For glorious views of the Mad River Valley, hike to the summit of Lincoln Peak at Sugarbush and picnic at the Observation Tower. In the winter, ride the Heaven’s Gate chairlift, unload and hike about 30 yards to your left. In the summer, ride the Bravo chairlift and hike up the winding Jester trail. Once at the platform it’s time to indulge in your picnic of choice: chilled rose and caviar from The Taste Place? Craft beers and cheeses from Von Trapps? Meatball subs from Mehuron’s paired with fresh mountain water? Enjoy the sun and the spiraling hawks as you reach for your honey’s hand and kiss it.

What’s more romantic than a driving tour of the Mad River Valley covered bridges? Stop, park, stroll, kiss, and repeat. Start in Warren and check out the Warren Bridge. Continue your tour at the Big Eddy Bridge in Waitsfield -- the oldest continuously operating covered bridge in the state. Complete the tour a little farther south at the tiny Pine Brook Bridge on North Road just past the Trembly road intersection.

The Sunset Ledge hike is popular for a reason. Not too long (1.3 miles), not too steep (400 foot elevation gain), and a beautiful view from the top. To add romance, pack a rucksack with wine, local cheeses, and headlamps for the hike down. Start hiking two hours before sunset and toast your sweetheart from the summit as the sun sets over the Adirondacks in the west.

While there are hiking trails galore in the Mad River Valley, not everyone has the ability or inclination to tackle a strenuous uphill climb. Thanks to the good people at the Mad River Path, there’s an easier way.

The Mad River Path is a series of continuous walking trails connecting the towns of Warren, Waitsfield, Fayston, and Moretown. Choose a flat trail that borders the Mad River, an elevated boardwalk that passes a beaver dam, or find your own favorite.

If you feel as if you’ve already “done” all the paths, think again. Each section is unique and ever-changing with the seasons. And the path network continues to expand, with the recently opened one-mile Spaulding Greenway trail inviting people of all abilities to stroll through active farmland along the Mad River.

Search the Mad River Path trail map and plan your next adventure!

The Valley is full of artists of all types, including many musicians. Most weekends, and some weekdays, you can listen, dance, or drink to live music. Check out these venues:

—Emily’s Bar and Bistro offers live music most Saturdays and occasional Karaoke on Mondays

—Lawson’s Finest Liquids Taproom often has live bands on Tuesdays

—Mount Ellen’s upstairs Green Mountain Lounge has bands on many Thursdays and Saturdays (when Mount Ellen is open)

—CastleRock Pub at Sugarbush livens most Saturdays and many holidays in winter (and try the Wunderbar, too!)

—Phantom Theater presents a mix of live music (and theater) throughout the summer

In addition, follow the MRV Chamber of Commerce calendar to find live music and other events throughout the Valley.

Near the covered bridge in Waitsfield, you’ll find Sweet Spot, a tiny place home to oversized flavors in the pastries they bake, the coffee beans they roast, and the inventive cocktails they craft. Choose your treat (or treats) and sit with your honey at an outdoor table or on a blanket along the banks of the Mad River and relax to the sounds of the bubbling waters.

Are you looking for an adventure to set your heart aflutter? Would you like to experience the beauty of the Mad River Valley from an entirely new perspective? Then look no farther than Warren-Sugarbush airport.

Book a 20- or 30-minute flight with Sugarbush Soaring and an FAA-certified commercial flight instructor will take you aloft in one of the club’s high-performance sailplanes. Your heart can’t help but soar as the aircraft releases from the tow plane, banks right, and the panorama of the Mad River Valley and beyond spreads before you. There’s no engine noise to detract from the beauty, only the whistle of the plane’s long fiberglass wings slicing through the air.

To learn more about soaring and to book a scenic flight, visit: Sugarbush Soaring.

Blueberry Lake is warm and calm (well, compared to the Mad River), and a perfect spot for a picnic or water adventure. Bring your own float, canoe, kayak or paddleboard or rent one from Clearwater Sports. This fresh-water lake has a sandy shallow entry, but gets deep enough for a dive once you get into the water. The nearly 400 acres around the lake are protected by the Green Mountain National Forest, so there are quiet and romantic spots galore for strolling hand in hand around the lake or floating hand in hand on top of it.

