One of the main reasons my husband I decided to move to Vermont from the “big city” was to be able to spend more time outdoors enjoying nature. This is an opportunity that we have absolutely taken full advantage of since our move, and I’m incredibly grateful that exploring new hiking trails is something we have been able to continue to do despite the trials of the coronavirus pandemic. Trails are great adventures indeed, but sometimes you want a more leisurely outdoor experience. This is where parks come in. There are three very noteworthy parks, each one we’ve visited quite often, that I’d like to highlight here: the Arlington Rec park, of course located in Arlington, Vermont, as well as the Greenberg Headwaters Park and Willow Park, both located in our town of Bennington, Vermont.
Arlington Recreation Park
The main reason my husband and I first decided to visit the Arlington Recreation Park, back in the much more care-free summer of 2019, was the fact that part of the park is a dog park. At this point in his puppyhood (he was about 8 months old then), our loveable corgi Fiddle had not had too many chances to socialize with other dogs, so we thought trying out a dog park would be a good idea. Of course, when we arrived the dog park was completely empty, not one other canine to be found. We still managed to have a good time letting Fiddle run freely around the dog park in a way he does not usually get to, considering our current lack of a yard. There is a lot of space for a pup to play here and Fiddle clearly enjoyed it, even if he was playing with usual humans instead of making new dog friends.
Arlington Rec Park boasts a spacious and, usually, very empty dog park.
Aside from the decently-sized dog park, there is a lot to admire about this charming town park. When you first enter, there is a modest pond with a relatively shallow area roped off for kids to enjoy a swim or playing in the water. (Fiddle enjoyed taking a splash in this pond after his dog park adventures.) Surrounding the pond is various playground equipment and structures for children to enjoy, as well as signs and structures encouraging guests to try out a “fitness challenge” while visiting the park. The landscaping is notable, especially in the spring and summer with a wide variety of brightly-colored flowers blooming. There are a few swinging benches throughout the big field that constitutes the entrance to the park, and those are always a fun time.
One of several swinging benches at the park.
A pond for swimming and playground fun.
The Battenkill River on a sunny summer day.
Further into the park, there is an absolutely lovely nature trail that is located along the path of the Battenkill River. Though the trail is not long, it is well maintained and offers several chances to take in a beautiful view of the river. If you go far enough on the trail, you will reach an area that is restricted due to being a “research farm” for “industrial hemp” but thankfully signs are posted clearly to avoid any confusion.
By now, I’ve visited the park four times, twice before the pandemic and twice in its midst. In the time of the coronavirus, this Arlington Rec Park offers a peaceful reprieve from the stress and anxiety of our current times. A visit here is a great way to bring some outdoor beauty and leisurely fun to anyone’s day.
Freshly Vermont rating: five out of five stars. ★★★★★
Greenberg Headwaters Park
The Greenberg Headwaters Park is not a park in the same sense as Arlington Rec or Willow Park; it’s a series of trails located in the town of Bennington, apparently only recently available to the public.
A Headwaters Park trail on a bright autumn afternoon.
This park is very special to me, as it includes a variety of hiking trails that I can very easily walk to from my home, something that is still revolutionary in my mind as a former New York City resident. In addition, the trails are all quite easy and flat so it works well for trail running, as well.
There are a few entrances to this park in town, with one being the Beech Street field. This entrance is a great place to start your exploration, especially if you have a dog, as it includes a portable toilet as well as dog waste bags and a bin to place your yucky, used bags.
Within the trail system, there is a decent variety of scenery, including views of wetlands, a bridge over the Walloomsac River, and meadows that become startlingly green in in the spring and summer. In some areas the trails are marked clearly, but in other areas they are most decidedly not. This is fine for people who live nearby, like myself, and can get to know the woods, but it’s more easy than it should be for a more occasional visitor to get lost.
A wetlands view.
A snowy path.
The super green-ness of summer.
