Vermont Adventures Day 4b

Stowe, Vermont, is in the heart of the Green Mountains and is home to the highest peak in Vermont, Mt. Mansfield.  At just over 4300' feet it really isn't all that huge in comparison with other mountains, but it seems pretty big to this Ohio girl!

On Sunday, June 25, Cousin and I left our hotel room in Burlington and headed for Stowe - destination: Von Trapp Family Resort.  Yes, Von Trapp as in The Sound of Music.  I had driven by the lodge when I drove through with my parents in 1988, but we didn't stay there.

Click here to see more of my photos of the lodge exterior and surrounding views

Stowe is basically a ski resort town, and there are several large ski resorts there.  They have all embraced summer activities to keep the tourists coming even though there is no skiing to be done.  The other bigger resorts are geared very much toward children with lots of "kid friendly" activities, like rock-climbing walls and zip lines and pools with lots of slides and stuff.  The Von Trapp lodge is more adult oriented, and that is one of the many reasons we enjoyed it.  One of their specialties in the winter is cross-country skiing, so they have some large flat areas where they teach c-c skiing.  They also have some flatter trails through the woods.  The resort is high with great views, both looking down and up.  I think it is the absolute perfect location!!  We both enjoyed our time there very much and would go back, for sure!

The night we arrived, we had a lovely dinner in the dining room.  I had a delicious apetizer with strawberries in, and then baked cod on a bed of spinach with a sort of hollandaise sauce.  Caramel ice cream for desert.  YUM!

After dinner, we headed down to their small assembly room where they show movies every night.  This evening's presentation was Iron Will (Disney 1994).  Neither of us were familiar with it, but we really enjoyed it.  It is about a young man who entered a dog sled race to win money to save his family's farm.

We were both thrilled with our new accommodations and looking forward to a fun week in Stowe.  Keep reading.... more info on the way!

:)Amy

Vermont Adventures Day 4a

Sunday, June 25 - having explored Burlington, we decided to head out to a suburb to visit the Vermont State Quilt Festival.  WOW!  This was held at the Essex Junction Expo Center (Fair Grounds).  It was a huge exhibit!

Here are my favorites:

This "Women Rulers" quilt also had more on the back (which I regretfully neglected to photograph).
It very clearly makes a statement and is so impressive!

The detail and hand work of this quilt is amazing and inspiring.  Embroidery, overlays... it is all just incredible and so well done!  The woman who made this said it took her 6 years and got her through a lot of tough things in her life including divorce and illness.

In this next one, I love the detail and the accuracy.   The quilter created a map of Vermont showing counties and highways and attractions.  It is very detailed and well done!

Click here to see more of my photos of the Quilt Show

In addition to the many quilts that had been entered, there was an exhibit of historic quilts, and each room in the exhibit hall was lined with vendors selling material, kits, machines, supplies - just about everything you can imagine that is quilt related or that an aspiring quilter might want! I can't wait to get started on the geranium project kit I bought.  It comes with all the materials I need except a needle!

This day was a transition day.  Once we returned to the hotel from the Quilt Fest, we checked out and headed for the second phase of our trip in Stowe.  See the next entry for part b of this day.

:)Amy

Vermont Adventures Day 3

Saturday, June 24 start with rainy drizzle after rain most of the night, but even when I got up at 8:30, I could see a hint of a blue sky in the west.  A clearing sky was on its way across the lake.  By 10 am, it was a lovely sunny day, so my cousin and I set out to walk the sidewalk across the street heading to Battery Park.  Because we were walking parallel to the lake, we were on mostly level ground - THANK YOU!

Please click on this link to see more of my photos from Battery Park

After our vigorous walk, we decided to go back up to Church St to visit the section we hadn't made it to yet.  I was struck by the number of "wordly" shops - places selling fair-trade products from under-developed nations.   I also discovered Lake Champlain Chocolates.  MMMMMMMMM!

Lunch was at a French Restaurant on Church St.  We got a lovely table by an open air window in a quiet little vestibule.  

