A Weekend Skiing at Catamount Mountain
After 3 years, I finally feel like a ski bunny!
3rd time’s the charm they say. I fell in love with it but was also terrified by everything about it. To be outside, in nature, moving my body in the beauty of snow covered trees was awesome. But also, learning a new skill is hard as an adult!
Fast forward to our 3rd ski trip & after a first shaky run I was in it and I finally felt like I had it - kind of like that "remembering how to ride a bike" feeling. I also have to add that the strength I have thanks to pilates has made all the difference. I have incredible core strength, balance, and stability which goes a long way when sliding down slopes on skis, let me tell you!
This year we went up to Catamount Mountain Resort which is at the base of the Berkshires for a weekend ski trip and it was great! We stayed The Little Cat Lodge which was literally at the base of the mountain. Keep reading for the details on the ski weekend we loved upstate!
We drove up to Little Cat Lodge in Hillsdale, NY around 7:45 on Friday night - there was no traffic and we were there in just under 2 hours. I had heard how cute this inn was and how convenient it was being right at the base of Catamount. Check in was a breeze as there was a lock box at our room since we got in late. The staff was still around though and after setting our stuff down; the front desk made my son and I a hot water with lemon which hit the spot to help us wind down for bed.
Each morning they had a low key breakfast buffet that had something for everything for everyone. There weren’t any espresso drinks available but the hot coffee was good and hit the spot.
I booked 2 days of lift tickets and ski rentals at Catamount Mountain Resort. We got there shortly after they opened at 8am and it was a breeze to pick up our ski rentals. My husband and I have invested in helmets, goggles and ski boots from SureFoot but have opted to keep renting skis. Obviously for our son we rent everything since he’s still growing and we go 1x a year. We hit the bunny slopes, then made our way up the mountain to various green runs. The mountain was never packed which was great considering we are beginner’s.
After a good 4 hours of skiing, we left for lunch at Roe Jan Brewing. This had elevated “bar food” but also had an open kitchen. They had something for everyone, was very cozy after a morning of skiing and it was very good.
After lunch, we grabbed coffee from Twisted Sister’s which was delicious and the perfect pick me up for another activity with our son. We hit up the tubing park at Catamount for a good almost 2 hours of tubing. The guys were great at flinging us down the hill and the magic carpet was a welcome break after a morning of skiing. This is such a fun balance to skiing and since you’re already dressed for it you can flow right into this after a morning on the slopes.
We had a little energy left after our all day winter adventure so we stopped into Books and Cake. My favorite part about small towns are the bookstores. They always have great selections and a vibe. My son was instantly at home reading a Dog Man book we don’t own and it gave me time to peruse the shelves and pick the lady’s brains on what they recommended. They got me excited about Euphoria - I can’t wait to start it tonight!
We got back to our hotel and all took a little quiet time of reading and relaxing. We then headed to Little Cat Lodge’s restaurant: Edward’s Tavern. We had a cozy table by the fireplace and grabbed a board game from the lobby area to play while we waited for dinner. The menu had something for everyone - the crab cakes were definitely a standout dish. I got the special cod in ratatoullie, my husband the pork schnitzle, and our son steak frites.
The next morning we grabbed breakfast again at the hotel’s buffet and then hit the slopes. We got there shortly after it opened to beat the crowds.
After 3 steady hours of skiing again at Catamount (where again, it wasn’t totally slammed!), we dropped our ski rentals off (which couldn’t have been easier, or faster) and headed back to our hotel to pick up our bags and head to a great restuarant, Hy’s Fried. Their gluten free fried chicken is worth every bite and they have all kinds of flavorful veggie sides to compliment the chicken. Honestly, I’d drive upstate just to eat here again it was so fun and good!
After lunch we headed back to NYC and picked up coffee from an artisan cook shop, Cook and Larder on the way out. The barista made my son the epic hot cocoa he was looking for. As we were walking out there were a few cute shops to pop into as well with yummy treats and old school toys. We picked up a Magic 8 Ball which was such a fun throwback and great way to kill time in the car on our way home.
Thank you for taking the time to read this! I hope you find it helpful for your journey upstate! We loved the Catamount area and would definitely go back. If you check out any of my recommendations, be sure to tag me on Instagram @AshleyPattenPilates and/or comment below!
xx, Ashley