I doubt there are many parents who can claim they have explored all of Vermont. Imagine not having lost luggage or flight cancellations due to weather. You won’t need to travel long distances or buy expensive plane tickets either. A Vermont Staycation gives you more flexibility, less hassles and in the end, saves you time and money that is will be well spent with your family. You could put your kids in a camp (some even have single day options) or use February break as an opportunity to check a few of these items off your Vermont bucket list.

Museums – For a small state, Vermont certainly has a lot of museums. There are museums dedicated to farming, maple syrup, fly fishing and railroads. We even have a children’s museum that is set to re-open in its new space this month.

Bowling – You are not likely to strike out by spending an afternoon at a bowling alley. Many of them have become a destination including arcade rooms and laser tag.

Family Fun Centers – What is your family into? Pinball? Sports? Roller Skating? Vermont has lots of entertainment centers where you can do them all. If you haven’t been, check out Whirlie’s World or Gonzos HD Sports.

Rock Climbing – How about getting a family day pass to an indoor climbing center? Kids as young as 5 can do it.

Skating – Kids of all ages love to ice skate. Find an outdoor skating rink, pack a thermos of hot chocolate and some snacks and call it an adventure. Too cold for you? Most indoor rinks offer daily public skate times.

Indoor Pools & Waterparks – There are plenty of pools where the kids can splash around all day long. Or plan a trip to stay and play at of the waterparks.

Zip Line – I know winter zip-lining probably isn’t the first thing to come to your mind, but we’ve done the ArborTrek at Smuggs’ and it is so fun! You could even book a mini stay at Smuggler’s Notch. Aside from skiing, you can then take advantage of their off-mountain activities like the fun zone, indoor water-park style pools, and tubing. Feel like your kids are too little? Think again, they have a fantastic daycare that takes kids as early as 6 weeks!

Roadtrip

When is the last time you went to Woodstock or Quechee? We’ve been to both. In Quechee, we stayed in a very affordable resort that has 2- 3 bedroom suites and a huge pool. It is nearby to the Montshire Museum, Simon Pearce, VINS, the Harpoon Brewery and more. We visited Woodstock primarily so that we could ski at nearby Suicide Six. The Woodstock Inn offers ski & stay packages with complimentary lift tickets.

Booking an overnight stay in a hotel can really make you feel like you are on vacation, even if it is in your home state. Vermont has so many amazing properties it will probably be hard to choose! Be sure to ask if they have a VT resident discount and utilize the concierge to help make the most of your stay.

Ok, I know I said you should explore Vermont, but in under two hours, you can be in another country! Montreal is so close and no planes are involved. Check out some of these helpful tips to plan a day or overnight trip there.

Check this family-friendly events calendar too! It is with fun things for the week. Let us know how you are going to create a memorable school break for your kids.