2 New England Areas Rank Among The Best Ski Towns In North America

To prepare for the skiing season USA Today's 10BEST named the best ski towns in North America. New England had two towns on the list.

To elaborate on the definition of a ski town, here, there are a few requirements. First of all (and most obvious) it has to have proper winter weather. As such, the majority of these towns are located in the northern part of North America. Next, the town must be close to the ski mountains. Lastly, unique elements like après ski pubs and ice skating rinks add to the winter charm of the area. On that point, 10BEST states, "It's about great accommodation options, a small-town vibe, or a historic atmosphere."

Of the 10 small ski towns ranked here eight of them are in America and two are in Canada. Coincidentally, New Mexico bookends the list with Taos being #10 and Red River ranking #1. On the east coast, these two New England ski towns were the only ones on the east coast to make the top ten list.

There are 116 ski trails and 13 lifts at Stowe Mountain Resort. "Laid out along the course of the Little River, the town is home to the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum as well as resorts like the Trapp Family Lodge, the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, and the elegant Topnotch Resort, but also plenty of more modest options," 10BEST explains.

If you travel approximately 115 miles east of Stowe, you will arrive at the New England town that ranked one spot ahead. Attitash, Cranmore, and Wildcat are among the most popular ski mountains in the Cranmore area. There are also dozens of great local establishments along White Mountain Highway. Horsefeathers, for example, gets a great après ski crowd, with a wide-range of local craft brews on tap.

Both of these great New England ski towns are under 170 miles from Boston.

As a father of four, my mornings are always a bit hectic. I enjoy being an early bird; however, I rarely have the time to prep a good breakfast. Therefore, I was quite thrilled to see that Tasting Table recognized three New England restaurants for having the best breakfast sandwiches in the country. I'm always looking for a good quick breakfast.

A morning in my world usually consists of a sunrise workout, followed by a scramble to get myself and the kids out of the house. Then I embark on an hour-long drive to the office. On the weekends, it's taking one of my kids to their sports game. Let's focus on the latter for a moment.

While I am more lenient on my breakfast choice (a banana or shake will do), I insist upon a healthy start for the little guys. Driving them all around New England on weekends requires a few drive-thru meals that you eat in the car. My preference is for the kids to have something substantial, with a protein they enjoy. A breakfast sandwich is often the choice.

The perfect breakfast sandwich should follow three simple rules. It's quick, both to order and make. It's fresh (not a microwaved egg slab pulled out of plastic). Finally, it's a balanced hand-held item that is not too heavy, processed or sugar-filled.

When trekking through interstates and unfamiliar towns at sunrise, it's easy to settle upon the quickest Dunkin' Donuts. Now, there are some other options that you (and I) should know about. These three New England restaurants ranking among the best breakfast sandwiches in the country.

Before we get into the list, it is necessary to give one other shout-out. The Portland, Oregon establishment named by Tasting Table has both the best restaurant and sandwich name. The "Yolko Ono" by Fried Egg I'm In Love.

Sofra Bakery and Café in Cambridge, MA, is the first stop. Tasting Table calls out "Geno's Egg Sandwich." This is a brioche bun filled with egg topped with halloumi cheese, feta butter, tomato concasse, and spicy green cilantro.

Next, we hop on 95 North and pull into the Elephantine Bakery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Here the selected breakfast sandwich is called the "Egg Simit." It's the healthiest of the three choices based on pure ingredients. This sandwich consists of egg, hummus, beat pistachio spread, feta, and spinach on a sesame simit.

I actually had a very hard time securing a quick bacon, egg, and cheese this past spring while in Maine for a lacrosse tournament. Now I know I need to go to a coffee shop next time. Tandem Coffee has something so good, it doesn't even need a clever name. "The Breakfast Sandwich" is simply egg, American cheese, and smoked paprika. However, when you rest it upon a homemade buttermilk biscuit, you reach a new level.