Ludlow

Contrary to Weston, which is nearby, Ludlow is not a picture-perfect village centered around a common, despite having a number of notable older homes and the impressive brick Black River Academy, where a young Calvin Coolidge attended school. The incredible variety of things to do in Ludlow is what makes it so appealing. Okemo Mountain, which rises behind the town, has seven of the East's most cutting-edge terrain parks, including the longest super-pipe, and 655 acres of slopes that are crisscrossed by 121 ski trails. The Jackson Gore Inn is a superb condo-style hotel with on-site dining and easy access to the slopes, making it a great choice for ski vacationers coming to Ludlow.

The two base areas of Okemo Mountain Resort feature the Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, an NHL-grade covered skating rink, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. And that's only in the winter; there is also a golf course, mountain biking, chairlift rides, and a jam-packed calendar of events during the summer. Along with the typical sporting goods stores, the small downtown is home to craft shops, a fantastic bookshop, two bakeries, a wool store, a farmers' market, and a variety of restaurants.

Locals can be found at Buttermilk Falls, which is located above town on a side road, on hot summer days. It is a typical country swimming hole with three waterfalls that plunge into two swimming-depth pools. The hamlet of Plymouth Notch, where the 30th US President was raised on his father's farm, is almost exactly preserved by the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, located north of Ludlow. The oath of office was given by his father when word of President Harding's passing reached him. The parlor where it took place, the tiny dance hall on the second floor that served as Coolidge's "summer white house", and various farm structures can all be seen in the tiny village. Visit the farm store to try cheese that is still produced on the premises.