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Quality of Life

Here in the Northeast Kingdom we truly enjoy a special, small-town quality of life that you can't find just anywhere. Part of our mission at NVDA is to protect, promote, and strengthen those things that enrich our lives.


Recreation

Vermont is famous around the world as a 4-season recreation destination offering natural scenic beauty. The roads are free from litter and other debris, the rivers and streams are clean, and the air quality is among the nation's best. It is a heritage that Vermonters in the Kingdom have enjoyed for generations.

 

Spring and summer provide a surprisingly nice climate with mid-summer forecasts averaging around 80 degrees and sunny. Our many bodies of water offer ample swimming, rowing, sailing, motor-boating, water skiing, and exploring. The Willoughby River is well-known for its spring run of rainbow trout. The Barton River and Black River also boast quality fishing during the spring and throughout the year. Other rivers worth exploring are theSleepers River, Moose River, and Passumpsic River.  All  are stocked annually with brook, brown and rainbow trout.

 

Our numerous hills and mountains not only create amazing scenic views but provide for endless hiking and exploring. Kingdom Trails, a multi-use trail system in Burke, offers the best mountain biking in the east, along with trails for hiking, trail running, Nordic skiing, and snow shoeing. Other seasonal recreation includes camping, road cycling, hunting, golfing, and tennis.

 

Vermont is, of course, famous for its winter sports, and the Northeast Kingdom has the best snow in the East. Burke Mountain, just east of Lyndon, has 30 trails and excellent snowmaking. It is the home of Burke Mountain Academy, a private high school and training ground for many professional ski racers. Jay Peak, further to the north, has 45 uncrowded trails and gets the most snowfall in all of New England. Cross Country and Nordic skiing are accessible all over with groomed trail centers in Burke, Greensboro, and elsewhere. Other winter recreation includes snowmobiling on the VAST system, ice fishing, ice skating, and sledding.


Culture

St. Johnsbury is the largest town in the Northeast Kingdom with a population of about 7,500. St. Johnsbury is known for architectural treasures and several remarkable institutions, from the renowned Fairbanks Museum to St. Johnsbury Academy and St. Johnsbury Athenaeum. These are mostly open to the public and regarded with justifiable pride by local citizens.

 

The region plays host to a wide variety of annual festivals and parades; everything from the weekly Farmers' Markets to the Bread and Puppet Theatre performances, to the Orleans and Caledonia County Fair. The entire region will remind you of the good-old-days, when times were simpler, and people knew their neighbors.

 

Your decision to start or relocate your business in the Northeast Kingdom would be greeted with enthusiasm by the State of Vermont and local communities. You and your family could have a significant impact on one of our close-knit communities. We invite you to make a difference.

 

For much more detailed information please visit the Northeast Kingdom Travel & Tourism Association.