Tickets are on sale now for the 13th Annual Green Mountain Film Festival, which this year won a Vermont Chamber of Commerce Top Ten Winter 2010 Event award!

This festival, which runs from March 19 to 28, 2010,  is a film buff’s heaven, with multiple viewing venues, free events and talks with filmmakers, and award-winning documentaries, short films, student films, and movies.

Held in the nation’s smallest Capitol City in Montpelier, Vermont, this is a fabulous beat-the-winter-blues event, and for those of you coming from out of town, Montpelier is a destination all on its own. As part of the Film Festival, see movies in the historic Savoy Theater, City Hall Arts Center, and the Pavillion Auditorium; then stroll the quaint State and Main streets to shop in unique, one-of-a-kind, locally-owned shops, book stores, and art galleries; dine in restaurants that are part of the Vermont Fresh Network; sip organic, locally-roasted coffee at some hip coffee shops and cafes; imbibe micro-brews on tap or enjoy Vermont-grown and made wines from one of the local bars; or walk a few nature trails in Hubbard Park, a 250-acre park that’s in the heart of Montpelier.

There is so much to do in and around Montpelier, I suggest making a mini-getaway out of your Green Mountain Film Festival experience! Here are some recommended places to stay:

The Inn at Montpelier, 147 Main St. – Two adjacent 19th century homes with typical New England architecture.

 

Capitol Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, 100 State St. – Central Vermont’s premier hotel and conference center. BOOK ONLINE HERE!

 

Betsy’s Bed & Breakfast, 74 East State St. – 12 rooms, private baths, ideal for business and personal travel.

 

Comfort Inn & Suites at Maplewood, 213 Paine Turnpike North in Berlin (5 miles from Montpelier) – 89 tastefully appointed guestrooms including 18 suites. VIP suite with whirlpool. Complimentary deluxe continental breakfast.

 

Tickets for the Film Festival sell out fast, so get them by phone or in person. Here is the link for ticket information: http://www.greenmountainfilmfestival.org/tickets

Here is my personal local take on the film festival in Montpelier: it provides a venue for film arts that promotes thoughtful dialogue between a community and its filmmakers, between movie goers and local business owners. The whole town becomes abuzz with movie talk, and with movie star sightings, and a real, cultural, community event takes shape.

Plus, The Savoy has my favorite popcorn topping: nutritional yeast. If you haven’t tried it, sprinkle some on your popcorn, it’s Delicious and Nutritious!

Enjoy the show….

Samantha Kolber, Vermont Hospitality Council staff and Montpelier resident.

With temperatures in the 40s, and the ski resorts boasting conditions of packed powder, now is the time to hit the slopes. What could be better than skiing or riding under a blue and sunny sky? Plus, temperatures are warm enough to dress lightly – some brave and warm-blooded folks even ski in their T-shirts this time of year!

If you are looking for a quick ski or snowboard getaway, check the conditions here: www.skivermont.com.

At skivermont.com, you can locate a mountain slope by region or by type of activity (alpine or cross-country), and you can find lodging.

So, if you have yet to slap on your boards this season, or if you think Spring is the time to dust off your swimwear, think again. It’s still time to hit the slopes here in Vermont!

Some ski resort trivia about Vermont:

1. Vermont is home to 20 Alpine Ski Resort areas, with 14 additional Nordic Ski areas, for a total of 34 places to get your ski groove on!

2. Vermont has over half a dozen Ski and Snowboard Academies that have produced hundreds of Olympic, World Cup, World Championship, and X Games winners.

3. The second chair lift in the East, and also the longest in the world at the time (6,330’), was at Stowe Mountain, built in 1940.

4. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce produces an annual Vermont Ski Resort and Year-Round Maple Syrup Map, available for free by calling 802-223-3443 or by emailing your address to kmegrath@vtchmaber.com with SKI MAP in the subject line.

Everything Maple is cooking in Vermont as we head into sap-running season, or Spring, as others may call it!

This weekend I had the pleasure of trying a new flavor at the Waterbury, Vermont, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory: Hannah Teter’s Maple Blondie, a Maple Ice Cream with Blonde Brownie Chunks & a Maple Caramel Swirl. YUM! My seven-year-old son who accompanied me (okay, I accompanied him) said: “This is the best ice cream I have ever had in my entire life!” Does it really matter that he’s only been around less than eight years? It’s still really good ice cream!

