| No matter which season you take Vermont | | | | |
| vacations, you'll see these seven scenic | | | | After the snow melts, families have an |
| wonders and fall in love with the Green | | | | endless assortment of things to do on their |
| Mountain state. And just in case you | | | | Vermont vacations, including swimming, |
| mistakenly think there are only seven wonders | | | | hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, |
| - think again. Each of these is a vacation in | | | | and scenic driving tours. Mount Mansfield |
| itself, full of the wonders of adventure, | | | | itself provides hiking trails for the fit and |
| breathtaking views, wildlife, and fine dining | | | | energetic, or you can take in amazing views |
| and lodging. | | | | from your own car as you drive to the summit |
| | | | ridge on the historic toll road. |
| It all begins here... | | | | |
| | | | LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND ISLANDS |
| GREEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST | | | | |
| | | | Lake Champlain seems like a lost cousin of |
| The Green Mountain National Forest is 400,000 | | | | the Great lakes. Long and deep, but with an |
| acres stretching across two-thirds of the | | | | average width of only 12 miles, its northern |
| length of Vermont. The Forest comprises six | | | | area is dotted with a magnificent string of |
| wilderness areas offering camping and 900 | | | | Islands popular for Vermont vacations. Routes |
| miles of trails, and a backcountry | | | | 2 and 78 connect the larger ones together and |
| environment for all ages. Campgrounds are | | | | to the Vermont mainland. One of the last |
| available on a first-come basis during the | | | | "undiscovered" treasures of New England, the |
| summer season. | | | | Lake Champlain Islands offer magnificent |
| | | | vistas of Vermont's Green Mountains to the |
| Popular destinations in the Forest include | | | | east, and New York's Adirondacks to the west. |
| the Robert Frost Trail near Ripton, Texas | | | | |
| Falls Recreation area close to Hancock, the | | | | NORTHEAST KINGDOM |
| Moosalamoo area near Brandon, and Lake | | | | |
| Dunmore and Brandbury State Park | | | | The Northeast Kingdom is a vast 1.3 million |
| | | | acres of mostly wilderness land, which |
| QUECHEE GORGE | | | | includes public forests, parks, lakes, ponds, |
| | | | rivers and streams. This is an area where |
| Located in central Vermont near the town of | | | | little has changed since the glaciers left, |
| Woodstock, Quechee Gorge is a geological | | | | and the adventurous will find plenty of |
| wonder. Nicknamed Vermont's Grand Canyon, the | | | | opportunity to live out their dream Vermont |
| gorge was carved when the last glacier | | | | vacation. |
| covering New England receded about 12,000 | | | | |
| years ago. Today the Ottauguechee River flows | | | | Nature shares the Northeast Kingdom with |
| through the gorge and is spanned by a bridge, | | | | people, and this is an area where wildlife |
| which offers a marvelous photogenic vantage | | | | and scenery is king, and folks gladly take a |
| point for visitors. | | | | back seat. Load up your camping stuff and |
| | | | supplies in St. Johnsbury, check your gas |
| The entrance to the park is just west of the | | | | level, and be prepared for an exhilarating |
| bridge, and offers trails down to the gorge | | | | experience! |
| and wooded nature walks. | | | | |
| | | | COVERED BRIDGES |
| SCENIC ROUTE 100 FROM KILLINGTON TO WATERBURY | | | | |
| | | | No mention of Vermont wonders can bypass the |
| Vermont boasts many scenic drives but none | | | | finest collection of covered bridges in the |
| more scenic than the portion of Route 100 | | | | United States. If you include the bridges |
| from Killington to Waitsfield. The route | | | | shared with New Hampshire and spanning the |
| borders the Green Mountain National Forest | | | | Connecticut River, the state has 106, which |
| and meanders through mountain valleys, | | | | is more than any other New England state. |
| rivers, streams, waterfalls, and small | | | | Most bridges are accessible to the public, in |
| farming villages. Along this route you'll | | | | excellent condition, and a joy to discover |
| move from open farmland to steep mountain | | | | and photograph. |
| cliffs either side of a winding narrow road, | | | | |
| and then eventually back to open fields. | | | | The craftsmen who designed these monuments |
| | | | had no idea they were building a legacy now |
| The latter part of the journey to Waterbury | | | | enjoyed by visitors from all over the world. |
| offers marvelous views of the distant | | | | Wherever you are in the state you're not far |
| northern Green Mountains. | | | | from a Vermont covered bridge |
| | | | |
| STOWE | | | | This brief journey has been but an |
| | | | introduction to an area in the U.S. where not |
| Nestled between two mountain ranges is | | | | only the people, but nature, does things just |
| perhaps the most picturesque town in New | | | | a little differently - And that makes all the |
| England - Stowe. The draw and attraction for | | | | difference for Vermont vacations.the |
| many to Stowe is Mount Mansfield, and the | | | | difference for Vermont vacations. |
| mountain dominates the landscape. | | | | |