Enticing resort visitors to Vermont in the offseason with food, recreation

LUDLOW, Vt. (WCAX) – A new trail invites visitors to taste their way through part of Southern Vermont. It’s one of the summer recreation opportunities bringing new visitors to the Ludlow area.

Though there’s no snow on the mountains, ski slopes continue to be an offseason getaway hotspot.

“The colors are vibrant, we call them the Green Mountains for a reason, and it’s very lush at this point in time of the year,” said Eb Kinney, the operations director at Okemo Mountain.

Summer activities are in full swing at the Okemo Resort.

Mountain staff say their abundance of slopeside housing can easily pivot to fit hikers, bikers and outdoor explorers.

“So these families not only come during the winter, they really want to make it a year-round kind of getaway,” said Anna Tumber, the marketing manager at Okemo Mountain.

The Mountain Coaster keeps the offseason moving fast.

“Winter is definitely fast-paced for us. Guest interaction– obviously, we see more guests in the winter than in the summer– but I tell you summer is great, too,” Kinney said.

“We create these great relationships with people so when they come up and visit us, we can share all there is in the area,” Tumber said.

Down in nearby Ludlow, the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce wants to entice visitors off the mountain with food along the Tasty Treat Trail.

“Making sure people know there are a lot of options to choose from and to move people around the region, as well,” said Carol Lighthall, the executive director of the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The new food trails help visitors find indoor entertainment, a much-needed resource with this year’s number of rainy days.

“They wait for things here to get sunny and warmer, so we are headed there now,” Lighthall said.

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