Looking for a Fun Family Day in Vermont
On a recent summer family trip to Vermont my wife and I were looking for activities that would be fun for the entire family. Having three daughters ages three, four and seven, this is no easy task for my wife and I who are also looking to have a good time. We decided to head up a day early in order to catch the Blueberry Bash at Mount Snow and while sitting at dinner that night at The Perfect Wife, a great apres ski location near Stratton Mountain, I saw an advertisement for Okemo Mountain's Hops in the Hills Festival. The ad citing beer, food, live music and Okemo's Adventure Zone, seemed like a homerun, so the next morning, we strapped the kids into the car and headed out for a day of food, fun and drink at Okemo Mountain.
Okemo's Adventure Zone Added Excitement for the Kids
Hops in the Hills was set up in the courtyard at Jackson Gore Lodge which, with the mountain in the distance created the perfect backdrop for this appropriately named event. Spaced out all over the enclosure, I found the vendors, beer tent, and food trucks easily accessible as there was plenty of room to wander about. Beyond that, the Okemo Mountain Adventure Zone was right there for my daughters to bounce around on the trampolines and take some laps on the Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster (one of my favorite attractions as well, check out the video).
Delicious Food and Tasty Beer at Hops in the Hills
For the adults, Hops in the HIlls featured 80 craft breweries, cideries and a variety of wineries to sample from. Many of these breweries were local and afforded me the opportunity to try beers from breweries like Lord Hobo, 14th Star and Stone Coral that don't distribute to New Jersey. So I sipped away, all the while watching my kids, hopped up from their recent trip to the soda tasting tent, run around in the grass field with their new beach balls that they snagged as some swag from a real estate booth. Beyond the beer and wine tent, there was also plenty of food trucks serving up a variety of choices that included BBQ, bowls, pizza, dumplings, and more. With so many yummy options it was difficult to choose, but in the end we went with a delicious pulled pork bowl from one truck, dumplings with bacon sauce (yes, bacon sauce), and pizza for the girls. Let's just say, I was more than satisfied. My only regret was that I was not there on Saturday to participate in the Okemo Valley Wing Competition. As a self-proclaimed wing connoisseur and a maker of some pretty darn good wings myself, a chicken wing tasting seemed like something that I needed to be a part of.
Looking Forward to Hops in the Hills 2017
The day my family spent at Hops in the Hills was far and away one of the best that we had this summer. With an assortment of fun activities at the Adventure Zone, delicious food and beverages, and shopping all taking place while good tunes from the band filled the air, this mountain scene was the perfect day trip for the entire family. And, as I look forward to the upcoming winter ski season, I can't help but think that we will be back to Hops in the Hills again next summer for another perfect day in the mountains.
