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Best Winter Jackets and Other Great Ski Gear for Families
The winter sports season is upon us. If you haven’t already checked boot sizes and the wax level on those skis and boards, now is the time. Our ski experts have identified some great ski and winter apparel products to keep the entire family warm, toasty and looking fabulous on the slopes this season. Family Ski Gear Guide Women’s Gear Helly Hansen Powderqueen Jacket It’s a shell, it’s a parka, it’s a cosy respite from the elements. What more can a lady ask for? This stylish coat also comes with powder skirt and RECCO (avalanche rescue detector) system. Safety, style and comfort all rolled into a jacket fit for a snow queen. • CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES Columbia Bugaboo Interchange Bugaboo means two jackets in one. Plus you get Omni-Heat technology for an affordable price. • CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES Hestra Gloves and Mitts Hestra has been making some of the highest quality ski gloves since the 1930s. Keep those fingers warm with classic glove and mitts that come in various sizes and choice of leather or synthetic material. All Hestra gloves are waterproof of course. They're certainly on my list this season! • CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES Men's Gear Craighoppers Voyager Hybrid Ski dads and older teens can use this versatile jacket as a mid-layer under a shell or on its own while strolling around the village or chillaxing by the fire. • CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES Buff Face and Neck Wear Buff's merino wool face and neck wear protection is the Alpha fabric for men. It brings comfort, warmth and contemporary style to all the skiing dads in our lives. Products are lightweight and fashionable for on and off the slopes. • CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES Kids Picks Columbia Bugaboo Interchange Jacket This jacket includes a micro-fleece liner and a technical shell, which can be worn together or separately. Includes Omni-Heat and Omni-Tech which keeps kids from getting overheated. Yes, it seems we have to worried about both hot and cold on the slopes! • CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES Helly Hansen Lifa Merino Underlayers Keeping warm in winter is all about layering. Soft merino wool underlayers will keep kids warm, with no itchy, scratchy effects. The designs are playful and fun, and keeping the chill at bay will pay off in longer slope time. Always a good thing. • CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES Smartwool Ski Socks Let's face it, no-one likes getting cold feet. But it can particularly tough to keep those tiny tootsies toasty on a windy ski day. Soft wool socks keep toes warm and can help kids stay on the slopes longer. Let kids choose their own favorite color and design combinations from these cute high-performance merino wool socks. • CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES Winter Accessories TransPack Classic Ski Bag Never lose track of ski gloves, hats or helmets again with the TransPack ski bags. Each family member can choose their own bag to house all of their ski supplies, including boots, helmet, and soft items like gloves, toques and neck buffs. The bag can be worn as a backpack, leaving hands free to carry skis and boards. It's ski packing genius. • CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES myBunjee Take one of our own writer's advice, learned the very hard way, and never lose your phone again. Use this ingenious device to secure your phone, on the slopes or anywhere at all. The myBunjee slips over your mobile phone and fastens to your ski jacket via its coiled bunjee cord. Can also be attached to belt loops or handbags, and makes for great gifts for teens with slippery hands. • CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES Claudia Laroye is a freelance travel writer and blogger from Vancouver, Canada. She specializes in family, adventure, luxury and wellness travel writing. Shop Twist Travel Magazine Purchase print copies of single issues or subscribe and save!...
7 Chill-tastic Baltimore Holiday Events You Don’t Want to Skip
Bring On the Best Baltimore Holiday Events Frost greets us each morning, along with a Caramel Brulée Latte at our local coffee shop. It must be the holiday season, and we can’t wait to dive into Baltimore holiday events. Baltimore, Maryland, also known as Charm City, has quietly become a powerhouse of holiday magic in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. While most visitors will stick to the ice rink and German Christmas market near the Inner Harbor, it’s all about the neighborhoods for us. So, once you’ve had your fill of the harbor, and we’ve got nothing against the Baltimore Inner Harbor, dive into the local scene. Catch one of the best Christmas Streets on the East Coast, learn the history of Baltimore’s neighborhoods, and join in fun as Santa does a little the tap dancing. Ice Rink at the Inner Harbor Dates: Mid-November to Mid-January You can’t celebrate the holidays and NOT go ice skating. Strap on your own skates or pick up some rentals, pay the nominal admission fee and tap your inner Olympian. Who knows, you may be doing triple axels before the end of the season. But please don’t try without supervision (or travel insurance!). Hot beverages are available onsite and pair perfectly with those gorgeous harbor views we know and love. Baltimore German Christmas Village Dates: Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve West Shore Park in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor turns into an authentic German Christmas Village every Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve. Not everyone can get to the Christkindl Market in Germany, which is why the city wanted to bring a little bit of that European holiday magic right to you. The village combines outdoor and indoor spaces (phew! We all won’t freeze), featuring traditional German-style wooden huts, vendors selling European food and beverages (plus a beer garden!), and unique holiday trinkets and gifts. Festive lights, a big Christmas tree, gingerbread and mulled wine are sure to put any Scrooge in the holiday spirit. Old Tyme Christmas in Fells Point Dates: First Weekend in December Eggnog contest-- Do we really need to say more? Head to one of Baltimore’s most historic neighborhoods to start off the holiday season as Santa arrives via boat (yes, a boat), to say hello to all the good little boys and girls (don’t worry- he likes the naughty ones too). Parents will want to pop into the Sagamore Pendry for a cocktail while the kids wait for a photo with Santa. Relax for a moment as you listen to carolers stroll through Broadway Square. End your day with the lighting of the tree and the Parade of Lighted