Greater Burlington in the Winter
Top Picks in the Greater Burlington 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 Greater Burlington Region offers in winter.
Burlington, Vermont
Ice Bar at Hotel Vermont
Vermont’s embrace of the snowy season takes all forms. One of the coolest celebrations happens in early March at Hotel Vermont, an independent boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Burlington. First held in 2011, the Ice Bar has become one of the city’s biggest outdoor events, as the Hotel Vermont courtyard transforms into a grown-up winter playground. Amid two nights of ice sculpture displays, dancing, and live music, the focus is on Vermont-made spirits, ciders, and beers—which pair perfectly with local cheeses and snacks from the hotel’s farm-to-table restaurant, Juniper.
Charlotte, Vermont
Mount Philo State Park
Created in 1924 as Vermont’s first state park, the 237-acre property that encircles beautiful Mount Philo may be small, but it’s packed with outdoor appeal. In winter, hikers and snowshoers love making the mile-long trek to Philo’s summit on the auto road (which closes to cars in the off-season), with big views of the Lake Champlain Valley and the distant Adirondacks waiting for them at the top. With its many turns and wide banks, the auto road is also a holy grail for sledders—it even reportedly inspired the development of the Hammerhead sled, created by Vermonter Steve Luhr. “Jack jumpers” can often be spotted, too, bombing down the mountain on the single-ski, sit-down contraption that’s a true Green Mountain State original.
Richmond, Vermont
Night Skiing at Bolton Valley Resort & Cochran’s Ski Area
Greater Burlington’s nighttime fun isn’t just confined to its central city. Half an hour west of Burlington, you’ll find not one, but two prime destinations where skiers and riders can play in the snow after the sun sets. Even better, both have lots of family-friendly terrain, so all ages can participate. Bolton Valley Resort has the highest base elevation of any ski resort in the state, which means the 4 p.m.–10 p.m. window of its “Night Ticket” lets skiers enjoy stunning sunset views from the top before schussing late into the night. (The terrain parks stay lighted, too.) Neighboring Cochran’s Ski Area—named for its founding family of Olympic ski champions—is the smaller and more laid-back option. It stays open till 6 p.m. most of the week, but its “Friday Night Lights” weekly special keeps the trails going until 8.
LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN
– Burlington, Vermont
The full scope of Lake Champlain—nicknamed “the Sixth Great Lake”—comes into focus at this 34,500-square-foot interactive science and nature museum on the Burlington waterfront. Among the 100-plus hands-on exhibits are a replica shipwreck and a mini “news studio” for budding TV reporters. Recent additions include the permanent exhibit “Awesome Forces,” which explores the natural phenomena and physical laws that shape life in and around the lake. There’s an immersive 3-D theater, too, but for many visitors the stars of the show are the 70-plus species of fish, frogs, snakes, and other animals they can see up close. Built for wheelchair access, ECHO also has initiatives for those with special sensory needs, such as backpacks on loan that are filled with noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, and fidget toys.
SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY EXHIBIT
– Jericho, Vermont
No two snowflakes are exactly the same. That was the jaw-dropping law of nature first discovered by Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley, a Vermont farmer and self-taught meteorologist. He was a pioneer in “photomicrography”—the photographing of very small objects—and in 1885 he became the first person to successfully photograph a single snow crystal. He would go on to capture more than 5,000 snowflake images before his death in 1931. Today, Bentley’s cameras and microscopes, along with many of his images and other artifacts, are on display in his hometown at the Old Red Mill, a National Historic Site. In a state famous for its winters, Snowflake Bentley makes you look at the season in a fresh new way.
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.
