VERMONT’S tranquil reputation—velvet green hills, picturesque rushing rivers, miles of undeveloped woodland—scarcely does the state justice. This corner of New England boasts much more than maple syrup and quaint bed-and-breakfast inns. Just over the Connecticut River from New Hampshire, a collection of Vermont towns including Woodstock, Quechee, and Norwich, offer a surprising and inspiring combination of sport, adventure, and sophistication. And you don’t have to drive for endless hours to get there—you’ll find this outdoor playground about 135 miles from Boston up Routes I-93 and I-89.
Links lovers should be sure to book tee times in advance at the lush Robert Trent Jones Sr.–designed golf course at the classic Woodstock Country Club (802-457-6661, www.woodstockinn.com). If you’re after more exercise than 18 holes provides, rent a canoe or kayak from nearby White River Junction’s North Star Canoe Rentals (603-542-6929, www.kayak-canoe.com). Paddle your boat down Connecticut River flatwater or hit a few rapids on the White River. North Star will even provide shuttle service to your launch site.
Just one of the area’s many hiking and mountain biking locations, Woodstock’s Mount Tom offers several routes of varying difficulty to its 1,250-foot summit. In neighboring Norwich, Gile Mountain’s peak makes for a brisk, short climb that culminates in arresting 360-degree views. Gile’s surrounding dirt roads and trails are a blast to explore on bikes, which you can rent from Biscuit Hill Bike & Outdoor Shop in Woodstock (490 Rte. 4, 802-457-3377, www.biscuithillbikes .com). Hold on to your gear—the shop rents bikes for days or weeks at a time—for a trip to neighboring Killington ski mountain and its dozens of thrilling downhill mountain bike rides (800-734-9435, www.killington.com). Also in the area, the oft-photographed, famous Quechee Gorge is a plunging 180-foot-deep, mile-long chasm lined with an easy walking trail (802-295-2990).
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all these options, stop into Wilderness Trails in Quechee and let the locals design a customized itinerary for you (Main Street, 802-295-7620, www.scenesofvermont.com/wildernesstrails). They’ll also take care of all your equipment needs. From May through October, the outfit also operates the Vermont Fly-Fishing School, which teaches amateur anglers to make like Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It.
Those who don’t care to catch their own dinner should browse the Norwich Farmers’ Market (www.norwichfarmersmarket.org), held on Saturdays on Route 5, where local growers showcase everything from flowers to apple pies to fresh zucchini. Around here, it’s the place to see and be seen—until evening, that is, when the same town’s hot spot, Carpenter and Main (326 Main St., 802-649-2922), serves up outstanding cuisine including duck confit with warm potato salad and mustard vinaigrette and a to-die-for burger crafted from grass-fed Vermont beef, topped with béarnaise, and presented on a homemade English muffin. If a scene of any kind is the last thing on your mind, retreat to the relaxing Strong House Spa in Quechee (694 Main St., 802-295-1718, www.stronghousespa.com), for an aromatherapy massage, herbal body wrap, or organic facial. —Christie Matheson
WHERE TO STAY: Jackson House Inn and Restaurant, 114-3 Senior Ln., Woodstock, 802-457-2065, www.jacksonhouseinn.com, doubles from $195; Norwich Inn, 325 Main St., Norwich, 802-649-1143, www.norwichinn.com; doubles from $129.
