Summer in Vermont
Thanks so much for suggesting the Vermont’s Mad River Valley for our summer getaway… we are having such fun – so much to see and do and as you promised “NO CROWDS”!
View from top of Burnt Rock
On our first day, Mike and Jeff climbed up to Burnt Rock, which certainly got their hiking off to a good start and provided some amazing views of the area. Tomorrow, they plan to do Camel’s Hump one of the best hikes in New England and certainly a challenge. While they were enjoying the outdoors, Sarah and I chose to do a little retail therapy in the delightful town of Waitsfield and ended up spoiling ourselves with facials at Complexions – what a treat. We also managed to find a gorgeous wedding gift for Sandra and Bob’s wedding at the Artisan’s Gallery and Sarah found the coolest outfit at the ultra chic boutique, Forty Bridge.Have to say the best finds of the day cost almost nothing – The Sweet Spot serves up the best coffee and homemade ice cream imaginable and we paddled in the Mad River afterwards to cool off. (There’s a great swimming hole here too and tubing down the river looks like a blast). We also spent almost an hour browsing around Mad River Glass watching the glass-blowers create amazing works of art right in front of our eyes.
As you said, the restaurants in this area are incredible! Sarah and I came across Peasant on our shopping excursion and we all enjoyed an absolutely amazing dinner later – there’s no wonder their TripAdvisor ranking is so high! However right around the corner we came across another high ranked restaurant, Mint, so we’re hoping to make it there too one night.
Links Play – Courtesy of Sugarbush Resort
Yesterday Mike and Jeff took out their bikes for an early morning ride. They decided the App Gap (one of the more strenuous roads here) may be a little too much for their forty-something bodies but enjoyed a trip along Route 100 and back along the East Warren Road. With energy left went on to play golf at Sugarbush – even seeing a Moose along the way!
Sarah and I continued our R & R theme and visited Mad River Massage – need I say more! In the afternoon we all took a trip to Ben and Jerrys and Mike and I reminisced over the discontinued flavors of our youth in the Flavor Graveyard – what a hoot! We then continued our “foodie” tour visiting the Cabot Cheese Outlet, Lake Champlain Chocolates and the Cider Mill their tiny apple doughnuts are just to die for. A quick detour into The Alchemist Brewery – one of the more famous local micro breweries in these parts – incorporated some sampling of their Heady Topper which needless to say went down very well!. Dinner was another amazing event. We opted to visit The Common Man and could not believe we were in Vermont! The owner chef, Adam Longworth, prepares incredible dishes featuring local ingredients. The quality was just outstanding – no surprise he was recently requested to Chef at the James Beard House.
Tomorrow is still up in the air. We are truly overwhelmed with choices. Sarah is pushing to visit Montpelier and their historic State House while I’m fancying a day at the Icelandic Horse Farm riding into the sunset – plus its only a few minutes from the lovely Inn we’re staying at. Of course you’d know this as you were the one who told us about Tucker Hill!
OK my friend that’s all for now, your August visit will be here before you know it! Be sure to book your tickets for the Fantasticks at the Skinner Barn now though as I hear on the ‘local grapevine’ that tickets for Vermont Festival of the Arts events are already a hot commodity!
Best
Bea
(Note to self for future visits: Warren Falls – Saturday Farmers Market – Warren July 4th Parade – Day Long Kayak Trips with Clearwater Sports – Green Mountain Club (Long Trail Info) – Mad River Path Association – Trapp Family Lodge –