Just do it

Sure, the yard needs raking, the car needs washing, and the garage needs cleaning and on. Sometimes you just have to forget about all that stuff and get outdoors and have a good time.

Early spring is the perfect time of year for a getaway to the mountains. Lodging is off-season-cheap and readily available; and there's plenty of fun to be had outdoors.

The trick at this time of year is to plan, but not too much. The weather is just too variable. Plan generally where you'd like to go, pick out some things you'd like to do, then watch for the right weather and do it.

For example, Marilyn and I wanted a weekend in Stowe, Vermont sometime in the spring, mainly because we hadn't gotten there in the winter. The Stowe ski area stays open until May. The village offers a choice of accommodations and restaurants, plus other active outdoor pursuits nearby. Perfect!

We made some general plans: skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking and, of course, eating.

Our first target weekend was a washout. So we put our plans on hold. The next weekend, the forecast was for sun and warmth, so we went. It pays to be flexible in New England in the spring.

Because it was the off season, we were able to get a last-minute room at the elegant Edson Hill Manor, then moved to the very comfortable, convenient and affordable Stowe Motel. One of the beauties of a spring getaway is you can make last minute arrangements.

We hit it perfectly. If you happen to be alpine skiers, as we are, there's nothing better than skiing on soft, spring snow on a sunny day. Stowe still offered plenty of snow, groomed trails, and lovely slush bumps. Spring skiing is cheap. Stowe had a promotion going and lift tickets were only $25 on Saturday.

Spring skiing is a relaxed affair. You don't have to get up early, in fact you want to wait until the sun softens the snow. We took a long stroll around Edson Hill's beautiful grounds in the morning light before sitting down to a leisurely breakfast.

Spring skiing means a few runs on softening snow, then a break to soak in some sun, then lunch, and a few more runs. Thigh burn sets in quickly in spring skiing.

By early afternoon, we'd had enough sun and snow and were ready to step into spring. Even if you don't ski, there's plenty to do outdoors in a place like Stowe on a warm spring day. We went horseback riding one afternoon, mountain biking another, and saw other people riding road bikes, roller blading, running and walking their dogs.

Burning lots of extra calories skiing, mountain biking and horseback riding let us do something else we really enjoy: Eat!

We had a couple of wonderful evening meals--creative Mexican at Cactus Café one night, local grass-fed steaks at Grill 108 the other. The access road to Stowe is loaded with great restaurants. You've gotta fuel the engine, after all.

When we got home, there were still chores to be done. So what? We hadn't wasted a beautiful, warm, sunny spring weekend that will never come again. The chores will still be there when we get around to them.

Extra, extra

Stowe offers lots of extras.

Edson Hill Manor has a beautiful riding stable, but they were letting their woodland trails dry out before starting their riding season. So we wandered over some very soft and rutted dirt roads to Windy Willows Farm (802-635-7300) in nearby Johnson. This is a working farm which raises grass-fed beef and offers trail rides year 'round.

 Robbin Miller, the owner of Windy Willows set a leisurely pace for a couple of hours of riding along cart roads and woods trails. The pace was not too hard on our ski-wearied legs, and just right for enjoying the fabulous views across the Lamoille Valley to Butternut Mountain. Though we looked for her, we didn't find Mama Moose and her twin calves who haunt the area. Maybe next time.

Our night at the Stowe Motel brought an added bonus: they provide complimentary mountain bikes. These were very nice Trek bikes in good working order. The motel is located just a few feet from Stowe's 5.3-mile paved town recreation path which connects to the village and to the 73 miles of dirt roads in the town. The paved bike path winds its way along the West Branch of the Waterbury River, though farm fields and past lots of shops and restaurants. It was perfect for a very leisurely ride after a hard morning of skiing, and a nice way to loosen up the legs before driving home. Check it out if you're in the area.