White River Valley in the Winter
Top Picks in the White River Valley
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 White River Valley offers in winter.
Hancock, Vermont
Middlebury Snow Bowl
The U.S. Alpine movement was born at small New England mountains like this one, whose trails, first cut in 1934, became the training ground for future Olympians. The popular family-focused ski area remains a favorite among young carvers and shredders, lured by the hundreds of acres of trails and glades, as well as 200 feet of annual natural snowfall. Beginning skiers will benefit from the lineup of experienced instructors, while the Snow Bowl’s efforts to go green—with energy-efficient snow guns and electric snowmobiles—show how it continues to blaze trails.
South Royalton, Vermont
Joseph Smith Birthplace
Visitors arrive year-round at the historic site honoring Joseph Smith, who was born here in 1805 and went on to become the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They come to see the 55-foot memorial obelisk, learn about Smith’s life at the visitors center, and to stroll the surrounding landscaped grounds. But the holiday season adds the magical sight of 200,000 lights decorating the property, with visitors making a slow circuit of the site’s paved drives to take it all in. A nativity scene and other displays brighten the season even more.
Randolph, Vermont
Chandler Center for the Arts
Is it a concert venue, an art gallery, or a theater space? The circa-1907 Chandler, which was renovated and expanded for its 100th anniversary in 2007, is actually all three. Known as one of the most acoustically impressive performance venues in the Northeast, it hosts local and internationally known musicians on its main stage, along with community theater and family shows, standup comedy, and more. Set in the same building, its companion art gallery hosts more than half a dozen exhibits annually. Though the Chandler operates year-round except for a brief break in January, it’s a special beacon for community gatherings in the winter and early-spring months, so keep an eye on its calendar page for upcoming shows and celebrations.
BROOKFIELD ICE HARVEST AND MID-WINTER FEST
– Brookfield, Vermont
What’s old is very cool again at this unique winter celebration, which puts a spotlight on the way 19th-century Vermonters harvested their ice. Demonstrators show how tools like scoring plows, ice saws, and breaker bars were used, then put them into the hands of curious visitors who want to get a feel for a bygone skill. Held on the last Saturday of January at the Brookfield Floating Bridge and Hippo Park, the event fills out the rest of the day with sledding, ice skating, local food, and hot chocolate.
SAAP
– Randolph, Vermont
Since it opened in 2015, this chef-owned Thai restaurant in downtown Randolph’s historic Kimball House has become destination dining for foodies beyond Vermont’s borders. Nisachon Morgan, named Best Chef in the Northeast in the 2022 James Beard Awards, goes far beyond the standard “pad Thai” box for her menu. She draws on the many family recipes she grew up on in her native Thailand, such as laap ghai tod (fried chicken with shallot, lime, cilantro, and toasted rice powder). “Coming to Saap is more like going to a grandma’s house in Thailand,” Morgan has said—and that’s something to warm the soul on any winter night.
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.
