Hi! We are planning a spring trip learning about maple sugaring. Learned that open house is March 27-29. Would like suggestions on farms to visit & on flying into BTV vs MHT. Will eventually make our way down to Providence, RI and fly home from there. Any travel tips will be appreciated! Thank you.

It looks like both NH and VT maple syrup producers are having open houses that weekend. This is just about mud season so keep in mind the farms you visit could have very muddy driveways and door yards. Wear boots. Bring warm clothing in case you go on any sleigh/wagon rides. Visit the Vermont Country Store (there are 2 locations) and if you like to bake, King Arthur Flour in Norwich VT. MHT to VT border is not much more than an hour if you go north on Rt 93 to Rt 89 N.

I'd love more info on this if you'd like to share! where are the open houses?? thanks!

I checked the Vermont and NH Maple Assoc. websites (actually, googled maple sugaring and got the sites) and there are numerous sites. So many! Want suggestions on which ones to visit.

seno I would love suggestions! which have you picked?

I am hoping that others will give me suggestions on which ones to pick!

I hope you get some great suggestions!! I live in Boston, and think this sounds like a great little winter weekend getaway and I really want to go. I am going to ask around and see if anyone has been to any of the sugar houses. My cousin recently moved to VT so I am hoping he can give me some suggestions. will post if I decide on going or get any good info

Thank you very much!

Check out Parker's Maple Barn in Mason, New Hampshire; you can learn how the syrup is made and then have a fabulous breakfast. Of course everything depends on weather and when the sap starts to run...

I grew up in the MA Berkshires and we actually did this with our own trees in our neighborhood. Hammered the taps in, hung the buckets to collect the sap, then brought it all to a big pot outside on a wood fire in one neighbor's yard to boil down. LOL...mostly what I remember is smelling smoky and a whole lot of work for not very much product!! I'm sure commercial operations are interesting and far more high tech than ours was, plus you won't end up smelling like an old wood fire! Good luck...if you can't find a commercial operation to watch, go out into someone's neighborhood and see how it was done originally. It's work!!

Thank you for your replies.

Would you suggest flying into BTV or MHT?

I thought maple sugaring was an aphorism for sex?

It really does depend on where you will be spending the most time. I think Manchester airport offers more flights and more flexibility and is closer to Boston and Providence than Burlington.

Oh, ok. I think we will book into BTV and make our way down visiting Dakin Farm, Sugarbush Farm, Dartmouth,King Arthur Flour, Vermont Country Store, Parker's Maple Barn, Yale, and then finally fly out of PVD. How does that sound?

We visited Bragg Farm when we were in Vermont a few years ago and we still order from there every year. They are near Montpelier. They tap the tree with buckets and have a wood fired evaporator.

Details in the association website for Vermont as suggested by SENO