It's maple sugar season, a great time for weekend getaways, or longer trips during school spring break: escape to the countryside, maybe snowshoe, maybe ski, maybe hike or bike -- but definitely head for some sweets at a maple sugar house.
Maple Sugar season --that special time of year when sap is collected from sugar maple trees -- runs from late Feb. to early April in different parts of New England and Canada. Temperatures must be right: the sap flows when days are "warm" and nights freeze. The trees are "tapped" for their sweet liquid; then, steam billows from sugarhouse roofs as the sap and gets boiled down to maple syrup.
Connecticut: Connecticut's maple sugaring lasts four to six weeks, from early February to late March, with lots of maple sugar houses open to the public, and an annual Maple Festival mid-March.
New York State is a major producer of maple syrup, and families can get a good taste of the maple sugaring during Maple Sugar Weekends in March at the Frost Valley YMCA Family Camp: 6000 acres in the Catskills; many lodging options; meals included, as are many activities (outdoors and in.)
Vermont: Vermont maple sugar season typically runs from March 1 to mid-April. March 27 to 29 2009 is the 8th Annual Vermont Maple Open House Weekend, an especially good time to visit Vermont sugarhouses and see how maple sugar is made, try some samples... Check the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers site for info about tastings, pancake breakfasts, and other events on Open House Weekend.
More about Maple Sugaring in Other States: see Maple Sugaring in New England, at About.com's New England Travel site.
As for where to stay during a maple-sugar getaway: the Vermont Sugar Makers site lists a number of B&B's on its Hospitality page. Below are some family-friendly choices, and also some special Maple Sugar Packages.
- Mountaineer Inn:
25 acres near Mount Snow ski resort; 27 guest-rooms with private bath, meals cooked "from scratch"; kids' menus, and ages 12 and under stay free during non-holiday mid-week periods. Walk to downhill skiing, snowboard halfpipe, sledding; also near antique shops, nightlife. No TV's in room -- on purpose! Common rooms have ping pong, pianos, fireplaces, tvs..."Sugaring With Your Sweetie!" package: take a self-guided tour and visit nearby sugarhouses, and the Whitingham Maple Festival which has crafts fair and maple recipe contest as part of Maple Open House Weekend. Package includes lodging, maple-themed dinner, a "nip" of maple syrup, breakfast daily, and more. Discounted ski lift tickets available.
-
Cortina Inn:
Kids and pets are welcome at this Inn in Killington VT, near two major ski areas: Killington and Pico. Sleigh rides, ice skating, sledding, and snow shoe touring.
-
Top Acres Farm:
Fourth generation family farm in the countryside of South Woodstock; barns and farmhouse are on the Historical Register. "We produce maple syrup from over 5,000 taps." Snow shoe and cross country ski, from the farmhouse; or ski at three local ski areas. 802 457-2386.
- Sweet Retreat Guesthouse & Sugarworks:
In the Green Mountains, with 400 acres and 7 miles of trails: cross country skiing and snowshoeing; 40 minutes from Sugarbush Resort, Bolton Valley, and Stowe ski areas. Visit the sugaring operation that boils sap into syrup from 5500 sugar maples. Kids will also like visiting the show oxen. Check Packages for "Sweet Maple Retreat" with free half gallon of fresh-made syrup.
*photo courtesy of Sweet Retreat.
