A perfect winter’s day is largely what you make of it. Create an experience with purpose. Snow-covered mountains with an abundance of trails for alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, or snowmobiling are a good start. Add a landscape that is at once idyllic and invigorating, provincial and cosmopolitan, rustic and contemporary – and your dream begins to look a lot like Vermont.
The sparkling crystalline outdoors is the centerpiece of Vermont’s winter experience. The rising choose-your-pace popularity of snowshoeing and the creation of diverse trail networks throughout many communities and resorts provide access to the quiet silent wonder of Vermont’s woodlands and forests.
Smugglers’ Notch Resort
For the vigorously inclined, Vermont has plenty of dynamic terrain for all ages and abilities. Get your glide on at more than 20 alpine ski resorts and 40 Nordic centers; from groomed cruisers and track-set Nordic trails to backcountry ski tours, half-pipes and downhill races, Vermont skiing will thrill you. Best of all, Vermont’s Yankee ingenuity has been applied to supplementing natural snow. Snowmaking was born in Vermont and advances in snowmaking equipment and techniques, together with grooming, continue to keep trails open and maintained throughout the entire season.
Snowmobiling is another mode of adventure that transports winter enthusiasts into the snowy countryside. The
Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) has created a nearly 4,000-mile network of maintained trails throughout the state.
For a prescription of relaxation, try indulging in the abundant services of our world-class spas, cozying up to the woodstove with a great novel and a cup of tea, or strolling through Main Street’s shops and antique stores in an historic village.
The museums, galleries, theater, and concerts that inspire the culturally-minded in the summer and fall also have winter seasons with exhibits and performances, just a short drive from anywhere in the state. Plan ahead with online events calendars (for example,
www.VisitVT.com and
VermontVacation.com).
A mid-afternoon break from any outdoor adventure or indoor activity is the perfect time for refueling: try a crisp McIntosh apple with a wedge of cheddar or creamy artisan goat cheese, followed by a few squares of very dark chocolate (all made in Vermont, of course). Many inns and B&Bs host tea times with signature Vermont products and recipes featuring locally grown ingredients.
That, in turn, sets the appetite for dinner, whether the mood calls for a quick, crisply crusted pizza and local ice cream, or an elegant meal prepared by one of Vermont’s many accomplished chefs.
Once you’ve discovered the perfect winter’s day, it’s inviting to consider making a week of it, or at least a string of weekends!