

Stowe is one of Vermont’s most popular winter destinations, and it’s easy to understand why. Try Nordic skiing or snowshoeing at Ole’s Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe or Blueberry Lake Cross Country & Snowshoeing Center. Go skiing or snowboarding at Sugarbush Resort. While you’re visiting, be sure to stop by The Warren Store and dine at The Pitcher Inn. I tell people that my heart is in southern Vermont, but I also adore Warren and the rest of the Mad River Valley. I lived there in the late 1990s and rented a drafty converted barn in Warren when my husband and I moved back to Vermont 11 years ago. While visiting East Burke, enjoy pastries and coffee at Café Lotti and dinner at Juniper’s Restaurant at the Wildflower Inn. Another way to enjoy the outdoors is to head over to Kingdom Trails for fat biking and Nordic skiing. Not only is this Northeast Kingdom community home to Burke Mountain Resort, it’s also where you’ll find Burke Mountain Academy-a world-renowned school for ski racing (its famous alums include ski racing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin). Visit East Burkeįor a small town, Burke has a lot to offer in the winter. If nothing else, take a walk around this beautiful town and enjoy a winter cocktail or dinner at the Woodstock Inn & Resort. Visit the historic Billings Farm and Museum, see raptors up close at Vermont Institute of Natural Science Nature Center in nearby Quechee, or hit the slopes at Suicide Six Ski Area or go cr0ss country skiing at the Woodstock Nordic Center.

The first rope-tow opened here in 1934, and the town is picture perfect when there’s a fresh blanket of snow on the ground. Woodstock is the perfect New England town to visit, and winter is no exception. For dinner, try The Silver Fork or The Chantecleer. Shop at the Northshire Bookstore, or ski at Bromley, Stratton or Magic Mountain. Go ice skating at Riley Rink or go sledding on the hill across the street from Burr and Burton Academy. Stroll through Manchester Village to see the Equinox Resort and historic homes along Historic Route 7A. My hometown of Manchester manages to feel festive all winter long. Here are six of the best Vermont winter towns to visit. So does the warmth and coziness of many Vermont towns, where you’ll find ski areas, inns, sledding hills, general stores, and restaurants. White-capped mountains, icy ponds, and snow-covered meadows make winter in Vermont so beautiful. “The snow is sparkling like a million little suns.” – Lama Willa
