Silent slopes: skiing holidays in Vermont

The get-away-from-it-all ski holiday

The boutique ski mountain: Bear Creek Mountain Club
Bear Creek Mountain, in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains, isn't flashy, large or popular - and it doesn't want to be. Working hard to become an exclusive mountain club with lifetime members, Bear Creek is all about staying small and catering to an exclusive clientele. Luckily, you don't have to be a member to ski here as they welcome day-trippers from Monday to Wednesday. The benefits of Bear Creek are many if you're looking for a slow-paced, quiet and secluded mountain experience. Lift lines are non-existent, and there's only one chairlift, so you'll get to know the 15 trails (from easy to expert) quite well. The restaurant at the club house is reason enough to work up an appetite on the mountain: New England clam chowder and an organic ground beef burger for lunch will invigorate you for more runs or a lesson from one of their expert instructors.

Big mountain: Killington

Off-the-mountain activities:
Woodstock, VT. About ten miles from Bear Creek- and 30 miles from Killington - lies the picturesque town of Woodstock, VT (not to be confused with the hippie vortex that is Woodstock, NY). Woodstock was settled in 1768 and practically defines New England charm, from the covered bridge in the centre of the town to the surrounding farms that lead into the Green Mountains. Art galleries, antiquing, ice skating, sleigh riding - there's plenty to keep you busy in this slow-paced all-American town.

Where to stay:

(see also Killington accommodation options)
• The Woodstock Inn and Resort, Woodstock, VT. Turn-down service, plush robes and 'Vermont-chic' decor gives this inn a warm and modern feel. You can also book spa treatments or yoga classes through their fitness centre.
• The Jackson House, Woodstock, VT. The 1890 mansion is on the National Registry of Historic Places and the antique furnishings in the well-appointed rooms do justice to the inn's heritage. Their restaurant is nationally known, attracting talented, up-and-coming chefs.
• The Hawk Inn Plymouth, VT. Situated down the road from Bear Creek is this 50-room inn, which also offers two-room mountain villas if you want an even more secluded experience. The Inn has an adjoining spa with an outdoor swimming pool.

Where to eat:

• Bentley's Restaurant, Woodstock, VT. A relaxed, busy lunch and dinner spot with dark-wood-and-brass-railing decor that Gourmet Magazine has called 'the best luncheon spot in all of New England'.
• The Jackson House Inn and Restaurant. Even if you're not staying at the inn, call and makes reservations for a romantic dinner here - the likes of Todd English and Alain Ducasse once donned aprons as resident chefs here, and the wine list alone will make you feel like you're dining in a world-class restaurant (because you are).