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Inn to Inn Winter Vacations

Brandon, Vermont - January 18, 2008

While it's a far cry from a day at the spa and a night in a four-star hotel, this outdoor getaway is exactly what these adventurous travelers were looking for.

"It's outdoors. We get dinners made for us, gourmet breakfasts, no work," said trip participant Carissa Gabarow from New Jersey.

"We were looking for something where we could go to a couple of inns, but just park the car once and have all the work taken care of," added Tim Lawlor from Virginia.

Outdoor company REI kicked off it's first ever Vermont winter inn to inn outdoor trip. Participants will spend the next three days hiking and snowshoeing through quiet forests and silent snowfall, from one Vermont inn to another.

"I think people love the idea of doing something a little physically active during the day, getting out in nature, going to an area very rich in history," said REI guide Deborah Lewis.

Lewis has been guiding outdoor trips like this one for the past eight years. She says the participants come from all over the United States, most looking for a short escape from reality.

"I think the second you exit the front door of the inn you're away from it all, so I think there's an ability for people with busy schedules to get that away from it all feeling," said Lewis.

The all-inclusive trip costs about $900 per person.

"You could certainly do this on your own for less, but you wouldn't get the benefit of a guide telling you history along the way," said Gabarow.

REI says participation in its winter trips has more than tripled over the past three years. The increased demands for weekend getaways has prompted REI to expand their vacation offerings. Most trips combine outdoor recreation with a little self indulgence.

"Last night we got salmon and this morning we had homemade pancakes and sausage," said Erin Abernachy from Virginia.

And it's that combination that trip participants say make these vacations hard to forget.

Keagan Harsha - WCAX News