Take the scenic routes to ski trips

November 15, 2009|Eric Wilbur, Globe Staff

There are quicker ways to arrive at your favorite ski destination. You'll probably save time if you take the highway, but you'll lose the flavor of New England along its various back roads. For skiers and riders, these journeys are not solely about a day on the slopes, but an immersion in the culture and history of the sport. Whether you plan an entire trip along these ski routes, or simply take the long way home, here are three of the region's best.

ROUTE 100, VERMONT

This celebrated path is often referred to as the “Skier’s Highway,’’ because it connects most of Vermont’s resort areas along a 220-mile road that runs nearly the entire length of the state. Route 100 takes motorists by some of the state’s most serene vistas, luxurious spas, and rural areas, with a noticeably diverse economic landscape along the way.

Ski areas: Magic Mountain (495 Magic Mountain Access Road, Londonderry, 802-824-5645, www.magicmtn.com), Stratton (Route 30, Bondville, 802-297-4000, www.stratton.com), Mount Snow (39 Mount Snow Road, West Dover, 802-464-2151, www.mountsnow.com), Bromley (Route 11, Peru, 802-824-5522, www.bromley.com), Killington (4763 Killington Road, Killington, 802-422-3333, www.killlington.com), Pico (73 Alpine Drive, Killington, 802-422-6100, www.picomountain.com), Okemo (77 Okemo Ridge Road, Ludlow, 802-228-5222, www.okemo.com), Sugarbush (1840 Sugarbush Access Road, Warren, 802-583-6300, www.sugarbush.com), Mad River Glen (62 Mad River Road, Waitsfield, 802-496-3551, www.madriverglen.com), Stowe Mountain Resort (5781 Mountain Road, Stowe, 802-253-3600, www.stowe.com), and Jay Peak (Route 252, Jay, 802-988-2611, www.jaypeakresort.com).

Other attractions: In Waterbury, taste testers flock to the Cabot Cheese Annex (2657 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury, 802-244-6334, www.cabotcheese.coop) and Ben & Jerry’s factory tour (1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury, 802-882-1240, www.benjerry.com) for free samples. The Vermont Ski Museum (1 Main St., Stowe, 802-253-9911, www.vermontskimuseum.org) offers a wonderful glimpse into the history of the state’s definitive sport. In Newport, near the Canadian border, stop by the museum at the Goodrich Memorial Library (202 Main St., Newport, 802-334-7902, www.goodrichlibrary.org) to see photos, paintings, and memorabilia of northern Vermont’s past.