Capital Region in the Winter
Top Picks in the Capital Region
Vermont’s natural snowfall turns the Green Mountains into a playground for outdoor recreation, setting it apart as a winter destination. Hand-picked by the editors of Yankee Magazine, these 5 highlights are just some of what the Capital Region offers in winter.
Barre, Vermont
Barre Opera House
Vermonters know a thing or two about lighting up a long winter’s night. In the Capital Region, one of the brightest spots for evening entertainment is the 1899 Barre Opera House, which was rescued in the 1980s and given a $2 million community-funded makeover. Today, it’s the regular performance venue for Vermont arts groups such as the Green Mountain Youth Symphony, the Vermont Philharmonic, and Moving Light Dance (whose production of The Green Mountain Nutcracker is a holiday highlight). The Barre Opera House also welcomes touring headliners to its stage, like Cowboy Junkies and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Recent upgrades have made the historic opera house accessible to those with physical and hearing disabilities.
Montpelier, Vermont
Vermont History Museum
Just steps away from the gold-domed State House, the Vermont History Museum is located in the eye-catching Pavilion Building, a reconstruction of a 19th-century hotel that also houses the governor’s offices. Here, you can time-travel through more than 400 years of Vermont life in the exhibit “Freedom and Unity: One Ideal, Many Stories,” which includes re-creations of an Abenaki wigwam and the Green Mountain Boys’ Catamount Tavern. Be sure to spend time taking in the 50-foot-long Salute to Vermont mural by Paul Sample, commissioned in 1961 and moved here in 2017 for permanent preservation. The museum is run by the Vermont Historical Society, whose history center and library in nearby Barre offer a treasure trove for visiting researchers.
Middlesex, Vermont
Red Hen Baking Co.
Few things banish a winter chill like the sight of Red Hen’s certified-organic breads being made right in front of you, thanks to the large window that looks into the bakery from the cozy café. These same ovens also turn out tempting pastries—croissants, biscotti, scones, and more—crafted with organic unbleached wheat flour and organic sugar, as well as milk from Monument Farms in Weybridge. Filling out the café menu are hearty breakfast and lunch sandwiches featuring local cheeses, meats, and produce. Red Hen’s coffee comes from a local source, too: Big Gear Coffee Roasters in Berlin, just 10 miles down the road.
HUBBARD PARK & NORTH BRANCH RIVER PARK
– Montpelier, Vermont
In a state that prizes its open spaces, it’s no surprise that the capital city has not one, but two terrific municipal parks. Hubbard Park’s 200-plus acres are crisscrossed with more than seven miles of trails that in winter attract hikers, Nordic skiers, and fat-bike riders. There’s also an excellent sledding hill to delight slip-sliders of all ages. The short hike to Hubbard Park’s 54-foot-tall stone tower—which offers views of the State House and the mountains surrounding Montpelier—is a must for any visitor. Paths connect to nearby North Branch River Park, set along nearly a mile of riverfront and adjacent to the North Branch Nature Center. When snow falls, cross-country skiers hit the park’s groomed trails and enjoy river views along the way.
FARMERS NIGHT CONCERT SERIES
– Montpelier, Vermont
During the legislative session, from January to May, the Vermont State House welcomes visitors to come see government in action. But Wednesday nights at the capitol aren’t about making laws; they’re about making music. The Farmers Night Concert Series is a tradition that goes back more than a century, to when a group of farmer-legislators began holding musical get-togethers during the legislative session to entertain themselves while far from their homes. It has grown into a showcase of Vermont musicians—as well as storytellers and authors—who perform in the well of the House Chamber every week. Ranging from folk to hip-hop to barbershop quartet, the 7:30 p.m. concerts are free and open to the public.
More to See and Do
Places to Visit In Winter
Yankee Magazine’s editors hand-picked 5 places to visit in each Vermont region. Explore things to do in winter statewide.
