Winter Things to Do in Southern Vermont
A Winter Retreat in Southern Vermont
From the Lincoln Family Home to full moon hikes, Southern Vermont is even more beautiful blanketed in snow. Take in views of the Green Mountains, including sections of the Taconic Range, or get cozy for an evening at what TripAdvisor calls the most romantic date-night restaurant in America, nestled in Manchester.
Outdoor Activities
With five ski resorts to choose from, southern Vermont serves up the sun and snow to make for a memorable ski vacation. Located in Peru, Bromley Mountain Resort, also known as Vermont’s “Sun Mountain,” offers 47 trails that all lead to one base lodge, making it easy to meet up with your group no matter who skis the fastest. In Ludlow, Okemo Mountain Resort has two base areas that are accessible to traverse on skis. For those who love the park, Okemo is also home to the east’s longest superpipe.
Dover’s Mount Snow Resort is Vermont’s closest big mountain to many major Northeast metropolitan areas, also offering snow tubing, terrain parks and learning areas, as well as challenging trails for those who come to play hard. Stratton Mountain was the first mountain to allow snowboarders on its lifts and continues to offer a variety of terrain, including cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Magic Mountain prides itself on its 1500 heart-pumping feet of vertical descent, as well as its tree-skiing terrain and uphill alpine touring.
If you prefer Nordic skiing, Londonderry is also home to Viking Nordic Center, offering beginner trails and rentals so the whole family can give the sport a try. Timber Creek in West Dover has more than four miles of cross-country trails. Take in the viewsat Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center where they also offer sleigh rides, snow tubing, and wine and cheese snowshoe tours. Get close to some very important American history at Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home, which offers cross-country ski tours and snowshoeing.
Those who look forward to winter on two wheels will find fat biking at Dorset Trails, leading bikers into sections of the Green Mountain National Forest, or at Stratton Mountain Resort’s Nordic center. Plan your winter fat biking ride with Vermont Mountain Bike Association’s trail map.
The whole family can learn about Vermont’s ecosystems and the work that goes into maintaining a farm at Merck Forest and Farmland Center in Rupert, where visitors can explore more than 30 miles of trails, view wildlife, and participate in a full moon hikes.
Indoor Activities
Southern Vermont is a stronghold of Vermont’s history and culture.
Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home is one of the jewels in southern Vermont’s crown. Son of 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Robert Lincoln, and wife Mary Todd built the mansion as a summer home in Manchester at the turn of the 20th century, and today, visitors can tour the historic building and see artifacts preserved from Abraham Lincoln’s time as U.S. president.
The Bennington Museum tells the region’s stories through art, history and exhibits informed by the landscape. Find inspiration at the state’s tallest monument, the Bennington Battle Monument, standing 306 feet tall. Nearby, retreat into history at Rudyard Kipling’s southern Vermont home, Naulakha, or the recently restored Rockwell’s Retreat, where famed artist Norman Rockwell painted his Saturday Evening Post covers.
Find souvenirs at Manchester Designer Outlets or Vermont Country Store, one of the state’s most celebrated general stores.
Manchester is also home to Riley Rink’s public indoor skating, as well as an indoor golf simulator so you can work on those slices no matter the weather. Play on more than 60 vintage pinball machines at Pastime Pinball downtown.
Downtown Manchester offers many options to dine, including the Silver Fork, America’s most romantic date-night restaurant per TripAdvisor.
Those looking to bring home the taste of Vermont can find cheese at Plymouth Artisan Cheese or Grafton Village Cheese. For sweets, don’t miss Arlington’s Chocolatorium. Sample craft beers at Hermit Thrush Brewing, named for the Vermont state bird, or sample a cross-section of Vermont life at Artisan Park in Windsor, where visitors will find a sculpture park, Vermont beer, spirits, and cheese, and more opportunities to pick up some souvenirs.
Southern Vermont is the gateway to the rest of the state; explore all the region has to offer and get inspired to visit.