                 

                 

It was there that I had probably the best meal of my entire trip, and it is so simple it boggles the mind.... grilled peach and brie on a panini.  WHAT?!  Who knew you could make a sandwich out of fruit?  I savored every bite!  (You know I never used to think I would be that person that takes pics of my food on my phone, but here you go!)

                         

After more browsing and shopping, we got to walk downhill back to the hotel and rest up for dinner at another French place called Bistro de Margot.  At this lovely restaurant, I got a more traditional meal of Steak Frites, of course with the requisite chocolate loveliness at the end.

                         

On this night, I went to sleep very happy that I'd managed to log over 11,000 steps on my pedometer and got to enjoy two lovely meals in French restaurants.  Does it get any better?

:)Amy

Vermont Adventures Day 2

Friday, June 23 brought rain, rain, and more rain.  It was a perfect day to plan an indoor adventure which is exactly what we had lined up!

From the beginning of my trip research into things to see and do in Burlington, the Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain was at the top of my list.

                        

What first attracted me to the Center was the announcement on their website of Butterflies Live!  Indeed they do have many beautiful butterflies!  Being in the aviary with them was a totally delightful experience!

                          

 

The highlight of the Butterfly exhibit was when a large, gorgeous blue beauty landed on my cousin's purse strap!  It was evidently attracted to her orange coat.  It rested there for several minutes before it started walking up the strap. She was relieved that it flew away before it got up to her face!

  

The other huge attraction for me at the center was the large collection of Turts!  I love me my turts!  The Echo Center has a rescue program for the soft shell turtles that are native to Lake Champlain.  They bring them inside the center to over-winter them in a safe environment and let the babies hatch, then they release them into the wild in early summer.  We missed this year's release by 2 days.  

2 DAYS!!  

Here are the soft shell turtles that we got to see.  The big guy has a shell the size of a dinner plate, and he seemed quite content to let the other turts in his tank walk around on him:

 

Click here to see more of my photos from the Echo Center

Click here to go to the Echo Center's informative website

As we left the Echo Center, it was time for Brunch, so we stopped at The Skinny Pancake on our way back up the hill to our hotel.  This restaurant is very "Vermonty" - very interested in locally sourced ingredients and healthy eating.  Here is the website where you can see a photo of the one we stopped at and look at the menu:  Burlington's Skinny Pancake

I enjoyed my food there, but the atmosphere was a little hectic which was sort of disappointing.  You order at a counter (kind of like at Panera Bread), but if you are not familiar with the large menu, it is a bit of a challenge to order quickly when people are waiting behind you.  The interior was also a little dark and noisy.  I had a Ramble Panini: Local ham, Cabot cheddar, apples, red onions and chipotle aioli on housemade focaccia with a side salad.     It was very good.  Also, the Spinach/Artichoke Dip that my cousin and I shared was yummy. 

After lunch, a stop at the shop next door, again, was very "Vermonty" - The Peace and Justice Center  - where I picked up a few interesting finds.  

We walked back UPHILL to our hotel where we regrouped and headed back UPHILL, through an indoor mall and ultimately to the Church Street Marketplace.  If you don't like walking uphill and downhill, don't plan on walking in Burlington.  All roads that are perpendicular to the lake are hills (down to the lake), and some of them are very steep.  To a girl who has lived and walked in Ohio all her life, this whole "hill" thing is kinda new!  My knees complained a bit, but they survived!  (Thank you Ibuprofen!) Yes, I know, my favorite state of Vermont is very hilly and mountainous.  I GET IT! 

The Church Street Marketplace is THE place to shop in Burlington.  It is a 4 block long street that is closed to traffic and is lined on both sides with the most interesting shops!  There are also many restaurants which have outdoor seating when the weather cooperates.  

Click here to see more of my photos of the Church Street Marketplace

Here is a link to the website for the district 

My favorite stop was Frog Hollow Vermont Craft Center.  All of the merchandise displayed inside is artwork by Vermont Artists.  I could have spent a lot more time and money than I did!  

