Recreation and Leisure
Think outdoors.
Vermont is ski country in the East and Montpelier, while not the heart of the state’s downhill scene, is within an easy drive of the storied slopes of the mega-resorts. It has five Alpine slopes of its own and a surprising 11 cross country ski centers. It is 25 miles from the likes of Stowe, Sugarbush, Mad River Glen and Bolton Landing. Within an hour you can be at Smuggler’s Notch, Burke Mountain and the holy of holies for skiers, Killington.
What do all of those skiers do the few months of the year when not on the slopes? They canoe, kayak, hike, rock climb, mountain bike, hunt and fly fish. Montpelier is at the heart of a state that could be the home to anyone competing in the “X” Games, summer or winter versions.
Montpelier also has a variety of parks for any number of outdoor activities, or just for recuperating from all of those sports. The city is big on open space, with 185-acre Hubbard Park being one of the finest.
The city even has its own baseball team. The Mountaineers play in the New England Collegiate Baseball League and offer residents an opportunity to see fine young talent play.
But, maybe the best indication of the recreational mindset of Vermont is that it is not unusual to see a game of Ultimate Frisbee being played … on the lawn of the statehouse.
Fast Facts
Location: Near the middle of the state where four rivers, including the Winooski, merge.
Area: 10.26 square miles
Population: 8,035
Housing Units: 3,899
Average Annual Precipitation: 30 inches of rain and 9 feet of snow
Average Annual Temperature: 42 degrees F