• File: Caleb Kenna
• Blueberry Hill Inn

With out-of-state travel and indoor recreation prohibited for much of the pandemic, Vermonters were fortunate to have, well, Vermont as a backyard playground. Many embraced the opportunity to explore closer to home and fall in love with the Green Mountain State all over again. From pampered getaways to spectacular outdoor destinations to go-to walking trails, here are the choice spots that helped locals manage a year-plus at home.

What local hotel, retreat or bed-and-breakfast served up a revitalizing staycation?

• Blueberry Hill Inn: Goshen • blueberryhillinn.com
• Brass Lantern Inn: Stowe • brasslanterninn.com
• The Essex Culinary Resort & Spa: Essex • essexresort.com
• The Green Mountain Inn: Stowe • greenmountaininn.com
• Highland Lodge: Greensboro • highlandlodge.com
• Hotel Vermont: Burlington • hotelvt.com
• The Inn at the Round Barn Farm: Waitsfield • theroundbarn.com
• Jay Peak Resort: Jay • jaypeakresort.com
• Ransom Bay Inn & Restaurant: Alburgh • ransombayinn-vt.com
• Sterling Ridge Resort:Jeffersonville • sterlingridgeresort.com

• File: Heather Fitzgerald
• Little River State Park

Where do you prefer to hoof it now that you’ve explored new walking trails?

• Colchester Pond: Colchester • wvpd.org
• The Intervale: Burlington • intervale.org
• Little River State Park: Waterbury • vtstateparks.com
• Milton Town Forest: Milton • miltonvt.gov
• Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail: Franklin County • mvrailtrail.org
• Mobbs Farm: Jericho Center • facebook.com/mobbsfarm
• Rock Point Center: Burlington • rockpointvt.org
• Shelburne Farms: Shelburne • shelburnefarms.org
• Stowe Recreation Path: Stowe • stowerec.org
• Trail Around Middlebury: Middlebury • maltvt.org

• Courtesy
• Ice skating at Lake Morey

Which outdoor destination did you cross off your Vermont bucket list?

• Billings Farm & Museum: Woodstock • billingsfarm.org
• Bolton Valley Resort: Bolton Valley • boltonvalley.com
• Craftsbury Outdoor Center: Craftsbury Common • craftsbury.com
• Dog Mountain: St. Johnsbury • dogmt.com
• Intervale Sea Caves at Arthur Park: Burlington • enjoyburlington.com
• Lake Morey Resort: Fairlee • lakemoreyresort.com
• Lake Willoughby: Westmore
• Lamoille Valley Rail Trail: St. Johnsbury to Swanton • lvrt.org
• Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park: Hubbardton • vtstateparks.com
• Vermont Institute of Natural Science: Quechee • vinsweb.org

Editor note: To choose Vermont's Pandemic All-Stars, we surveyed our readers on the people, places and programs that kept them going — and going — during the COVID-19 pandemic. Space limitations prevented us from recognizing every pick worthy of public praise."