Last weekend I ventured to Ludlow, Vermont, a quaint town that surrounds the well-known ski mountain Okemo. Although Ludlow is known for its winter sports and snow covered mountains, it also has a lot to offer for the warmer fall months. I stayed the weekend with family at a hotel called The Pointe which is an extension of The Castle Hill Resort and Spa, a larger hotel down the street that is an old fashioned castle restructured into a hotel and spa catered to outdoorsy people who visit the area. There are also plenty of affordable hotels and motels around the town of Ludlow as well as surrounding towns such as Rutland, Proctorsville and Cavendish.
There are numerous ways to spend your time in Vermont, but I will give you a few ideas that are my favorite in the fall season. I did a lot of hiking while I was in Ludlow mostly on the trails around Okemo, but also down by the Black River, a long rushing river that flows through Ludlow and the other surrounding towns that I mentioned. If you like horses like me, there are tons of areas that offer trail riding through the mountains in Vermont. Specifically, in Proctorsville at Cavendish Horse Rides Inc. where you can ride for $30 an hour through the scenic mountians. If you are into more of an adrenaline rush, there is Alpine Sliding available at several mountains in the area including Killington and Pico. Alpine Sliding is only $15 per session for sliding down a mountain as fast as you control your slide.
If you aren't into experiencing the outdoors when visiting Vermont, there is always shopping at the nearby Manchester outlets, or shops in downtown Ludlow. Still, it would be a waste to visit such a beautiful place in the best season of the year and not advantage of Vermont with its outdoor activities.
