A true all-seasons destination filled with everything from the arts to outdoor recreation, Manchester, Vermont, also just so happens to be home to Kimpton Taconic Hotel.
Manchester’s bucolic charms extend from snow-covered sledding hills to warm nights filled with starry skies and from fields of wildflowers to drives through forests of changing leaves.
No matter the season, you will love Manchester, Vermont. (Photo Credit: @jlinhh)
Whatever time of year you visit, you’re bound to find an abundance to do — and a reason to come back in another season.
Winter
Thanks to two nearby ski hills — family-friendly Bromley and snowboarding pioneer Stratton — ski enthusiasts are in powder heaven during the wintertime. For snow sports at a lower elevation, Manchester Country Club turns its golf course into a Nordic track and snowshoe trail during the winter that Taconic’s guests can access.
Once you’ve gotten your fill of the wintry wonderland outside, grab a seat by the double-sided fireplace in the lobby and curl up with a good book. If you need recommendations, check out the bookshelf in Taconic’s library stocked with staff picks from the legendary Northshire Bookstore in town.
You can rest easy at Kimpton Taconic Hotel. (Photo Credit: @dana.pauly)
Enjoy the fireplace, indoors or out, in this winter wonderland. (Photo Credit: @dana.pauly)
In late winter, sugaring season arrives, and it is — pardon the pun — one of the sweetest times to stay in Vermont and sample maple syrup straight from the tap.
Spring
Spring is prime time to begin fly fishing, and there’s no better place to get outfitted than at the world-famous Orvis, whose flagship store is located less than a block from the hotel.
If you instead want to stay firmly on land, take a hike — and we mean that in only the best way. Each guest room at the Taconic contains handcrafted walking sticks from Manchester Woodcraft, in adult and kid sizes, to help you explore the great outdoors in comfort.
Hike among the beauty that is Vermont in the spring. (Photo Credit: Sam Burriss)
Spring also happens to be kidding season, and we’re not kidding when we say that baby goats are pretty much the cutest thing ever. Taconic partners with Hildene, the Lincoln family home, on a fun package that comes with a picnic lunch, a look at their sustainability programs, and a chance to hang out with the historic house’s pint-sized goats, of course.
Summer
Festivals galore mark the months of July and August — celebrate classical music at the Manchester Music Festival, horses and equestrians at the Vermont Summer Festival, and a love for the environment at SolarFest — just to name a few.
Throughout the summer, catch a musical at Weston Playhouse, the oldest professional theater in Vermont, or a show at Dorset Playhouse, an intimate theater built from two pre-Revolutionary barns.
After exploring the summer festivities, take a dip in the pool back at the Taconic. (Photo Credit: @crozantes)
When you want to cool off, live like a local and swim at one of the old marble quarries that are now filled in with water. (Taconic’s staff can point you in the right direction to this semi-secret spot.) Other aquatic pursuits include kayaking and canoeing at nearby Emerald Lake State Park, so named for the gem-like hue of the water.
On a clear summer’s eve, by appointment exclusively for Taconic guests, step into Burr and Burton Academy’s tiny, centuries-old observatory with a state-of-the-art telescope. From here, you’ll feel like you can touch the sky.
Fall
If you’ve heard of Vermont, you’ve heard of the leaf-peeping opportunities that come with autumn. Get a different perspective on the changing colors by driving to the top of Mount Equinox. From 3,800 feet up, the patchwork quilt of dark reds, golden yellows, and vibrant oranges below you is breathtaking.
The golden tapestry of Vermont in the fall will take your breath away. (Photo Credit: @taconichotel)
And don’t forget the pups — they are always welcome, no matter the season. (Photo Credit: @taconichotel)
To get the best pictures possible of the fall foliage (and everything else), Taconic’s front desk team will introduce you to Les Jorgensen, an award-winning local photographer who will teach you the tricks of the trade for fantastic shots on everything from an iPhone to a DSLR to an old-fashioned film camera.
Where to stay: Kimpton Taconic Hotel
