Hi all
I want to get away from Boston for a weekend and am thinking of VT. We want to do it this month, June, and we have a 3 year old son to keep entertained too. I was in Brattleboro camping a couple of years back and although we don't want to camp outside, I am thinking of maybe doing some canoeing and outdoor activities. My mind is not set on Brattleboro though. Do you think one of the larger cities like Burlington or Stowe would better entertain us? Any and ALL suggestions are welcome. I've got to plan this pretty quickly and so I need some help! Thanks Fodorites!

Stowe would be great for a family with a 3yo. The hotels tend to be family oriented - we've stayed at the Trapp Family Lodge and the Golden Eagle Resort. There is the recreational trail for bike riding, walking etc. You could rent bikes/trail-a-bike and go for a ride, stopping to play in the stream or gawk at the cows along the way. The pizza place near the trail is very good and perfect for a 3yo. Ben and Jerry's is not too far either. Not sure about canoing but I am sure you could find plenty of activities. I know we did when my daughter was 3.

Actually I'm a pretty big fan of Brattleboro myself! Could you find some cabins or similar in the area, since you don't want to camp? Or one of the lakes, there are several over nearby towards the Keene NH area.

Was going to suggest staying at a campground on Lake Champlain somewhere, but then read that you'd rather not camp this time.
Burlington is a great small city. Fun for shopping, nightlife etc. If the main object of your trip is to enjoy the outdoors, I would not suggest Burlington.
How about the Basin Harbor Club near Vergennes. It's a bit of a drive from Boston though - 4 hours or so. It's located right on Lake Champlain. They have a nice golf course, restaurant, and maritime museum. There are fairly easy hikes in the area as well - one that comes to mind is Snake Mountain in nearby Addison.
The Battenkill River in Southern Vermont (Arlington specifically) is a popular canoeing/tubing spot. You can rent canoes on Route 7A in Sunderland (Mad River Canoe I think???) and the town of Arlington has a nice park with a par 3 golf "course" which is by donation. You could stay in Manchester (10 minutes north) which is chock full of outlet stores/restaurants. There are many, many places to choose from.

I had been looking at Burlington and the whole Ben & Jerry's / VT teddy bear company idea but I was leaning towards a mix of that and outdoor stuff. I like the idea of the bike trails in Stowe and then Burlington is nearby to travel to for one of the days (I'd do a 3 day weekend I think) I did want to try and keep the drive from Boston near 3 hours as my son can get antsy in the car after a while.

Also for the Brattleboro idea, I do know there are some Holiday Inn type places near the campground I stayed at, I'm just not sure there is enough for us to do during the weekend.

Hi,

I read your post and as it turns out my girlfriend and I are headed to Basin Harbor which is 30 miles south of Burlington and 15 minutes from Middlebury. In doing my research you get the best of both worlds. All the reviews I've come across are great and all travel books recommend Basin Harbor. Lot's of outdoor stuff and centrally located to get around on a rainy day...Check out the site. We are headed their from NY June 24 for 4 - 5 nights. Basinharbor.com Look it up here in Fodors and Frommers. It's right on the the Lake!