Tucked right into the heart of New England, Vermont has a full menu of outdoor recreation covering all four seasons. Winters here are certainly cold and snowy, but that’s good news for the ski resorts in the Green Mountains, like Stowe and Killington. Snowshoeing and snowmobiling are also popular in the winter.
When summer finally arrives, these same mountains open up their trails to some of the best hiking and biking in New England, whether on the pavement or the dirt. Lakes and rivers are ripe for fishing and boating, while most of the 60 insanely scenic (and often challenging) golf courses in the state are open to the public. In fall, hunters migrate to the area for Vermont’s well-established tradition of hunting.
Winter is a prominent season in Vermont, and to avoid cabin fever, the locals spend a lot of time outside. This is New England’s ski capital, with more than 20 ski resorts which are great for skiing and snowboarding. From family resorts like Bolton Valley and posh ski villages like Stowe, to large challenging mountains such as Killington, there is a resort for everyone in Vermont.
In summer, Vermont is a biking dreamland. A popular trip theme is to bike from inn to inn using a company like Great Freedom Adventures or Go Sojourn to haul your gear while you bike rural back roads at your leisure. Mountain biking in the Green Mountains is also a thrill, with outfitters like Vermont Adventure Tours providing everything from training to guidance.
There are thousands of lakes, rivers, and streams throughout Vermont that are just perfect for summer boating excursions. From casual tubing on the White River with Vermont River Tubing to canoeing on the BattenKill River with BattenKill Canoe, you can find guides anywhere that there’s water.
Up north, massive Lake Champlain provides another kind of experience by sailboat or big cruiser. Here, it’s possible to hop on a ferry at Burlington and take a low-cost cruise across the lake for the day. There is also some excellent fishing on this lake and plenty of charter companies such as Cloud Nine Fishing in Ferrisburgh provide an intimate local experience angling for Walleye, salmon, or trout. Of course, there are hundreds of smaller lakes and rivers which are also well-stocked with fish. It’s never hard to find a professional fishing guide in this waterlogged state.
The rolling green hills of Vermont create a landscape that is just perfect for challenging and scenic golfing. Most of the 60 golf courses in the state are open to the general public, including the award-winning Jay Peak Championship Golf Course and the incredibly pretty Mount Snow Golf Club. A real challenge awaits golfers at the new Green Mountain National course outside of Killington, while Stratton’s 27-hole course is a treat for anyone hoping to step up their game.
The hiking here ranges from casual strolls through hardwood forests to multi-day adventures on the Appalachian Trail. With 700 miles of trail to choose from, it’s never hard to find a place to take a hike in Vermont. Wonder Walks runs custom hiking tours all year round, while Inn to Inn offers the unique experience of walking from one quaint country village to the next, with all the lodging and logistics arranged.