In general, this park is a gorgeous place with easy and pleasant trails. I enjoy visiting at least once a season, as the scenery here certainly expresses the seasons well. It’s also one of the few trail systems I will still visit in the winter as the ease of its trails works well for the ice and snow. However, I do wish it was more clearly marked within.
Freshly Vermont rating: four out of five stars. ★★★★☆
Willow Park
As an elementary school teacher, I first heard about Willow Park from the kids in my class; it is absolutely all the rage with the under 10 crowd. From my perspective as an adult (and a dog owner), I am a bigger fan of the Arlingon Rec Park (the landscaping, the river!), but this is unquestionably a great place for kids and families to play, and a splendid park in general.
There’s a lot to check out at Willow Park; thankfully there’s also a helpful map!
The playgrounds in Willow Park are very unique and charming, with lots of emphasis on wooden structures. There are a lot of walking paths throughout the open fields, as well as a disc golf course – something I have seen people taking advantage of pretty much every time I have visited the park. There also specific fields for playing specific sports, including a soccer field and a softball field. Several picnic areas, with many tables, as well as places to possibly grill some food in the warmer months, are an important attraction of the park.
There is also a small nature trail that packs in a lot of lovely arboreal scenery and even some moderately hill-y terrain in its short distance. This nature trail has earned a soft spot in my heart, this being the first place my husband and I took our corgi puppy on a “trail” back in the snowy February of 2019.
Fiddle’s first adventure!
A peaceful place for a picnic, with a great view.
The nature trail is short but pretty, especially in the fall.
During the start of the pandemic, Willow Park closed all of its playgrounds, tennis courts, and anything similar, while leaving its trails and walking paths open. I took a walk here in March (a very socially distant walk, as no one else was present at all) and the desolation of it all was heartbreaking, considering how lively it had been during my last visit, which had been in October of 2019. Though the virus numbers have only gotten worse, everything here now appears to be open again, for families to use at their discretion.
Sign of the times: an empty playground in the spring of 2020.
I have been back to Willow Park since the pandemic began, mainly to walk along the nature trail or to finish up a long run on the paths. The last time I visited, this past October, it was pretty crowded for the situation, with a lot of families and children likely trying to soak up as much as outdoor experiences as they could before the dark winter of the pandemic would begin.
I am hopeful that the next time I visit will be in better times, and that children and families will be able to enjoy themselves here without worry. I also hope that Fiddle can have fun here, too – though he does enjoy a leashed walk through the trail, I think he’d be quite happy to hear that a dog park may be on the way as a new addition.
Freshly Vermont rating: four out of five stars. ★★★★☆
Back in those beautiful, carefree pre-pandemic days, I had a big goal set for myself for the summer of 2020: I was going to run my first marathon right here in Vermont, the Mad Marathon. (I’ve previously run several 5Ks and 10Ks as well as two half-marathons, so do not worry for my sanity; this plan did not just materialize out of nowhere!) Of course, the pandemic did, in fact, begin, and I didn’t have any desire to do a virtual marathon, which was what was offered as a substitute. However, as part of my potential marathon planning, I had booked two nights at Grunberg Haus Inn for a place to stay before and after the race that never, in actuality, happened. As luck would have it, this charming little lodge reopened a month before the July dates we had booked, so my husband, our corgi Fiddle (always ready for any adventure!), and myself figured we’d try going despite the lack-of-marathon, and have a relatively social distant weekend away.
It ended up being quite an excellent time, with not too much of a difference in restriction than any trip or vacation we’ve been on with our dog in tow. Here are the highlights of our adventures in Waterbury and Stowe:
Little River State Park
It was a rainy Saturday morning when we arrived at Little River State Park, which is located in Waterbury, Vermont. There is a $4.00 (per person) fee for visiting this park, as there are often fees with state parks.
I had been checking the weather way too frequently before our arrival, so I was well prepared with quick-drying clothing, a rain poncho, and a brand new hat that would pull the double duty of providing shelter from the rain as well as shade during the sunny times. Our corgi, Fiddle, who is now one-and-a-half years old, was undeterred by any inclement weather we encountered for this whole weekend and happily got himself wet regardless of whether water was falling from the sky or not.
