Stowe Mountain Resort

Stowe Mountain Resort (5781 Mountain Rd./Rte. 108, 800/253-4754, www.stowe.com, $89 adults, $74 seniors, $64 children 6–12, free for children under 6) is about half the size of neighboring Sugarbush and Killington, but the challenges posed by its famous “Front Four” trails are as heady as any on the East Coast. Most difficult of all is the Goat trail, a 36-degree ice chute through moguls, ledges, and boulders that will test the skill of any snow dog.

Not all of Stowe’s terrain is so difficult; the mountain presents some of the best skiing around for intermediate skiers, with two separate peaks devoted almost entirely to blue-square and single-diamond trails.

Smugglers’ Notch

On the other side of the mountain pass, Smugglers’ Notch (4323 Rte. 108, Smugglers’ Notch, 800/419-4615, www.smuggs.com, $62 adults, $46 seniors and youth 6–18, free for children under 6 and seniors over 69) has positioned itself as the ideal family resort.

In addition to three peaks (roughly broken down into beginner, intermediate, and expert), the resort has a half-pipe for snowboarders and an indoor FunZone complete with inflatable slides and mini-golf.

Other Winter Recreation

Behind the Trapp Family Lodge, the Trapp Family Lodge Touring Center (700 Trapp Hill Rd., 802/253-8511 or 800/826-7000, www.trappfamily.com) has some 100 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, through both groomed and ungroomed forest and meadowland.

Across town, Edson Hill Manor (1500 Edson Hill Rd., 802/253-7371 or 800/621-0284, www.edsonhillmanor.com) offers 25 kilometers of groomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, along with lessons and guided midnight snowshoeing tours. For the long-distance skier, the trails connect to the Catamount Trail, which runs 300 kilometers down the length of Vermont.

Right in the center of the village, Jackson Arena (Park St., 802/253-6137) offers indoor ice skating during the winter months. At $3 admission and $3.50 skate rentals, you can’t beat the price.

Rides with Stowe Snomobile Tours (802/253-6221, www.stowesnowmobiletours.com) allow you to explore the woods in comfort, with fast-paced tours on top-of-the-line Polaris machines with heated handlebars.