February in the Northeastern USA provides the downright dreary trio of cold, gray, and wet. People seem to be hibernating in their choice of abode, and outdoor adventures are mostly on hold. The one obvious exception is skiing, since ski-able mountains are within driving distance for most people. Unfortunately this is one outdoor sport that has gotten cost-prohibitive for many families in recent years, and we had to do some research to find a reasonably-priced winter spot for us.
We landed with north-central Vermont, in my favorite state and home to lots of popular and overlooked spots for skiing and hiking. It’s also close to some famous breweries and covered bridges!
We’re going to start the 7-hour drive early in the morning, switching off driving duties as the child sleeps. Admittedly, it’s a long drive for a 5-day visit. We initially wanted to go to New Hampshire because it’s closer. But the NH ski area we chose was close to Boston and likely to be uber-crowded on a holiday weekend. That crowding issue would only be exacerbated by the frustratingly lack of snowfall during the first half of winter this year.
We’re also picky on the ski area; a beginner-oriented hill with family-friendly facilities is all we need, and there’s no need to pay for more. A place like Cochran’s Ski Area.
So we scored an AirBNB in quiet-looking Williamstown, whose biggest claim to fame appears to be a spider farm. AirBNB isn’t the inexpensive, easy option it used to be, but VRBO and hotel options were still pricier.
Williamstown is a good base for heading out on Vermont adventures. It’s near the state’s capital, Montpelier, the most quintessential New England town. Williamstown is also not far from Stowe and its hiking/beer/skiing scene, and it’s close enough to Burlington, too.
Vermont Family Road Trip: Preparation
Before this Vermont family road trip, we daytripped to a hill in Pennsylvania to show our 3-year-old what the ski experience is like. “Hill” because it was a mountain the same way a koala is a bear… in name only.
Regardless, our kid LOVED it. He showed a concerning combination of lack of both fear and control, but that’s a problem for another day. He understands the “French fry” vs “Pizza” concept, and he’ll take a lesson in Vermont to provide some skills to barely justify his healthy self-confidence.
So off we go! We’ll be packing clothes and food these next two days. Maybe we’ll be proactive and even pack a slow cooker meal. Slow cooker meals when the high in Williamstown will be 19F (-7C)? Yes, please!
Oh and I’ll pack my brand-new GoPro Hero10. Can’t wait to try out my new toy and show ya’ll what I came up with. Until then, chau, and stay warm!
-Brad
