Activities in Vermont
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North Hartland Lake Recreation Area
Getting to the middle of nowhere is easy in Vermont though the perfect place is North Hartland Lake. Within minutes of Quechee Village, you can scoot your boat off the North Hartland Lake Recreation Area ramp. Trees and meadows swallow virtually every shred of evidence of the existence of anyone beyond you and whoever else is plying these tranquil waters. You head into the various nooks and rivulets of the 215-acre lake, and just beyond sight of the beach, a noisy great-blue heron rookery occupies the tops of the pines on the north shore. Around the bend an eagle may just be pulling this afternoon’s catch out of the water. You’ll see an occasional shallow-domed muskrat lo…
reviewed
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Waterfront Diving Center
Ever since the 18th-century French and Indian War, 120-mile-long Lake Champlain has been a major thoroughfare from the St Lawrence Seaway to the Hudson River. During the American Revolution and the War of 1812, numerous historic battles were fought on the lake to control this navigational stronghold and many military and merchant ships sank to the lake’s deep, dark bottom as a result of a cannonball or temperamental weather. The misfortunes of these vessels make lucky finds for scuba divers. Two hundred wrecks have already been discovered, including the 54ft American Revolution boat Philadelphia, pulled from the waters in 1935 (and now sitting in the Smithsonian Instituti…
reviewed
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Catamount Trail
- Stowe, USA
- Activities › Hiking
Within Stowe's wide network of trails that traverse mountains and skirt lakes is the longest cross-country ski trail in the US, a 300-mile-long route that runs the length of Vermont. Known as the Catamount Trail, it starts in southern Vermont at Readsboro and ends at North Troy on the Canadian border.
In between lies some of the finest skiing in the east, from backcountry trails on Mt Mansfield to 11 ski touring centers (some within the Green Mountain National Forest), including Blueberry Hill (www.blueberryhillinn.com) and Mountain Top Inn & Resort (www.mountaintopinn.com). Contact the Catamount Trail Association (%802-864-5794; www.catamounttrail.org) for more informati…
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Mountain Top Inn & Resort
Within Stowe’s wide network of trails that traverse mountains and skirt lakes is the longest cross-country ski trail in the United States, a 300-mile-long route that runs the length of Vermont. Known as the Catamount Trail, it starts in southern Vermont at Readsboro and ends at North Troy on the Canadian border. In between lies some of the finest skiing in the east, from backcountry trails on Mt Mansfield to 11 ski touring centers (some within the Green Mountain National Forest), including Mountain Top Inn & Resort and Blueberry Hill. Contact the Catamount Trail Association for more information.
reviewed
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Blueberry Hill
Within Stowe’s wide network of trails that traverse mountains and skirt lakes is the longest cross-country ski trail in the United States, a 300-mile-long route that runs the length of Vermont. Known as the Catamount Trail, it starts in southern Vermont at Readsboro and ends at North Troy on the Canadian border. In between lies some of the finest skiing in the east, from backcountry trails on Mt Mansfield to 11 ski touring centers (some within the Green Mountain National Forest), including Blueberry Hill and Mountain Top Inn & Resort. Contact the Catamount Trail Association for more information.
reviewed
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Burlington Community Boathouse
Approximately 120 miles long and 12 miles wide, Lake Champlain is the largest freshwater lake in the country after the Great Lakes. Consistently good wind, sheltered bays, lack of boat traffic, hundreds of islands and scenic anchorages combine to make this immense lake one of the top cruising grounds in the northeast. The departure point for hourly and daily boat cruises and boat rentals is Burlington Community Boathouse, a popular hangout fashioned after Burlington’s original 1900s yacht club. Traveling with your own yacht? Transient dock space is available. The boathouse is easy to spot on the waterfront’s 8-mile recreational path.
reviewed
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Jay Peak
When it’s balmy in Boston in winter, you can still expect a blizzard at Vermont’s northernmost ski resort, Jay Peak, 8 miles north of Montgomery Center. Bordering Quebec, Jay gets more snow than any other ski area in New England (about 350in of powder). Being so far north, Jay also sees far more Quebeckers than New Yorkers. Black-diamond lovers enjoy the steeper tree runs off the tram, while novices find the trails in Bonaventure Basin to their liking. Add the natural off-trail terrain, and you have some of the most challenging backcountry snowboarding and skiing runs in America.
reviewed
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Green Mountain Dogsled Adventures
Learn about the fine art of dogsledding with Green Mountain Dogsled Adventures and meet the dog team that will hurtle you 6 to 8 miles (in 2½ to three hours) over hill and dale through deep woods. These pups are training for the 1000-mile Alaskan Iditerod, so you know they pack some speed. After helping harness the team, you can ride the runners or relax on the sled. Afterwards, warm up in the cabin and head out again for a ski or snowshoe in some of the wildest yet most serene land around. Reservations are required and availability of tours depends on the weather.
reviewed
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Bromley Mountain
Approximately 5 miles from town, 3284ft Bromley Mountain is a small family-oriented resort featuring 43 downhill ski runs and 10 chairlifts. In summer, you can try the Alpine Slide (the longest run in North America), a climbing wall, trampolines, a water slide, a children’s adventure park and more. Chairlifts whisk hikers and sightseers up to trails. The Long/Appalachian Trail runs right through Bromley. In mid-August, the UX Open – a play-off for the wildest golf game in the country – takes place on these brush-hogged slopes.
