Okemo Mountain Life

The Okemo Mountain area offers plenty of adventure, no matter what time of year. Here are just a few things to do during your stay at The Governor’s Inn. And feel free to ask us for recommendations!

Winter Skiing & Snowmobiling

Having a view of Okemo Mountain from several of our rooms, you might guess what the main winter activity is. The Okemo Mountain offers family-friendly skiing for everyone from the novice to expert. And with the Okemo shuttle stop, just across the street from the Inn next to the Veterans Memorial park, there is no need to search for parking.

There are several other ski areas just a short drive away – Killington and Pico Mountain to the north, Magic Mountain and Stratton Mountain to the south to just list a few.

For the Nordic skier, Okemo also has a Nordic center using the property of the Okemo golf course just a little bit further north on Route 103. Or if you are looking for a larger Nordic area, visit the Viking Nordic Center in Londonderry.

Vermont offers a wide variety of snowmobile trails.  One of VAST’s trails crosses Route 103 less than a mile south of the Inn, giving you access to VAST’s 5,000 miles of snowmobile trails.

Spring is Time for Maple Syrup & White Water Rafting

Also called “mud season” in Vermont, this is a special time in the mountains.  With the sun getting higher in the sky, for many Vermonters, an old tradition starts – collecting maple sap.  You can see the hoses (lines) in the trees, often running for long distances from the furthest tree to the collection place where the sap of the trees of the farm is put in barrels for the next step in the process to becoming Vermont’s Maple Syrup.  Maple Farms often have visitor centers where you might see their sugarhouse in operation, reducing the sap to Vermont Maple Syrup. Don’t forget to get some syrup to take home with you in their gift shops!

If you are into white-water paddling, the rivers of the area now have the right amount of water to show your skills.

Late spring is a perfect time for your mountain hikes.  Rivers and creeks are still swollen from snowmelt, making the waterfalls so much more impressive.

Summer - Explore the Great Outdoors or Mountain Golfing

The Green Mountains offer you a wide variety of activities for your summer!  Okemo Mountain typically opens their lift again in the summer to visit the mountain and enjoy the views.  The resort also offers a “mountain coaster” and a disc-golf course.  That is in addition to the golf course just across the valley.

Talking about golf, you can find several high-class golf courses in the area, offering mountain golfing at their finest.

There are more outdoor activities that can be done in summer in the mountains than we can list here – hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, boating are just a few of them.  You will find close by trails, roads, and lakes.

Lastly, if your heart is set on river floating, you can find that in Windsor on the Connecticut River.

New England Fall Foliage

While the Green Mountains and Ludlow have much more to offer, most people think of fall foliage and leaf-peeping in the fall. From the second half of September to the first three weeks of October, drive along any highway in the area, and you will see the most amazing colors.  The green Mountains will provide you with the backdrop for the most beautiful fall foliage.  You actually might want the day to be a little bit rainy (not too much to ruin the day) with high clouds and enough light – the colors will come through even more beautifully.  You can also take the chair lift up Okemo Mountain to enjoy the view from the top of the mountain.  Or visit any of several hiking trails and state forests around Ludlow.

When driving through the mountains you might also find other fall activities.  Wineries will be harvesting the grapes to start this year's wine.  Most of them have taste rooms and will be happy to talk to you about their wines.  Stop by one!  But also remember – this is a busy time for them.

You will also find small farms bringing in their harvest – fresh pumpkins for example.  Try one of the local bakeries (or on some days our afternoon treat) for some fresh local pumpkin pie!