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To a kid growing up in Vermont, springtime is for shirking off that big parka, making mud pies, and splashing through puddles in rubber boots. One of my favorite things about the spring season is that feeling of the sun on my face in the afternoon before my fingers got chilly enough to remind me that winter wasn’t so far in the past.
Vermont in early spring becomes one of the best places to experience nature’s revival. Mud season, as locals affectionately call it, has its own special charm that visitors soon come to appreciate. The dirt roads may be a bit messy, but they lead to authentic Vermont experiences you won’t find during the busier summer months. As the warm weather gradually arrives, iconic covered bridges become even more picturesque against the backdrop of flowing streams and budding trees.
Springtime visitors to Vermont are treated to a freshness in the air and surprises that have waited through the long, dark months to appear. With mild temperatures making outdoor exploration comfortable, the best time to visit is when the maple sap begins to flow. This is when my parents would pile us into the van to visit our favorite local sugar shack to indulge in sticky maple syrup enticingly congealed on a paper cup of snow (some devotees eat it with a side of pickle … I do not).
While the Green Mountains may not be full-blown emerald in March, April, or May, there is a New England awakening taking place this time of year that’s a gift to experience. Vermont has become a popular destination for families seeking unique seasonal experiences and outdoor activities. Every small town seems to offer something special, making each one worth visiting. Families will find much to love in the cool mornings that lead to warm afternoons and cozy evenings around the fire. Just be sure to pack layers!
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Vermont Maple Celebrations
Over the annual Vermont Maple Open House Weekend, sugar makers around the state invite the public for sweet samples after the long winter. Taste traditional sugar on snow at Palmer’s Sugarhouse (my personal favorite) in Shelburne, Vermont. Family run for more than 50 years, the sugar house is open for maple demonstrations, free maple samples, horse rides (weather permitting), live music in a family-friendly setting during March and April. Even if you’re not there during those months, you can call ahead to ask about an informal tour.
Love a good pancake breakfast? Families can’t go wrong smothering those flapjacks with pure Vermont maple syrup straight from the source. As part of the annual Vermont Maple Festival, held in April each year, visitors can attend the Swanton-Mississiquoi Valley Lions Club pancake breakfast at the St. Albans City School. Pancakes, pure Vermont maple syrup, scrambled eggs, sausage, home fries – your kids will thank you.
The festival also features the Maple Parade, the “Sappy” Art Show, chainsaw sculptures, kids’ entertainment in Taylor Park, live music, sugar house tours, a maple cooking contest, and more.
Where To Stay Near The Festivals
Nestled on 18 scenic acres in Vermont’s Green Mountains, The Essex Resort and Spa is paradise for families! Kids and parents will love the two swimming pools, fun cooking classes, and spacious rooms (some with kitchenettes). With a golf course, on-site restaurants, and just minutes from downtown Essex, it’s the perfect home base for your unforgettable Vermont family adventure!
Shelburne Farms
I was fortunate enough to grow up in pastoral Chittenden County, with the convenience of the college town of Burlington, and the gentle hug of the rolling hills that gave way to historic agricultural outposts like renowned Shelburne Farms. This popular place is near the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, making the area perfect for nature enthusiasts. Starting in May, the farm opens for summer hours. Set aside a good part of the day to explore this gorgeous setting in view of Lake Champlain. From the Children’s Farmyard, where your little ones can take part in hands-on activities with the farm animals throughout the day, to the gardens to explore, to the “Forest House,” you’ll have a hard time pulling them away.
Get to know the locals at Vermont’s countless farms. Photo by Jacques Barbary.
The Farm Cart opens in mid-May, where you can grab a farm-grown lunch and snacks. The menu features produce and products grown here at Shelburne Farms or other nearby farms. The Farm Store sells farm-baked O Bread Bakery bread.
The main Farm Barn is accessible via the ¾-mile Farm Barn Trail, or if that’s too long for little legs, you can hop on the seasonal tractor shuttle (fun!) that runs every half-hour from the Farm Store.
Where To Stay Near Shelburne Farms
Families love Hotel Champlain’s perfect location overlooking beautiful Lake Champlain! Kids can splash in the indoor heated pool while parents relax by the outdoor fire pit. Borrow complimentary bikes for family adventures to ECHO Aquarium, Ben & Jerry’s, and the charming Church Street Marketplace – all just a short walk away!
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Spring Skiing
If you’re a skiing family, you understand the appeal of soft corn snow beneath your skis or snowboard, shucking the jacket and just wearing your bibs, and swapping your goggles for shades. At Vermont’s numerous ski resorts, this season means “spring bashes” to see out the skiing and welcome in summer.
Bluebird, jacket-less days, and corn snow are a spring skiing dream. Photo by Greg Rosenke.
Okemo Slush Cup & Spring Fling Party
Feeling adventurous? Or just care to watch those who are? Head to Okemo’s Clocktower base and watch as skiers try to skim all the way across the “pond.” Who will sink and who will make it to the other side? In the afternoon, there’s live music, a Fiddlehead beer tent, delicious Okemo BBQ, and more.
