|
|
Book Club Weekend in Vermont
Lodgings and a discussion with one of Oprah's favorite authors
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
The Real Deal: Two nights' accommodations, a one-hour author discussion, an autographed book, and private shopping excursion from $65.50 per person
When: Apr. 28 - 30, 2006
Details: Breakfast daily is included. Hotel taxes are an additional nine percent. Based on double occupancy. A one-night stay is available from $38 per person
Book By: No deadline; based on availability
Contact: Stowe Area Association, 877/GO-STOWE, gostowe.com
Author Chris Bohjalian, whose novel Midwives was selected for Oprah Winfrey's Book Club, will lead an intimate one-hour chat on his novels in Stowe, Vermont. He will meet with four groups of 25 persons, and everyone will receive a signed copy of Idyll Banter, a compilation of his weekly newspaper columns. To find out find out more about Bohjalian and his works, visit chrisbohjalian.com.
Participants can choose from six local inns. The lowest rate of $65.50 applies to the Auberge de Stowe; the other options are Commodores Inn for $98, Timberholm for $99, Innsbruck Inn at Stowe for $92.25, The Grey Fox Inn for $112.50, and The Green Mountain Inn for $155.50.
The weekend also includes an after hours private shopping session at Stowe's Depot Street Shops, home to the independently owned Bear Pond Books.
Getting to Stowe: By car, it's six and a half hours from New York City; three and a half hours from Boston or Hartford; and two and a half hours from Montreal.
The closest airport is in Burlington, Vermont, about a 40-minute drive away. Round-trip airfare in late April is currently $173 (United) from New York City; $258 (United) from Washington, DC; $330 (United) from Chicago; $418 (United) from Los Angeles.
Car rental from the Burlington airport starts at $20 per day (Priceless).
Hitting the Slopes: Late season beings at the Stowe Mountain Resort on Mar. 31, ushering in bargain lift ticket rates of $37 per day, based on a two-day lift ticket purchase. There is also a 20 percent discount for any lift tickets purchased online at least 14 days in advance. (The two offers cannot be combined.) Visit gostowe.com or call 800/GO-STOWE.