Lower Connecticut River Valley in the Winter

Since 1957, the Brattleboro Winter Carnival has delighted visitors with an ever-changing lineup of parades, snowman contests, bonfires, sleigh rides, and winter sports right in the heart of February. Running for more than a week, the carnival also coincides with two major competitions at Brattleboro’s Harris Hill Ski Jump, the only Olympic-size 90-meter hill in New England. Ski jumpers from near and far flock here for the Pepsi Challenge & U.S. Cup and the Fred Harris Memorial Tournament, thrilling spectators as they soar more than 300 feet at speeds of nearly 60 mph.

Housed in a renovated 1875 Victorian Gothic church on Brattleboro’s Main Street, the Stone Church has become, since 2016, one of the pillars of the Vermont music scene. These days the building’s stained-glass windows and pipe organ are part of a unique backdrop for performances that range from heavy metal to folk and include pretty much everything in between. With Boston and New York City just two to four hours away, the Stone Church’s location makes it a magnet for touring bands. Local talent gets its time in the spotlight here, too, along with can’t-miss special events such as the Brattleboro Queer Dance Parties.

Food artisans Dar Tavernier-Singer and John Singer use the finest chocolate as the base for deliciously unconventional sweets, many of which incorporate ingredients found right here in Vermont. Flavor notes might come from smoked or bourbon-barrel-aged Vermont syrup, foraged spruce needles or mushrooms, or even Jasper Hill Farm’s famous Bayley Hazen Blue Cheese. Look for Tavernier’s signature “charcuterie” creations, which are cocoa-dusted bricks of chocolate ganache that are made to be sliced and enjoyed on a grazing board.