Pinching pennies never felt so good! Check out our picks for the best bargains in Vermont for 2015.
Historic Highlight – Best Outdoor Cinema
Sunset Drive-In, Colchester (1946)
Updates at the Queen City’s only drivein theatre, a family favorite since 1946, include four giant screens showing the first-run double feature, which begins at dusk. Mini-putt golf and a playground help amuse the kids, and the snack bar serves classic drive-in fare. Across the street, tired moviegoers can stay at the recently opened Starlight Inn, which features 11 different movie-themed rooms. Adults $8; children 12 and under $2.50.
155 Porter Point Road. 802-862-1800;
sunsetdrivein.com
Best Free Concert Series
Jackson Gore Summer Music Series, Ludlow
Pack a picnic and chairs for Okemo Mountain Resort’s free Friday-night summer concerts, featuring music by local and regional bands. They’re held in the courtyard of the Jackson Gore Inn; gates open at 5:00 p.m.
111 Jackson Gore Road. 802-228-1600;
okemo.com
Best State Wide Weekend
Vermont Days
Take a big bite of Vermont without even nibbling at your wallet: Free admission is offered at all of Vermont’s state parks (day use), historic sites, and the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier on June 13 and 14 this year; fishing is license-free on Saturday.
800-837-6668;
vermontdays.com
Best Annual Sale
Burton Snowboards Tent Sale, Burlington
Boarders and non-boarders alike camp out in the parking lot Thursday night to get first crack at equipment and clothing savings of up to 70 percent. The sale runs for three days on a late- August weekend; check the Web site for exact dates.
80 Industrial Way. 802-862-4500;
burton.com
Best Free Art Gallery
Yester House, Manchester
The works of hundreds of regional artists are exhibited and for sale in the 10 elegant galleries and hallways of this Georgian Revival mansion, which serves as headquarters for the Southern Vermont Arts Center. Annual and invitational exhibitions are also launched here, and admission is always free.
930 SVAC Drive (off West Road). 802-362-1405;
svac.org