Aptly named after native Vermonter and 2010 silver medalist in snowboarding, this ice cream incorporates the sweet flavor of Vermont maple with pure sweet cream for an ice cream that is truly a Vermont delicacy. Here is what the Ben and Jerry’s website (www.benjerry.com) has to say about their new, limited edition flavor:

“Here’s to Olympic gold medalist Hannah Teter, the unstoppable snowboarder from Vermont who’s on a mission to make a difference in the world’s poorest communities through her nonprofit, Hannah’s Gold. “One village, one person, one action at a time,” Hannah says, “We can make a world that works for everyone.” We say, “You go, girl!” To learn more about Hannah’s organization visit www.hannahsgold.com.”

In addition to maple ice cream, you can sample a host of sundry maple flavored delicacies around Vermont:

-Maple Fudge, Maple Mustards, and Maple Sausage Chili from Dakin Farm (www.dakinfarm.com) in Ferrisburgh and South Burlington, Vermont;
-Maple Cream or Maple Drizzle (think ice cream topping) from Robb Family Farm (www.robbfamilyfarm.com) in West Brattleboro, Vermont;
-And for those of you with a more refined palate (not for kids), there is Boyden Valley Winery’s Gold Leaf (www.boydenvalley.com), a dessert wine made with pure Vermont maple syrup and locally-grown apples, available to taste at the winery in Cambridge, Vermont.

Whether you enjoy the classic taste of Vermont captured in wine, ice cream, sausage, mustard or fudge, Vermont Maple Syrup is what’s cooking this spring! So, on your way home from snowboarding or skiing, be sure to sip the sap–I highly recommend trying it in one of the forms mentioned above rather than straight from the maple tree!

by: Samantha Kolber
email: skolber@vtchamber.com

This weekend is sure to be a skier’s and rider’s paradise: fresh fluffy snow is making its way to the tops of our mountains right now! If you are headed to Vermont for a winter getaway, you’ll need a place to stay. Check out this amazing deal in Londonderry, Vermont, just minutes away from fine skiing and riding:

Real Value Lodging at White Pine Lodge: A Special Vacation Deal

Londonderry, VT – Ski/snowboard southern Vermont’s finest mountains (Bromley, Stratton, Okemo) and stay only minutes away in a comfortable apartment with a fully-equipped kitchen. Rates at the White Pine Lodge are among THE BEST DEALS AROUND. Get 20-25% off with “Real Value” specials through February 2010.

2-bedroom and 3-bedroom apartments, with fully-equipped kitchens, linens, and some with fireplaces, can sleep between 2 and 6 people comfortably, and rates range from $170 to $210 per night!

Ask about White Pine Lodge’s “Real Value” special to get 20-25% off! (Three-day minimum or mid-week.)

White Pine Lodge is located in Londonderry, Vermont. Just 4 hours from NYC, 3 hours from Boston, 1 and a quarter hours from Albany, NY, and 2 and a half hours from Hartford, CT.

White Pine Lodge is only minutes away from skiing and riding at Bromley (4 miles), Stratton (20 miles), or Okemo (20 miles).

Families welcome, groups welcome, and pets accepted with advanced notice.

Reserve your “Real Value” lodgings NOW: Call Clare at 802-824-3909.

For more information, visit the website of White Pine Lodge at http://thewhitepinelodge.com/

It’s February, and love is in the air. Sure, it may be mingling with fresh-falling snowflakes, but make no mistake, love is in Vermont.

If you’re looking for a romantic getaway, look no further than the Vermont Country Inns and B&Bs guide. This niche publication will help you find the perfect bed and breakfast or inn to fit your needs. Call 802-223-3443 and have this brochure mailed to you, free! Or, email kmegrath@vtchamber.com to request your free Vermont Country Inns and B&Bs guide.

Looking for romance with your kids in tow? Look no further than The Wildflower Inn, in Lyndonville, Vermont. Romance packages include massages, champagne, and chocolate-covered strawberries, and the family package includes ski passes and kids’ activities to keep everyone happy (www.wildflowerinn.com).

Looking for 19th century romance? Or maybe you need to “make up” with your sweetheart? The Governor’s House in Hyde Park, Vermont, has what you need: Jane Austen Weekends for romantic literature fans, and a “Kiss and Make Up Getaway Package” for the ultimate in romantic apologies (www.onehundredmain.com).

Vermont has long been a place of romance. Our rolling hills, fluffy snow, and warm hospitality make us the perfect location as a romantic destination. Feel free to call us at the Vermont Chamber Hospitality Council, and we’ll help you find a quaint B&B or cozy country inn for your next romantic getaway! (802-223-3443).

The snow is falling gracefully and heavily from the wintry sky, so it looks like it will be a winter wonderland for the Holidays after all! Get out your skis, boards, snowshoes, sleds, and gear up for winter fun in Vermont. If you’re headed up for a drive, please check road conditions at www.511vt.com, or from any phone by dialing 511.

