Ski Lift on Sunday River Ski Resort The Sunday River Resort, located five miles outside of Bethel, Maine, is a year-round resort offering four seasons of alpine recreation in the mountains of western Maine. It being winter at the moment, Sunday River is THE ski destination for Maine and the surrounding states. With 132 trails and 16 lifts spread across eight interconnecting mountains, this ain’t no backwater ski hill. Ski operations are supported during the season with snowmaking machines, and the runs provide the full range of green/blue/black/diamond skill levels. Six terrain parks offer rails, jumps, pipes, boxes, and other features dependent upon the snow levels. Sunday River Bridge in Maine Sunday River is also an excellent destination for spring, summer, and fall. Crowds pack it in during the height of fall foliage, and visitors have thus far taken at least a million photos of the Sunday River Covered Bridge, which was built in 1872 and graces calendars year after year...[more »]

Entering the Garden State From the jokes (You’re from Jersey?  What Exit?) to Joe Piscopo (“I’m from Joisey”) to The Sopranos to Jersey Shore, no state is more joked about and more poorly represented than New Jersey.  Fortunately, Uptake has seen it fit to allow this “Jersey Boy” to try and clear up some of these misconceptions and myths and give you a peek at all there is to see and do in New Jersey. I will not kid you, it is a daunting task, and trying to plan out where to go and what to cover first was more of a daunting task than anybody that doesn’t hail from the Garden State is likely to believe.  Why is that? Well, because there is far more to New Jersey than you get to see in the opening credit of The Sopranos.  Sure, thanks to MTV you know there is a Jersey Shore, but it doesn’t give you the scope of the 130 plus miles of various beach locations from Sandy Hook down to Cape May.  Believe it or not, there is a lot more to the Jersey Shore than Atlanti...[more »]

The Fairmont Resort in Scottsdale There’s always stuff going on in Scottsdale, Arizona – which is why it’s such a popular vacation destination. Plus, the winter weather in this area of Arizona just can’t be beat – you can indulge outdoor dining (or any other outdoor activity) in December with just a light jacket or sweater! My husband and I live just a few minutes away in Chandler, and we usually find a reason about once a week or so to head into Scottsdale for some food, culture, and entertainment. The Grill at the Fairmont Scottsdale is partnering with CleanFish Alliance, an organization that supports sustainable fishing practices, and is offering “Clam Bakes on the Patio” every Friday evening. For $28 per adult ($12 for children ages six through twelve, children under six are free) diners are treated to clams, mussels, and shrimp, as well as a variety of desserts. Homesick for Maine as I am, you can rest assured I’ll be heading on ...[more »]