Vermont escapes to take this winter: Burlington, Stowe and Manchester
A visitor to Bolton Valley Ski Resort, located in Richmond, VT, tackling the slopes by snowboard. Credit: Bolton Valley
Vermont is well known as a place to ski, but there’s lots more to see and try in the Green Mountain State before spring. Here are three places to go for a fun weekend away from the slopes, but not too far away from home:
BURLINGTON
The Higher Ground event space and concert hall, located in Burlington, VT, hosts shows featuring indie bands, tribute acts and other live performances throughout the year. Credit: Rick Levinson
The most populated city in Vermont, it’s an artsy urban oasis with a half-dozen colleges nearby and a thriving arts scene. To catch a live performance, head to Higher Ground (1214 Williston Rd.; 802-652-0777, highergroundmusic.com) to see notable musical acts like Lotus (Jan. 25), Big Thief (Jan. 31), Stephen Sanchez (Feb. 19) and Pepper (March 7).
Women enjoy shopping within the Church Street Marketplace business district, located in Burlington, VT. Credit: Church Street Marketplace
Shopping can also be found within its Church Street Marketplace pedestrian mall (131 Church St.; 802-863-1648, churchstmarketplace.com, where visitors can peruse shops selling clothing, sweets, home décor and more.
People skate and play hockey on a frozen pond found at a city park located in Burlington, VT. Credit: Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront
Denizens and visitors alike can look for seasonal “wild ice” rinks that open to the public when the weather makes alfresco skating around the city possible. The city posts updates to its social media when outdoor park rinks are open (enjoyburlington.com). Leddy Ice Arena (216 Leddy Park Rd.; 802-865-7558, enjoyburlington.com) offers indoor public skating sessions and skate rentals.
For an equine experience, Third Branch Horse Logging (89 Old Bass Rd., Braintree; 802-345-7488, thirdbranchhorselogging.com) offers 35-45-minute horse-drawn sleigh rides (weather-permitting) on weekends over 2 miles of trails, fields and open ground.
MAKE A STAY
A visitor to Bolton Valley Ski Resort, located in Richmond, VT, tackling the slopes by snowboard. Credit: Bolton Valley
STOWE
A very outdoor-oriented destination, Stowe is also a town that offers an array of food and drink options to choose from. Over at the Stowe Cider cidery (17 Town Farm Lane.; 802-253-2065, stowecider.com), the winter will include open mic nights Thursdays and free live music Saturdays.
A winter visitor to Idletyme Brewing Company, located in Stowe, VT, warms by a firepit. Credit: Jamie Santor
On the craft beer front, Idletyme Brewing Company (1859 Mountain Rd.; 802-253-4765, idletymebrewing.com) has 10 of its own brews on tap, ranging from lagers to IPAs and Pale Ales, all of which are made on-site and guests can also hang by an outdoor fire pit.
For those looking to see art, walk in and watch glassblowing performed live at Little River Hotglass Studio (593 Moscow Rd.; 802-253-0889, littleriverhotglass.com) by staff artisans for no charge. There are also finished pieces for sale and classes can be booked by phone.
A participant in an ice fishing session with Catamount Fishing Adventures, located in Stowe, VT. Credit: Catamount Fishing Adventures
Skiers pictured here are checking out the slopes at Stowe Mountain Resort, located in Stowe, VT. Credit: Stowe Mountain Resort
MAKE A STAY
Horse-drawn sleigh riding is among the winter activities offered at Trapp Family Lodge, located in Stowe, VT. Credit: Trapp Family Lodge /Don Landwehrle
MANCHESTER
This eclectic town in Southern Vermont is home to the Southern Vermont Arts Center (860 Southern Vermont Arts Center Dr.; 802-362-1405, svac.org). The space features gallery exhibits and a sculpture park. Its CurATE cafe serves artisanal sandwiches, flatbreads, salads, curated small plates and dinner plates while featuring a full bar. Current exhibitions to explore include the art of Gail Winbury ( “The Girl Who Drew Memories”; through Feb. 25) and a “Solo Exhibition Program” showcase (Feb. 11-May 7).
The interior of the tasting room of the Smugglers' Notch Distillery's Manchester, Vermont location. Credit: Smugglers' Notch Distillery
Travelers seeking spirits can also find a tasting room at Smugglers' Notch Distillery (18 Depot St.; 802-309-3077, smugglersnotchdistillery.com), where specialty single bourbons and limited releases can be sampled (Dead Buck Bourbon and Maple Rum). Samples of its nonalcoholic barrel aged maple syrup can also be tried. Visitors can also get an informative guided tasting experience that covers the company’s history and creating methods.
A pair of people at Pastime Pinball, located in Manchester, VT, play a classic pinball game. Credit: Paul Richardson
A different speed of fun awaits at Pastime Pinball (4802 Main St.; 802-366-1200, pastimepinball.com) an interactive museum featuring a chronologically ordered collection of 65 pinball games that are set to Free Play. Participants pay an entrance fee and then can play away. Open weekends and some holidays weekdays, food and Vermont-based beers and ciders are available to purchase on its mezzanine level, where classic arcade games are also available to try.
Private sleigh rides pulled by a team of draft horses can be booked by phone at Taylor Farm (825 RT. 11, Londonderry; 802-824-5690, taylorfarmvt.com), an 180-year-old farm where passengers will pass through fields and woods during each approximately 45-60-minute ride before stopping at a fire and warming hut for some complimentary hot cider. Guests can also order s’mores kits or a bread-and-cheese basket or bring along a bottle of wine.
MAKE A STAY
A skier takes on the slopes available at Stratton Mountain Resort, located in Stratton Mountain, VT. Credit: Hubert Schriebl