Stowe Mountain Resort
Not to be outdone, Stowe also hosts a Spring Bash. It’s two days of free live music, and their own Northeast Pond Skim World Championships. While in the area, the historic Trapp Family Lodge offers stunning views and Austrian-inspired accommodations that are incredibly charming as spring blooms across the landscape.
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Billings Farm & Museum
Because one can never have enough Vermont barnyard fun – and for those who are visiting the southern part of the state – Billings Farm & Museum is a must for its Baby Farm Animal Celebration. Meet Jersey calves, piglets, and turkey poults (bet you’ve never heard that word before!), as well as bunnies, chicks, goats, and lambs. Rangers from the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park will help your kiddos interact with the animals, while sheep-shearing experts Philo and Craig Marcotte will show off their skills and teach you about the process. Take a wagon ride, make a hand-print bunny, watch the daily cow milking, and don’t miss the Sustainable Eats and Hangry Hogg food trucks, with baked goods, BBQ, and more, or the Farmhouse Scoop Shop for Vermont-made ice cream.
Bounce along on a wagon ride at Billings Farm. Photo by Jacek Ulinski.
Where To Stay Near The Farm
Families treasure 506 On the River Inn for its stunning river views and New England charm! Kids will delight in the dedicated game rooms while everyone enjoys the indoor pool. With a complimentary hot breakfast, spacious balcony rooms, and close proximity to hiking trails, Woodstock town, and Killington ski resort, it’s Vermont family perfection!
[ctt template=”5″ link=”8z53I” via=”no” ]Welcome spring with the best activities and outings in Vermont for family fun, from farm visits to skiing to maple festivals.[/ctt]
Mayfest in Bennington
Every Memorial Day weekend (this year on May 25th) Bennington opens its streets to the Mayfest Arts and Crafts Festival. It’s a sign that spring has officially sprung and summer is right around the corner. Main Street closes to cars and comes alive with crafts vendors, yummy food stalls, entertainment, children’s music and activities at the Thomson Family Stage in Merchants Park, and more. Shop for made-in-Vermont jewelry, artwork, and pottery, and don’t miss the fried dough and cheese curds – got to keep your energy up somehow, right?
Where To Stay Near The Mayfest
Families love Hotel Vervana’s exciting outdoor playground! Splash in the refreshing pool, challenge each other to tennis, shuffleboard, or pickleball matches, and relax in rooms with beautiful garden views. Just minutes from the Bennington Battle Monument and local attractions, it’s the perfect basecamp for creating unforgettable family memories in Vermont!
Farmers Markets Galore
There’s something so very quintessentially Vermont about driving through the countryside, crossing a covered bridge or two, and happening upon an idyllic town square and its weekly farmers market. If you’re lucky enough to find one organically, fabulous. If you’d rather have a list, we’ve got you. Pack an extra reusable grocery bag for the goods you won’t want to leave without – from fresh spring vegetables to pickles, jams, cheese, and, of course, maple syrup.
- Middlebury Farmers Market – Wednesday, 9 AM – 12:30 PM (June 16 – October 13); Saturday, 9 AM – 12:30 PM (May 1 – October 30)
- Burlington Farmers Market – Saturday, 9 AM – 2 PM (May 8 – October 20)
- Champlain Islands Farmers Market (Grand Isle) – Saturday, 10 AM – 2 PM (May 22 – October 30)
- Rutland County Farmers Market – Wednesday, 3 PM – 6 PM (May 12 – October 27); Saturday, 9 AM – 2 PM (May 8 – October 30)
- Brattleboro Area Farmers Market – Saturday, 9 AM – 2 PM (May 1 – October 30)
With a full calendar of special events, springtime is not forgotten in Vermont. Explore the great outdoors if it’s warm, tuck inside a museum if spring showers are making an appearance, or browse the charming local shops that dot Vermont’s main streets. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit a state park during your stay – many begin opening facilities in late spring, offering early-season tranquility. Take heart in the fact that you’re discovering one of the country’s most beautiful places in true insider nature. Spring showers (and the occasional late snowstorm) do bring May flowers and you can be a part of this seasonal renaissance.
To get discounts on tours in the area, we recommend Get Your Guide or Viator (which offers 51% off last-minute tours!).
When You Go
Getting to Vermont From Los Angeles
There are currently no non-stop flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Vermont’s Burlington International Airport (BTV), which is the state’s primary commercial airport. Travelers must take connecting flights, typically routing through major East Coast hubs like New York (JFK or LGA), Boston (BOS), Washington D.C. (IAD or DCA), Philadelphia (PHL), or Chicago (ORD). Airlines servicing these routes include American Airlines, Delta, United, and JetBlue. The total journey from Los Angeles to Burlington typically takes between 7 to 10 hours depending on the connection time, with the actual flying time (including the layover) ranging from 6 to 8 hours. The first leg from LAX to an East Coast hub typically takes 4.5-5.5 hours, followed by a short 1-1.5 hour connecting flight to Burlington.
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