Rated Ski Resorts in Vermont

Wealthy city families often chose the green hills of Vermont for their summer homes and many of these estates still exist today, some as historic sites open to visitors. The Georgian Revival Hildene, in Manchester, was the summer estate of Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, head of the Pullman Company.

As soon as snow flies, Vermont is all about skiing and winter sports. Ski resorts and local ski hills are all over the state, several of them especially suited to family ski vacations. These offer convenient slope-side or base lodging, learning programs for all ages, child-care, and plenty of things to do for non-skiing family members.

Manchester has a split personality, with its business district in Manchester Center and its historic center in Manchester Village, a mile to the south along Vermont Route 7-A.

The 120-mile-long Lake Champlain separates Vermont from New York and provides a popular playground for both states. The best way to see the lake and get a sense of its size and history is on a cruise.

Stand at the top of Vermont, with 360-degree views of the Green Mountains, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondacks. At 4,395 feet in altitude, this is Vermont's highest mountain, but one of the easiest to ascend.

The compact Alpine-style village and warm family-friendly atmosphere at Bolton Valley makes it seem smaller than its 71 trails spread over 300 skiable acres. Set in the Green Mountains not far from Burlington and close to I-89, Bolton seems a world apart, surrounded by more than 5,000 acres of undeveloped forest.

Always ranking high in awards for family-friendly ski mountains, Bromley may not be the biggest, but it's one of the most user-friendly of ski resorts. Unlike most ski areas, Bromley's slopes and trails face south, which in winter translates to sunny slopes and trails throughout the day.

Few ski resorts do as good a job of pleasing kids as "Smuggs," a self-contained destination resort close to Burlington. Its abundance of family-friendly facilities include a dedicated-and supervised-teen club; the indoor FunZone with climbing inflatables, an indoor pool, a slope-side nursery, and a whole series of innovative age-appropriate ski classes; and programs for children as young as two-and-a-half-years old.

Sugarbush made its name in the 1960s as the home of the "Jet Set"- a term that may have originated here - but its two mountains of trails and 2,000 acres of backcountry kept it in the A-list for serious skiers.

Not the largest of Vermont's ski areas, Mount Snow is one of the most popular, largely due to its excellent snowmaking and its location as the closest major ski resort to many of the Northeast's metropolitan areas.

With the most skiable terrain in Vermont and one of New England's biggest après-ski scenes, Killington appeals to a younger crowd of boarders and skiers. Its 155 trails include more expert terrain than any other mountain, with 60 trails and 16 glades, but intermediate and beginning skiers have a lot to choose from, with 53 and 43 trails respectively.

Southern Vermont's highest peak at 3,875 feet, Stratton Mountain is known for its fast lifts, the variety of its terrain, and the consistent high quality of its snow. Adding to 99 trails are 160 acres of glades and five terrain parks.