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| Family Vacation By: Lynda F.
Baldwinsville, NY |
Family Vacation
The year was 1955, and as we traveled, in a caravan, along the snowy, curving roads of the Adirondacks the excitement increased as we remembered February weekends past. We stopped at our favorite coffee shop, in an out of the way town, for hot chocolate and donuts, marking the half way mile marker on our journey. This was my family's only yearly vacation and visions danced in our heads. Remembering how glorious it was to drive through the little fairytale village of Lake Placid, along the lake and there it was, Mirror Lake Inn, set beautifully into the side of the hill, overlooking the lake. To a child, it was a big white house, complete with glassed in side porch and people outside already involved in winter activities. How fabulous, that we were on vacation in such a magical place. As we got out of the car the snow glistened and crunched under our feet.
We were always greeted, as if we were family returning for a special weekend. The staff knew us by name. My girlfriend, Tana and I, had our own room with twin beds. How grownup can you be, to have our own room in a hotel. We quickly settle in and made our way outside to the side hill. The hill was complete with rope tow and ski instructor. We were in a hurry to get started. In those days most of my ski equipment was what someone in the group had outgrown and handed down. It really didn't matter, here I was and I was going to ski. Rope tows are always a challenge, getting your ski's in the groove and making sure your mittens did not freeze to the rope. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, snowflakes were falling and all the families were outside having fun.
Dinner followed in the dining room. Kids sat at one table and the adults at the other. Oh, we felt so grown up. We had a menu pad on our table, and we were to put a check mark next to our selections and the waiter took care of us. We could order anything that was on the menu pad. This was the arrangement for all of our meals.
After dinner, we all rushed downstairs to the plaid game room for ping-pong, cards and games. Time for bed came early as tomorrow would be a full day. We rose early, breakfasted and headed out to ski on Whiteface Mountain, what a challenge for those of us with limited abilities, but it was thrilling.
We also took a run on Mt. Van Hoevenberg on the bobsled. Boy, it went fast. In those days, you could ride the five-man sled. It had a driver and a brakeman. The next day, we had a chance to skate on the lake and take a dog sled ride. One more night and then it was time to go home. Back down those snowy, curving roads, stopping for our hot chocolate and donut and home.
What I remember most, was that grown up feeling, and the feeling of family and warmth from the family at Mirror Lake.
What wonderful childhood memories.
Lynda Vickery Fauler |
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