, and so many more! The Log Jam Restaurant at the Lake George Outlets has that Adirondack vibe with delicious food and drink! There is a fantastic salad bar and the mud pie is to die for! Cheers to après ski at West Mountain and the Lake George Outlets!

Willard Mountain & Downtown Saratoga Springs!

Willard Mountain, in Greenwich, NY, is just 30 minutes from downtown Saratoga Springs. After skiing and tubing at Willard, head to Saratoga and choose from a myriad of restaurants and shops. Some notable venues in Saratoga Springs include, but are certainly not limited to:

Dining:

Walt & Whitman Brewing

Seneca

Hamlet & Ghost

Scallions

Solevo Kitchen & Social

Shopping:

Union Hall Supply Company

Homessence

Silverwood

Lilly Pullitzer Pink Paddock

Caroline and Main

Saratoga Tea & Honey

Saratoga Olive Oil Co.

Saratoga Springs, NY is just 25 miles south of Country House Bed & Breakfast!

Bromley & Manchester Center!

Bromley Mountain is an amazing ski destination in Vermont where you can ski, snowboard, dine, and lodge. Did you know, “Bromley is the only major ski area in New England with a southern exposure, giving our guests sun drenched smiles!” Keep smiling, because just 12 minutes southwest of Bromley is the Manchester Designer Outlets in Manchester Center, VT. Enjoy shopping designers like Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Theory, Armani, and so many more! Bromley Mountain offers dining options and there are more options in Manchester, like Zoe’s Deli, Zoey’s Double Hex, Garlic John’s Restaurant and Ye Olde Tavern. Manchester, Vermont is a perfect place to explore after a day at the slopes or a perfect day trip from Country House Bed & Breakfast!

Après has become my new favorite word. Après dinner is dessert, après the week is the weekend, and après ski is shopping, dining and cocktails! The Adirondacks in upstate New York and the Green Mountains in Vermont are the perfect places to come and live happily ever après!