Ransom Tavern | South Woodstock, VT

The Kedron Valley Inn is a brick colonial beacon of elegance on a dark December night, situated at a crossroads in South Woodstock, Vermont. Wide hewn wood floors and worn loom rugs give way to a procession of glass lamps and evergreen boughs dangling with dried oranges and Christmas ornaments. The Ransom Tavern is a bar full of intimate conversation over savory Neapolitan fare. 

Thick embroidered drapes hang in grand colonial windows. Eye-catching antiques, soothing artwork, and creamy upholstered furniture such as duo of royal blue velvet chairs framing a portrait of Abe Lincoln meet a festive, modern Vermont dining room. The brightly lit space is full of wooden tables, clipboard menus, cheerful waitresses, and an open kitchen backed by a wood fired pizza oven.  A convivial tavern is bustling with patrons and families. Reservations are recommended. 

The food is wonderfully good, soul nourishing, and executed with finesse. Cocktails abound from Nonna's Old Fashioned ($12) to the Wassail ($14) which comes steaming hot in a joyfully round teacup and saucer. The wine list is award-winning, I opt for a glass of R. Stuart + Co. Big Fire Pinot Noir ($14). It tastes of fig, rich cherry, and nutmeg. The Meatballs and Ricotta ($15) come with two nestled in a glistening red sauce. The Roasted Beets Salad ($15) hits just right with mixed greens, red and gold beets, goat cheese, and toasted pumpkin seeds in a maple vinaigrette. The pizzas achieve that outstandingly chewy meets crisp Neapolitan excellence, with topping combinations to swoon over. Consider a trio of mushrooms: shitake, cremini, and oyster, plus roasted garlic, mozzarella, arugula, and shaved parmesan over a fresh roasted butternut squash puree ~ The Gardener ($24) should be your #1 pizza pick.

Broccoli Rabe and Sausage ($24) lends a distinct flavor and spice from the fennel sausage, roasted red peppers, and an elegant chili oil. The Capricciosa ($28) with tomato sauce, artichokes, cotto ham, fresh mozzarella, and basil rounds out the parade of pizzas nicely. The kids ordered ice cream sundaes ($8) for dessert while the adults enjoyed a Tiramisu ($12) and a Mille Foglie ($12). With final sips of Carpineto Dogajolo Rosso ($11) we wound down our precious time at the Kedron Valley Inn.

From Church Hill Road to Peterkin Hill, we navigated the mountain back roads and excitedly crossed the Ottaqueechee River over Lincoln Covered Bridge. Crossing a covered bridge by happenstance is so quintessentially Vermont, a moment that always deserves just that - a moment.

Ransom Tavern | Kedron Valley Inn

4778 South Road

South Woodstock, VT 05071

One Fire Beach | Praiano

Allow me to introduce the other side of Praiano which is actually called The Praiano Side. The Vettica Side is where we stayed. It would be a shame to visit Praiano and not explore both sides. 

From the western facing part of town you can view Positano in the distance and walk down many steps to the popular orange chair + orange umbrella lined One Fire Beach! 

To get from one side of Praiano to the other there is a bus that drives the main loop making frequent stops. You could definitely walk although it is far! Our bus stop was conveniently located at the bottom of Flavia Goa. (Flavia Goa is the pedestrian only street where our Airbnb was located.)

Make sure to have coins for the bus - and a baby counts as a full person even if they are attached! The drivers are helpful to point out your stop if you let them know where you're headed. 

The stop for the steps down to One Fire are at San Gennaro Church. 

And from there enjoy a scenic walk twisting and turning with signs and local artwork to guide you. 

Camden loved the squid sculpture!

We arrived around 1 pm to a concrete beach club ever so stylishly nestled into the cliff side. The friendly staff gave us our pick of lounge chairs. While Camden was the only baby here we didn't feel out of place with him, we felt welcomed. As the afternoon lingered One Fire became more and more crowded and it turns into quite the scene - queue the infamous watermelon cutting dance party! Also, a weekday in September tends to be the start of the slow season, in the high season you'd need a lounge chair reservation. 

