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Welcome back to Scenic Six. 

This week, we’ll discuss beautiful Boston, a picturesque Christmas getaway, and the most affordable New England ski resorts this season. How does a day on the slopes for $4 sound? We’ll discuss that too.

A ‘picture-perfect’ Christmas holiday awaits in Vermont 

For those who dream of skiing for Christmas, it doesn’t get much prettier than the powder-filled slopes in Stowe, Vermont. Travel + Leisure magazine just named Stowe one of the best Christmas getaways on the planet, calling it “one of the most picture-perfect places to go for Christmas.” Travelers looking for ski-in, ski-out access can stay at the Lodge at Spruce Peak. 

Affordable skiing? Yes, please. 

Speaking of skiing, we all know the sport can be pricey. HomeToGo released a list of the most affordable ski resorts in the U.S. and three New England spots made the top 10: Maine’s Sugarloaf Mountain and Sunday River and Vermont’s Jay Peak. At Sugarloaf, the region’s most affordable, a one-day lift pass is $124 and an overnight stay is $105.37, for a total of $229.37 per person. 

Boston named a top winter getaway 

I’ve lived here for a long time and still don’t take Boston’s beauty for granted. When skating on the Frog Pond during the wintertime, I often pause to appreciate the twinkling trees and lit up city beyond. Travel publication Afar just called Boston one of the world’s most beautiful places for a winter getaway. What do you think is the most beautiful spot in Boston during the winter months?

Travel tips

• Zoo goers can stroll along tree-lined paths lit with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights at ZooLights at Stone Zoo, which kicks off Nov. 15 and runs through Jan. 5, 2025. Along the way, visitors can meet various zoo animals and attend meet and greets with Santa after Nov. 25. 
• Watch Santa come to town on a lobster boat during the 43rd annual Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport, taking place Dec. 5 to 15. The town, named one of the most fantastic Christmas destinations by Country Living, will host a street festival, caroling, crafts, fireworks, and more.  
• Ferry travelers should plan accordingly, according to the Steamship Authority, after the MV/Nantucket has been pulled from service for “unanticipated repairs.” Due to the change, vehicle reservations are on hold and online booking on the Hyannis-Nantucket route is unavailable through Nov. 17. 

Deals and Steals

• How does a day of skiing in the White Mountains for $4 sound? That’s how much it will cost skiers and riders at King Pine Ski Area in Madison, N.H. on Thursday, Dec. 19 in honor of the ski area’s Founders Day. Tickets must be reserved online ahead of time.  
• Train travelers can get from Boston to Providence, R.I. for as little as $13 this winter. It’s part of Amtrak’s winter flash sale, which is currently offering 40% off trips on coach class on some of Amtrak’s most popular trains as well as business class seats on Acela. Travel must be booked by Nov. 14.
• For those who don’t want to cook, several Boston restaurants are serving Thanksgiving dinner. Some of the more affordable spots include a turkey dinner for $35 at Lucie Drink + Dine, for $70 at Bambara Kitchen & Bar, and for $75 at Capo (which includes a full plate to go for next-day leftovers). 

I’ll leave you with this photo of a warm fall evening on the Charles River Esplanade, taken by Julie Ross.

Where have you traveled lately? Please share your photos by sending them to [email protected] and they may be featured in an upcoming Scenic Six newsletter. 

Whether you’re traveling this week or planning your next escape, enjoy the journey.

— Kristi Palma

Kristi Palma

Culture writer

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Kristi Palma is a culture writer for Boston.com, focusing on New England travel. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.

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Vermont men’s soccer solved UMBC’s stingy defense in the knick of time. The Catamounts then solved their recent conference tournament woes.

Vermont’s reward? A chance to claim the America East championship on home turf and reach the NCAA Tournament on its own terms.

Yaniv Bazini scored a late equalizer and then delivered a dazzling walk-off winner in double overtime as the No. 2-seeded Catamounts rallied past No. 3 UMBC for a 2-1 victory in front of 1,328 at Virtue Field during Wednesday’s league semifinals.

“What a player Yaniv is. He showed up. He’s a big-game player,” UVM’s eighth-year coach Rob Dow said.

Vermont, which racked up five NCAA Tournament wins over the last two seasons despite no victories in its own conference playoffs over that span, will host the America East championship game vs. No. 4 Bryant on Sunday afternoon.

The Catamounts (10-2-5) and the Bryant Bulldogs (10-5-4), who knocked off No. 1 New Hampshire in a penalty shootout Wednesday, will square off at 1 p.m. at Virtue Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

Trailing 1-0 at the break following Loc San’s finish in the 43rd minute, Vermont, of course, found the tying tally late in regulation: Bazini’s goal with less than 14 minutes to go was the team’s 14th in the 75th minute or later this season. To level the contest, Zach Barrett lifted a ball to the top of the 18 for Max Murray, who nodded toward goal for Bazini to half-volley with a chip over UMBC goalie Emigdio Lopez (nine saves).

It was the first time UMBC (8-7-4) conceded a goal in over 470 minutes.

“These are the guys that we have to go to in this time of the year,” Dow said of Barrett, Murray and Bazini. “We stayed to it and we stuck to the game plan, more guys stepped up off the bench.”

Vermont, ranked 17th in the country, finished with decided edges in shots (23-6), corners (12-0) and fouls (25-16). But the Catamounts required more late magic to avoid a penalty shootout and potentially find themselves hoping for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in the event of a loss.

“We were focusing on this semifinal game only. We’ve been playing with that type of pressure all season long,” Dow said. “That builds a team when we keep winning or we keep getting important results. So when we come into these important games, we are strong.

“It’s desire over desperation, desire to win a championship.”

Bazini’s winner arrived in the 106th minute. David Ismail played a ground pass into the box for Bazini. With his back to the goal, Bazini deftly turned in a flash to create space between two UMBC defenders before poking the ball past Lopez for the senior forward’s 25th career goal as a Catamount.

“The moment we ended our last game, we knew this was the most important (game). It’s do or die,” Bazini said. “We’ve been waiting for this moment ever since. Now we have one more.”

The Catamounts will chase their first America East tournament title since 2021 and 14th appearance overall at the NCAA Tournament. They have been to the NCAAs in each of the last three years, reaching the quarterfinals in 2022 and the Round of 16 last fall.

Catamounts reap America East Conference major awards

Senior Zach Barrett was named the defender of the year, sophomore Sydney Wathuta nabbed the top midfielder honor and the Vermont coaching staff was feted, the America East Conference announced Tuesday for its major awards.

Barrett anchored a Catamount defense that conceded a league-low five goals during conference play. Barrett is the third Catamount and first since Connor Tobin in 2008 to pick up the defender award.

Wathuta is the first player in program history to be named the league’s top midfielder. Wathuta leads America East and is third nationally with 11 assists.

UVM bench boss Rob Dow and his assistant coaches were selected as the staff of the year. Vermont earned a share of the conference’s regular-season crown for the first time since 2019. Dow is assisted by Brad Cole, Rory Twomey, Brendan Pulley and Mack Walton.

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.