Vermont Winter Vacations

The Jackson Gore base area at Okemo Mountain Resort is an excellent ski haven for families who want everything in one place. The Jackson Gore Inn at the base has a country inn feel with all of today’s conveniences that you’d expect from a top-notch ski destination. For kids, the Okemo Adventure Zone is always a hit, and the heated indoor pool is a perfect respite after a day on the slopes.

The hotel has family-friendly guest rooms with free Wi-Fi and flatscreen TVs, and a tasty on-site restaurant – Coleman Brook Tavern. (For adults, the restaurant provides an impressive wine list.) From your guest room, it is only a few steps to the ski lifts at Jackson Gore that provide access to all of Okemo Mountain Resort.

Nestled on one of the top ski mountains in Vermont, Sugarbush Resort offers the steepest skiing in the state and always plenty of snow. Located in the historic Mad River Valley in north-central Vermont, the four-season resort has a country inn ambience with true ski-in, ski-out access at the Clay Brook Hotel & Residences. Some guest rooms have Jacuzzi tubs, and there are a game room, gym and fine-dining restaurant on site.

The nearby Sugarbush Inn is just down the road and provides a complimentary ski shuttle to and from the slopes. The accommodations are ideal for skiers who want the room to stretch out in a variety of one- to four-bedroom condominiums and townhomes with a full kitchen.

Idyllically situated on the shores of Kent Pond, stands the welcoming family-run Mountain Meadows Lodge. Once an original New England family farm, the lodge represents an integral thread in the much larger tapestry of the original landscape of the Killington Valley.

The Appalachian trail traverses the property providing stunning hiking opportunities including a scenic trek to the Thundering Brook Falls. Additionally, Killington has 45 miles (72 km) of hiking and mountain biking trails, Killington Mountain Bike Club (KMBC) has trails on the hill on the opposite side of the pond only a few minutes away.  Moreover, Killington offers a selection of five snowboard and alpine parks as well as the Accelerated Learning Area for beginners. 

Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville is consistently ranked as the No. 1 kid-friendly ski resort in Vermont for its amazing snow, gentle beginners’ runs, superb ski school and a long list of family-focused resort amenities. But, for families who want to rip, there are also lots of thrilling intermediate and advanced trails to explore on skis or a snowboard.

In addition to top-flight skiing, the brand-new, 26,000-square-foot Fun Zone has a bounce house, laser tag arena and an innovative game arcade. Outdoors, there’s plenty of sledding, tubing and ice skating to go around. The Arbor Trek Zipline Canopy Tour is open during the winter and will show you Smugglers’ Notch from an entirely different perspective.

For many, skiing and snowboarding in Vermont begins and ends in Stowe. The famous ski resort offers world-class trails that range from easy-breezy to spine-tingling, and the region’s rich history and culture make a pilgrimage to northern Vermont a must-do. The Golden Eagle Resort just down the road from the resort has affordable, cozy accommodations and a slew of fine amenities.

Guests at the inn can start their days with a locally sourced breakfast at The Nest. After breakfast, skiers can grab their gear from the complimentary ski lockers and head to the mountain, or just relax at the inn and get a workout in at the fitness center or take a dip in the heated indoor pool. Around town, there’s plenty of parks and museums to investigate.

If you’re looking for an intimate, award-winning romantic escape to Stowe, take a closer look at the Stone Hill Inn near the ski area. The nine-room inn rests on more than 9 acres of private woodlands set about the road with excellent views of the area. Guest rooms have king beds and spacious bathrooms with double Jacuzzi tubs next to a fireplace.

Located only six minutes from downtown and nine minutes from the lifts at Stowe, the adults-only resort is the ideal retreat for romance and skiing. The inn has packages for birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoons, elopements and marriage proposals. It is also a popular destination for a small wedding. Guests enjoy a complimentary three-course breakfast each day in the 40-windown breakfast room with high ceilings.

Filled with rich exposed wood and detailed country accoutrements, the West Hill House B&B takes country charm to the next level in the Green Mountains of Vermont between the towns of Warren and Waitsfield. The boutique inn has nine distinctively decorated guest rooms with an en-suite full bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub or shower, fireplace, high-quality linens and a full country breakfast served daily.

Away from the slopes, guests can relax with a game of pool or select a book from the inn’s 1,000-book library and kick back in one of three common rooms or enjoy the privacy of their own accommodations. There is a slew of delicious restaurants just minutes from the inn.

Adventurous travelers who like to fit a lot of activities into one vacation love the versatility of booking a stay at the Woodstock Inn & Resort. The plush retreat offers newly renovated guest rooms and suites close to a wide array of New England fun and excitement.

Relaxation begins at the hotel’s Forbes Four-Star Rated Spa. From there, guests have access to the Athletic Club and its many exercise classes, indoor tennis courts, Tubbs Snowshoe Center, Nordic trails and exhilarating downhill at Suicide Six. The small town of Woodstock has many quaint boutique stores and coffee shops to explore along Main Street. For eats, the hotel has a few wonderful choices: The Red Rooster, Richardson’s Tavern, Red Barns at Kelly Way, Fairway Grill and Perley’s Pourhouse.