Whether you choose a slope-side condo or a lakeside cabin, a family resort or a pop-up tent, you will feel at home in central and northern Vermont. Whatever your budget and desired level of comfort, options abound. In addition to these suggestions, many other lodgings are listed at the official Web site of the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (www.vermontvacation.com), where you can search for suitable accommodations by type, location, and amenities.

Family Resorts and Inns

The upper regions of Vermont are known for resorts and inns that cater specifically to families. These lodging properties provide a full range of activities for little ones, which means that parents can enjoy a real vacation, too.

Smugglers' Notch

4323 Route 108 South, Smugglers' Notch

800-419-4615

www.smuggs.com

This 3,000-acre, four-season fun zone is one of the top family resorts not only in New England but in the nation. With programming and child care for children as young as six weeks, two teen centers, and plenty of adult activities, it's a destination the whole family can agree on. Stay in one-to five-bedroom mountain condominiums and choose from a variety of activities. A free shuttle provides easy access to all the resort's facilities, which include four water playgrounds, eight pools, four water slides, six playgrounds, two trout ponds, a driving range, three ski mountains, a snowboard terrain park, and a Nordic Center.

Trapp Family Lodge

42 Trapp Hill Road, Stowe

800-826-7000

www.trappfamily.com

Perhaps the most storied inn in all New England, this resort was built by the Von Trapp family, the inspiration for the musical and movie The Sound of Music. Stowe reminded them of their home in the Austrian Alps, from which they'd fled during World War II. Maria and her husband are buried in the cemetery near the lodge, and Johannes von Trapp, the youngest of the singing children, is president of the inn today. Families will enjoy a variety of activities from sing-alongs and outdoor concerts to guided snowshoe treks.

Tyler Place Family Resort

Route 7, Springs

802-868-4000

www.tylerplace.com

This all-inclusive family resort on the shores of Lake Champlain has been nurturing babies, kids, and parents, too, for more than seventy years. Rates include all activities, meals, and accommodations in a family suite or cottage with a separate bedroom for children. The resort operates from late May through early September, and a week's stay is required at most times.

The Wildflower Inn

2059 Darling Hill Road, Lyndonville

800-627-8310

www.wildflowerinn.com

If you thought you couldn't bring your children to a charming Vermont country inn, this Northeast Kingdom hideaway will prove you wrong. The Wildflower Inn enchants little ones with its farm animals, teddy bear — shaped pancakes, and full range of outdoor activities. In the summer, children ages four to eleven can participate in a supervised morning session, as well as a themed evening meal and entertainment programs. Special getaways tailored to parents of infants and preschoolers are available in June and September.

Staying on the Slopes

In the wintertime, you can't beat the convenience of staying on-property at Vermont's premier ski areas, which offer a variety of lodging options ranging from hotel rooms to condominiums to chalet rentals. These same accommodations become a convenient and often affordable choice in the spring, summer, and fall. Because many ski area lodging units are equipped with full kitchens and multiple bedrooms, they're perfect for longer stays and for families. Call one of these toll-free central reservations numbers to inquire about options and availability.

SKI AREA ACCOMMODATIONS IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VERMONT

Ski Area	Location	Central Reservations	Web Site
Ascutney	Brownsville	800-243-0011	www.ascutney.com
Bolton Valley	Bolton Valley	877-9BOLTON	www.boltonvalley.com
Jay Peak	Jay	800-451-4449	www.jaypeakresort.com
Killington	Killington	800-621-MTNS	www.killington.com
Okemo	Ludlow	800-78OKEMO	www.okemo.com
Pico Mountain	Killington	877-232-PICO	www.picomountain.com
Stowe	Stowe	800-253-4754	www.stowe.com
Sugarbush	Warren	800-53SUGAR	www.sugarbush.com

Burlington Overnights

Burlington is Vermont's largest city and an eclectic college town where you'll find a number of business-class hotels and smaller motels that appeal to families, including the centrally located, 257 room Wyndham Burlington (60 Battery Street, 802-658-6500, www.wyndhamburlington.com), the modern and convenient Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor (25 Cherry Street, 802-864-4700, www.marriott.com), the 309-room Sheraton Burlington Hotel & Conference Center (870 Williston Road, South Burlington, 802-865-6600, www.sheratonburlington.com), and the no-frills Ho Hum Motel (1660 Williston Road, South Burlington, 802-863-4551, www.hohummotel.com).

