By Roger Cox

In dozens of trips through Vermont I have biked along back roads through mountains ablaze with the colors of fall foliage and hiked parts of the Long Trail as it connects the peaks of the Green Mountains. I have followed maps to white-steepled churches and nineteenth-century covered bridges, stopping at roadside farm stands for apples, berries, and late-summer corn. One warm afternoon I strolled through Frog Hollow State Craft Center in Middlebury, which exhibits the juried work of some 250 Vermont artists and craftspeople. There I ran my hands over handcrafted wooden tables, vibrant quilts, and elegant pottery and spent more money than I ever intended. On my way down Route 100 I’ve of course taken a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory and stocked up on cheddar cheese at the Cabot Creamery. From time to time I’ve been lucky and stumbled on a food or jazz or even an antique car festival.

For all that, I’ve never once gone canoeing or kayaking or fishing or horseback riding in the Green Mountain State. I’ve yet to visit Queechee Gorge, Vermont’s Grand Canyon, despite several trips to Woodstock. I can’t tell you a thing about the interiors of its historic houses. And the reason I’ve left all that and more undone has everything to do with tennis.

If you live in a city whose summers can be hot and humid, as I do, then you can understand my need to escape, preferably to a place where I can play tennis outdoors comfortably at any hour of the day. Vermont has generally warm days and cool nights even in August, and although that’s a climate it shares with many of the northern tier states, its real allure for tennis players is the quality and diversity of the tennis properties and the option of a full-scale tennis camp. Whether you want a multidimensional resort, a low-key haven for families, or an elegant inn, Vermont can satisfy your need for creature comforts at the same time as it caters to your passion for tennis.

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