We had the best day here. We made friends with a couple from Denver, Colorado on their honeymoon and I'm pretty sure Camden convinced them to go ahead for that honeymoon baby. 

We headed out around 6 pm leaving behind a pretty tipsy crowd which I have a feeling was only getting started. We were off to enjoy the sunset at Bar Del Sol located at the top of the steps across from the church. 

It was apparently a day for Aperol Spritz selfies. Meanwhile, Camden makes friends nearly everywhere he goes. Here he is hanging out with Roberto who has lived in Praiano all his life. 

After sunset we had a nice dinner at Cafe Novanta Quatro. Our meals were off the charts good. That perfect plate of rigatoni, tomato sauce and meatballs was accompanied by crusty bread and red wine. Quite literally there is nothing more satisfying!

The following evening was our 5th and final night in Praiano. Multiple people we met while here raved on and on about Criscitos. This pizza restaurant is just over the hill from Vettica into Praiano so we walked up and over and grabbed a table outside just in time for another sunset.

Criscitos is know for their fried pizza and it sure is something. I recommend getting a fried pizza and a regular pizza, I was astounded at how good both were. The menu selection is large and varied so we spent a great deal of time making a decision. It felt right to go for a simple one and an all out one. We also had a ridiculously good octopus carpaccio and a rare treat in Italy, craft beers!

This is very much a time where my photos are not living up to how good the food is here. If that just looks like a bunch of meat piled onto a pizza I'm sorry but it was one of the best pizzas I have ever had!! Salumi featuring mortadella are topped with pesto, pine nuts, fresh parsley, and tiny balsamic pearls that explode in your mouth.

Meanwhile, Camden was sleeping on my lap, the little angel! He is such a trooper at all these dinners out, it's honestly so much fun to bring him everywhere. We are lucky he's such an awesome and healthy baby. 

My parting words on Praiano: Make sure you visit both sides, don't hesitate to take your baby to One Fire Beach, Criscitos is a must visit for their fried Pizza!

Our day trip to Positano is up next.

Adult Spring Break | Colorado

A rotating crew of Coloradans, Bostonians and Seattleites skied for one day at Breckenridge followed by a week long slope-side retreat in Beaver Creek plus a day trip to Vail. No snowstorms occurred but lots of shenanigans did. The sun was shining nearly every day and I was extraordinarily happy to be discovering these Rocky Mountain ski resorts for the first time.

Team Breckenridge après-ed @ Rocky Mountain Underground followed by Salt Creek Saloon. RMU is situated for prime après sunshine on their patio fronting Main Street. Salt Creek has an upper outdoor deck that overlooks the mountain. Our ski day was fun however our time at Breck was overall fleeting. Beaver Creek is the mountain I truly got to know and fall in love with on this trip. 

Adult Spring Break brought to you by SUNSKI Sunglasses. (Sponsor me?)

Beers on the patio @ Talons nestled in a mid-mountain hub at the base of Bird's of Prey, Larkspur and Grouse Mountain lifts. 

Hot Tub Après @ our home for the week Kiva Lodge.

Mamie's Mountain Grill @ the top of Bachelor Gulch Express Chairlift is a fun spot for lunch. 

Our girl Teri experiencing a Fenwich. (Fenton Sandwich) ;)

A rowdy night out in Vail Village followed by Eagle Bahn Gondola confessions the next morning.

We enjoyed skiing the back bowls at Vail especially Lovers Leap!

Two Elk Lodge @ Vail Summit | elevation 11,240 feet.

Our time in Colorado was invigorating. Nothing beats a week on the ski slopes with good friends. Huge thanks to Scott for having us at his family's condo and to Lisa for organizing the trip!!

Colorado - get.outisde. and ski.more.work.less