For a refreshing romantic dip, blow up your inner tube and take a float down the Mad River. Park your car in the lot behind The Sweet Spot (and treat yourself to an iced coffee or cocktail–available most afternoons), and “put in.” Try the easy run from Rocky Beach to the bridge, or take a two-to-three hour float from the covered bridge to a pull out where the river flows under Tremblay Road. Check the water speed and height here. If you decide on the full trip, note that it’s slow and sleepy and often shallow, so wear your water shoes for wading and use a waterproof case for your phone. Whichever dip you take, make sure to splash and laugh.

Have you heard of disc golf? Or frisbee golf as some people call it? It’s a perfect outdoor adventure for you and your honey. Similar to traditional golf, disc golf takes place on a course with the objective to land the disc into a target basket (instead of a golf ball into a hole). Throw your disc, walk, throw, repeat until the disc chings against the chains. If you are competitive types, play one-on-one. If you prefer cooperation, play “best disc,” optimizing the team score. Mandatory kisses on every par. To play in the Valley, put some snacks and beverages in your backpack, lace up your hiking shoes, and enjoy the hills and valleys of the mountainside course at Sugarbush.

Once the snow has melted, take your honey and head to the lush green links of the Sugarbush Golf Club. Enjoy the driving range, a head-to-head match, or for a real treat take a couples private lesson with golf pro Roger King. Tell him Mad River Romance sent you 😉. Roger’s expertise smoothes the edges of your game almost as well as the drinks you can enjoy at Hogan’s Pub when your round is complete.

Theater in the Mad River Valley can be thought-provoking, humorous, intense, professional, or amateur–sometimes all in the same production. During the summer, you and your honey can enjoy Phantom Theater plays, music, dance, and The Moth productions in an ancient barn. For nearly year-round entertainment, try the cozy theater space of the Valley Players on Main Street. No matter which production or venue you choose, you and your date will always have plenty to talk about afterward! Description goes here

Mid-November means deer hunting season for many Vermonters. You might be readying for a generations-old annual event, or you might be a newbie exploring the sport. You might rise early and venture into the mist. Or maybe you travel to your “camp” for rugged off-grid living. If you are lucky, there is fresh snow on the ground to help with the tracking. If not, you look for evidence, closely observing the wonder of the forest and its inhabitants. Hunting is an adventure that requires training, a license, and a lot of planning. It can be a powerful way to experience nature while helping to manage the deer population and fill your freezer with delicious venison.

Whether wearing downhill skis, cross-country skis, or snowshoes, the footwear isn’t as important as the thrill you’ll get exploring the Mad River Valley’s vast trail network. Downhill ski at Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen resorts. Go “old school” at the famous “ski it if you can” Mad River Glen. Snowshoe or cross-country ski on the trails at Ole’s or Blueberry Lake. Reward your efforts with hot cocoa or rum-spiked apple cider by the fire and rest up to do it all over again the next day.

If the wind is blowing too hard to downhill ski, or your muscles are protesting another cross-country adventure, then it may be time to explore another fun way to play outside in winter: grab your honey by the hand and head to the Skatium.

This outdoor ice rink is just off Route 100 in Waitsfield, near Shaw’s grocery store. Half of the rink is for skaters exclusively, and the other half is for hockey players. Weather permitting, the rink is open every day for skating enthusiasts of all abilities.

Skates are available to rent, and those who need their skates sharpened can get them tuned up right there.

Before you go, call (802) 496-8845 to confirm hours or check facebook.com/skatium for updated ice conditions and opening times.

40 Slow Rd Waitsfield, VT 05673

Enjoy the gentle swoosh of skis in a quiet wood as you and your honey cross-country ski on the groomed trails, rolling hills, and flat plains of Ole’s Cross Country Ski Center or Blueberry Lake Cross Country and Snowshoeing Center. With the slower pace of this sport, you have time to appreciate the views of the distant mountains at Ole’s or the pines iced with snow at Blueberry Lake. Also known as nordic skiing, this sport is the peaceful cousin of downhill skiing. It’s easy to learn, with one lesson usually sufficient to teach you either the classic (shuffling) or the skating (faster) techniques. And it’s a perfect sport for days when the downhill resorts are too cold, too windy, or too hectic. Not to mention it’s a great workout. Go enjoy!