reviewed
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East Burke Sports
On VT 114 off I-91, East Burke is a terrific place to start a mountain-bike ride. In the summer of 1997 John Worth, co-owner of East Burke Sports, and several other dedicated locals linked together more than 200 miles of single and double tracks and dirt roads to form a network they call the Kingdom Trails. Riding on a soft forest floor dusted with pine needles and through century-old farms makes for one of the best mountain-biking experiences in New England. East Burke Sports rents bikes and supplies maps.
reviewed
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Stratton Mountain
Stratton Mountain is an all-season playground about 16 miles east of Manchester. For downhill skiing and snowboarding (mid-November through April, conditions permitting), it has 90 trails and 100 acres of glade and tree skiing terrain, 13 lifts (including a summit gondola) and a vertical drop of more than 2000ft on a 3875ft mountain. There are also 20 miles of cross-country trails. Summer activities include golf, tennis, squash, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and tons more.
reviewed
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Smuggler’s Notch Resort
Consistently less crowded than Stowe, family-oriented Smuggler’s Notch Resort, just over the Notch, was founded in 1956. Spread over Sterling (3010ft), Madonna (3640ft) and Morse (2250ft) mountains, the resort offers incredible alpine and cross-country skiing (78 trails and 14 miles’ worth), dogsled rides (reservations strongly recommended), a lit tubing hill, nightly family entertainment, and the only learn-to-ski program for two- to five-year-olds in the country.
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Umiak Outdoor Outfitters
Umiak Outdoor Outfitters rents canoes and sport kayaks and will shuttle paddlers and boats to the river and then pick them up at the put-out ($28/38 for a two-/four-hour trip per person, which includes transportation and boat rental). Its guides lead popular snowshoeing jaunts, lit by the sun, headlamp or moonlight, for $12 (for a half-hour trip) to $48 (day trip ending with sugar-on-snow, hot cider and Cabot cheese at a remote cabin).
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Ski Rack
The Burlington Recreation Path, a popular 7.5-mile route for walking, biking, in-line skating and general perambulating, runs along the waterfront through the Waterfront Park and Promenade. Rent bikes at Ski Rack. You can also rent in-line skates, roller-skis, tandems, trailer bikes, snowshoes and skis (of course). Catch Tour de France action here on a big-screen TV.
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Wilderness Trails
With a kiosk just east of the Quechee Gorge bridge, and a main location behind Quechee Inn, Main St (from VT 4, go right after the covered bridge, and the inn is half a mile on the left), Wilderness Trails rents boats from May 1 to October 31. It also rents bikes. From December 1 to March 31 it rents cross-country skis and snowshoes - and be sure to ask about its moonlight bonfire trips to the lake.
reviewed
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Lake Champlain Paddlers’ Trail
There’s no finer way to enjoy Lake Champlain than to set out on a multiday paddling trip on Lake Champlain Paddlers’ Trail. Paddlers are encouraged to join the eco-friendly Lake Champlain Committee ($40 per year), for which they receive an essential guidebook that details the trails, campsites and rules of the nautical road.
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Suicide Six
In 1934 Woodstockers installed the first mechanical ski tow in the USA, and skiing is still important here. Suicide Six, 3 miles north of Woodstock, is known for challenging downhill runs. The lower slopes are fine for beginners, though. There are 23 trails (30% beginner, 40% intermediate, 30% expert) and three lifts.
reviewed
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Gallery Walk
On the first Friday of each month, join the immensely popular Gallery Walk. Since the early 1990s, galleries and businesses have opened their walls to artists from an ever-increasing geographic reach and renown. A free monthly publication, available throughout town and on the website, maps the locations for this self-guided tour.
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Burke Mountain
Burke Mountain, off US 5 in East Burke, is relatively unknown to anyone outside the Northeast Kingdom. Locals enjoy the challenging trails and empty lift lines. Burke has 33 trails (30% beginner, 40% intermediate, 30% expert) and four lifts, including one quad chair and one lift with a vertical drop of 2000ft.
reviewed
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Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts
Under the auspices of Burlington City Arts, the Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts is an exciting locus for art exhibits, classes and discussions. Ongoing open studios involve the community with an artist in residence. A community darkroom has open-studio hours, classes and discussions.
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Craftsbury Outdoor Center
Cross-country skiers are bound to end up at the full-service Craftsbury Outdoor Center, 3 miles from Craftsbury Common. The 80 miles of trails – 50 of them groomed – roll over meadows and weave through forests of maples and firs, offering an ideal experience for all levels.
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Balloons of Vermont
Balloons of Vermont launch from behind the Simon Pearce Glass Blowing Factory and Restaurant and serve a continental breakfast on their 2.5-hour trips. Needless to say, the world below is particularly beautiful during the fall foliage and you should be sure to reserve well in advance.
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Stowe Recreation Path
The 5½-mile Stowe Recreation Path offers a great in-town escape, as the trail rambles through woods, farms and hillsides. Walk, bike, skate, ski - swim in one of the swimming holes—along this meandering yet well-kept course just above the village and east of Mountain Road.
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Spirit of Ethan Allen II
In addition to lunch and dinner cruises, the Spirit of Ethan Allen II plies the lake with a 1½-hour, scenic, narrated day cruise (adult/child $12/6), and a 2½-hour sunset cruise (adult/child $17/13) at 6:30pm.
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Umiak Outdoor Outfitters
Interested in river trips, tours, camps and instructional classes? Or how about double kayaks and canoes? Umiak Outdoor Outfitters can fulfill all these needs; for the rest you’re on your own.
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