How to Spend a Winter Weekend at Stratton Mountain, Vermont

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Stratton Mountain’s charming pedestrian village and serious snow stash might have you feeling like you’re taking a European ski vacation—but this quintessential ski mountain is right here in Vermont. No plane ticket (or even car!) is required. 

Follow this itinerary for the perfect weekend trip to Stratton.

Friday

Even if you can’t escape the office until after 5pm on a Friday, you’ll still arrive at Stratton Mountain with plenty of time to unwind. This easily accessible ski resort is around four hours away from New York City and less than three hours from Boston. 

Check into a condo at Long Trail House and then head out to enjoy the many non-skiing activities Stratton has to offer, like the snow tubing park and ice skating rink.

Saturday

Lifts start spinning at 8:30am, so wake up early and have a quick breakfast in your condo in order to snag first chair.

With 99 trails spread out over 670 acres of open terrain, your legs will give out long before you get bored skiing at Stratton. Spend the morning exploring the mountain before heading back to Long Trail House for an afternoon break.

Since the condos are a quick five minute walk from the lifts, you can save money (and skip the lodge crowds) by eating lunch in your fully-equipped kitchen—plus swap out any layers for warmer/colder/drier options depending on conditions.

After refueling, head back to the slopes to ski until the lifts stop at 4pm. When you’re done for the day, grab a much-needed drink at bustling Grizzly’s, where a live band serenades skiers for one of the best après-ski scenes around. 

Keep the party going by walking around the corner to The Drift in Stratton Village, a lively outdoor bar that shields revelers from the elements with outdoor heaters and fire pits. 

When you’ve had your fill of the post-ski party scene, wander back to Long Trail House to soak in the outdoor hot tubs and get those ski muscles ready for tomorrow.

After a long day of skiing, the last thing anyone wants to do is cook or get in the car to trek out to a restaurant. Fortunately, Stratton Village offers a bustling, walkable town square that’s filled with eclectic bars, restaurants, and shops, where you can spend the evening—no driving required. 

Sunday

Serious caffeinating is required if you’re going to make first chair again on Sunday, so stop at Mad Coffee Roasters for a pick-me-up on your walk to the slopes. 

Ski all morning and then take an early lunch to check out of Long Trail before heading back to the mountain. 

Lift lines tend to thin out after lunchtime on Sundays, so plan to stay until last chair and reap the benefits of having the mountain practically to yourself. Even if you ski until 4pm, Stratton’s central location makes it easy to be home by dinner time. 

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The Mountain

With a mix of green, blue, and black trails, Stratton is great for all types of skiers, from beginners to advanced. Those looking for even more of a challenge will love the glades and terrain park. 

Eleven lifts, including a gondola, service the mountain, helping to disperse lines. 

Lift Tickets

There are a number of lift ticket deals available to make skiing at Stratton affordable. Book ahead on Stratton’s website and you can snag mid-week adult tickets for as low as $108.

If you don’t want to be locked into skiing at the same resort all season, Stratton is part of the Ikon Pass. Buy one pass for the season and you’ll have unlimited access to a huge network of mountains across the country—so you can go where the snow is.

Where to Stay

Conveniently located across the street from Stratton’s village, Long Trail House offers a variety of condos for a homey-feeling stay. 

The condos are available in a variety of sizes ranging from studios to five bedrooms that are perfect for large groups or couples.

Each unit is fully furnished, and includes ski mountain luxuries like gas fireplaces and full kitchens. Guests staying in Long Trail will have full access to the building’s underground heated parking garage and the outdoor heated pool and hot tubs. 

Long Trail House is an easy five-minute walk through the village to the lifts, which is doable even with ski boots on. 

How to Get to Stratton

Stratton is an easy drive from both Boston and New York City. No car? No problem. Stratton is accessible via the Stratton Jitney from New York City and from Manchester, Vermont via the Moovers public bus.

Once you’re in Stratton, the pedestrian village makes a car unnecessary, and there’s also a resort shuttle that runs to parking areas and lodging.

Editor’s Note: Stratton Mountain hosted the writer of this story.

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