Getting away for summer weekends is always on top of my to-do list. Thanks to friends who shared their charming vacation condo in Killington, VT with us, we had the opportunity to unwind over the July 4^th long weekend. It turned out even better than expected.

Why? There was so much to do and relax and recharge with no hassle. No crowds, traffic or long waits. On our way to Vermont, news reports predicted we were hitting the worst traffic time for the long weekend. However, as we headed north, we didn’t encounter any traffic snarls. Plus, the last hour of our trip along scenic highway Route 100, we decompressed as we drove alongside winding streams, up and down rolling hills and through pretty, bucolic towns.

Why Vermont Awaits

Vermont is beautiful any time of the year and certainly worth a visit during summer; it’s not just for ski and leaf peeping seasons. However, after a weekend in the mountains to unwind with our close friends, I’d highly recommend Killington as your Vermont home base if this area is not already on your summer getaway list.

For starters, we didn’t miss the hustle and bustle of overpopulated touristy areas, and locals are very welcoming. The scenery is spectacular, providing opportunities to connect with the environment on so many levels: mountains, valleys, lakes, and rivers. Not to mention trying places to eat and drink from farm-to-table, casual and outdoor restaurants, farmers’ markets, craft breweries and wine tastings.

We barely made a dent in the list of things we could do, which is a good thing. More time up north in the Green Mountains and woods might just be what I need every summer to recharge my batteries and unite with nature. And, I can easily achive my being-on-the-water goal with Vermont’s abundance of lakes and rivers for swimming, wading, fishing and kayaking. And not to forget, the joy of discovering waterfalls!

Another Vermont trip is in definitely in our future plans … and hopefully yours, too. Please enjoy a sampling of my snapshots to help connect you to the Killington region.

Brandon

Postcard-pretty Brandon is a must-see stop for strolling, shopping, viewing the falls, coffee break or enjoying a meal. This quaint town, home of American folk artist Warren Kimball, offers a full list of happenings all year. Fortunately for us, we visited on July 2 during the town’s Independence Day celebration, so we were treated to a stunning fireworks display after an alfresco dinner.

Killington Area

Killington isn’t just the name of the ski resort and mountain, it’s the name of the town, but that hasn’t always been the case. Chartered as Killington in 1769 and renamed Sherburne in 1800, the town voted to revert to its original name in 1999. Killington Peak, second tallest Vermont mountain and home of Killington Ski Resort, is the town’s centerpiece for its natural beauty, year-round activities and proximity to restaurants and lodging. Take the gondola to the top where you can follow a short trail for panoramic views (see image at the top of this post).

Woodstock Area

Named one of the prettiest towns in the country, Woodstock has much to offer including its idyllic town center, outdoor activities galore, retail therapy, dining, Mount Tom and museums/farms. Always a special place to visit, we spent an afternoon in this area.

INTERESTED IN A CARIBBEAN GETAWAY? Read my post on the top seven reasons why to plan a family vacation to St. Marten/Martin.