Best Ideas to Stay, Play and Tour in Vermont’s Okemo Valley

Focus on All Things New England! Having trouble viewing this email? [View this email on the web](. AUGUST 7, 2022 Best Ideas to Stay, Play and Tour in Vermont’s Okemo Valley Sponsored by: [Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce](  Looking to get away this summer and fall? Explore the Green Mountain State's history, natural beauty, and outdoor recreation opportunities in the Okemo Valley—design your visit around Vermont’s Scenic Route 100 Byway. The route, known as Vermont’s Main Street, is recognized by Yankee Magazine as one of the most scenic in New England and is the most popular drive in Vermont (though you won’t experience a traffic jam). Dotted with white church steeples, covered bridges, expansive farms and rolling hills. There’s shopping galore for art, antiques, books, and one-of-a-kind gifts; top-notch dining at farm-to-table restaurants in a land of producers of cheese and other specialty foods; elegant lodging and simple strolling and picture-taking in restful towns embraced by mountains. [Yourplaceinvermont.com]( Also referred to as Vermont’s Skiers Highway, Route 100 connects major ski resorts including Magic Mountain in Londonderry and Okemo in Ludlow. These mountains are major destinations for year-round outdoor recreation. Courtesy of Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce Outdoor Recreation HIKING The rewards of hiking to the Okemo summit are many. From the Healdville Trail is a 5.8-mile round-trip intermediate-level hike featuring peaceful woodlands and panoramic views from a fire tower at 3,343 feet. If you’d prefer an easier route, ride Okemo’s Sunburst Six scenic chairlift to the top and take a short rewarding walk to the fire tower. (Healdville Trailhead is at 625 Station Rd, Mount Holly); Calvin Coolidge State Forest & The Long Trail: Coolidge State Forest, a popular outdoor recreation destination, includes more than 30 miles of maintained hiking trails, including Shrewsbury Peak Trail and Tinker Brook Trail. A section of the Appalachian Trail/Long Trail also runs through the Coolidge Range between Governor Clement Shelter and Killington Peak’s north slope. MOUNTAIN BIKING Evolution Bike Park at Okemo is perfect for novice and experienced riders looking to explore open terrain and forestland. The trails require very little pedaling, as riders go mostly downhill. An expansion to the summit offers longer, steeper and more challenging terrain for advanced riders. (77 Okemo Ridge Rd, Ludlow; 802-228-1548; [okemo.com]( Mountain Biking in Grafton: Beginner and advanced mountain bikers alike will enjoy the approximately 15 miles of trails at Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center. The center includes single and double-track trails, giving riders a chance to explore historic Grafton’s quiet woods. Bike rentals are available. (783 Townshend Rd, Grafton; 802-843-2400; [graftoninnvermont.com]( or try Mountain Biking at Mt Ascutney: [( SWIMMING HOLES + LAKES Take a dip in Buttermilk Falls in Ludlow, a popular swimming hole in Okemo State Forest. The falls are ideal for kids, families and anyone looking to cool off in a scenic, quiet and accessible setting. The swimming hole features waterfalls as well as shallow and deeper pools. Buttermilk Falls Road is located across Route 103 from the turn to Okemo’s Jackson Gore. Follow Buttermilk Falls Road for about a half-mile. Look for an information kiosk and short trail through the woods on the right. Parking is available along Buttermilk Falls Road; Rainbow Rock Swimming Hole in Chester: Along the Williams River is Rainbow Rock, a scenic swimming hole for cooling off and relaxing. With more than 700 feet of river frontage, the property is popular with swimmers, dog lovers and anglers. From Route 11 in Chester, take the first right after the railroad tracks onto Green Mountain Turnpike, and follow for about 0.3 miles to a small pull-off on the right: Camp Plymouth State Park at Echo Lake: Camp Plymouth State Park, on the shores of Echo Lake in Ludlow, is open for swimming, picnicking and camping. At approximately 96 acres, Echo Lake is the middle lake in a chain of three lakes connected by the Black River along the Plymouth–Ludlow town line. (2008 Scout Camp Rd, Ludlow; 802-228-2025; [vtstateparks.com]( Best Vermont Summer Festival Make plans for The Best of Vermont Summer Festival Sat, 8/20 (12-7p) & Sun 8/21 (10-4p), Okemo Field, Ludlow, VT. Food, Craft Beer, Wine, Artisans, Live Music, Car Show, Animals, Kids’ Activities, and more! [PLAN NOW]( SPONSORED GOLF Play the links at Okemo Valley Fox Run Golf Club, featuring an 18-hole championship course with bent grass greens, tees and fairways. Amenities include a 9,200-square-foot clubhouse and Calcuttas Sports Bar & Restaurant and full-service pro shop. (89 Fox Ln, Ludlow; 802-228-1396, [foxrungolf.org]( Crown Point Country Club in Springfield: Crown Point Country Club is an 18-hole public championship golf course designed and built in the 1950s. It was constructed on historic farmland that one featured a military road predating the Revolutionary War. The course has five tee options for players of all skill levels, a driving range, a