Enjoying my new rain/sun hat.
Fiddle is always happy to get wet.
The rush of Stevenson Brook.
We had been planning to hike a trail called the Stevenson Brook trail, but on our pursuit of this trail, we also happened across trails such as the Nature Trail, the Dalley Loop, and the History Hike. They all appeared to be connected and it was not clear to me where one trail ended and the other began. That being said, they all were easy, mostly flat trails, which was appreciated when the ground was slippery from the rain. The History Hike aspect involved many signs explaining about what farms had been standing in this park in the past, and who lived and worked on these farms. The Stevenson Brook featured throughout all of the trails, and its rushing sounds were pleasing to the ear on a misty morning. It wasn’t too long on the trail(s) before the rain cleared up and the sun started to shine. Overall, it was a pleasant time and a decent workout, with some education related to local history infused throughout.
Grunberg Haus Inn (& Cabins)
After a morning in the woods, it was time to check in to our lodging for the next two nights, which was the Grunberg Haus Inn (the full business is called the Grunberg Haus Inn & Cabins, but we stayed at the inn, so there you go). On the website, this inn is listed as part of Waterbury, but according to our car’s GPS the location of the inn was Duxbury. (Further research has shown me that Duxbury and Waterbury have the same zipcode. I am still not clear if Duxbury is part of Waterbury or if they are separate towns – please feel more than free to leave a comment if you have that answer!) Upon our arrival, my husband and I were both impressed by the lively personality of the outdoor decor, as well as the welcome we received from the two dogs who live there.
The inn is owned by a married couple and their two dogs, a cute little dachshund named June and a magnificent Alaskan malamute named Neko, are considered mascots of the property – I even drank my morning coffee from a cup with Neko’s image on it. One of the two owners, Duane, was the person on call during our stay – it was likely only necessary for one person to be around to take care of the guests as there were not many guests. He had a super relaxed and friendly vibe, and he was happy to help in any way we needed, such as letting us borrow an extra water bottle for a hike when Fiddle’s water bottle broke.
Aside from ourselves, there was a family with kids staying in the inn the first night that we stayed, and a pair of young ladies staying in the cabins the second night. The small amount of guests allowed for very easy social distancing, though I am hopeful that, as time goes on, the Grunberg Haus Inn & Cabins will eventually return to their pre-pandemic guest numbers.
A breakfast parfait, featuring the most delicious yogurt of all time.
A comfortable place to sleep.
A sweet spot on the deck.
Our room, just like the exterior, was full of charm and kitsch, and even though there was no AC, the way the fans were arranged allowed for us to stay comfortably cool whether it was day or night. A second fan was provided for Fiddle, which was appreciated, as, like most dogs, he gets hot easily. Right from our room, we could walk out on to a deck which had lovely views of the nearby woods. My husband and I spent both evenings on this deck, spending hours just talking, eating, drinking, and playing games while Fiddle relaxed nearby.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some restrictions applied. Since we are Vermont residents, we did not need to sign up for a text alert system, but travelers from certain out-of-state areas would have needed to do so. Hot breakfast was also not available, but Duane provided us with many other breakfast options, such as granola bars, fruit, English muffins, and so on. He also personally made us each parfaits each of the two mornings we ate at the inn; these were incredible, as they were made with Cabot Triple Cream Vanilla Bean Greek Yogurt – quite the contrast to the plain nonfat store brand Greek yogurt I regularly have for breakfast during the week.
Two great friends. (Please note that the water on the floor is from my husband spilling a water bottle; these are good dogs who know where to go!)