This weekend, December 11-12, 2009, head over to Woodstock for Wassail Weekend at Billings Farm and Museum. Tour the 1890 Farm House – authentically decorated for the season – and make a historic Christmas ornament. Traditional music performed in the parlor at noon on Saturday, and horsedrawn sleigh or wagon rides are on Sunday. www.billingsfarm.org

Manchester, Vermont also has horsedrawn wagon rides through town, a family favorite! And, meet Santa in Bennington on Saturday, December 12, 2009, at Family Day at Bennington Museum. Enjoy the festivities of the day including games and crafts. Free admission from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. www.benningtonmuseum.org

In central Vermont, view the Lights of Christmas at the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in South Royalton. A Vermont Chamber of Commerce Top Ten Winter 2010 Event, with over 120,000 lights and heart-warming displays honoring the birth of Jesus Christ at a Historic Site. From November 27, 2009-January 5, 2010. Enjoy “The Lights of Christmas” with live nativity, free refreshments, continuous holiday music. Plus, get in the spirit of Christmas with concerts by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir – America’s Choir on DVD in a cozy 40-seat theater. This event is Free and open to the public. Kids will be amazed at the number of lights and beautiful winter scenery (see photo above). Call 802-763-7742 for directions.

North toward the Northeast Kingdom, the designated downtown of St. Johnsbury has horsedrawn wagon rides, a Victorian Holiday event, and a 5-k run to get everyone out and about and in the spirit! Meet Santa, eat home-baked cookies, and enjoy old-fashioned caroling. www.discoverstjvt.com or www.nekchamber.com

Of course, this is just a sampling of some family fun events happening in the Green Mountain State. For your free Vermont Winter Vacation Guide, which has a complete list of statewide Top Ten Events and listings on lodging, shopping, attractions, and more, please call 802-223-3443. Or, visit www.VisitVT.com to see on-line events, lodging, attractions and more!

Happy Winter, and Welcome to Vermont!

What an incredible weekend on the way! Vermont is bursting with apples, harvest dinners, sunshine, and beautiful colored leaves. Go for a drive and enjoy the scenery! Maybe you’ll find something fun to do on your way there or on your way back – there’s an event to make anyone smile this time of year.

A sampling: Vermont Fine Furniture and Woodworking Festival in Woodstock, Made in Vermont Music Festival in Manchester, or the Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival, a series of world-famous, home-cooked, homegrown community suppers in a number of towns in northeastern Vermont.

Looking for more ideas? See the events calendars at VisitVT.com, Vermont Attractions, and VermontVacation.

It’s a sunny Friday afternoon in August and thoughts are turning to finishing off the work week! Tonight I’m looking forward to having some Woodchuck Draft Cider.

Vermont’s known for its fine beverages, and this one is amazing. This malt-free, gluten-free, adult-only beverage is a wonderfully apple-y alternative to beer and wine. Woodchuck presses fresh apples into juice and ferments them. In the finishing stage, the amber liquid is cold-filtered.

Born and handcrafted in Middlebury, Vermont, Woodchuck draft cider sells in sixpacks, and is available nationwide as the number one selling cider in the US. They also appear at events and festivals all over the country. A sunny hot weekend is almost here – check it out!

The Essex Resort & Spa (formerly “Inn at Essex”) opened its new 22,000 square foot full-service spa and salon over the weekend, complete with 10 treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas, a 25-yard indoor pool, a full fitness facility, and relaxation lounges. Billing itself as the ultimate “Recipe for Relaxation,” Spa at The Essex encourages patrons to make a day of it, since complimentary access to the facilities is included with the purchase of a treatment.

The spa menu includes massage therapies, body and facial treatments, specialty treatments, bridal services, and more! For a complete spa menu, click: http://bit.ly/essex-spa-menu

The Essex Resort & Spa is located just off VT-289, at Exit 10.

Can’t wait to see it for myself!

This Saturday, June 13, Cabot Creamery is having a giant birthday party! Celebrating 90 years of family farming and excellent products, they’ve invited everyone to come join them and “say cheese.”

VisitVT, the tourism marketing arm of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, will be there with a display, fabulous free magazines, and a special, cow-themed, kids’ activity. We’ve gotten word of some other surprises for the littler ones (or young at heart): face painting, cheddar bounce (bouncy tents), historic games, and of course, birthday cake! Palm reading, product samples and giveaways, and tours of the Cabot plant will be available. A number of Vermont’s famous bands will put a jig in our steps, including the Radio Ranger, Banjo Dan and the Midnite Plowboys, and Patti Casey.

The village of Cabot is located in north-central Vermont, halfway between Montpelier and Saint Johnsbury, just a few miles off Route 2. Take Route 2 East, and look for Route 215 in Marshfield. Take that left, and follow signs to lower Cabot village.