Nearby, the Hampton Inn Burlington/Colchester (42 Lower Mountain View Drive, Colchester, 802-655-6177, www.hamptoninnburlington.com) offers family-friendly amenities like an indoor pool and free breakfast buffet. For something a bit different, The Inn at Essex (70 Essex Way, Essex, 802-878-1100,www.vtculinaryresort.com) offers 120 individually decorated rooms including some with fireplaces, gas stoves, rocking chairs, kitchenettes, and whirlpool tubs. The New England Culinary Institute operates the inn's restaurants.

Family Dining

Cozy pubs and casual restaurants that appeal to both the after-ski crowd and to families dominate the dining landscape in central and northern Vermont. The Stowe area, alone, is home to more than forty eateries. It's always a good idea to ask locals for recommendations.

Central Vermont Dining Ideas

There are a number of unique restaurants to tempt you in central Vermont's scenic towns. A great place to start your day is The Farmers Diner (Quechee Gorge Village, 5573 Wood stock Road/Route 4, Quechee, 802-295-4600, www.farmersdiner.com), where hearty breakfasts are made with ingredients fresh from Vermont farms. Can't get there early? Breakfast is served all day, along with lunch and dinner selections.

For a memorable fine-dining experience, Simon Pearce Restaurant (The Mill at Quechee, 1760 Main Street, Quechee, 802-295-1470, www.simonpearce.com) offers gourmet delights served on tablewear by the famed pottery and glass designer. Watch potters and glassblowers at work inside the historic mill before or after your meal.

The New England Culinary Institute operates three restaurants (877-223-6324, www.necidining.com) in Vermont's capital city, Montpelier, where you can sample the culinary creations of up-and-coming chefs-in-training.

Want to dine in a historic environment? Countryman's Pleasure (Townline Road, Mendon, 802-773-7141, www.countrymanspleasure.com) near Pico Mountain and Killington serves German-and Austrianinspired cuisine by firelight within a red-shuttered 1824 farmhouse. Windsor Station Restaurant (Depot Avenue, Windsor, 802-674-2052, www.windsorstation.com) serves family-friendly fare in a converted 1900 train station. The Common Man Restaurant (3209 German Flats Road, Warren, 802-583-2800, www.commonmanrestaurant.com) near Sugarbush is set in a 150-year-old barn with hand-hewn beams and an open fireplace, dressed up with crystal chandeliers and art. Contemporary American cuisine will please your palates, and a children's menu with favorites like thick-crust pizza is also available.

Northern Vermont Dining Ideas

Burlington is the place to eat if you're craving variety. Ice House (171 Battery Street, 802-864-1800) is an old icehouse turned steak-and-seafood restaurant with views of Lake Champlain. Rí~Rá (123 Church Street, 802 860-9401, www.rira.com) is an authentic pub built in Ireland and moved to Vermont. On summer days, dine outdoors at Isabel's on the Waterfront (112 Lake Street, 802-865-2522), housed inside a restored mill building with brick walls and large windows that provide panoramic views of Lake Champlain. Perry's Fish House (1080 Shelburne Road, South Burlington, 802-862-1300) specializes in fresh seafood dishes; kids will like the nautical decor. Watch Burlington go by as you dine at Sweetwaters (120 Church Street, 802-864-9800, www.sweetwatersvt.com), a European-inspired, outdoor café; they offer an affordable kids' menu.

In Stowe, start your day at the Dutch Pancake Café at Grey Fox Inn (990 Mountain Road, 802-253-8921, www.greyfoxinn.com), where you'll find more than eighty varieties of Dutch pancakes on the menu. The Shed Restaurant & Brewery (1859 Mountain Road, 802-253-4364) is a favorite family place at lunch and dinnertime.

In the Northeast Kingdom, The Wildflower Inn (2059 Darling Hill Road, Lyndonville, 802-626-8310 or 800-627-8310, www.wildflowerinn.com) welcomes non-guests to dine at its Juniper's Restaurant, where dishes are prepared with all-natural ingredients and highchairs and sippy cups ensure that families feel right at home. If your crew is really hungry, head to Anthony's Diner (50 Railroad Street, St. Johnsbury, 802-748-3613) for Woodsman Burgers. Got the late-night munchies? The P&H Truck Stop (Route 302, Wells River, 802-429-2141), known for its all-day breakfast and fresh-baked breads, is the Kingdom's only twenty-four-hour restaurant.