I must add that our time with Neko, the lovely fluffy lady pictured above with Fiddle, was especially memorable. The Grunberg Haus website specifically states that you should be comfortable with the presence of their dogs so you can take this into account before you book. However, in our case, her presence seemed to be much more ubitquitous than normal, as she really liked Fiddle (and, really, who could blame her?). During our first afternoon/evening at the inn, she was with us the whole time, sniffing things in our room and playing with Fiddle. This was undeniably cute. Later, when night came, she was knocking her head on our room’s door at 4:00 AM, whining to get in with us. About an hour later, she broke the hinge of the door, burst into the room, and jumped on our bed, which was quite the morning surprise. (Fiddle was sleeping in his own separate area on his dog bed, and seemed most confused.) When we shared the story with Duane, he was surprised (as we all were), but he also helped us out by ensuring that Neko was locked out to sleep in her own house, rather than the inn, the next night. She was clearly acting out of love, but it was quite nice to get a full night’s sleep the second time around. Aside from that one moment, our stay at Grunberg Haus was super relaxing in a way that I really needed, after dealing with many personal challenges this summer, including a serious tick-related illness in June.
Prohibition Pig
In terms of Waterbury restaurants that were open for outdoor dining: The Pro Pig was the spot. During the summer last year, we went on a camping trip in Maine with Fiddle, and only ate at establishments with dog-friendly, outdoor seating. So, sticking with the outdoor dining was nothing new for us, though there are now some minor differences in how we do it now, such as the fact that we wear masks when we are not eating, or when one of us walks inside to use the indoor restroom.
One of my favorite beers of all time: “Raspberry Swine Cooler”.
A “pollo asado” plate.
Chips with your choice of guac, queso, and salsa.
The Prohibition Pig has a restaurant section and a brewery section; the outdoor area is part of the brewery section. This is no longer on the menu at the moment (to my great dismay), but when we were here for dinner not too long ago, a sour raspberry ale called “Raspberry Swine Cooler” was available. It was the perfect fruity taste for the evening, and I loved it enough to purchase another can of it to take back to the inn and drink later, while bonding and relaxing on the deck.
The brewery food was a mixed Mexican/American style. My husband and I ordered the chips that came with three options of sauces, all of which were delicious. My husband enjoyed a Cuban sandwich for his dinner, while I opted for the flavorful “pollo asado plato”, which included chicken, black beans, rice, and tortillas. I really liked the portion sizes here: I left feeling pleasantly full, not the type of full where you can barely move, which I feel like most restaurant portions encourage.
In terms of pandemic-related restrictions, all servers wore masks, and disposable menus forks, and plates were used. Tables were arranged outside to encourage distance, though the place seemed to be as packed as it could get while staying within the set restrictions. It was a nice experience, taste-wise, and felt relatively safe, as these things go.
Moss Glen Falls
The titular falls of Moss Glen.
On Sunday, we decided to spend most of our day in Stowe, Vermont. Our first stop in this area was the popular Moss Glen Falls trail.
At the beginning of the trail, the air was heavy with mist and there was a feel to it that reminded me of a rainforest. At first, there was clear signage and a path through various tall plants that added to the jungle-esque atmosphere. The falls itself came into view quite early (before the first mile was up), and it was indeed a majestic sight, with a powerful roar to it to match its gushing force. Yet, after climbing up a steep section near the falls, covered with roots, it was not clear where exactly to go next to remain on this particular trail. A sign below this steep section had specifically stated “stay on marked trails” but I personally saw no markings once we began to climb the root-covered hill near the falls. Eventually, my husband, Fiddle, and myself found ourselves on a wide, flat trail that we believed was the next part of the trail, but, again, there were no markings that we could see. It was still a pleasant walk, with the shade greatly appreciated on a hot morning. We walked along this woodland trail for a good while, with Fiddle stopping to roll in the mud from the previous day’s rain every now and again. The birds were lively and we had an encounter with a little toad, which is always fun. Heading back ended up being a slight challenge, as the only way to avoid walking down the steep hill full of roots involved following a lone arrow and needing to circumvent someone’s personal property. This trail was beautiful and the way the most difficult part is followed by a longer, easier part can be helpful to less experienced hikers. That being said, some clearer signs and markings would be even more helpful.
