Stone Valley in the Summer
Top Picks in the Stone Valley
Summer is your gateway to the sense of wonder and well-being that comes with slowing down and taking in your surroundings in Vermont. Plunge into a swimming hole, stroll a local festival, or simply find togetherness on the lakeshore or around the campfire. Hand-picked by the editors of Yankee Magazine, these 5 highlights are just some of what the Stone Valley offers in the summer.
Killington, Vermont
Killington Adventure Center
Vermont’s biggest ski resort keeps the momentum going in the off-season with nearly a dozen activities that thrill and challenge summer visitors. The 4,800-foot-long Beast Mountain Coaster hurtles carts on rails through winding loops, the Skye Ropes Course presents a four-story obstacle challenge, and climbers can tackle a 30-foot tower—then bungee to the ground. High flyers can race each other on twin ziplines or sit side-by-side on the Soaring Eagle zipline. Back at ground level, kids can pit their puzzle-solving skills against the Amazin’ Maze or try an Old West–themed sluice mining treasure hunt, while hiking trails and a wellness path provide laid-back outdoor options for all ages.
Rutland, Vermont
Downtown Rutland Summer Market
Even in Vermont, where farmers markets provide truckloads of fresh, local produce and handmade treats, Rutland stands apart with a diversity of offerings that are second to none. That’s due to the fact that this summer market is a two-for-one, combining the Rutland County Farmers Market and the Vermont Farmers Market—a pool of roughly 100 vendors, all told. Shoppers can load up on just-picked corn, lettuce, and strawberries, sure, but also things like hemp-infused honey, teriyaki sauce, grass-fed Irish Dexter beef, and mushroom tea. There are bedding plants and cut flowers, jewelry and other handcrafts, and grab-and-eat treats ranging from Hawaiian shave ice to empanadas and Indian food. A smaller version is held Wednesday afternoon, but Saturday is the main event, with tunes from area musicians and the chance for kids to meet Rutland firefighters and explore their big, shiny red truck.
State Parks in the Stone Valley
Time seems to stretch slow on a summer day by the lake. The Stone Valley is home to some of Vermont’s finest lakeside vacations, with state parks throughout the region. A day pass at one gets you into any other state park for the day, making park-hopping simple. At Lake Bomoseen, swim, paddle, fish, or simply relax by the largest lake entirely within Vermont’s borders. A self-guided slate history trail leads viewers through the region’s stone history. About 20 minutes from Lake Bomoseen is Lake St. Catherine, with not one but two sandy beaches, a nature center, a playground, and a snack bar concession stand. Both parks offer overnight camping to extend your stay. Nearby, find lakeshore fun at Half Moon Pond State Park and Chittenden Reservoir.
Pond Hill Pro Rodeo, Castleton
Somewhere along the dirt road that leads to the 2,000-plus-acre Pond Hill Ranch, New England ends and the West seems to begin. For more than 50 years, this family-owned ranch has been hosting honest-to-goodness professional rodeos, complete with bull riding, team roping, barrel racing, and more. Held Saturday nights from July through Labor Day weekend, the rodeo is alcohol-free and family-oriented, but it’s no clown-filled county fair show. Serious prize money is at stake here—and from the moment the first bucking bronc bursts out of the chute, audiences are mesmerized by the range of amazing skills that have evolved from centuries of cowboys working cattle.
Taconic Mountain Ramble Zen Garden, Hubbardton
The centerpiece of one of Vermont’s newest state parks is a gorgeous Japanese garden created by the late Carson Davidson, a filmmaker, author, and Hubbardton resident who bequeathed it and the rest of the future park property to the state in 2016. The Zen masterpiece incorporates dramatic rock outcrops, small, serene ponds, a trickling waterfall, and floral plantings. Besides the steep and hilly trail that leads visitors to the garden, there are a number of other hiking paths throughout the 200-plus acres, including some that lead to fabulous views from 1,220-foot Mount Zion.
More to See and Do
Places to Visit In the Summer
Yankee Magazine’s editors hand-picked 5 places to visit in each Vermont region. Explore things to do in summer statewide.
