This week, we're launching Gothamist's travel content, Gothamist Getaways. Four times a year, we'll have a week of posts featuring looks at travel, food, products and tips, near and far, for making your trips more pleasurable. So enjoy and let us know if you have any hints for us—email [email protected].
Vermonters have all sorts of tricked out names for those in-between times of year when the tourists ebb and locals can freely bask in the picturesque vistas of the Green Mountain State. “Stick season” occurs at the tail end of fall foliage while “mud season” transpires when the last snow has melted. But for those in the know, “shoulder season” is the prime time when winter sport enthusiasts can find great deals.
Take your pick of peaks—most are open through late April and beyond and you’ll be sure to find plenty of local brews and bites to satisfy your palette after a day on the mountain. For a range of lift ticket discounts, check out Liftopia, but there are also deals from the big resorts.
Go Ski! photo provided by Okemo Mountain Resort
WHERE TO STAY:
Located above the village of Ludlow in south-central Vermont, Okemo Mountain Resort recently invested nearly a million dollars in what they call Operation Snowburst, which means better conditions on the 120 trails that offer both wide expanses as well as secluded paths tucked amid evergreens and hardwood glades. Take advantage of the Spring Siesta Card ($99) and receive unrestricted skiing through the end of the season.
Nearby Killington offers an elevation advantage, averages two feet of snowfall even in April and has been known to keep trails open as late as June. The newly opened Peak Lodge at 4,100-foot elevation offers respite from a day on the slopes with food sourced from local farms, signature cocktails and panoramic views of three mountain ranges from every seat. The resort offers a range of discounts and packages as well as a snow guarantee (restrictions apply) if you’re not satisfied with the conditions.
Good Commons, photo by Jane Kratochvil
Avoid the bed and breakfast doily syndrome and rent a unique vacation home perfectly situated between Okemo and Killington for up to 20 of your closest friends. Former Broadway dancer Tesha Buss renovated a turn-of-the-century general store and turned it into Good Commons, a six-bedroom (plus sleeping loft) property that boasts an outdoor hot tub, yoga studio, two living rooms and a kitchen larger than an average New York City studio. Spring rates are 35 percent off peak season (a savings up to $1,000). Email [email protected] for details.
BEST BITES:
Smoked catfish pate at The Downtown Grocery
has been brewing craft beer since 1989 and offers a dozen varieties on rotation throughout the year. Opt for the Classic Sampler ($7.50)—a tasting of six beers, along with a side of hand-cut, beer battered onion rings ($7) for the perfect ending to a day on the slopes.
Hang with the locals at Outback Pizza, a casual destination for all ages. Happy hour is from 3pm to 6pm daily and includes 50-cent wings. Order the “Buff-a-cue” style—a sweet and spicy combination of buffalo and maple barbecue sauce.
Chef Rogan Lechthaler brings a new level of culinary sophistication to the charming village of Ludlow at The Downtown Grocery. Homemade pastas, house-cured meats and local cheeses only whet the palette for the ultimate dessert: Late Night Breakfast ($9), comprised of French toast, buttermilk-bacon ice cream, local Grade B maple syrup and candied Vermont bacon.
Matthew Wexler is the national travel editor for EDGE Media Network. In addition, his work has appeared in Hemispheres, Gotham, Hamptons Magazine, Private Islands, Passport and online for AAA, ShermansTravel, offMetro, among others.
