The maple trees that paint New England’s hillsides red and gold in the fall have another gift in the late winter for those embarking on family travel. As the days begin to lengthen in late February and March, sap begins to rise and it’s time to tap trees and collect it for syrup.
It’s a time-honored tradition in northern New England to visit a sugar house, watch the sap boil, inhale the sweet aromas and sample the product, maybe taking home a jug or two — or at least a box of maple creams. Maple sugaring season offers visitors the chance to get out in the fresh air and is a good excuse for couples to take a sweet weekend getaway.
Combine visiting maple sugar farms with a weekend at a cozy B&B or country inn — your host will certainly know where to find them nearby. If they are boiling sap, most sugar house owners welcome you to see how syrup is made and sample a little. Some farms have trails through the groves, some even offer horse-drawn rides to the sugar house, and many offer hot cider or cocoa on special weekends.
In southern Maine, you’ll find several sugar houses near Kennebunkport, where the Waldo Emerson Inn is a cozy art-filled hideaway with lots of history. Chase Farms in Wells and Maple House Farm in Waterboro are nearby and Kennebunkport’s cute village center is filled with shops and galleries to browse.
In New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the village of Intervale is just north of North Conway, and home to 100-Acre Wood Sugar Shack, where the whole month of March is Maple Month. After sampling warm, just-made syrup, you can learn more about the process on a self-guided tour of the trails next to the sugar shack.
In nearby Jackson, where you’ll find Black Mountain Sugar House (and Black Mountain ski area if you want to get in a little spring skiing), The Inn at Thorn Hill is a luxurious place to stay, with a restaurant and spa, as well.
As you’d expect, the Vermont hills are peppered with maple farms, and one of the biggest is Sugarbush Farm in Woodstock, with about 8,500 trees. You can taste and compare four grades of syrup, along with the farm’s cheese, and watch both being produced. The Jackson House Inn is a good choice for a weekend stay in Woodstock.
For more sugar houses to visit, and the dates of special maple weekends and events, see the maple producers’ websites for Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Oct 10, 2024SeaWorld Orlando Unveils World’s First Fully Immersive Arctic Flying Theater
Family travelers, prepare for the spring 2025 opening of Seaworld Orlando’s latest groundbreaking attractions: the world’s first-of-its-kind Arctic flying theater. Families will fly over icy landscapes and also descend frozen waters to come nose-to-nose with the world’s creatures, like Beluga whales, Orcas and walruses. Housed indoors, the attraction operates rain or shine.
Sponsored Content
Sunflower Accessibility Program Featured at O’Hare and Midway Airports
Travelers with invisible disabilities passing through O’Hare and Midway International Airports can now discreetly signal they need assistance thanks to a new Chicago Department of Aviation partnership that helps create more accessible and inclusive spaces.
Slideshow
Oct 10, 20248 Haunted U.S. Cities for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through these haunted U.S. Cities with us.
Hotels
Oct 10, 2024This Resort Just Launched a “Cravings Menu” for Expecting Mothers
With babymoons on the rise, treat yourself to one last getaway before all your trips become centered around family. More and more resorts and hotels create babymoon packages, but Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resort take it to the next level by catering to guests’ pregnancy cravings while they are on their trip. A new 24/7 Cravings Menu is now available at all resorts across the Caribbean from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to Jamaica to Turks & Caicos to Grenada and beyond.
Sponsored Content
Share Miles with Family and Friends with United Airlines
As you look ahead to winter travel, United Airlines and its MileagePlus loyalty program introduced MileagePlus miles pooling, which allows members to contribute and combine miles into a joint account. Groups of up to five members can now share and redeem miles in one linked account. As the first and only major U.S. airline to offer this feature, United also allows any MileagePlus member, whether relatives or close friends, to be in a pool with other members.
Destinations / Europe
Oct 9, 2024Don’t Miss These 4 Family-Friendly Attractions in Hamburg, Germany
A visit to Germany can mean something different depending on the city you visit. Cologne has its massive Catholic cathedrals, Bremen is the place to be if you want a fairy-tale vibe, and Berlin is the perfect place to explore if you want to experience a melting pot of cultures and musical influences. But if you are looking for an all-around destination that gives you fascinating architecture, beautiful nature and plenty of family fun, be sure to add Hamburg to your next itinerary where there is something for the kid in all of us.
ShareThis