Winter and Spring have a fitful relationship during March and April. As the snow and winter winds tussle with the longer days and warming sunshine, early spring produces some of the sweetest skiing in the Green Mountains, along with the annual sap run from Vermont’s plentiful sugar maples.
By May the longer days and spring rains bring a rush of blossoms and soft green foliage that, in its own way, is as visually stunning as the colorful weeks of autumn. Vermonters are quick to put time and energy into raking away the remnants of winter from gardens, yards, fields and roadsides. Green Up Day, an annual early May tradition where Vermonters of all ages pick up litter along our roadways, celebrates its 42st year in 2012 and continues to gain momentum as a source of statewide inspiration with community breakfasts, contests, and champion organizers in nearly every Vermont town. The results are a source of pride and pleasure for both residents and visitors who appreciate the attention to the special beauty of the Vermont landscape.
Mid June brings the summer season to full bloom. Ever since gearing up for the state’s bicentennial in 1991, Vermont communities have continued to exercise a passion for events and festivals, not to mention farmers’ markets. These events embrace everything from downtown walking tours to ultra-marathons and relays; local folk musicians to the Vermont Symphony Orchestra; flea markets and auctions to fine art and crafts exhibitions and agricultural fairs.
Once the mountain trails are firm again after winter’s snowmelt, the outdoors beckons hikers and mountain bikers into the woodlands. Vermont is one of the leading destinations for bird and wildlife watching and has a tradition of quietly respecting the natural environment we share with other creatures. The return of moose, turkeys, peregrine falcons, and, most recently, bald eagles to the Green Mountains is a reflection of that commitment and stewardship.
The natural world is as compelling in the summer months as in the stillness of winter, but one may plunge into the lake instead of skating across it. Vermont’s country inns, b&bs, and small villages are a pleasant option for stopping for a few minutes or overnight during a rambling tour along country roads.
By contrast, our cities’ well-proportioned downtowns and bustling waterfront parks provide a wealth of urban amenities — theater, concerts, museums, and a full spectrum of restaurants — on a scale that is both comfortable and welcoming. Lake Champlain, as well as many other lakes, draw residents and visitors onto the beaches and out on the water for fishing, sailing, paddling, and cruises on passenger boats and ferries.
Vermont’s mountain resorts offer an ideal landscape for challenging golf courses and facilities for tennis, lift-served mountain biking, hiking tours and family-oriented summer vacations. They are frequently a venue for concerts, dance, theater, and athletic events.
During the colorful foliage season, the focus shifts to chicken pie suppers and the harvest of crisp apples and all varieties of produce. Any and all of these are good reasons for further exploration of Vermont’s distinctive countryside.
In fact, the real challenge of being in Vermont during the spring, summer, and fall, is choosing what you have time for among all the possibilities – from outdoor adventures to relaxing foliage drives, you are sure to enjoy Vermont, in any season!