practice putting green, and a pub restaurant. (155 Course Rd, Springfield; 802-885-1010; [crownpointcountryclub.com]( Courtesy of Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce DISC GOLF Okemo’s two-disc golf courses at the resort’s Adventure Zone at Jackson Gore include 27 holes. The Saplings and The Maples courses are open until dusk. (111 Jackson Gore Rd, Ludlow; 802-228-1548; [okemo.com]( Chester Disc Golf Course: Chester Disc Golf Course, an 18-hole course mostly played in the woods, features numerous elevation changes, sidehills and trees. Follow on Facebook for more details. The course is at Lover’s Lane, Chester; Disc Golf at Magic Mountain: Magic Mountain National Disc Golf Course is open daily, June–October. The mountain has the challenging topography and an ideal setup for disc golf that features an 18-hole championship course on open trails and wooded glades. (495 Magic Mountain Access, Londonderry; 802-824-5645; [magicmtn.com]( Courtesy of Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce History The remarkable thing about Vermont is that so much of its past is present. It’s everywhere to be seen along the roads and lanes throughout the 12 towns in the Okemo Valley— historic churches and old homes, clapboard meeting houses and “gazeboed” town commons & village greens. Did you know that Vermont had its own Gold Rush? Four historic Main Streets waiting to be explored include Ludlow, Weston, Chester and Grafton. Fans of outdoor fun will enjoy Ludlow with its access to Okemo Mountain Resort; railroad historians will have to check out Chester; and for an authentic back-in-time experience, Grafton is your town— or how about Weston with its marriage of old and new. In Chester make plans to visit the Hearse House Museum and take time to cruise through the Stone Village Historic District, which encompasses a distinctive collection of stone buildings, built in the 1830s by skilled Scottish masons. The town of Weston boasts 3 museums—The Farrar-Mansur House that is filled with local period heirlooms in room settings; the adjacent Old Mill, with its collection of antique tools and machinery and is one of very few operating water-powered gristmills in the country. The Craft Building, Weston’s first firehouse, houses the Concord coach used by the Weston Coronet Band. Ludlow features the Black River Academy Museum, the alma mater of President Calvin Coolidge; his third attorney general, John G. Sargent; writer and publisher Abby Hemenway and many other notables. In Grafton, The Grafton Historical Society exhibits numerous historical and personal items from Grafton and individuals. Grafton is also listed on the Vermont African American Heritage Trail featuring the Turner Hill Interpretive Center, which tells the story of escaped slave Alec Turner and his family as told by his daughter, renowned Vermont storyteller Daisy Turner. Expanding your tour beyond the four towns should include Plymouth Notch, the birthplace and boyhood home of Calvin Coolidge. The hamlet is virtually unchanged since August 3, 1923 when, in the old family homestead, his father swore in Vice President Coolidge as the 30th President of the United States. Other stops might include Mount Holly Community Historical Museum, Cavendish Historical Society Museum, and Weathersfield Historical Society. [Yourplaceinvermont.com]( Win a $500 Gift Card Vermont’s Best of Vermont Summer Festival (Aug 20 & 21) Ludlow, VT is offering one lucky winner a $500 home improvement gift certificate courtesy of LaValley’s Building Supply. Enter now through August 15 [PLAN NOW]( SPONSORED Courtesy of Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce Where to Stay/Eat In Grafton, rest easy at The Grafton Inn, 92 Main St., an elegantly preserved 19th century inn. Make reservations at the Inn’s 1801 Tavern for a seasonal menu in a casual dining room, or at the rustic Phelps Barn Pub, which features craft beer, local spirits, and live music. In Chester stay at the Fullerton Inn and Restaurant. Guest rooms are uniquely decorated to reflect the historic building. The restaurant sources local ingredients to serve casual American fare to enjoy on the porch or inside. In Weston, check in to what Forbes Travel guide rates as an “Unusually Good Value” right on Route 100: the charming Colonial House Inn & Motel, where you’ll find affordable lodging and a professional staff. Start your morning with the motel’s homemade omelets or eggs with bacon or sausage, or griddle pancakes made fresh topped with warm maple syrup. In Ludlow, take a break from you Main Street adventure at the Green Mountain Sugar House for a sweet treat made from award-winning maple syrup, and smoked meats or cheese. Finish your break out with a Vermont crafted beer, wine or spirits at Brewfest Beverage where craft beer is their passion. Plan your stay at Main & Mountain that offers bright, airy rooms and features automatic key code, staffless checkouts, and 24-hour access to tea and coffee. [Yourplaceinvermont.com]( Courtesy of Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce Last but not least plan your tour to spend time to relax and enjoy musical concerts during the summer. 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