Taking in winter scenery in the northeastern part of the U.S. can be done so via a car ride. Here are our suggestions for regional winter road trips offering indoor and outdoor activities. Amid the current pandemic, read and respect state public health and safety mandates along with local business policies.
PORTLAND, MAINE
Portland is noted as a foodie destination along with shopping, culture, and outdoor splendor. Fore Street Restaurant refines American cuisine, and Thirsty Pig Portland has artisan sausages, hot dog specialties, and a Maine beer selection. Shop along the Old Port district or drive to the L.L. Bean Flagship Store in Freeport. Drive to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, with Maine’s oldest lighthouse; Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, for winter sports fun, or Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal, for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing through the Northern Loop Trail.
A group of red barns, just outside of Woodstock Vermont, stand out against the white snow encompassing the rural scene
WOODSTOCK, VERMONT
This village is true New England with antique and artisan shops, specialty food markets, and general stores—and it’s a winter playground. The three-mile away Woodstock Inn & Resort Suicide Ski Area is great for skiing and snowboarding. Snowmobilers can trek on the Vermont Association of Snow’s trails by joining one of their clubs first. The Billings Farm & Museum holds working demonstrations, and the Worthy Kitchen serves farm-to-table New American eats and craft beers.
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York
LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK
The host of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, this Adirondack village has medal-worthy attractions. Whiteface Mountain has cross-country ski trails, Olympic track bobsledding, and the Olympic Speed Skating Oval. At the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex, take the Skyride Experience, an eight-passenger pulse gondola. See the Olympic Museum and the Olympic Center’s hockey rink is where the “Miracle on Ice” happened. Downtown restaurants have many options and try brews at Lake Placid Pub and Brewery or Big Slide Brewery.
Winter at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
BRETTON WOODS, NEW HAMPSHIRE
As New Hampshire’s largest skiing area, this resort destination within the White Mountains is known for the Omni Mount Washington, a grand hotel since 1902. Get there via the White Mountain Trail, a rugged mountain scenic byway going through three historic mountain passes. Bretton Woods has over 400 acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain and a huge diversity of trails. Plus it offers Nordic skiing, with a Nordic center and other programs. In nearby Franconia Notch, the New England Ski Museum is full of sports-related memorabilia.
Bunny slope at the Ski Resort in Poconos, Pennsylvania
POCONO MOUNTAINS, PENNSYLVANIA
This northeast Pennsylvania vacation spot is a winter delight, where just about every sports activity can happen at parks, resorts, and woodlands. Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing can happen at Hickory Run, Lehigh George, Tobyhanna, and Promised Land state parks. All six Pocono ski resorts, including Blue Mountain Ski and Ski Big Bear, have snow tubing hills. Also, find a mix of boutiques, craft, and specialty shops along with vast culinary options from cafes and bar and grills, to family restaurants and fine dining.
