The Northeast Kingdom beckons
A few things to consider as you plan a trip to the slopes at Burke Mountain:
Getting there: It feels so far away, up there in the Northeast Kingdom. But Burke is actually just about a three-hour drive from greater Boston. You head up past Franconia, hang a left, and in a little more than a half-hour, you’re there. For a great stop along the way if you need a break, jump off I-93 at Exit 32 and hit up the Purple Tomato for a sandwich to die for.
Staying there: Burke proper has plenty of lovely bed and breakfasts as well as small inns. But you cannot beat staying on the mountain at the new Burke Mountain Hotel and Conference Center. It’s big but tucked into the landscape in a way that just feels right. You can ski in and ski out. It’s also incredibly familyfriendly, offering a kids dinner and movie night so the parents can have some fun on their own.
Off-mountain fun: The Burke Public House is a top choice with amazing and unique cocktails along with food that would win awards in Boston. The post-and-beam interior is comfortable and lovely. For a more upscale meal, check out Junipers at the Wildflower Inn. For great breakfasts and sandwiches and pizza on the go, head straight to the Northeast Kingdom Country Store. They serve up homemade and creative fare and will share their insider Burke secrets with you while they prepare your choice. For a local vibe and classic American food, head to the Miss Lydonville Diner. Whatever you order, do not skip dessert. Their pies are fame-worthy.
When to go: Being so far north, Burke holds onto its snow well into the spring, so there’s still plenty of time to plan a trip. While weekdays obviously are quieter, weekends never feel too crowded either, since the mountain has a natural way of spreading folks out. On a busy day recently, we did wait in line at the main chair a few times for perhaps eight minutes, but by noon, that had worked itself out. Midweek deals are amazing.
Other fun on the snow: Thursdays at Burke are about base-area sledding and a party around it. Saturdays mean live music and beer at the Bear’s Den. Thursday nights also mean trivia (with great prizes) in The View Pub. There’s a full Nordic Center where you can learn Nordic or just plain get out there and do it. And special events like kids crafts pop up all the time.
Spot a future world champion: There is race practice going on almost every day — and races most weekends — along the trail that you can view from the Willoughby Chair. You’ll notice the racers seem to have some style: They are, for the most part, from Burke Mountain Academy, located at the base of the mountain road. Just think, only a few years ago, you could have been on that chair watching Olympian Mikaela Shiffrin take on the gates.