The Bellow Falls Union Station will transport your family back in time! Built in the 1850′s the, station still serves the Green Mountain Railroad and Amtrak.

Climb aboard the train and take a charming ride through the beautiful Vermont countryside in restored coaches in a vintage diesel locomotive.

Get more information here.

Okemo Mountain has a big pipe competition coming up in February!

On 10 February 2009 Okemo will play host to the High School Halfpipe Competition starting at 1:00pm.

Admission is free, but contestants MUST be represented by a coach. You can get more information from the Okemo website or www.USSA.org.

Okemo Mountain is just a short 30 minute drive from the Springfield Vermont Holiday Inn Express Hotel. You’ll also have several other parks and attractions to visit. Check out the Holiday In Express Website for more information on accommodation for the event.

The Gallery at the VAULT is Springfield’s pre-eminent art gallery. VAULT stands for Visual Arts Using Local Talent, and The VAULT features established and emerging artists who are local to the area and have reasonable prices for their work.

They offer lectures and workshops, have an amazing gift shop full of greeting cards, books, decorative tiles, pins, scarves, wood utensils, glass vases, bowls and much more. 

Get more information at their official website www.galleryattheVAULT.com.

In nearby Ludlow Vermont the Winter Carnival is coming on January 31-February 1st 2009. 

The event will feature ice sculptures, snow sculptures, a parade, a snowman decorating contest, a big bonfire and contests. The event is free to everyone to attend.

Sat. Jan 31st: Snow Sculptures around town & the area… enjoy all day 6:30 pm Main Street Ludlow: PARADE! See decorated snowplows, floats & trucks in the Viking theme. Mardigras a la Ludlow! Follow the parade into Dorsey Park for Bonfires, Marsh Mallow Roasting, Hot Cocoa and more…fireworks! Sun Feb 1st: Okemo on Mountain Event see www.okemo.com for details.

-from the OkemoValleyVT.org website.

Get more information

Nearby the Holiday Inn Express in Springfield Vermont is a time warp: the Springfield Royal Diner.

The diner is an authentic return to the days of malt shops, poodle skirts, Eisenhower and black-and-white checkered tile floors.

It’s also attached to the Corvette Museum, bringing you the most essential elements of the 50s in one easy to enjoy location.

Get more information about the diner’s history and gift shop at their website!

Grafton Village is a restored 19th century community in Grafton, Vermont.

It’s a great, living example of New England architecture and village life from the 1800′s. From the GraftonVermont.org website:

When you arrive in Grafton and start strolling down Main Street, you suddenly realize this is Vermont the way you have always imagined. Graceful rambling homes, a statuesque white church, a friendly general store and the relaxing sounds of the Saxtons river all come together and fulfill your expectations of the ideal New England experience.

You’re free to explore the streets, buildings and unique shops in the village with your family. Visit the www.GraftonVermont.org website for photos and more information!

The oldest one-room schoolhouse standing in Vermont and one of the state’s few surviving 18th century public buildings, the Eureka School House in Springfield Vermont is an ideal attraction to visit with the whole family!

Built between 1785 and 1790, the Eureka School house has an unusual pine board exterior that is cut to resemble stone block. All grades were taught in just one single room here!

There is also the Baltime Covered Bridge, a “Town Lattice Truss” type bridge, built in 1870.

Get more information here!

The 19th-century mansion overlooks downtown Springfield Vermont, the Black River and the original settings of early industries. 

Now the mansion is home to art and items from the past. The museum and gallery have exhibits of primitive portraits by 19th-century artists including Horace Bundy, Asahel Powers, and Aaron Dean Fletcher. You’ll also find pewter items, Bennington pottery, and JoeL Ellis dolls and toys made in local Springfield factories.

There are special and changing exhibits and programs for adults and children available.

Get more information.

Saturday January 17th Okemo Mountain will be putting on a fireworks display and leading guests out on a snowshoe tour to get a better view!

The Snowshoe tour leaves the Main Okemo base area at 7:00pm and treks up and out to meet on the snow outside of the Sitting Bull for a great view of the fireworks!

Rentals open up at 6pm for snow shoes. It will be a fun and exciting night to watch the bright sparkling of fireworks as the explode in cold starry night!

Get more information.

The Great Mountain Sugar House in Ludlow, Vermont is your chance for a genuinely Southern Vermont experience!

Just a 25 minute drive from the Holiday Inn Express in Springfield Vermont, the The Great Mountain Sugar House is a family owned and operated sugar shanty that makes some of the best maple syrup, maple sugar candies, maple fudge. They use the same methods and tools that have been the keys to the trade for decades.

Visit their charming gift shop and sugar vats and stock up on the highest quality Vermont maple syrup goods you can get your hands on. They have gift packages and a wide variety of goodies that are great for gifts or just to keep for yourself!

Get more information from their website here!