Nothing’s sweeter than sugar on snow during Vermont’s maple sugaring season!

In Vermont, another busy maple sugaring season launches when warming temperatures in late winter and early spring signal the sap to begin running in maple trees. Once sap is collected by sugarmakers for boiling, billowing white clouds of steam are the telltale sign of a bustling sugarhouse. This is a great time for a sugarhouse visit, as learning about maple sugaring can be a fascinating and educational experience for families. These tips will make your travel to Vermont during the maple sugaring season your sweetest vacation ever!

• Enjoy sampling! Maple is much more than syrup. When planning your Vermont visit, visit shops, wineries, and breweries with a maple specialty. Even spas may have a maple treatment!

• Research events you might enjoy. Vermont’s celebration of maple encompasses many events, such as the statewide Maple Open House Weekend March 28 and 29, and smaller events hosted by businesses or towns. Big or small, these activities are each unique celebrations of our state’s heritage.

• Mind your maple manners! Sugarhouses that are open to the public typically welcome visitors of all ages. Keep in mind that a sugarhouse is a working environment, and care should be taken around functioning equipment. Sugarhouses may have their own individual guidelines, and your sugarmaker host will be happy to provide guidance to support your visit.

• Pack appropriate clothing and footwear. Weather in Vermont can be changeable in late winter and early spring. Be sure to check the forecast and dress accordingly. Layers can be conveniently shed when you go from the outdoors into a warm sugarhouse. Many sugarhouses are in rural countryside settings and sturdy warm and waterproof footwear ensures comfort.

Celebrate Vermont’s maple sugaring season with Smugglers’ Notch Resort! Smugglers’ will host a MapleFest Celebration from March 27 – April 12, 2015. Complimentary activities include a weekly carnival with sugar on snow and a maple-infused beer and spirits tasting, visits to a local sugarhouse and specialty food sampling. Children will receive a maple themed activity book. The resort’s snowshoe and walking treks will educate and entertain with maple lore. Lodging packages during this time period feature the lowest rates of the season. Start planning your maple vacation!