Idletyme Brewing Company
After getting a few good miles under our belts on the Moss Glen Falls trail, we headed to Idletyme Brewing Company, a Stowe brewery/restaurant for a post-hike lunch. Much like the Prohibition Pig, it was as packed as it could be considering pandemic-related conditions. We sat at an outdoor table where we had a nice view of the rustic, outdoor bar as the bartenders mixed drinks. Like the bar staff, the multiple servers who helped us here all wore masks, and wore them correctly. Here, unlike the Prohibition Pig, silverware and plates were not disposable, though the menus still were.
The food we ordered ended up being a heavy amount, but it was all completely delectable. Personally, I tried their signature Idletyme IPA, which was, as their menu described, a crisp drink with a bitterness to it. I enjoyed it, but I was still obsessing over my love from the previous day’s raspberry ale, so nothing would compare. My husband and I shared the “spicy dry rub” wings for an appetizer, which was just the protein hit we needed for our break in between hikes. For my entree, I ordered the “creamy mac-and-cheese” which I had the opportunity to make extra “creamy” by adding truffle oil to it. It was unbelievably delicious, though once that savory goodness was finished, my stomach was bursting.
Creamy mac and cheese with truffle oil…yes, please.
Perfectly cooked wings.
The “Idletyme IPA”.
That being said, I would absolutely eat (and drink) it all again if given the choice – it was a great meal.
The Wiessner Woods
Thankfully I had some time to digest my epic lunch on the car ride over to the Wiessner Woods, of which 79 acres of are owned by the Stowe Land Trust, following a donation from the Wiessner family in 1992.
All of the trails in the Wiessner Woods were easy; there was absolutely no rock-hopping and there were no steep ascents or descents. There was, however, beautiful scenery everywhere we looked on this well-maintained trail system.
Welcome to the Wiessner Woods.
Maps were available for one to take at the start of the trail, and they detailed several landmarks: a meadow overlook, a vernal pool, a spruce-pine-hardwood forest, and a “gnome home”, where a gnome statue is hidden in a tree. We saw the pretty meadow overlook and experienced the lovely smells of the evergreen forest, but the vernal pool had understandably dried up due to the fact that we were traversing these woods in July. As for the gnome home, I was extremely bummed out that we somehow missed the gnome (or perhaps someone had taken him?). My husband made an effort to make me feel better about the grievous omission from our trek by sticking the trail map in a tree, pointing to a picture of the gnome on the map, and insisting that “we found the gnome”!
Adventures await…
A perfect sunny moment.
Forest beauty.
One especially cool feature of the Wiessner Woods is the fact that, as one walks along the well-marked trails, opportunities to take side trips to private trails present themselves. The privately owned trails are open for anyone to visit, though the signs do say “assume your own risk”. It seems that one always assumes their own risk when hiking, but perhaps this warning relates to the fact that these’s no map for these trails, as there are with the publicly owned portions of these forested lands.
We followed one of these private trails to a gorgeous meadow, with amazing views of the green mountains, as you can see in the gallery above – the risk was worth it, for sure.
Overall, these woods were a delight to visit, with stunning beauty throughout and everything, even on the private trail, clearly organized with care obviously taken with regard to maintaining its beauty, as well its visitor-friendly qualities.
So many stars!
The Wiessner Woods was our last big weekend adventure, before heading back to Grunberg Haus. The weekend itself was a great Vermont experience, discovering a lot more within towns we’d manage to visit but briefly in the past.
Freshly Vermont ratings:
Little River State Park: four out of five stars. ★★★★☆
Grunberg Haus Inn & Cabins: five out of five stars. ★★★★★
Prohibition Pig: five out of five stars. ★★★★★
Moss Glen Falls: four out of five stars. ★★★★☆
Idletyme Brewing Company: five out of five stars. ★★★★★
It’s that time of year where the cold and the gray seem to go on forever. I’m also just recovering from the flu as I write this, which only contributes to a general feeling of bleakness. So, there’s no time like the present to look back on sunnier times and reminisce over the joys of endless hours outdoors in greener pastures. Today I’m thinking about about my two adventures at the park in Manchester, both times accompanied my usual party of a husband and a corgi.
