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Want to enjoy budget summer fun in Vermont? FTF gives you the inside scoop on where to stay and what to do in the snow-free Mt. Snow Valley.

It's not sleek or chic like Woodstock, but there's more creative family-friendly energy throughout the year in the towns that make up the Mt. Snow Valley than any other areas I've visited in Vermont. Little known to those outside Vermont, this pocket of entrepreneurship has much to offer families in search of an authentic New England experience – it's locked in time but by no means isolated.

Families will be happy to know that "The Valley" is ably represented by a dynamic Chamber of Commerce that coordinates the activities of the six towns that make up the physical and creative geography: Wilmington, East and West Dover, Wardsboro, Marlboro, Halifax, Jacksonville and Whitingham.

Events, Eats and Emus

Route 9W from Brattleboro puts you in Wilmington, the provincial capital of "The Valley" and the home of the Chamber (877/887-6884). Annually over the Independence Day holiday, there's a moonlight hay ride across the beautiful Vermont countryside just before the gala fireworks celebration. The ride is topped off with fresh homemade strawberry shortcake. This happens at the Adams Farm (802/464-3762) in Wilmington, a perfect example of Agri-Tourism – small, working family farms that turned to tourism when the financial bottom fell out of the produce market. Carl and Jill Mancivalano do a wonderful job introducing kids and their parents to life on a real farm. In addition to the moonlight hay rides, the couple have genuine sheep-shearing days complete with yarn spinning, wool picking and carding. They sell the products made from the wool in their gift shop as well as hand creams from the goats' milk.

Then there are the sleigh rides, milking goats, haunted hayrides in October, sugaring-off and an intimate theater where the animals play their parts in various kinds of inventive and funny pantomimes and plays. The Mancivalanos do a superb job of educating families to the joys and hard work of farm life and the bonds created between humans and animals.

Toddler alert:  The petting farm is special with little picnic baskets prepared for feeding the critters.