Pages

Thursday, March 17, 2011

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 13 Stowe, Vt.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 13

Stowe, Vt.

EASY GETAWAY FROM Boston; Albany; New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Cleveland; Detroit.

WHAT YOU GET Winter sports, farm-to-table dining, New England charm.

WHY GO NOW Softer snow and warmer temperatures at this time of year make skiing, snowshoeing, dog-sledding, sleigh riding and other winter sports more fun. Stowe’s Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield (Vermont’s highest peak at 4,395 feet) remain open through April 17. And with a 200-year-old village full of shops, restaurants and cozy pubs, there is still plenty to do after the slopes close. Spring is sugaring season in Vermont, when trees are tapped and sap is collected for making syrup. There is also a new performing arts center and nearby Vermont landmarks like Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream plant, providing options for everyone in the family. The nearest major airport is in Burlington, Vt., about an hour west of Stowe.

WHERE TO STAY Stowe Mountain Lodge (stowemountainlodge.com), adjacent to the gondola connecting Spruce Peak to Mount Mansfield, has rates from $199 and is offering 20 percent off for two-night stays and 30 percent off for three nights through April 30. The Trapp Family Lodge (trappfamily.com), run by descendants of the Trapp family of “Sound of Music” fame, has a Making Tracks Snowshoe package with rates from $399 a person for two-night stays through March 27 that includes three-course dinners, and guided snowshoe treks. On Main Street, the Green Mountain Inn (greenmountaininn.com) offers rooms for as low as $99 in April.

No comments:

Post a Comment