Make Vermont your playground this summer. Head to Bennington and admire the Victorian architecture of Park-McCullough Historic House, or visit the quaint covered bridges that decorate the Vermont countryside. Northeast of Bennington, neighboring the Green Mountain National Forest, Ludlow grants visitors immediate access to outdoor fun. Schedule a tee time at the Okemo Valley Golf Club, or take a stroll down the Ludlow Village Historic District Walk. Hike through the Okemo State Forest, and emerge in the town of Rutland – home to farmers’ markets, museums and great local restaurants. Whether indoors or out, a summer in Vermont is sure to spoil you.

Bennington visitors need check out the Bennington Battle Monument – the tallest structure in Vermont at 306 feet and a commemoration to the Revolutionary War. Less than a mile from the monument is the Bennington Museum, a collection of New England art and heritage first established in 1852. Spend an afternoon in the museum with the folk art of the Grandma Moses Gallery, or the impressive crafts of the Bennington Pottery Gallery & Study Center. Rest up at the Best Western hotel in Bennington – less than three miles from the museum – or continue to explore summer in Vermont in the city of Ludlow.

About 50 miles northeast of Bennington – cutting through the Green Mountain National Forest – Ludlow is another historic getaway town waiting to join your summer itinerary. Found in the Okemo Valley, Ludlow is a hotspot for fishing, hiking and golf. Cast out for trout in the Black River or Ludlow Lakes, try nearby hikes like the Healdville Trail, or climb the White Rocks Cliff found along the Long Trail. Rest up at the Best Western hotel in Ludlow, or set out for more summer fun in the Okemo State Forest – set between Ludlow and the city of Rutland.

You won’t find crisp weather, but you will find crisp produce this summer in Rutland. The summer months mean farmer’s markets galore in Vermont thanks to cities like Belmont and Wells Village. May brings the Farmer's Market in Rutland to the Downtown Rutland's Depot Park, open Tuesdays from 3 p.m. through 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stock up on handmade arts and crafts, fresh baked goods and local fruits and veggies. Bring home jams and jellies for the pantry at home, and pick up some local pottery and paintings from Rutland’s native artists. Unpack your new treasures at the Best Western hotel in Rutland.

Whether going organic in Rutland or reeling in trout near Ludlow, a summer vacation in Vermont will keep you charged for the rest of the year.