| There is plenty of winter fun in Vermont for the non-skier. Your best resources for fun, local activities are your innkeepers, downtown shop owners and friendly visitor centers staff. These folks are virtual encyclopedias of local information and activities. To get you started, we thought we'd give you a few suggestions. If you'd still like to be outdoors and active:
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing - Vermont's cross country ski centers offer a wide range of peaceful escapes from groomed trails over open meadows to sheltered tracks through whispering pines. Or, you can leave it all behind on a pair of lightweight snowshoes and head out into the back country.
Revisit Sledding - It's not just for kids anymore. Vermont has a number of companies making sleds for adults and redefining what it means to have fun in the snow. Check them out: Vermont Kick Sled, Hammerhead Sleds, and Mad River Rocket.
Go Ice Skating - Most Vermont towns and villages have a community skating rink. Your innkeeper might also be able to suggest a park or pond that the locals use for skating. You say you don't have skates - most rinks offer rentals. See the rinks listed at www.voga.org. Great Ice in Grand Isle - Speaking of ice, there's a festival of all-things ice taking place on the ice-surrounded island of Lake Champlain's Grand Isle. Ride a Snowmobile - If you've never tried it, snowmobiling is easy, comfortable and surprisingly addictive. Vermont Outdoor Guide Association can help. Try Dog-Sledding - For a combination of excitement and great scenery, a number of dog-sledding outfits are ready to take you for a ride. "Yes," you say, "I want the outdoors, but at a slower pace, please!"
Take a Sleigh Ride - Many inns and farms offer traditional horse-drawn sleigh rides, some with jingle bells! Search "sleigh rides" in the Vermont Travel Planner.
Track a Moose - Walking in the woods after a fresh snow can yield countless discoveries. For a guide, contact the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association. Try Ice Fishing - Find out why all those structures pop up on Vermont's ice-covered waters. Vermont Outdoor Guide Association. Walk a Covered Bridge - Vermont is home to 106 covered bridges. Visit a Sugarhouse - In late winter, the sap starts running and the sweet smell of maple fills the air. This year's Sugar Maker's Open House is scheduled for March 24 and 25. "Great! Now I'd like to go indoors."
Try the Spa - If your idea of relaxation has nothing to do with speeding down a mountain side, slow things down with a luxurious day at the spa. Throughout the state, dozens of inns and resorts feature full service spas and fitness centers.
See Where It's Made - Instead of killing time in the base lodge, see how Vermonters make world-class ice cream, furniture, teddy bears, blown glass, cheese, chocolate, pewter and much much more. To learn what’s in your area, use the Vermont Travel Planner or ask your innkeeper. Catch a Concert - From jazz to folk to classical, Vermont's music scene is busy and eclectic. Search the statewide arts calendar. Tour a Brewery - Vermont is home to dozens of micro-breweries and wineries. Some of the larger ones offer tours. Visit a (Little) City - From Burlington to Brattleboro, Bennington to St. Johnsbury, Vermont's cities are the way cities used to be -- small and friendly with lots of locally-owned shops and great restaurants. Read more. Browse for Antiques - The selection is often comparable, and the prices better, than you'll find further south. Shop a Country Store - Before the shopping mall, America depended on the local general store. In Vermont, we still do. Join a Contra Dance - In Town Halls and school gyms, the community square dance is a Vermont hallmark. Check the local paper at your lodging or general store. Go Outlet Shopping - Vermonters appreciate a good bargain. You'll find some of the best at outlet stores in Manchester (http://www.manchesterdesigneroutlets.com/) and Essex (http://www.essexshoppes.com/). |