BUT FEEL FREE NOT TO VISIT:

DURING THE DAY

Most visitors to the area, especially those who bake, consider King Arthur Flour (135 Route 5, 802-299-2240, www.kingarthurflour.com, Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.- 6 p.m., Sat 8:30-6, Sun 8:30-4) a must-see. Visit the gift shop and cafe for bakeware, cooking gadgets, and cookbooks; sample the pastries and artisanal breads and have a cup of coffee; or consider enrolling in classes at the Baking Education Center. Got a yen to do a bit more shopping? Try Dan & Whit's (319 Main St., 802-649-1950, www.danandwhits.com), a renowned general store that brags, "If we don't have it, you don't need it.'' It sells regular grocery goods and hardware, meats and maple syrup, wine and woolens. Bookish? There's the Norwich Bookstore (291 Main St., 802-649-1114, www.norwichbookstore.com) a few paces farther down the road. For those looking for a little intellectual stimulation (or a place for restless kids) take a quick drive to the Montshire Museum of Science (1 Montshire Road, 802-649-2200, www.montshire.org), which features more than 125 exhibits, many of them hands-on. The exhibits, outdoor trails, and gift shop are open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Another great place to spend an afternoon is Hood Museum of Art on the Dartmouth campus in nearby Hanover (603-646-2808, www.hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu, free admission). The Hood considers itself a teaching museum that encourages direct engagement with art. Opportunities for outdoor adventure are everywhere in Vermont, no matter the season. For something new and unusual, try Nordic, Scandinavian-style ice skating on a 4.5-mile, snow-cleared loop of Lake Morey, a trail that starts at the Lake Morey Resort (1 Clubhouse Road, 800-423-1211, www.lakemoreyresort.com) in the town of Fairlee. The resort has several rinks as well, and a rental shack where one can be outfitted with hockey, figure, or Nordic skates.

AFTER DARK

Next to the Hood Museum on the Dartmouth campus is the Hopkins Center for the Arts (2 East Wheelock St., Hanover, N.H., 603-646-2422, hop.dartmouth.edu/performances), offering plays, concerts, dance productions, and films. Just as close, in White River Junction, is the Tupelo Music Hall (188 South Main St., 802-698-8341, www.tupelohallvermont.com), featuring nationally known musicians performing in various genres.

Follow @brothersjudd