Central Vermont is home to the Green Mountain National Forest, which welcomes visitors for leaf-peeping during fall foliage ; snow sports; photography, hiking, camping, and more. History of the state's famous marble and granite quarries is on display at the Vermont Marble Museum in Proctor. A place of great natural beauty is the scenic canyon of Quechee Gorge near Woodstock. National byways and scenic drives take you to the most-loved corners of the region. Click on the drop-down menus above to plan your trip.
Killington, a four-season destination, has world-class nightlife, great restaurants, and luxury lodgings, all in against a stunning mountain backdrop. Also top of the list is a visit to Quechee Gorge on Route 4 near Woodstock. At this "Grand Canyon of the East," visitors see the Ottauquechee River flowing far below from points along Route 4. Take a drive through the area's many historic covered bridges. The Mad River Valley, hugging Route 100 through the towns of Warren and Waitsfield, is known as a winter destination for snow sports at the vast Sugarbush and the daring “ski it if you can” Mad River Glen. The Valley is rich with diversions -- not only in winter. For summer, Sugarbush has zip lines for the kids and an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed golf course (among several courses in the Valley).
If it is winter, get your nostalgic fun on a sleigh ride at Mountain Top Inn in Chittenden, near Killington. You can find plenty of skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing at Killington, Middlebury Snow Bowl, Sugarbush and Okemo, while the indoor people curl up next to a blazing fire. Ski areas offer fun for kids and families in the warm and green seasons, too. Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow has the Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster through alpine forests of Jackson Gore. Try horseback riding at the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm in Waitsfield in Mad River Valley or dive into apple pleasures at Cold Hollow Cider Mill up Route 100 in Waterbury Center. The Big Picture Café and Theater and the restored Skinner Barn, both in Waitsfield, offer film, contra dance, live theater, and local color.
A favorite form of lodging in Vermont is the resorts, and the Central region is well-represented. They include Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, offering stunning lake views; Mountain Top Inn & Resort in Chittenden, with sweeping views of the vast Green Mountains; Woodstock Inn & Resort in Woodstock; and Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow. Many resorts have excellent fine dining on the property, and some have spas. Fine dining also is in store at Echo Lake Inn in Dublin and the Vermont Inn in Mendon.
Shopping! For cooks, King Arthur Flour in Norwich has a newly expanded retail store, a bakery where visitors can watch bakers at work, and a Baking Education Center, offering classes for adults and kids. More fun and nostalgic shopping is at the Vermont Country Store in Weston. Bookstores to spoil any bookworm are Bear Pond Books in Montpelier and The Norwich Bookstore in Norwich. Near the gorge on Route 4 is Quechee Gorge Village, a favorite shopping attraction. Here you can re-up on batteries for your camera and visit the Cabot Quechee Store, Danforth Pewter, Vermont Toy & Train Museum, Vermont Spirits, The Quechee Diner, Snow Farm Gallery, and more.