Maple syrup may seem synonymous with winter and snowy woods, but the season actually starts at in the tail end of winter and runs into the early weeks of spring. And to celebrate all that sticky sap, Vermont's Department of Tourism is offering up a number of packaged deals to make the season all the sweeter. More importantly, there are alcoholic maple libations to be had, but more on that in a minute.
The packages range from family-friendly weekend to rustic romantic getaway. A 2-night stay at Couture's Maple Shop Bed & Breakfast in Northeast Kingdom ($200/2 people) includes two nights lodging, full breakfast in the mornings and a freshmade 1/2 gallon of maple syrup to take home post trip, with deals running until April 10th; if you're bringing kids along, through April 8th one night at Liberty Hill Farm in Rochester ($376 for a family of four) includes a full breakfast and dinner, maple goodies and an opportunity to explore the facilities at nearby Mom & Pop's Sugarhouse.
For a decadent escape, The Mountaintop Inn and Resort in Chittenden is offering a $300 deal for a double occupancy room, good through April 30th. The package includes a two-night stay in one of the rustic resort's classic lodge room, complete with pancake-and-Vermont-maple-syrup breakfast and locally-produced soy maple candles & truffles. You can also opt for spa treatments at local resorts like the Spa at Stowe Mountain Lodge, which will be offering a Maple and Brown Sugar Scrub ($150/60 minutes) for the season.
More importantly, if you're in favor of adding more adult kick to your maple, it turns out that Queechee distillery Vermont Spirits now makes a Vermont Gold Ultra-Premium Vodka (around $40), a surprisingly unflavored vodka handmade from maple sap sugar. Though we wouldn't necessarily recommend pouring this on your breakfast pancakes, this triple-distilled concoction still comes with a subtle hints of maple sugar; you can visit the distillery and purchase the vodka, along with bourbon, brandy and other spirit-related paraphernalia at Vermont Spirits' gift store, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
And if you're into maple sugar season but don't feel like crossing any state lines, New York's maple weekend launched this past weekend and runs through this weekend, March 29-30, with celebrations abound upstate; check the weekend's official website for available lodging and a list of participating towns.
