Ah, Vermont’s fifth season: Mud Season. I don’t know about you, but as soon as the clock springs forward and the daylight lasts longer, I can’t wait for the snow to melt and some greenery to grow. I’m not, however, the biggest fan of mud season. Driving on slick, rutted mud isn’t my favorite activity. But, I aim to make an adventure out of mud season, as much as I can… (Preferably, with someone else driving our back country roads that lead to the best destinations.) So this spring, get outside and welcome the first signs of spring with these 10 things to do in Vermont in mud season.

What are your favorite spring activities in Vermont? Comment below to keep the conversation going! 

10 Things to Do in Vermont in Mud Season

1. Visit a Maple Sugar Shack

Warm days and cold nights mean maple sap is flowing and our new crop of Vermont maple syrup is on its way. Whether you visit a maple sugar shack during maple weekend in Vermont, or you partake in “Sugar on Snow,” make a trip specifically to your local maple sugaring operation to stock up on Vermont’s liquid gold.

2. Take a Nature Walk to Find Trilliums and Ramps

Head to the woods for a nature walk to find white and maroon trilliums starting to pop with color. If you’re near a water source and on a hill, keep an eye out for ramps. These hard-to-find wild leeks make outstanding pesto and celebrate the freshness of spring.

3. Road Trip to a Vermont General Store

No matter what corner of Vermont you visit, there is a general store worth a visit. Make a road trip of it and notice the nuances of the varied country stores around the state. Visit the Vermont Country Store in Weston for hours of perusing. Stop at the Warren Store in Warren for a killer sandwich to eat outside overlooking the falls. Stop by Willey’s Store in Greensboro for anything you might need (including rare beer shelvies).

4. Visit a Brewery Off the Beaten Path

With more breweries per capita than any other state, finding an off the beaten path brewery isn’t hard. Head to Brandon to check out Foley Brothers (or Red Clover Ale Co. just in town). Escape to the Northeast Kingdom to visit the best brewery in the world, Hill Farmstead (AWD or 4WD recommended). Visit the 16-acre farm that’s home to Bent Hill Brewery in Braintree, and be welcomed by their three brewery pups on site.

5. Grow Your Own – Start a Garden

Big or small, start your own garden this year with Vermont-made seeds. High Mowing Seeds, which are 100% organic and non-GMO, are some of my favorites. Head to your local garden center. Grab some Moo Doo, seed trays and seeds (or seedlings they’ve started for you). And watch them go with the right light, water, and love. Then reap the benefits all summer long as your grow your own Vermont-made veggies.

6. Take the Vermont Cheese Trail

Take to the roads and visit a new-to-you Vermont cheese producer on the Vermont Cheese Trail. Branch out from your go-to cheese and discover the nuances of flavor and styles from Vermont’s best cheese makers. This interactive map from the Vermont Cheese Council can help you find farms and operations close to you.

7. Build Your Own Flower Basket

Add some color to your porch by building your own flower basket. Head to a local garden center and stock up your wagon with flowers of varying heights and color that inspire you. My pick is Red Wagon Plants in Hinesburg for their extensive flowers, herbs, and plants; they open mid-April!

8. Watch a Pond Skimming Competition

Head to Sugarbush, Smugglers’ Notch or Killington and be entertained by (or enter!) a pond skimming competition. What is pond skimming? A rite-of-spring tradition for Vermont skiers! Brave adventure-goers, typically dressed up in costume, attempt to cross an 120-foot pond on skies. Who will make it? Sign up and see!

9. Take a Walk on a Gravel Path

Did you know that many hikes in Vermont are officially closed during mud season, so as not to damage the trail and/or flora around it? As you wait for the mud to subside, head outside and opt for a bike path – the Burlington Bike Path, Colchester Causeway, the Stowe Recreation Path, etc. Hike or bike – and take in the warming Vermont air.

10. Indulge in Some Self Care

With the changing seasons comes a reminder to make time for yourself. Schedule a quarterly massage or facial with the changing of the season. Try the new CBD scrub at the Essex Resort and Spa to prepare your skin for spring.

What are your favorite spring activities in Vermont? Comment below to keep the conversation going! 

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