All the area ski places have an ice-skating rink. This is the first one we've tried with our 4 year old. Kids ski free with a paid adult. When we got there, we thought it was closed. The snow hadn't been cleared off and there was no one out there. We finally found the rental place "Munchies" and there were two other families gearing up to go. The skates were in good condition and all the kids seemed to really enjoy the rink. There are outdoor bleachers set up, but no one had cleaned any snow off of them. The last it snowed was over 3 days ago. There is a large indoor area with games and a few (very expensive) snacks. It was useful as a place to follow around our 12 month old, but still watch our daughter & daddy skate together for the first time. When we left she remarked that she wished she could stay there all the time, so it was worth it.

Beech Mountain provides a youth sledding hill at the top of the mountain. It is specifically for those 12 and under. Parents may ride with small children. They even make their own snow so the hill is always ready to go. There are safety personnel present and they play music for all to hear. You can park at the visitor's center or across the street in the marked lot. There are plenty of little places to eat nearby. Bring a sled with you, plastic only. It's well taken care of and our 4 year old had a blast sledding for over an hour! There are bathrooms available in the visitor's center as well.

We just got back from a quick trip to Disney with our four year old. I keep looking for that perfect hotel for us. It's difficult for us all to sleep in the same room as my daughter gets too excited plus she and my husband both snore! The Fairfield Inn & Suites is very reasonably priced for suites so we gave it a shot.

Booking the room was confusing. They list two types of Family Suites on their website, one lists a king OR a twin bed and the other indicates two bedrooms. When I called to ask the difference I still didn't get a clear answer. Because of limited availability I ended up booking the OR room. When we got to check in, I asked to see if the other suite was available. The check in staff were confused and just made me more confused. We just stuck with what we got, which was a king bed and twin bunk beds.

The photos on their website don't do much for a layout of the rooms. Walking in there is the bathroom with the vanity separate from the tub & toilet. Next was the kids' "room" which was really just a partitioned off area. There was no door and the walls didn't go all the way up to separate the kids' room from the main bedroom. Also, the coffee maker is set up in the kids' room which I found odd. The room was nicely decorated and even had a window and blinds which looked out on the hall. My daughter liked putting the blinds down for bedtime. The bunk beds are very sturdy and colorful. The kids' room does have its own TV as well (which because of the lack of door or complete wall you can hear in the main bedroom and vice versa). The main bedroom was just like a normal hotel.

The beds themselves were quite firm. I also requested a feather free room because of allergies. I don't know if the feather pillows are better, but the pillows were a little lacking. I could've done with a heavier blanket but I survived.

The hotel advertises free breakfast and parking. There is also a shuttle service to Disney. The shuttle is $7 per person round trip. By comparison parking at Disney is $14 per day, so it's probably more economical to drive if you have a car. We did this which also allowed us to go back and forth. I've been let down by free breakfasts in the past, but this one was pretty good! Just be prepared that when they say breakfast is until 10am, they mean it! Our second day my daughter and I got down there at 9:55am and they were removing food. It was a scramble to grab food, but they did stop when we asked for specific items.

All in all, I would stay here again. For the price, location and room size it was a good value.

Behind the winery is a huge u-pick blueberry patch. They don't advertise and you need to bring your own bucket. It's $5/gallon for u-pick or $10/gallon if you want them to pick for you. The patch is very well maintained. They do use pesticides. I've had no luck calling or emailing for information. Your best bet is to drive there and inquire in the winery if the blueberries are available for picking. We were told this year that as of August 1st, 2011 the blueberries will be available. It's very easy to get to and a great place to pick some blueberries!

Sarnellis is a favorite date place for my husband and I. It's a family owned and run. The food is delicious! The service is wonderful! The decor is a bit dated but not so much that you won't enjoy yourselves! With breakables & no kids menu, this is not a place for young kids. The only time I have seen kids there is the first time we went and brought our 3 year old! Since then we have left her home whenever we go.