(Photo credit: Ole’s)

Once the snow begins to fall in earnest, the entire state of Vermont becomes a playground. Buy, rent, or borrow two sets of snowshoes, strap them on, and you and your main squeeze are ready to experience the beauty of the forest from an entirely new perspective. You’ll find snowshoe trails aplenty throughout the Mad River Valley. Check out the trails at Ole’s Cross Country Ski Center, Sugarbush Resort, Blueberry Lake, and Mad River Glen. If you’d like to get off of the beaten path and are looking for an adventure that pegs the romance meter at 100, book a guided moonlight backcountry tour through Clearwater Sports. They’ll provide snowshoes and poles, you provide the romance.

Take your honey on a quirky, eclectic adventure at the Mad River Glen ski area, an iconic skiers’ mountain. The runs are challenging off the one-of-a-kind Single chair, downright calm off the Birdland chair — two mountains in one. Runs from both chairs offer woods drops and winding trails where the two of you can feel alone together. Treat yourself and your partner to a home-baked raspberry square in the Basebox at lunch time, and when your quads are done for the day, order a limited edition “Still Single” Lawson’s brew in the bar and toast to your glorious day.

The historic timbers of the famous Round Barn in Waitsfield have hosted everything from draft horses to high-heeled debutantes. Hold your commitment ceremony in the milking parlor and reception in the hayloft for a memorable, elegantly rustic celebration sure to charm.

Still have energy left after skiing, skating, or skinning? Try sledding–yet another great way to enjoy winter in our beautiful Valley! While there are no tubing parks in the local area, everything you need for an exhilarating ride is right here in the Valley.

You’ll find plenty of sleds for purchase at Bisbee’s Ace Hardware Store, Kenyon’s Variety, or Clearwater Sports. If you want to go hyper-local, consider a Mad River Rocket, a super-fast sled that was designed right here in the Valley You can purchase one online or at Clearwater Sports.

Once you have your sled of choice in hand, find a slope! The Sugarbush Golf Course has lots of slopes and parking options. The main clubhouse (on Golf Course Road) is the place to start for gentle slopes. For more aggressive pitches, try along West Hill Road.

When you’re ready for more extreme sledding, try Lincoln Gap Road. Closed from November to March, the long curvy stretch of road is perfect for skinning, hiking, and break-neck sledding. Helmets strongly encouraged!

For glorious views of the Mad River Valley, hike to the summit of Lincoln Peak at Sugarbush and picnic at the Observation Tower. In the winter, ride the Heaven’s Gate chairlift, unload and hike about 30 yards to your left. In the summer, ride the Bravo chairlift and hike up the winding Jester trail. Once at the platform it’s time to indulge in your picnic of choice: chilled rose and caviar from The Taste Place? Craft beers and cheeses from Von Trapps? Meatball subs from Mehuron’s paired with fresh mountain water? Enjoy the sun and the spiraling hawks as you reach for your honey’s hand and kiss it.

What’s more romantic than a driving tour of the Mad River Valley covered bridges? Stop, park, stroll, kiss, and repeat. Start in Warren and check out the Warren Bridge. Continue your tour at the Big Eddy Bridge in Waitsfield -- the oldest continuously operating covered bridge in the state. Complete the tour a little farther south at the tiny Pine Brook Bridge on North Road just past the Trembly road intersection.

The Sunset Ledge hike is popular for a reason. Not too long (1.3 miles), not too steep (400 foot elevation gain), and a beautiful view from the top. To add romance, pack a rucksack with wine, local cheeses, and headlamps for the hike down. Start hiking two hours before sunset and toast your sweetheart from the summit as the sun sets over the Adirondacks in the west.

While there are hiking trails galore in the Mad River Valley, not everyone has the ability or inclination to tackle a strenuous uphill climb. Thanks to the good people at the Mad River Path, there’s an easier way.

The Mad River Path is a series of continuous walking trails connecting the towns of Warren, Waitsfield, Fayston, and Moretown. Choose a flat trail that borders the Mad River, an elevated boardwalk that passes a beaver dam, or find your own favorite.

If you feel as if you’ve already “done” all the paths, think again. Each section is unique and ever-changing with the seasons. And the path network continues to expand, with the recently opened one-mile Spaulding Greenway trail inviting people of all abilities to stroll through active farmland along the Mad River.

Search the Mad River Path trail map and plan your next adventure!

