Vermont Vacations

In the winter, trade your Birkenstocks for snowshoes, skis and ice skates. Snow activities are abundant November through the early spring, when Stowe, Sugarbush, Magic Mountain and Mad River Glen fill with trailblazers. Autumn draws crowds to its amazing gold, scarlet and orange landscape in September and October, and many ski resorts open their chairlifts for viewings. Plan well in advance, this is Vermont's peak season.

To explore Vermont’s quant cities and villages, travel between late spring and early fall to check out artisan farms and historic points of interest including museums and vineyards.

Test your limits and climb rock and ice walls, ride the zip wire, and push yourself through skill courses. In winter, cross-country ski or go snow tubing.

See fossils of prehistoric sea life at the one of the oldest (over 450 million years!) coral reefs in the world. Bring a picnic lunch for a day of family fun.

Deep in the Groton State Forest on the shores of Noyes Pond, this gem is ideal for cross-country skiing, hiking, fishing, boating and swimming.

See how granite is cut, polish and sculpted, and take a tour of world’s largest active granite quarry. Kids (and grownups) can sandblast their own stone souvenirs.

Just when you think a mountain setting with cross-country trails is cinematic enough, the plot thickens: The resort's very own Trapp family inspired the film The Sound of Music.

Major mountain zones Stowe, Sugarbush and Mad River Glen are filled with vertical drops, gondolas and cross-country trails. Hit the Catamount Trail for bragging rights – it's the longest ski trail in North America

Hop a ferry from Burlington to this serene oasis between Vermont and New York. Grab your camera: The terrain is surrounded by the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains. For an extra special trip, float over the landscape on a hot air balloon.

Hike the Appalachian Trail in Gifford Woods State Park, which continues on to Maine and Georgia. See blazing oranges, yellows and reds and panoramic views from Deer Leap Mountain via bicycle or chairlift tours.

Take a 30-minute guided tour into the Ben and Jerry’s inner-workings. Learn all about your favorite flavors and then indulge in a (free!) sample.

Bird lovers, this is your stop to learn about owls, eagles, hawks and falcons. The center boasts birds of prey in rampant abundance, along with 20 additional species. Walk the nature trails and migrate to the gift shop for souvenirs.

Take to the grape-laden fields of Boyden Valley, producer of international award-winning wines. Learn about the fermentation process on a winery tour.

Urbanites envy the easy streets of Vermont's state capital. Chockfull of bookshops, corner shops and restaurants, the prized New England Culinary Institute gives the city a distinctly cool edge. Walk through a railroad station, Abenaki wigwam and World War II-era living room in the Vermont History Museum.

Tucked away in the Green Mountains, this castle wows with its 19th-century designs, towering turret, parapet and balcony. View the interiors dressed in European antiques, Chinese scrolls, bronze fireplaces and more. A spooky vibe haunts the castle after-dark with Halloween tours.

Get a firsthand view of the milk-making process from cow to carton. Participate in the interactive activities and historical exhibits.

History buffs and gear-heads get their fix on American Industrial Revolution relics, and a world of machine tools, rifles, measuring devices, a working 19th-century gun shop, and more.