New York State has more ski areas that any other state. That’s led to a solid ski culture. Most of these areas are small to medium-sized. I learned to snowboard at one of the smaller areas called Dry Hill. Dry Hill has 11 trails and only 300 feet of vertical, but it was enough to cut my teeth on and work on the basic skills I needed to become an intermediate rider. And that’s the beauty of New York’s ski areas. They produce some of the best skiers in the country.

But not all of New York’s ski areas are small. In fact, one of them stands head and shoulders above all the mountains in the East: WHITEFACE!

Turns out, maple syrup has a connection with Mark Twain. At least it does now.

Mark Twain Mapleworks is a sugarhouse on the shores of Ampersand Bay on Lower Saranac, part of the same complex where Mark Twain stayed for the summer of 1901. It's utterly appropriate, as it turns out. A list of "Mark Twain's Favorite Foods" reads: maple syrup, cranberries, raccoon, garden produce, canvasback ducks, and wild turkeys.

So he would be pleased.

Joseph LeBlanc bought a pub in Tupper Lake in 1966, not knowing the history he would create to this day. I had the chance to sit and chat with Michelle LeBlanc, Joseph's daughter and current owner of P-2's Irish Pub, and learn about the history that sits on the corner of Main Street and Pine Street in Tupper Lake. 

Joseph, the smallest of nine children, had many nicknames -- the most famous being "P-2." This name was originated from his aunt, who called him "her little pitu" because he was the tiniest of the bunch. Over the years the nickname transformed into P-2 (the dash was very important to him; don't forget the dash). 

While we are quickly heading into spring, I've got sun and fun on my mind. I'm thinking summer and vacation!  As I have lived in the Adirondacks my whole life, sometimes is can be difficult to see my home as a getaway location rather than just a beautiful place I get to work and live. So, for a minute, I've decided to take off my local hat and trade it in for my vacation hat and come up with the ideal plans for the perfect Speculator vacation.