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The Bank of America building looms on the skyline. It’s 8:00 AM. You’re almost late. Did you remember to pack that proposal? You go over the day in your mind. Cubicle hell, lunch at Coco Osteria, meeting with the boss. Then, mercifully, drinks at Liv after work.
As you circle the Queen City in all her glory, prepared to do battle in the concrete jungle, you can’t help but daydream. How different the day would be if instead of flying around I-277 you were careening down the side of a mountain with two strips of wood strapped to your feet…
For people who love winter sports, living in the south requires some degree of traveling. Snow often eludes us here in Charlotte. Like an indifferent houseguest, it arrives sporadically and stays just long enough for you to realize how much you missed it. The snowcapped mountains of Vermont are but a few hours from Charlotte on a number of airlines. Flying into Burlington or Rutland, Vermont will get you to the tiny mountain town of Killington, where the skiing is righteous and so is
the party.
Like the maple syrup that Vermont is so famous for, laid-back Killington will stick to your skin when you leave. Enjoying the cozy ski chalets, ample beer, pretty people, and feel-good winter cuisine, you may contemplate why you don’t live there. A bevy of restaurants, bars, and shopping are within five minutes of every hotel.
A Place to Lay Your Weary Head Summit Lodge
A true Vermont inn in the middle of Killington on the mountain road, the Summit Lodge & Resort is quintessentially Vermont. Here you’ll find Otto and Louise waiting patiently to greet you. But don’t expect them to carry your bags or talk to you — you’d find the conversation a trifle one-sided. Otto and Louise are not employees of the Summit Lodge but gargantuan Saint Bernards who freely wander the property belonging to innkeepers Bill Bauer and Cindy Phillips. They’re just two of many reasons this charming inn has had such a devoted clientele for decades.
The Summit Lodge hasn’t changed much in 30 years, and that’s fine with its guests. The Saint’s Pub still features the best pub food and friendliest bartender in Killington. The Lodge still offers everything needed to warm your bones, from cream of wheat like your mama made to the massive hot tub and heated outdoor pool, which is usually encased in ice for extra fabulousness. There is nothing so therapeutic after a day on the slopes than to return to the Lodge to a roaring fire, adoring dogs at your feet and a welcoming hot toddy. The inn still creaks just where it’s supposed to and icicles still hang in droves outside your window. At night you’ll collapse into your comfy bed and wake to falling snowflakes and dreams of making it down one of the Northeast’s tallest peaks in one piece. See and Do, Eat and Party
Besides the skiing and snowboarding, you can’t leave Killington without a visit to Mountain Meadows Cross Country Ski Area, where you can rent snowshoes and cross-country skis. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are both strenuous sports, but well worth it. Upon traversing the nearby sugar covered forest, you’ll happen upon Mountain Meadows Lodge. On your way into the lodge for some much needed hot chocolate, stop at the barn to visit sheep, a Shetland pony, Charlie the baby goat and Alice, the potbellied pig. Only in Vermont could such a snowy, winter wonderland scene come alive right before your eyes. In the evenings, try a romantic sleigh ride behind the powerful gait of the Clydesdale horses at Cortina Inn. Snowmobiling is also available through Killington Snowmobiling Tours.
Covering up in winter gear is all about comfort and warmth in Killington, and the ski shops that dot the mountain road and beyond will outfit you in the finest Turtle Fur the state has to offer. For you cold weather virgins, Turtle Fur is skiwear crafted in the heart of the Green Mountains of Vermont, absolutely essential for keeping warm on the mountain. The staff at The Basin and at Northern Ski Works, both located on Killington Mountain, will outfit you in the latest cold- weather fashion. You’ll need them for the slopes, and for while you’re waiting (shivering) for Gramp’s Taxi at 2:30 a.m. outside the bar after a night of dancing your face off.
Dim All the Lights Sweet Darling, Cause Tonight It’s All the Way
To paraphrase the aforementioned words of the great Donna Summer, when the sun goes down in Killington, the pulse goes up. Like any great ski town, après ski is not to be missed. Serious skiers and snowboarders party from 4:00 to about 10:00 PM, hit the sack, and get up early to covet that elusive fresh powder which can turn to mush or ice as the day goes on. The rest ski, après ski, dine, and head back out for a night on the town.
Good sustenance isn’t hard to come by in Killington. Choose Choices for an upscale treat, and, if romance and making an impression are on the menu, Hemingway’s. Drool over The Saint’s Pub Vermont maple sausage and cheddar-stuffed mushrooms or Green Mountain French Dip made from their own Yankee pot roast. Summit also offers oh-so highly addictive flame-toasted s’mores topped with chocolate syrup and Graham cracker crumbs. The best grilled cheese on earth is at Johnny’s Boys, and pumpkin pancakes can be had at Sugar and Spice, about ten minutes from the mountain. The meal we recall most fondly in Killington was prepared by John Miller
in Jim Johnson’s kitchen, where they gave us the scoop on the Pickle Barrel Nightclub.
You might not expect Killington to be a hotbed of musical talent, but places like Pickle Barrel and Wobbly Barn often hire nationally known musical acts. Of particular note were two bands, Joe Bachman & the Crew and Go Go Gadjet, both out of Pennsylvania, who quite simply rocked unlike any cover bands I’ve witnessed in a decade of reporting on the world’s best party places. Both had a mysterious knack for getting a crowd of all ages to storm the stage, arms waving like groupies at a U2 concert.
One reason this cold weather town is so “hot” is that Killington is not that far from New York City. So young professionals from all walks of life (well, mostly the walk of life that includes Range Rovers) flock there for weekend getaways. The Lookout Bar & Grill is typically packed wall to wall with skiers and snowboarders après ski. Another place to stop off for an afternoon cocktail is Outback Pizza, which after dark becomes the nightclub Tabu. There you’ll find great pizza, incredible entertainment, and friendly bartenders like what-todo- in-Killington expert Tony Capone.
The Grist Mill, conveniently owned by The Summit Lodge and just a stone’s throw from the Lodge, is a place where you can enjoy a truly fine meal while rubbing elbows with truly fine (as in eye-catching) people. Live music, dancing and more drinking abound here, and the rounded bar makes scanning the room a cinch for people watching. Late nights can be spent at the Pickle Barrel and Wobbly Barn, which boast the best salad bars in Killington.
Killington is a world of winter sports and winter fun. At once romantic, perfect for a vacation with gal pals or a guys’ ski weekend, the next time you decide to give in to your craving for a snowy getaway, consider the slopes of Vermont. Happy skiing!
~ Kelly Gray |
