You've heard of the skiing in Killington (elevation 4,229 feet), the scenic autumn foliage, and the delectable maple syrup, but Vermont has more to offer.
Not large by comparison to most of the other forty-nine states, it's the second largest of the New England states, surpassed only by Maine. Nestled amidst Canada, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, over half of Vermont's western border flows down the center of Lake Champlain, while the Connecticut River comprises the eastern border. Just over a hundred inches of snow fall annually; temperatures seldom rise above freezing in the winter months and rarely exceed the very low eighties in the summer.
While Vermont is well-known for skiing, maple syrup, and fall foliage, options to visitors are not limited to these few attractions. Roadside farm stands and farm markets dot the landscape in the summer and fall, selling apples, honey, vegetables, and a wide assortment of other goodies in addition to the expected maple syrup.
Sightseeing in the spring and summer is a relaxing treat. Biking, camping, fishing, golfing, and hiking are just a few of the activities to be enjoyed in the spring and summer. Springtime brings fresh greenery to the mountains and countryside after the deep snows melt and the short muddy season passes. Fewer crowds mean quieter lodging and attractions, and good opportunities to do some exploring on bike or on foot.
A plethora of activities await the non-skier in the winter, including antique shopping, concerts, cross country skiing, dog sled races, hiking, ice fishing, ice skating, outlet shopping, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, spas, and square dancing. And that's just the short list.
Of course, autumn brings its spectacular leaf display, which starts around mid-September. Several ways to enjoy the kaleidoscopic views of brilliant foliage are bus, bike, boat, car, and the old standby - foot. Some ski areas offer tram rides see the fall colors, and several picnic areas offer spectacular leaf viewing.
One of the loveliest, most serene areas of Vermont is the village of Greensboro, situated on the Caspian Lake. Rolling hills, farms, and cottages make Greensboro a quiet place to retreat from the cacophony of daily life. A popular haven for authors, the village has hosted nearly 200 of them over the years, and CROSSING TO SAFETY, a Wallace Stegner novel, was set in Greensboro.
If scenery is what you've come to Vermont for, your options are unlimited. Two of the best are the Lake Champlain Ferries and the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive. Lake Champlain Ferries will awe you with the view of the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains during the hour-long ride across Lake Champlain, known as Vermont's Great Lake. Mount Equinox Skyline Drive is a toll road that's worth every penny. Three states can be seen from the 3,800-foot peak of Mount Equinox. Spectacular views make this five-mile drive across a narrow ridge up hairpin turns worth the trip.
Sweeping views mark the 1,400-acre Lake Champlain estate, Shelburne Farms. Built in 1888, the inn was originally a mansion built by William Seward Webb and Lila Vanderbilt Webb. A bakery and a cheese factory are among the attractions contained in a huge five-story barn on the grounds of the estate, and the experience is completed with a children's farmyard and walking trails.
You can still buy penny candy at The Vermont Country Store. Stuffed with gadgets, clothing, and cheese, The Vermont Country Store has to be one of the best general stores in the east.
Several museums are worth a look while you're in the area. The Bennington Museum houses artifacts from the Civil War and Colonial days, Bennington pottery, and the Bennington flag. Shelburne Museum rests on forty-five acres and houses twenty-five historic buildings, fourteen galleries and exhibitions, and an eclectic collection of antique artifacts.
Thanks to Vermont's relatively compact size, you can make day excursions into neighboring states. But with so much beauty and things to see and do in Vermont, we're betting that you won't want to leave - not even to go home.
