There are many farms within the Green Mountain State that offer lodging to guests who are curious about how these farms operate on a day to day basis.  Sometimes the lodging is as simple as an extra bedroom located within the family farmhouse.  Other farms have cabins dotted over their acreage, providing more privacy to visitors.  Most farm stays include at least some, if not all, of the meals during the stay.

The type of farm visitors should choose would depend, of course, of the time of year.  March and April are the maple sugaring season.  During this time visitors who stay on a maple sugar farm can see how the sticky sweet stuff is made from tap to table.

A stay on a dairy farm is another option.  One farm has over 150 head of cattle and visitors are invited not only to learn about the daily work involved in such a farm, but to participate in it as well.  Visitors can feed the cows, clean the stalls and pet and feed the barn cats.

This vacation idea is often especially appealing to families with children who are old enough to appreciate the experience.  These vacations are not all work, however. One farm has a fully stocked pond in which visitors are encouraged to swim or fish.  There are plenty of hiking trails and, in winter, snow shoeing and skiing are popular activities.

In the spring and fall, some farms feature a corn maze, apple picking and pumpkin patches.  Some farms offer horseback riding, a grape harvest, sheep shearing and other farm related activities.

Some farms offer special holiday themed stays. One example is the many Christmas tree farms.  Visitors learn about the process of growing and caring for these trees and then take one home with them to use as their Christmas tree.

Even when staying on a farm, there will be plenty of shopping and antiquing within driving distance which will allow plenty of opportunities to shop for mementos of the visit.

While there is plenty to do, there is also plenty of opportunity to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of a quaint New England Farm.

Getting sap from maple trees.

After months of cold and blustery weather, spring is just around the corner. The temperatures are slowly starting to rise. For those of us living in the Northern United States, that means one thing; maple syrup season is almost here.

Maple production starts in March, when the days start getting warmer and the nights are still down below freezing. This stimulates the production of sap in maple trees, which is then harvested and boiled down to make maple syrup, candy, and other treats. The beginning of April marks the beginning of Maple Festival season. By that point, maple syrup producers have built up a huge supply, and are ready to sell.

Boiling the sap down to make syrup.

I spend all year looking forward to that magical weekend in the beginning of April when our local Maple Festival takes over a small town near here. There are pancake breakfasts, a talent show, a parade, bake sales, and a lot of great maple products on sale. People travel from all over the area, even some from other states, to join in with the excitement. We are celebrating not only another successful maple season, but also the start of spring.

I always try to stock up on these local products, knowing that they will be difficult to find until maple season rolls around next year. I feel good about supporting the local economy, and the prices are cheaper than I could find in stores. In fact, I’ll be buying extra syrup this spring, as last year’s bottle has been empty since December.

Maple Syrup: bottled and ready for sale.

There are maple festivals all over the northern part of the country. One of the biggest is located in Vermont, in a town called St. Albans. Their Maple Festival is scheduled for the last weekend in April. This event features a carnival and antique show, along with all of the traditional maple festival exhibits and sales. The website for the Vermont Maple Festival has directions, tourist information, and a full calendar of events.

The National Maple Syrup Festival, in Medora, Indiana, is a weekend of entertainment, and a great place to bring the family. There is a petting zoo, a children’s play area, and lots of fun games for the whole family to enjoy. This maple festival has a blacksmith exhibit, real butter churning, and several other demonstrations, making it a great destination if you’re looking for something unique.

The Marathon, New York, Maple Fest runs during the last weekend in March this year. This small New York town has been celebrating the maple season with a weekend festival for dozens of years. This festival features a tasting shack, bake sales, and a craft fair. The highlight of the weekend is the train ride, available from nearby Cortland, which goes to and from the festival multiple times a day. There are also pony, hay wagon, and helicopter rides.

These are just a few of the hundreds of maple festivals available around the country. These festivals are not only a great place to buy maple products, but also to enjoy the community that these events bring together. If you’re looking for a great way to spend a weekend, consider taking a trip to a maple festival near you.

Do you attend a local maple festival? What other festivals do you visit to celebrate the arrival of spring?