Your best ally is your innkeeper. These friendly souls are virtual encyclopedias of local information and activies. But, to get you started, we thought we'd give you a few suggestions.

Here are just a few of our favorite winter fun options:

Get Out in the Snow - Even if the action of a mountain resort isn't your cup of tea, there are plenty of quieter ways to get out in the snow. Vermont's cross country ski centers offer a wide range of peaceful escapes from groomed trails over open meadows to sheltered tracks through whispering pines. Or, you can leave it all behind on a pair of lightweight snowshoes and head out into the back country.

Try Sledding Again - It's not just for kids anymore. Vermont has two companies making sleds for adults and redefining what it means to have fun in the snow. Read more about sledding in Vermont.

Go Ice Skating - Most Vermont towns and villages have a community skating rink. Your innkeeper might also be able to suggest a park or pond that the locals use for skating. You say you don't have skates - most rinks offer rentals.

Take a Sleigh Ride - Many inns and farms offer traditional horse-drawn sleigh rides, some with jingle bells!

Ride a Snowmobile - If you've never tried it, snowmobiling is easy, comfortable and surprisingly addictive.

Hit the Spa - If your idea of relaxation has nothing to do with speeding down a mountain side, slow things down with a luxurious day at the spa. Throughout the state, dozens of inns and resorts feature full service spas and fitness centers.

Watch the Dog Sled Races - The sight (and sound) of 16-dog teams racing over a frozen lake is hard to match.

See Where It's Made - Instead of killing time in the base lodge, see how Vermonters make world-class ice cream, furniture, teddy bears, blown glass, cheese, chocolate, pewter and much much more. To learn what’s in your area, use the Vermont Travel Planner or ask your innkeeper.

Catch a Concert - From jazz to folk to classical, Vermont's music scene is busy and eclectic.

Track a Moose - Walking in the woods after a fresh snow can yield countless discoveries.

Tour a Brewery - Vermont is home to dozens of micro-breweries. Some of the larger ones offer tours.

Visit a (Little) City - From Burlington to Brattleboro, Bennington to St. Johnsbury, Vermont's cities are the way cities used to be -- small, friendly and often quirky.

Hit a Sugarhouse - In late winter, the sap starts running and the sweet smell of maple fills the air.

Browse for Antiques - The selection is often comparable, and the prices better, than you'll find further south.

Try Ice Fishing - Find out why all those structures pop up on Vermont's ice-covered waters.

Walk a Covered Bridge - Vermont is home to 106 covered bridges.

Shop a Country Store - Before the shopping mall, America depended on the local general store. In Vermont, we still do.

Join a Contra Dance - In Town Halls and school gyms, the community square dance is a Vermont hallmark.

Go Outlet Shopping - Vermonters appreciate a good bargain. You'll find some of the best at outlet stores in Manchester and Essex.

Dine at a Church Supper - One of the cornerstones of Vermont's tight-knit communities, the church supper is a popular meeting place for locals and those just passing through.