Skiers have long known the joys of Vermont Winter in southwestern Vermont.

The Southwest region is home to historic towns like Manchester, Dorset, and Bennington, and is home to skiing at Bromley Mountain, in Peru, Vermont.

Other mountains near this area include Stratton Mountain Resort, and Magic Mountain - both only about 30 minutes from Manchester. Each has its own flavor, charm, and degrees of difficulty. Most are family-oriented, and some carry the partying into the wee hours of the night.

Follow SnoCountry's current Vermont ski reports right here on Vermont.com, then click on a resort for more details. It's Vermont Winter.

Ski it.

Snowboarding, as we know it today, began when a young man named Jake Burton Carpenter started manufacturing fiberglass snowboards out of his garage near Stratton Mountain in 1979. He was perfecting a wooden snow toy called the Snurfer invented by a guy named Sherman Popper in the 1950s.

Stratton was the first mountain resort in the country to embrace the newest snow sport that developed a culture of its own, not unlike skateboarding. Of course, Jake is the namesake of the market-leading Burton Snowboards Company, with its headquarters in Burlington.

Today, participants who ski or snowboard co-exist together on Bromley, Stratton, and Magic Mountain, all observing a national Skiers and Snowboarders Responsibility Code. Snowboarding lessons are offered at Vermont's ski schools with professional snowboard instructors.

Look for terrain parks at most resorts. These are fun places on the mountain slopes where riders - even relative beginners - can learn and practice tricks.

Snowboarding in Southwestern Vermont. Ride it.

Is snowmobiling your passion? The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) maintains a "vast" network of scenic snowmobile trails throughout the Green Mountains of Southwestern Vermont. Eighty percent of the VAST trails are on private land, so staying on those trails is very important. Snowmobiling on these private lands is indeed a privilege to be respected.

It's easy to access VAST's trails. You will need a valid trail pass, state registration, and insurance. You can also take a guided tour from one of Vermont's many snowmobile tour operators. You do not need to re-register in Vermont if you are already registered in your home state or province, but you must join a local club and purchase a trail pass.

Snowmobile Clubs in southwestern Vermont include the Green Mountain Trail Blazers in Manchester; the Rupert Ridge Runners; the Shaftsbury Sno-Pilots; the Woodford Sno-Busters; and the Weathersfield Pathfinders in Perkinsville.

Snowmobiling in Southwestern Vermont. Ride it.

Southwestern Vermont is a great place to enjoy cross country skiing. Gliding across pastures, fields, and through the woods on cross country skis is as serene or exciting as you want it to be.

The beauty of cross country skiing is you are well off the beaten path. There are more than 40 touring centers in the state, some attached to wonderful old New England inns, some are standalone recreation sites, such as the Wild Wings Cross-Country Ski Center in Peru, and some are located at alpine ski resorts. Some touring centers offer miles and miles of groomed and un-groomed trails (measured in kilometers), and others with a few comfortable loops across a meadow or easy jaunts into the woods.

Cross country skiing is easier on the family pocketbook than its downhill cousin. Why? Because there are no lifts involved, a traditional alpine "lift ticket" is not needed. That drives down operators' costs and you are the beneficiary. You only need to purchase a trail pass. Plus, you can glide for free if you don't want groomed trails and can find fields or places to ski without trespassing. Equipment and clothing also are less expensive.

Cross country skiing in Southwestern Vermont. Glide it.

You can choose to unwind or windup after your day in one of the most relaxing and romantic places in the world. Some of our favorite inns are located in the Manchester-Bennington Region: the Manchester View Inn, the Country Willows Bed & Breakfast, and the Equinox Resort & The Inns at Equinox.

Most winter days are pleasantly cold. Enjoy the sun when it pokes through beautifully once March rolls around, offering a truly delightful spring skiing experience.

And when you see the sun or moon sparkling on the Southwestern Vermont fields of snow, or glistening on Mount Equinox, the photograph in your mind never will go away. It's easy to say, "I love you" in Southwestern Vermont Winter.

Love it.