Smugglers Notch, VT

Address:Smugglers Notch, Vermont

Have you ever been to a real "Winter Vacation Wonderland?" Smugglers' Notch, Vermont, is such a place, with three big mountains of skiing and snowboarding surrounded by a resort village with activities for the entire family. All levels and backgrounds are welcome, and the mountain offers lessons and equipment rentals. More experienced skiers and snowboarders come to Smugglers' Notch to try the only triple black-diamond trail on the east coast, The Black Hole. Everyone can find something to enjoy at Smugglers' Notch.

If you opt to stay at the popular Smugglers' Notch Resort, special winter vacation packages are always available, and reservations can be made on-line or by phone. Smugglers' Notch Resort has over 1,000 acres of land for outdoor activities, and is famous for its award-winning children's programs. Packages include resort lodging in a fully equipped condominium home by the mountain, daily lift tickets, ski or snowboard camp for children, lessons for children and adults, use of the family entertainment center, pool and hot tubs, snow tubing, outdoor ice skating, adult entertainment at night, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and weekly parades and fireworks, and even dog-sledding! Accommodations can fit up to 10 people in a 5 bedroom condominium and even more people by request. Discount coupons are always available online, so check the web before you buy! Costs vary according to the time of year.

There several alternatives to the popular resort, including the Donomar Inn, a popular wedding spot, which has spectacular mountain views, private baths, fireplaces, Jacuzzis, and outdoor hot tub, full country breakfast, gardens, and a local theatre. Other options include Bert's Bear Den, which can accommodate up to 6 people in a cozy efficiency apartment, the Cottage at Junction Hill, which offers 2-bedroom cottages at daily or weekly rates and Deer Run Motor Inn, where children less than 9 years old stay for free. Also check out Eleanor's Cottage, Fitch Hill Inn, Governor's House in Hyde Park, Nye's Green Family Farm Bed and Breakfast, Sterling Ridge Resort and Log Cabins, and a few other local inns. In the summer, the Hemlock House offers long term summer vacation rentals. Condominiums are also available for private rental. For a complete outdoor experience, reserve a place to camp at the Brewster River Campground, which is open from mid-May to mid-October and offers a quiet 20 acres by the Brewster River for camping.

Smugglers' Notch has many cute places to eat, including restaurants and bakeries in downtown Jeffersonville. Recommended places are Plum and Main Restaurant for brunch, where homemade food is served inside a house built in 1917, the Smugglers' Notch Inn for a family dinner, the Three Mountain Lodge for a relaxing dinner with adults, and 158 Main Street Restaurant and Bakery for a great selection of desserts. Shopping is also plentiful in downtown Jeffersonville, where you will find antique shops, art galleries, hardware stores, music stores, Vermont specialty products, Smugglers' Notch area fine arts and crafts and places to rent equipment and sign up for tours.

Concerts, and dance events are often hosted within the community for locals and tourists to enjoy, and at night, the Village Tavern holds an open-mic night every Tuesday between December and March.

Smugglers' Notch is located in Jeffersonville in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains in Lamoille River Valley, surrounded by 3,000 acres of forest, which means there are some spectacular mountain views. This also means that it is not so close to civilization. In fact, locals refer to the location as "the quiet side of the mountain." Driving is the only way to arrive, via Route 108, and parking is plentiful. Once there, everything is available, from food, to shopping, to firewood for the fireplace. Before you go, check the "No Bull Snow Report" online at the Smugglers' Notch website to find out the local weather, snow level, and the status of open trails and lifts.

Smuggler's Notch is truly a Winter Wonderland. Whether you stay in a quaint, small hotel, or take advantage of the larger resort, Smugglers' Notch is a great place for winter fun.