The Valley is full of artists of all types, including many musicians. Most weekends, and some weekdays, you can listen, dance, or drink to live music. Check out these venues:

—Emily’s Bar and Bistro offers live music most Saturdays and occasional Karaoke on Mondays

—Lawson’s Finest Liquids Taproom often has live bands on Tuesdays

—Mount Ellen’s upstairs Green Mountain Lounge has bands on many Thursdays and Saturdays (when Mount Ellen is open)

—CastleRock Pub at Sugarbush livens most Saturdays and many holidays in winter (and try the Wunderbar, too!)

—Phantom Theater presents a mix of live music (and theater) throughout the summer

In addition, follow the MRV Chamber of Commerce calendar to find live music and other events throughout the Valley.

Near the covered bridge in Waitsfield, you’ll find Sweet Spot, a tiny place home to oversized flavors in the pastries they bake, the coffee beans they roast, and the inventive cocktails they craft. Choose your treat (or treats) and sit with your honey at an outdoor table or on a blanket along the banks of the Mad River and relax to the sounds of the bubbling waters.

Are you looking for an adventure to set your heart aflutter? Would you like to experience the beauty of the Mad River Valley from an entirely new perspective? Then look no farther than Warren-Sugarbush airport.

Book a 20- or 30-minute flight with Sugarbush Soaring and an FAA-certified commercial flight instructor will take you aloft in one of the club’s high-performance sailplanes. Your heart can’t help but soar as the aircraft releases from the tow plane, banks right, and the panorama of the Mad River Valley and beyond spreads before you. There’s no engine noise to detract from the beauty, only the whistle of the plane’s long fiberglass wings slicing through the air.

To learn more about soaring and to book a scenic flight, visit: Sugarbush Soaring.

Blueberry Lake is warm and calm (well, compared to the Mad River), and a perfect spot for a picnic or water adventure. Bring your own float, canoe, kayak or paddleboard or rent one from Clearwater Sports. This fresh-water lake has a sandy shallow entry, but gets deep enough for a dive once you get into the water. The nearly 400 acres around the lake are protected by the Green Mountain National Forest, so there are quiet and romantic spots galore for strolling hand in hand around the lake or floating hand in hand on top of it.

For a refreshing romantic dip, blow up your inner tube and take a float down the Mad River. Park your car in the lot behind The Sweet Spot (and treat yourself to an iced coffee or cocktail–available most afternoons), and “put in.” Try the easy run from Rocky Beach to the bridge, or take a two-to-three hour float from the covered bridge to a pull out where the river flows under Tremblay Road. Check the water speed and height here. If you decide on the full trip, note that it’s slow and sleepy and often shallow, so wear your water shoes for wading and use a waterproof case for your phone. Whichever dip you take, make sure to splash and laugh.

Have you heard of disc golf? Or frisbee golf as some people call it? It’s a perfect outdoor adventure for you and your honey. Similar to traditional golf, disc golf takes place on a course with the objective to land the disc into a target basket (instead of a golf ball into a hole). Throw your disc, walk, throw, repeat until the disc chings against the chains. If you are competitive types, play one-on-one. If you prefer cooperation, play “best disc,” optimizing the team score. Mandatory kisses on every par. To play in the Valley, put some snacks and beverages in your backpack, lace up your hiking shoes, and enjoy the hills and valleys of the mountainside course at Sugarbush.

Once the snow has melted, take your honey and head to the lush green links of the Sugarbush Golf Club. Enjoy the driving range, a head-to-head match, or for a real treat take a couples private lesson with golf pro Roger King. Tell him Mad River Romance sent you 😉. Roger’s expertise smoothes the edges of your game almost as well as the drinks you can enjoy at Hogan’s Pub when your round is complete.

Theater in the Mad River Valley can be thought-provoking, humorous, intense, professional, or amateur–sometimes all in the same production. During the summer, you and your honey can enjoy Phantom Theater plays, music, dance, and The Moth productions in an ancient barn. For nearly year-round entertainment, try the cozy theater space of the Valley Players on Main Street. No matter which production or venue you choose, you and your date will always have plenty to talk about afterward! Description goes here

Mid-November means deer hunting season for many Vermonters. You might be readying for a generations-old annual event, or you might be a newbie exploring the sport. You might rise early and venture into the mist. Or maybe you travel to your “camp” for rugged off-grid living. If you are lucky, there is fresh snow on the ground to help with the tracking. If not, you look for evidence, closely observing the wonder of the forest and its inhabitants. Hunting is an adventure that requires training, a license, and a lot of planning. It can be a powerful way to experience nature while helping to manage the deer population and fill your freezer with delicious venison.

