Pond Skating
New England is famous for its historic inns, luxurious resorts, and intimate bed and breakfasts. But during the winter it’s also popular for its downhill and cross country skiing, luxurious spa and fitness resorts, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and skating on the local ponds.
Currier and Ives ingrained the scenes on our brains with their prints but isn’t it time to see it for real? Take a winter getaway in New England and explore the region when the slopes and tree tops are glistening white and you can experience dog sledding, trek along trails in snow shoes, and settle down next to a roasting fire after your gourmet dinner.
Here are four destinations for winter getaways in New England that always bring a smile to my face.
Bethel in Maine
Kansas Trail at Sunday River Resort
Maine has always been an outdoor vacation destination. In the summer the tourists flock to the coastline for their dream Maine vacation and the locals, and a few in-the-know outsiders, flock inland to the woods and lakes of this vast New England state. But in the winter Maine’s north woods are locked in a frozen prison except for a few areas where you can enjoy the natural beauty of the state without hiking for days.
One such area is Bethel. Bethel is a major lodging center for a number ski resorts such as Sunday River. Sunday River attracts downhill skiers with its 8 mountain peaks, breathtaking scenery and family atmosphere. The resort has 131 trails serviced by 18 lifts to terrain with steep grades to gentle slopes for those just starting out. Sunday River also has a lighted skating rink, tubing park and a firework display on weekend evenings.
Bethel is also central for the family-oriented Mt. Abraham and Black Mountain, and is considered Maine’s Nordic ski capital and a snowmobiler’s paradise. And when your legs are tired and you feel like relaxing take one of the horse-drawn sleigh rides across a field of pure white snow and slip back into a nostalgic and more carefree time.
Berkshire Hills in Massachusetts
Lucifer's Leap at Butternut
The rolling hills in western Massachusetts are a popular summer destination for families but far from being “dead” in the off season it’s a hive of activity and a Berkshires winter vacation welcomes both outdoor enthusiasts and culture seekers. The villages of Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge provide great activity and lodging bases.
The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge celebrates its most famous resident, and if nature accommodates, you can walk through the snow on Main Street as if you’re strolling through one of his illustration scenes of the town itself. Other museums open during the winter include the Museum of the Gilded Age in Lenox, Hancock Shaker Village at Pittsfield, and MASS MoCA in North Adams.
Outdoor enthusiasts can ski at Butternut in Great Barrington during the day and listen in the cold night for owls. Long after Santa has left the winter night skies the owls remain and in the silence of the tress without leaves their hoots travel great distances and are loud and one of the most haunting sounds in all of New England.
White Mountains in New Hampshire
Tuckerman Ravine Headwall
One of the first areas of New England to be developed for tourism the White Mountains in New Hampshire once boasted a large choice of grand resorts.
Today just a few of the resorts remain but the spectacular views and wide-open spaces are still a magnet for those seeking to discover places off-the-beaten path, and explore the peace and quiet of the northern woods. In the winter ski resort areas come alive and offer family getaways for all levels and demanding trails for the experts.
Popular destinations for downhill skiers are Cannon and Loon mountains on the western valley area to Wildcat, Bretton Woods and Attitash on the eastern slopes. Jackson – one of the most picturesque villages in the Mount Washington Valley region – is the center for cross country skiers with hundreds of miles of well-groomed trails. You can even take a horse-drawn sleigh ride to get fresh air and some old-tyme atmosphere.
North Conway is the major destination for lodging and shopping in the area, and Mount Cranmore in the town itself offer tubing for the kids. For those wanting the ultimate ski experience then book your stay in April and ski down Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington – experts only – and be prepared to hike up the mountain before skiing down it. Thrill seekers only need apply.
Stowe in Vermont
Smuggler's Notch family fun
Snuggled between two mountain ranges, Stowe is reminiscent of an alpine village and maybe this is what lured Maria Von Trapp of “Sound of Music” fame to set her roots in this picturesque Vermont region. The Von Trapp lodge is open to the public and set on the side of Mt. Mansfield – the highest mountain in Vermont – and the venue for Stowe ski resort. Two mountain ski areas in one attract snowboarders and skiers alike, as well as cross-country trails.
The area is a favorite destination for Vermont vacations and the village is itself is a haven for shoppers and connoisseurs of fine dining. Health and fitness is a theme in the area with many luxurious spa resorts catering for as much self-indulgence as you care to endure, and fitness equipment to supplement the skiing during the day.
And when you get tired of skiing Stowe Mountain then a short drive away is the popular family ski area at Smuggler’s Notch which in addition to skiing offers dog sledding, snow mobiles, ice skating and tube sliding.
This sample is just a few getaway destinations in New England that show winter in the region is every bit as exciting and thrilling as the other three seasons.
For more destination ideas and lodging for New England Getaways and to get a free trip planer package to download visit Cliff Calderwood’s New England Vacations Guide web site at http://www.New-England-Vacations-Guide.com
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