Boats that make two laps around the Inner Harbor. Holly Jolly Trolley Lights Tour Dates: select dates in December Think you know Charm City? If you watched the Wire, you know nothing. Hop aboard an old trolley to get to know the a few of the real neighborhoods of Baltimore. This Holly Jolly Trolley Lights Tour will take you on a two-hour journey through Harbor East, Fells Point and Canton, sharing a bit of the history and holiday magic in each neighborhood. You will then drive over to Hampden for the spectacular 34th Street Annual Christmas Festival of Lights. Enjoy the lights and décor of the season, along with an outdoor train garden and original artwork by local artists. And yes, you can get off the trolley to explore for a bit. As you head back to the Inner Harbor, you will pass the Mount Vernon neighborhood, where the George Washington Monument has been all dressed up for the season. Book tickets ahead of time, as earlier tours do sell out quickly, especially on weekends. Miracle on 34th Street Dates: Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day For those who don’t want to take the trolley tour, you can still experience the light-tacular awesomeness that is the 34th Street Annual Christmas Festival of Lights in Baltimore, MD. The Hampden neighborhood likes to really show off by plugging in every strand of lights they can get their hands on up and down, and across, 34th Street. A Musical train, snow globes, blinking angels, bikes, pans and other wonderful lawn ornaments are sure to impress on a chilly date night or family outing. Just make sure you look up where to park ahead of time. This is a street you should plan on strolling, not drive down. Wear layers and bring a latte to stay warm. Holiday Pops! Dates: mid-December Tap-dancing Santas and a Sing-A-Long—what more could you want during the holiday season? Enjoy a date night or bring the whole family to experience classic holiday tunes from A Christmas Carol, Frozen and The Sound of Music with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Baltimore Choral Arts Society. Meyerhoff Symphony Hall is transformed into a festive winter wonderland. Shop for ornaments, eat a few holiday cookies and enjoy pre-concert performances you aren’t going to want to miss. Harbor Point Ice Festival Dates: Mid-January After you’ve opened the presents and trimmed the tree, bundle up the family and head back out to Harbor Point for some truly chilly art. Stand back as ice sculptures wield chainsaws and chisels to transform that ordinary block of ice into dinosaurs, dragons and princesses to line the walkways. Dance to live music while you munch on a few goodies from the food vendors. Who said nothing fun happens after the holidays? Not when you visit Baltimore! Photo credits: Christmas Village in Baltimore, Waterfront Partnership and Visit Baltimore Keryn is a freelance writer, content creator, brand ambassador, local TV contributor and digital strategy consultant. Her work has been featured in Thrillist, Travel Age West, and other publications looking for authentic, well-written content. She is also the founder of WalkingOnTravels.com, a site for the active, adventurous parent. Shop Twist Travel Magazine Purchase print copies of single issues or subscribe and save!...
Five Amazing Winter Bars in the United States
Five Amazing Winter Bars in the United States The weather outside might be frightful, but we’ve found five rooftop bars in the United States that will make you embrace winter in the most festive ways possible. From skating rinks in the desert to igloos with views of New York City’s skyline, get cozy on the roof at any one of these five amazing winter bars. Winter Garden Wonderland, The Standard, New York Nothing beats dunking bread or dried saucisson sec into a steaming, molten cheese fondue pot. At the Standard Hotel’s Winder Garden Wonderland, they’re taking it to the next level by seating you in a heated alpine yurt. You can even wrap yourself up in a complimentary fur. This is New York, after all. Sip hot beverages like hard cider, gluhwein or toddies while you savor a cheesy feast in the city. Winter Wonderland at the I|O Godfrey Hotel, Chicago It’s always rooftop season at the I|O Godfrey Hotel’s massive rooftop space. The retractable roof keeps the atmosphere cozy no matter the weather, and the Winter Wonderland theme is high festive, featuring fire pits, s’mores kits and domed igloos. The igloos come in different sizes, fitting up to six or ten people in their heated little enclosures, located in the outdoor portico. I|O Godfrey also offers a full dining menu and seasonal cocktail menu with drinks like a spiced Godfrey toddy and a coffee-infused number called Pick Me Up. This is one amazing winter bar that is not to be missed. 230 Fifth Rooftop, New York City Get your hats and mitts on for this cold weather experience that comes with incredible views of the New York skyline at night. 230 Fifth Rooftop features transparent, heated igloos that can accommodate up to twelve people. Enjoy a boozy hot chocolate or warm cider, or choose to go during the day for brunch so the younger ones can come along to enjoy eating their eggs benny in an igloo. The Watergate Hotel, Washington, DC The famous Watergate Hotel’s rooftop bar turns into a winter wonderland complete with a synthetic skating rink, warm cocktails and hearty cold-weather fare, all with amazing views of the Potomac River. Enjoy festive holiday cocktails like mulled wine or spiked cocoa alongside tasty strombolis (think savory pizza wrap) and s’mores. Guests to this incredible winter bar can rent private outdoor igloos for a luxe afternoon tea. The Ice Rink at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Las Vegas Las Vegas embraces winter in the desert at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. The hotel converts its rooftop pool into an ice rink, right in the middle of the Strip. Reserve a seat by a cosy fireplace and enjoy warm seasonal bevvies like The Griswold and Rebel without a Claus. Roast s’mores by the fire, and enjoy a bar menu of snacks in between rink skates and the light snow showers that happen even 30 minutes at select times throughout the season. Claudia Laroye is a travel writer and editor based in Vancouver, Canada. An avid and curious traveler, Claudia has written about family, adventure, and luxury experiences for local and national publications since 2010. Claudia is the Contributing Editor of Twist Travel Magazine, and has written for WestJet Magazine, Lonely Planet, Fodor’s, Travelzoo, Westworld, Family Fun Canada, Travel Mamas and Dreamscapes magazine. She is the founder of family travel site The Travelling Mom. You can find her on Instagram at @thetravellingmom. Shop Twist Travel Magazine Purchase print copies of single issues or subscribe and save!...
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