Many people are unable to travel at the moment, which is very difficult for all those adventurous souls like me. Recently, traveling for me is anywhere outside my home state. I am blessed to be able to go to Vermont as often as I wish, which has given me the chance to explore more of the state.
During any season Vermont is filled with many activities. Since it is winter, I spent last week skiing and snowmobiling with my family in southern Vermont. My favorite mountain in Vermont to ski at is Mount Snow because of the three different faces of the mountain. There is the Main Face which is all green and blue trails, there is the North Face which is all the black and double black diamonds, and finally, there is Carinthia which is the terrain park. If you don’t ski or snowboard, there are other activities depending on the season. During the winter there is snowmobiling on miles of trails throughout Vermont as well as winter hikes. When spring, summer, and fall come around there are more activities. Vermont may not sit on an ocean, but the reservoirs, ponds, and lakes are beautiful. Cliff jumping and water sports are popular during the warmer months of the year. Boats and jet skis are used in the lakes and reservoirs, along with kayaking and paddle boarding. In southern Vermont, there are two cliff jumping places I would recommend are the Ledges and Dorset Marble Quarry. The Ledges is an off the books place in the middle of the woods with ledges that hang over a lake. It is safe to jump from any of the ledges. When using a GPS to get there, it is important to know that you will be going down a dirt road and the GPS will say you have arrived and you feel you are nowhere near water, just keep driving on the road and you will reach the Ledges. Due to COVID, I have not been able to go to Dorset Marble Quarry, but that is my first stop once restrictions are lifted. At the quarry, there are jumps from many different heights from marble stones. Two of my favorite hikes no matter the season is Haystack Mountain and Molly Stark State Park. Haystack is more advanced and can be between 4 and 6 miles total, whereas Molly Stark is a 2-mile total hike. Both have beautiful summit lookout points and gorgeous treks. At the top of the Molly Stark trail is a fire tour (no longer in use) that you can climb to see a 360-degree view of forest and land. Although these can be hiked during any season, I recommend going in the fall during peak foliage to take in all of the colors.
When I stay in Southern Vermont I am sure to buy the freshest and healthiest foods I can find. I recommend the River Valley Market in West Dover. For a small market, they have a large selection of fresh foods for a reasonable price. For dining out or ordering in, Joes Pizza and The Last Chair are my go to’s because of their large selections. For the occasional sweets craving, I go to Sticky Fingers which is a small bakery known for their cinnamon buns.
Visiting Vermont is a must no matter where you are from. The beauty of nature is so surreal. I was driving up to Vermont with my sister a few months ago and we pulled to the side of the road in the middle of nowhere to look at the stars. With no large cities for miles, there was no light pollution and you could see hundreds of stars with naked eye. We stood on the side of the road next to the car looking up for what felt like an hour. If you’re looking for places to stay anywhere in Vermont, my only suggestion is an airbnb. This will allow you to get the most out of the natural beauties around you. You can see and explore more by finding places to buy food, spending time outdoors and experiencing nature in ways you would never imagine.