Whether wearing downhill skis, cross-country skis, or snowshoes, the footwear isn’t as important as the thrill you’ll get exploring the Mad River Valley’s vast trail network. Downhill ski at Sugarbush’s Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen resorts. Go “old school” at the famous “ski it if you can” Mad River Glen. Snowshoe or cross-country ski on the trails at Ole’s or Blueberry Lake. Reward your efforts with hot cocoa or rum-spiked apple cider by the fire and rest up to do it all over again the next day.

If the wind is blowing too hard to downhill ski, or your muscles are protesting another cross-country adventure, then it may be time to explore another fun way to play outside in winter: grab your honey by the hand and head to the Skatium.

This outdoor ice rink is just off Route 100 in Waitsfield, near Shaw’s grocery store. Half of the rink is for skaters exclusively, and the other half is for hockey players. Weather permitting, the rink is open every day for skating enthusiasts of all abilities.

Skates are available to rent, and those who need their skates sharpened can get them tuned up right there.

Before you go, call (802) 496-8845 to confirm hours or check facebook.com/skatium for updated ice conditions and opening times.

40 Slow Rd Waitsfield, VT 05673

Enjoy the gentle swoosh of skis in a quiet wood as you and your honey cross-country ski on the groomed trails, rolling hills, and flat plains of Ole’s Cross Country Ski Center or Blueberry Lake Cross Country and Snowshoeing Center. With the slower pace of this sport, you have time to appreciate the views of the distant mountains at Ole’s or the pines iced with snow at Blueberry Lake. Also known as nordic skiing, this sport is the peaceful cousin of downhill skiing. It’s easy to learn, with one lesson usually sufficient to teach you either the classic (shuffling) or the skating (faster) techniques. And it’s a perfect sport for days when the downhill resorts are too cold, too windy, or too hectic. Not to mention it’s a great workout. Go enjoy!

(Photo credit: Ole’s)

Once the snow begins to fall in earnest, the entire state of Vermont becomes a playground. Buy, rent, or borrow two sets of snowshoes, strap them on, and you and your main squeeze are ready to experience the beauty of the forest from an entirely new perspective. You’ll find snowshoe trails aplenty throughout the Mad River Valley. Check out the trails at Ole’s Cross Country Ski Center, Sugarbush Resort, Blueberry Lake, and Mad River Glen. If you’d like to get off of the beaten path and are looking for an adventure that pegs the romance meter at 100, book a guided moonlight backcountry tour through Clearwater Sports. They’ll provide snowshoes and poles, you provide the romance.

Take your honey on a quirky, eclectic adventure at the Mad River Glen ski area, an iconic skiers’ mountain. The runs are challenging off the one-of-a-kind Single chair, downright calm off the Birdland chair — two mountains in one. Runs from both chairs offer woods drops and winding trails where the two of you can feel alone together. Treat yourself and your partner to a home-baked raspberry square in the Basebox at lunch time, and when your quads are done for the day, order a limited edition “Still Single” Lawson’s brew in the bar and toast to your glorious day.

The historic timbers of the famous Round Barn in Waitsfield have hosted everything from draft horses to high-heeled debutantes. Hold your commitment ceremony in the milking parlor and reception in the hayloft for a memorable, elegantly rustic celebration sure to charm.

Still have energy left after skiing, skating, or skinning? Try sledding–yet another great way to enjoy winter in our beautiful Valley! While there are no tubing parks in the local area, everything you need for an exhilarating ride is right here in the Valley.

You’ll find plenty of sleds for purchase at Bisbee’s Ace Hardware Store, Kenyon’s Variety, or Clearwater Sports. If you want to go hyper-local, consider a Mad River Rocket, a super-fast sled that was designed right here in the Valley You can purchase one online or at Clearwater Sports.

Once you have your sled of choice in hand, find a slope! The Sugarbush Golf Course has lots of slopes and parking options. The main clubhouse (on Golf Course Road) is the place to start for gentle slopes. For more aggressive pitches, try along West Hill Road.

When you’re ready for more extreme sledding, try Lincoln Gap Road. Closed from November to March, the long curvy stretch of road is perfect for skinning, hiking, and break-neck sledding. Helmets strongly encouraged!