Winter Activities for Guests of Stratton and Bromley Vacation Rentals

The Stratton Mountain Ski Resort, situated in southern Vermont near Stratton and Bondville, offers 90 downhill ski trails on 600 acres, including 100 acres of fabulous glades and southern Vermont's highest mountain peak. Stratton's trails are about equally divided between Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced.

The Stratton Ski Area boasts 90 percent snowmaking coverage and a 2,003-foot vertical drop. Fourteen lifts, including a high-speed base-to-summit gondola and four six-passenger lifts, whisk skiers to the top of the Stratton Ski Resort at a rate of 21,020 skiers per hour.

The Stratton Mountain school offers ski and snowboard instruction for ages 4 and up. For a Stratton ski report, call 802-297-4211, or for general information about the resort call 1-800-STRATTON (787-2886).

The Stratton Mountain Resort, home of the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships in March, has a long tradition of innovative terrain park design. Guests of Stratton Mountain and Bondville vacation rentals can snowboard at four awesome terrain parks covering 35 acres. Stratton's beginner park offers small jumps, spines, and rails, perfect for anyone who's just starting out. The intermediate park, Byrneside, features hits, spines, and some rail options set up in a slopestyle format. In the Power Park, advanced riders and skiers will find a variety of rails, fun boxes, and other jibs, plus a huge Superpipe.

Visitors staying in Stratton Vermont vacation rentals can enjoy a number of other winter sports in this lovely area. The Stratton Ski Resort offers snow tubing on the old Tyrolienne ski trail, serviced by a handle tow lift. Tubing tickets are available at the Sales Center until 5:00 p.m. and evening tickets are for sale at the Information Desk between 5:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Stratton Mountain, Vermont also offers ice skating at the Village Commons Pond.

Cross-country skiing is a great way for guests of Stratton rentals to experience the serene beauty of this winter wonderland. The Nordic Center at the Stratton Mountain Sun Bowl offers equipment rentals and instruction along with miles of scenic trails that wind through forests and over streams.

Half-day trail fees at the Stratton Mountain Nordic Center are $12 for adults, $10 for youth ages 13-17, $8 for children ages 7-12, and free for children ages 6 and under. Full day tickets, season passes, and equipment rentals are also available. In addition, the Nordic Center offers guided snowshoe tours for guests of Stratton, Vermont lodging; call 802-297-4063 for information.

Another great way to explore the Stratton area is with a moonlight snowmobile tour. Guided tours are offered on Saturday and holiday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and last about 50 minutes. Snowmobile rates are $75 for drivers (must be at least 16 years old) and $25 for riders.

Kids ages 6 and older, and weighing less than 90 pounds, can drive a mini Arctic Cat snowmobile around a groomed track at the main base area. The cost is $15 for a 10- minute ride and hours are 5:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and holiday evenings, weather permitting.

The Wreck, Stratton's recreation center for the under 21 set, offers families and teens plenty of fun activities, including video games, Playstation, pool and air hockey tables, an indoor skating park and mini-ramp, a climbing wall, and a multi-use court for football, soccer, basketball, and hockey. Children under 10 years of age must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

The Bromley Mountain Ski Area is situated six miles east of historic Manchester in Southern Vermont. Skiers staying in vacation rentals in Bromley Mountain can enjoy 43 downhill trails and 300 acres of skiing terrain served by 10 lifts. The sunny Bromley Ski Mountain is the only resort in Vermont with a southern exposure, which makes for a great skiing experience.

Freestyle skiers and snowboarders will love the three terrain parks at the Bromley Ski Resort. The state-of-the-art Riley Rink at Hunter Park offers public ice skating at scheduled times; call 802-362-0150 for information.

Horse-drawn sleigh rides are another wonderful winter activity for guests of Bromley condo rentals. Outfitters near the Bromley Ski Area offering sleigh rides include Horses for Hire (802-297-1468), Taylor Farm (802-824-5690), and Karl Pfister (802-824-6320).

Nearby cross-country ski centers for visitors staying in a Bromley condo rental include Wild Wings (802-824-6793), Hildene in Manchester (802-362-1788), Tater Hill in Windham (802-875-2517), and Viking in Londonderry (802-824-3933), which also offers snowshoeing.

For a thrilling snowmobile ride through the Green Mountain National Forest, contact Equinox Snow Tours (802-824-6628) or Alpine Tours on Stratton Mountain (802-297-1207).

A Magic Mountain vacation rental makes a great base for skiing at this resort in Londonderry, Vermont, located just 25 minutes from Manchester.

The Magic Mountain Ski Area features 48 downhill trails with 35 percent rated Beginner, 41percent rated Intermediate, and 24 percent rated Advanced or Expert. The resort has a vertical drop of 1,700 feet from the 2,850-foot summit and the longest run is 1.6 miles.

Guests of Manchester Vermont lodging can ski and ride anywhere within Magic Mountain's 120 skiable acres and the resort boasts 87 percent snowmaking capacity. The fabulous Ala Kazzam Tube Park offers snow tubing for $25 a day, and the Hocus Pocus Terrain Park offers exciting custom-built jumps, hand rails, and a half pipe.

Skiers staying in a Manchester Vermont rental can ski from December through April at Magic Mountain. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Guests of lodging in Manchester Vermont can also enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing amid the spectacular beauty of the Green Mountains. The Viking Nordic Centre (802-824-3933), one of North America's oldest cross-country ski centers, boast 25 miles of scenic trails for all levels of ability.