Travel Tales

Away from the madding crowds biking a Maine ski slope in August

No snow time is the right time for me, or...

We stayed at the superb Jordan Grand Hotel and flew down the North Peak by taking the Chondola running from South Ridge to the top of North Peak. The Bike Park is open for lift and trail access Friday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm through October 13, 2009.

Why I leave Cape Cod every August

By Walter & Patricia Brooks

The accommodations at the Jordan Grand Hotel are worthy of a "grand hotel."

And the food at it's restaurant, Grand Avenue, is as fine. We had as good a Roast Lamb Shank as we've ever tasted, and grandson Will raved over his steak.

Maybe the ATV safari down to a...
mountain stream was responsible for our appetites, and

Sudbury Inn in Bethel is a short, scenic ride with..

as fine dining as we have ever experienced. This twin tournedos of two petite filet mignons, one with demi-glace and the other with a blue cheese sauce was worthy of Maxim's.

I live on and dearly love Cape Cod, but back when I only "vacationed" here, I never visited in July or August.

The real secret of a great holiday experience is finding a sumptuous retreat which is wildly popular and successful during it's prime season, and then visiting it in the off-season.

On Cape Cod that means after Labor Day through October, and on the ski slopes that means July and August.

Biking three miles down a ski slope

My wife is a wonder at discovering these Shangri-las, and this summer's secret paradise was Sunday River near Bethel Maine.

She chose Sunday River for four reasons;

1. It is posh to the nth degree.
2. We are all avid bikers.
3. The cost is a fraction of that during "the season".
4. No crowds and we get treated like royalty.

Even if you've never been to a famous ski resort, you probably know that it's a tad pricey "in season", but like Cape Cod, a real bargain in the shoulder months which in Maine means May through November.

Sunday River is located minutes from picturesque Bethel Village in western Maine's Mahoosuc Mountains.

A true four-season destination, the resort offers 26 miles of lift-serviced mountain biking, two Grand Resort Hotels and golf at the acclaimed Sunday River Golf Club.

And if you think there's not enough to do in Maine in summer, just check out the activities here which include guided or unguided ATV/Ranger, fly-fishing, mineralogy and canoe/kayaking tours.

And new this summer, Sunday River introduces the Chondola for scenic rides and mountain bike transport, as well as six new miles of mountain bike terrain for beginners and intermediates. The $7.2 million Chondola - part gondola and part chairlift - provides a seven minute ride to North Peak where the resort's system of mountain bike and hiking trails branch from.

The eight-person gondola cabins are reserved for pedestrians, while the six-person chairs are reserved for mountain bike transport.

A Bike & Bed package including lift ticket for $49 a day

The packages make it really affordable, like a 7-Night Stay in a condominium, from $349 for 7 nights through November 5, 2009

That means you can spend a full week in the mountains of Maine for as low as $50 per night!

Or stay in one of their Grand Hotels from $599 for 7 nights through November 5, or bring your mountain bike and stay for $49 per person through October 11, 2009 for the bike and bed package includes lodging in one of their Grand Resort Hotels or Condominiums and 1 day of lift serviced mountain biking. See the Sunday River rates here.

Bethel deserves an afternoon and evening as well

On our second night we took the innkeeper's advise and visited the very charming village of Bethel Maine called "Maine's beautiful mountain village", and had dinner at The Sudbury Inn.

The 135 year-old Sudbury Inn is owned and managed by Scott Davis and has an excellent staff, most of whom are "Mainers" and long time residents of Bethel and its environs. Scott and the inn staff are particularly helpful with information on what to do and see in the area too.

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of our trip was to discover dining of this rarefied level in such a bucolic setting. Executive Chef Peter Bodwell's food is wonderful, specially his outstanding plate presentation. The wild mushroom lasagna appetizer was memorable, as was the rest of the meal.