Summary
Explore summer at Stratton Mountain, Vermont — UTV tours, fire tower hikes, and maple creemees for a perfect Vermont family getaway.
I’ve always known Vermont mountains beneath a blanket of snow. For our family of five, a trip to Vermont usually means loading skis, bundling into winter layers, and chasing chairlifts for downhill ski adventures. But this July, I traded skis for hiking boots, joining a group of fellow “Mountain Mamas” for a weekend built around Stratton’s Transcend yoga festival — and discovering a different side of the mountain along the way. Lush, vibrant, and every bit as breathtaking as its winter landscape, summer at Stratton turned out to be its own kind of adventure.
The festival gave us a reason to slow down between the real draw of the weekend: UTVs to the summit, a hike to the fire tower, and long, easy stretches of Vermont summer. (If you want the full story on the yoga side of things, my friend wrote it up beautifully — link above.)
Staying at Stratton: The Condo, the Village, the Food
Long Trail Condos
Arriving at Stratton’s welcoming, yellow-hued Long Trail House condos, I was greeted with eager waves and giddy yelps of “over here!” off the balcony of these idyllically situated accommodations. We settled into our three-bedroom condo, with a well-equipped kitchen, sprawling living room, and every amenity we’d need or hope for, including each having our own bathroom.
The Village Food
Stratton’s walkable village of shops and eateries greeted us just beyond the entrance to our weekend, making it our go-to passageway for the next three days.
We grabbed a first bite outside at T-Bar, known for elevated libations and Spanish-style small-plate tapas. A “fluffy grapefruit spritz” was the perfect refresher, paired with a burrata salad topped with seasonal roasted red peppers and tomatoes. As far as I’m concerned, burrata might be its own love language — add in the bubbly drink and garden-fresh veggies, and it’s a delight.
I cannot not mention the lobster rolls and french fries at Mulligan’s sports bar that we also grabbed that first night — an absolute must.
The Warm Up Before Bed
Anticipating an action-packed agenda for the next day, we took some downtime to enjoy Long Trail House’s beautifully lit outdoor pool and hot tub as the evening darkened, chatting with fellow festival-goers. We capped the night with a stint in the sauna — a warm, quiet way to unwind before a big day on the mountain and the mat.
Over the next two days, sessions from the festival were sprinkled throughout our schedule — but we also made the most of everything else summer at Stratton had to offer.
A New Way Uphill: UTV Tours at Stratton
For a personal UTV tour, we met Mike, who was ready to lead this tribe of adventurous women as we ripped, roared, and raced up and down the mountain. After adjusting our helmets and each choosing our UTV, the adrenaline seeker in me took over and put the pedal to the metal. Rocks flying, dirt spraying, jolts and bolts into action — I was in my element driving the rugged vehicle and hollering “yahoo!” like a kid. Wind in my hair, untethered and wild with the mountain — a long-overdue exhilaration I needed.
The views were spectacular. As I removed my helmet after parking the UTV at Stratton Summit, I felt the grit of dirt on my face and tasted it on my lips. I listened to the steady clicks of unloading gondolas, taking in the expansive views. The trail signs boasting black diamonds and winding runs gave way to a gentler vibe — green meadows, pink and yellow wildflowers, nature in its free-roaming form.
Meeting a Stratton Legend
At the top of the mountain we met a surprise visitor — Hubert Schriebl, an Austrian-born photographer and mountaineer who arrived in Vermont in 1964 to first teach at the Stratton School, and who has taken spellbinding photographs across the decades since. Schriebl chatted with us and casually pointed to the notches on the wooden platform ledge — having wedged a slash for each hike he’s made to the summit. We were standing at the Hubert Haus, adorned with his photographs, a casual stop for a drink or snack for seasonal hikers or skiers alike. As Hubert humbly shared stories, I felt inspired by his “notches” and tenacity for creating art and pushing his limits; it left me wanting to push mine too.
As the sun began to dip behind the Green Mountains, we traded the day’s adventures for bar stools at 802 Bar and Grill. The energy shifted from mellow to lively as England faced Norway in the FIFA World Cup on the big screens. Local Vermont IPAs flowed, conversations buzzed around us, and a simple dinner of a caprese melt and shared shrimp cocktail felt like the perfect reward after a day spent outdoors.
Fire Tower Hike
Sunday morning’s hike made for perhaps my most memorable stretch of the weekend. My friend Sarah and I ventured out to do a straightforward hike and fire tower climb before the weekend wrapped up. Jumping onto the gondola, we arrived at the top, where just beyond the platform is signage for “Mike’s Way” and the fire tower hike. This distinct point marks the convergence of the Appalachian and Long Trails and leads to an under-one-mile hike to a fire tower manned until 1979.
As we meandered through the shaded trail, past sprawling trees, ferns, and rocks, the conversation flowed and the air was fresh with a distinct earthy pine smell. There’s no match for nature’s ability to coax out new perspectives and let the nervous system just breathe.
Upon reaching the historic lookout, we climbed 55 feet to the top. I felt wonderfully small beneath such a vast landscape, taking in 360-degree panoramic views of treetops, mountain ranges, and bodies of water in the distance. As a kid, I was always enamored by the idea of the four states you could see at once. While I haven’t confirmed I hit all four, my eyes landed across a sweeping stretch of the great wide open below me. This is a very doable hike for all levels, and the fire tower is a “wow” not to be missed.
Sweet Memories Made
As the festival weekend wound down, a guitarist on the lodge balcony began playing an acoustic cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” The three of us instinctively swayed and sang along, our millennial hearts smiling as the familiar lyrics carried a wave of nostalgia. In that simple moment, I felt deeply connected to the women beside me and grateful for the memories we’d made together at Stratton.
Creemee Time
A sweets monger at heart, my sights were set on enjoying my first maple creemee à la Stratton before packing up. Mulligan’s, a Stratton classic with a diverse menu, made the magic happen. I took my soft-serve, maple-infused treat out the door and wandered through the village, savoring every last lick. I don’t remember the last time I had ice cream alone — usually I’m negotiating stealing bites of my boys’ cones or already bracing for drips and a need for napkins for my youngest. But this time, it was just me and my maple creemee, fully present.
I could have wandered Stratton Village one more lap, a feeling of complete ease washing over me. Perhaps it was the powerful combination of nature, movement, adventure, and connection that left me feeling changed—lighter somehow. My heart overflowed with gratitude for this mountain in her summer season, where the wild, the untethered, and an unbridled sense of freedom awakened within me and continued to bloom long after I left the mountainside.
Leah is a lifelong adventurer and creative spirit raising three amazing boys on the Connecticut shoreline. Her family thrives in the outdoors—skiing, biking, hiking and diving into any ocean adventure. While her children were each on skis at age three, Leah first clicked into skis as an adult. Almost outpaced by her youngest skier, age five, she has been chasing after her husband and two older boys down Vermont and other New England mountains ever since!
Working, counseling, and leading in public schools for over a decade, Leah is a former district administrator and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Wellness Director. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Leah now owns a private practice, specializing in women’s wellness. In tiny sparks of free time she writes about the wild, beautiful work of living fully—where sand, sea, slopes, and meaningful healing all meet.