Champlain Islands in the Winter
Top Picks in the Champlain Islands
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 Champlain Islands offers in winter.
South Hero, Vermont
Snow Farm Vineyard
Snow Farm blazed trails when it became the state’s first commercial vineyard and winery in 1996. Today it’s a year-round destination that attracts not just wine lovers but also families, outdoor enthusiasts, and other visitors to its 120-acre property, a protected land trust and retired dairy farm. Winter is a time for snowshoeing and skiing at Snow Farm, where a short shimmy up the Fox Hill Trail reveals views of the Green Mountains, the Adirondacks, and Lake Champlain. Below Fox Hill, you can explore paths through slumbering grapevines. When it’s time to warm up, Snow Farm’s tasting room is ready with snacks and craft wines, such as Fox Hill Maple, made with syrup from the vineyard’s own maple trees.
North Hero, Vermont
Great Ice! Festival
In mid-February, when even the most die-hard fans of winter could use a little pick-me-up, the residents of North Hero inject the season with three days of fun and excitement known as the Great Ice! Festival. With a frozen City Bay as its sparkling setting, the action runs day and night, with fireworks, dogsled rides, snow-building competitions, and the chance to glide on Lake Champlain’s largest skating oval. Gearheads love the chance to get behind the wheel of a real Zamboni, but the most popular event may be the Over n’ Back Trek: a 1.7-mile journey across Lake Champlain to Knight Island State Park, where a mug of hot chocolate provides fuel for the trip back.
Grand Isle, Vermont
DonnaSue Bakes + Cooks
For regulars on the Champlain Islands’ summer cycling circuit, the made-from-scratch whoopie pies and cookies at this little self-serve stand are an essential part of any Grand Isle ride. In the off-season, though, owner DonnaSue Shaw gets even more expansive with the offerings at her stand, which is located just off U.S. Route 2 on her longtime family property. In addition to sweets, she stocks fresh loaves of bread, soups, pies, and quiches—“anything that will taste good,” she says. There’s usually a pot of hot coffee going, too, if you’re so inclined. And in true Vermont fashion, payment here is on the honor system.
BREAKAWAY FARM
– Grand Isle, Vermont
Even dyed-in-the-wool skiers have admitted to Breakaway owners Sarah Pettitt and Tam Cristman that riding horseback through freshly fallen snow is an unforgettable winter experience. The couple’s 160-acre equestrian facility offers a number of different trail-ride adventures, including a one-hour moonlit trip through pasture and woodlands that might serve up both a sunset and a moonrise. There’s also a hot chocolate (or hot cider) ride that treats participants to a delicious warm-up halfway through, and a champagne ride for the more romantically inclined.
KRAEMER & KIN
– Alburgh, Vermont
A dose of playfulness helps bring out the best of Vermont’s long winter season. Luckily, playfulness is something that Kraemer & Kin’s beer wizards have plenty of. Launched in 2020, the brewery was the first to open in the Champlain Islands (a second brewery, called Two Heroes, debuted in 2021). Kraemer & Kin eventually moved its operations from a family garage to the Alburg Golf Links, making it into a year-round destination. Mid-February marks the return of the brewery’s Winter Carnival, which invites all ages to come out and play with hockey, skiing, skating, and snow volleyball. The taproom, meanwhile, keeps things cozy all winter long with burgers, pizzas, and, of course, craft beer made from Kraemer & Kin’s homegrown hops.
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.