Our first visit was back in June 2019, very shortly after my school year was over, a time when the possibility for adventure feels delightfully, deliriously, endless. I had a very specific plan in mind for the day, which involved getting donuts from the famed Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts and letting my puppy Fiddle experience a dog park for the first time. The donuts were exactly as advertised: freshly made and calorie-laden in the best of ways. I had no regrets about the piles of coconut shavings left on my shorts after the morning of devouring that took place in our car. The dog park didn’t fit my expectations so well; it was a weekday morning and the Manchester Dog Park, located within the Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park, was totally empty. Fiddle, however, was not deterred. He took advantage of the large, enclosed grassy space and ran in circles over and over, until he could barely contain his unbelievably adorable, floppy. tongue-out corgi smile. Even though he made no dog friends, we were impressed by the amount of space available, the ability to separate small and large dogs, and the abundance of doggy bags available for any pup’s #2-related needs.
Only boy at the dog park; having a total blast nonetheless!
After my husband and I myself were getting dizzy from Fiddle’s seemingly endless revolutions around the dog park, we decided to explore the rest of the area. We walked across a large meadow where we came across a sign that said “Manchester Rail Trail” and we started walking along with it (apparently later the trail will open for bikes, but for now it is available for a nice walk). The sign also fairly warned us that this trail was in its earlier stages and not yet complete. Despite this warning, we were suitably impressed by how the trail passed through a a charming pine forest and by the Riley Rink, which we miraculously came upon at the exact moment I was in need of its public restrooms. Since it was a cloudy day with rain on the forecast, we didn’t run into too many other people, and the mist in the air gave the area a slightly fantastical feeling. We walked along until it was unclear as to whether we were on this supposed “rail trail” or not, and then we headed out for further adventures on the Branch Pond trail (there’s no energy like “summer just began” energy for a teacher), a tale for another day.
Just two friends on a misty June day.
Cloudy but lovely.
Woods within.
This sprawling Manchester Park was visited by us again, in late September. Due to the difference in energy level (beginning of the school year is a whole other feeling), this time it was the only event of the day. Also, this time, Fiddle made a friend! This was our third attempt to let Fiddle have a “dog park experience”, after also trying it out at the Arlington Rec Center, and it was the first time we saw another dog. Fiddle loved running around with an energetic and friendly mutt even more than had enjoyed doing so solo, which was great to see.
My husband and I were curious to go further on the “rail trail” after several months had passed, but our journey proved that it was still not completed. We did go a bit further than before, and ended up walking by someone’s property, where we witnessed horses calmly grazing and some signs protesting the trail’s very existence. I took the time to read, photograph, and consider the sentiments.
I read a bit further on the issue here. I will admit that it’s difficult for me to sympathize with a person’s concern that people are walking by and it feels like they are in this person’s yard (they are not). As someone who lived in New York City for over thirty years and currently lives on a main road, “people walking by” has been a fact of life for me since I was born and it’s mostly been fine. As long as these people walking by are law-abiding and peaceful, I don’t see the harm. That being said, I do understand arguments related to the needs of the horses on the trail as well as the costs being undertaken by the town. Still, I think taking something old and decaying like this old railroad bed and transforming it into something that can be enjoyed by all, for no cost, is an admirable goal. I don’t see a reason the quiet beauty of this area should not be shared, just as the general park surrounding it is is. Having beautiful trails to traverse, and parks for our dogs to run around in, is such a big part of what makes Vermont what it is and this trail-in-progress shouldn’t be an exception.
Freshy Vermont ratings:
Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park (and dog park): five out of five stars. ★★★★★
Manchester Rail Trail: four out of five stars for now, perhaps more to come. ★★★★☆
