Accounting for about 35 percent of all maple syrup produced in the U.S. -- 1.3 million gallons in 2013 -- Vermont produces and exports more maple syrup than any other state in the Union. Prepared as a reduction from the sap of black and red maple trees collected in springtime, the sweet amber liquid that embellishes pancakes is also made into granulated maple sugar and molded into maple leaf-shaped candy. To satisfy both your curiosity and sweet tooth, you can see traditional sugaring displays and taste free maple syrup samples at Sugarbush Farm (sugarbushfarm.com), located east of Woodstock.
Creating ice cream flavors with off-the-wall names like Chubby Hubby, Cherry Garcia and Chocolate Therapy, Ben & Jerry’s (benjerry.com) opened its first homemade ice cream shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington in 1978. Today, even after the acquisition of the company by the giant conglomerate Unilever, cheeky fun still dominates this high-spirited ice cream company. A 30-minute factory tour ($4 for adults as of 2013) wraps up with free ice cream samples. Don’t miss the Flavor Graveyard. It’s where wacky died-and-gone-to-heaven ice cream flavors with names like Urban Jungle, Holy Cannoli and Makin’ Whoopie Pie are memorialized as tryouts that didn’t make it. The company's headquarters is near the town of Waterbury.
Around the first week of October, leaf peepers from near and far flock to Vermont's forests to witness the peak broadleaf tree shades of red, orange, yellow and purple. Leaf colors begin to change around mid-September and the process continues until the end of October. Chances are, you can witness the most grandeur that Vermont has to offer in early October. Keep in mind that fall foliage observation is more about elevation than location, with higher elevations peaking first. A suggested Vermont foliage driving tour by the website Foliage.org takes you through “a stunning display of autumn leaves” in the Connecticut River Valley, Grand Isle County, Lake Dunmore and southwestern Vermont.
An abundance of winter snowfall and an array of ski resorts mean that skiers in Vermont are spoiled for choice. Not surprisingly, "Ski" magazine's list of the best East Coast ski resorts for 2011-2012 devotes 60 percent of its coverage to Vermont. The state’s biggest ski resorts are Smuggler’s Notch Resort, Killington Resort and Okemo Mountain Resort. If you’re looking for an alternative to outside temperatures that sting your nose and bite your toes, the Trapp Family Lodge (trappfamily.com) might satisfy your requirement for snugness. The von Trapp family, whose story inspired The "Sound of Music," runs a traditional Austrian-style hotel in the mountains near Stowe. Here, winter options range from unhurried indoor comforts to outdoor cross-country skiing and snowshoe treks.
Part of the Appalachian Mountain chain, the Green Mountains run the length of Vermont, from the Massachusetts border in the south to Canada in the north. The Appalachians are among the oldest ranges in the world, yielding large deposits of granite. The Vermont section of the Appalachian Trail follows the ridge of the Green Mountains and is part of the Long Trail, which runs the length of the state. If hoofing it is not part of your plan, the mountains offer diverse four-season recreational activities, ranging from scenic drives and fall foliage tours to bicycling and winter sports.
In the Colonial era, Lake Champlain served as a water highway in the summer and as an ice bridge connecting various towns along its shores in the winter. The 120-mile-long lake, situated between Vermont, New York and Canada, is located in the northwestern part of the state. Its strategic importance in early American history was affirmed in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Now the lake offers scenic views of the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks in New York, not to mention opportunities for water recreation and countryside excursions throughout the Lake Champlain region. In addition, Vermont's largest city, Burlington, is located on the lake's eastern shore.