Click here to go to the shop's website

                      

                      

I also discovered a local musician named Spencer Lewis and I will be getting some of his music as well.  Click on the link below to listen to a few samples.

Click here to listen to a sample of some of his music that I like

Dinner this evening was at a lovely upscale restaurant called Bleu Northeast Seafood.  We knew it was close, but we sort of got lost trying to find it because we didn't realize it was IN the lobby of the hotel next to ours - the Courtyard at Marriott.  DUH!  Anyway, the search was worth it because dinner was amazing!  I started my meal with a lovely seafood chowder which had bacon on top - reminding me that everything really IS better with bacon.  Then, I got adventurous and tried swordfish steak for the first time.  It was grilled, and it tasted almost exactly like steak!  I LOVED IT!  It was on a bed of tomatoey and olivey goodness as well!  

                        

Then what has to bring a lovely end to a lovely upscale meal but a lovely decadent chocolate hazelnut cake?  (I ate every bite and I loved it - eat your heart out Weight Watchers!)
Notice the small glass of Bailey's Irish Cream which I poured in my coffee.  MMMMMMMM.

Here is a link to the restaurant's website if you want to look at the menu further

Bedtime..... ah, sweet slumber after another enjoyable day in The Green Mountain State!

:)Amy

Vermont Adventures Day 1

On Thursday, June 22, my cousin and I set off from her home in Chester, New Hampshire, to our vacay destination of Northern Vermont.  The total drive time from Chester to Burlington, VT was about 3 hours.  We took time out for lunch in Lebanon, NH at the Lebanon Diner, a very fun place with great food and great service!  I was impressed with what I saw of this town.  It is the last city in NH from Rt. 89.  I recommend both the town and the diner!

Our next stop was off of Exit 1 of I-89, just inside VT - and south on Rt 4 - the town of Quechee.  (Pronounced Queeeecheeeee)  My other cousin had recommended we stop in this town at the glassblowing workshop of artist Simon Pearce.  WOW!  What a cool place this was!  We entered the old building to find a lovely shop specializing in the hand blown glass that is made in the workshop down below.  

After browsing the shop, we ventured down to the glassblowing area.  I could have spent hours watching the artisans work!  That day's special items of focus were 3 wine goblets.  

The artisans seemed to be working in pairs, and their timing had to be exact as they moved the hot glass from one stage to the next.  Here is a fascinating video of a team at work:

Below the glassblowing workshop was the power source for the furnaces - the dam and waterfall just outside the back of the shop.  

Click here for more of my photos of Simon Pearce Gallery

Click here to visit the Simon Pearce website and explore the shopping options

After spending about an hour in Quechee, we got back on I-89 and made our way to our destination of Burlington.  What a lovely city this is!  It is right on the banks of Lake Champlain and is probably most famous for being the home of the University of Vermont.  

We stayed at the Burlington Hilton which provided some glorious views of the Lake.  We were in room 446 which was one of just a few rooms on a corner with front and side windows.  

Skies over the lake were a little cloudy, but with no rain in the forecast, we headed out to our first dinner in town on a ship called The Spirit of Ethan Allen.  Not knowing how close the ship was docked to our hotel, we took an Uber ride down, but then walked back after the cruise ended.

Our dinner was served on the top deck as we were entertained with a murder mystery dinner.  4 actors took us to a 30 year high school reunion, where.... dun,dun,dunnnnnn..... a murder had been committed in the parking lot.  

Overall, the cruise lasted from 6:30-9:00 and included a lovely view of the sun setting over the Lake Champlain with the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York in the background.

Click here to see more of my photos of the sunset cruise

Day 1 in Vermont was a huge success with two very enjoyable activities.  My luxurious bed at the Hilton welcomed one very excited but exhausted visitor! I was finally IN VERMONT!!

Stay tuned.... more coming soon....

:)Amy