The “Green Mountains” state of Vermont lies next to New York on its western side with New Hampshire to the east. The Canadian province of Quebec tops Vermont on the Northern border with Massachusetts tailing it to the south. Vermont is the only state in New England not to border with the Atlantic Ocean. It has the smallest state capital in the United States which is Montpelier. The largest city in Vermont is Burlington.

Burlington lies west of the capital Montpelier and it is a great starting point for the visitor. It has museums including the famous Shelburne Museum that contains an early sawmill and The Ticonderoga - a steamship that once transported passengers through Lake Champlain to the north – and even served time as a floating casino before being finally berthed there. It is also a good place to get geared up for any outdoor activities whether it is hiking or climbing in the mountains, seasonal skiing, kayaking on the lakes and any for camping equipment required. For the children there is the ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Centre and a visit to Shelburne Farms to feed the animals on its 1400 acres. It also has some wonderful eateries with lakeside scenic views and a large private golf course.

In Vermont there are many state parks. In Grand Isle County northwest of Burlington, the water of Lake Champlain surrounds four of the five counties that comprise it. Ideal for hiking and biking with great scenic views and for a peaceful time fishing. East of Lake Champlain is the highest peak in Vermont – Mount Mansfield which is part of the Stowe Mountain Resort. It is very popular with hikers but also an important ski area with popular trails and some challenging courses for cross country skiers.

Towards Newport in the northeast are the state parks of Crystal Lake and Brighton. The former is very popular for canoeing and kayaking and the latter is popular with anglers and scenic tourists. Both have beaches and amenities nearby. Near the capital Montpelier there are many state parks including Groton State Forest which is popular with wild game hunters and wildlife naturalists.

Also famous for wildlife naturalists is the region of the Green Mountains National Forest which covers a huge area of the southwest lining the borders of New York and Massachusetts. It is famous for its trails for hikers with the three best known being the Appalachian Trail, the Long Trail, and the Robert Frost National Recreation Trail. It is also a famous skiing area with three alpine and seven Nordic ski areas. It also has an extensive range of multiple-use trails that not only cover hiking and skiing but also cater for the snowmobile enthusiast and those that enjoy riding a horse or bicycle.

Due to its forested areas, mountains and many state parks there is a wonderful choice of vacation rental cabins with great scenic views or if you want an urban base – a vacation house or condo.

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