Pandemic Pursuits: Weekend Adventures in Waterbury and Stowe

July 30, 2020Hiking trails, Lodging, Miscellaneous, Parks, Restaurants, Vermont State Parksduxbury, stowe, waterburykiminvt View all 5 comments

The undeniably adorable Grunberg Haus Inn.

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.

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.

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”.

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

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.

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.

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”!

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. ★★★★★

The Wiessner Woods: five out of five stars. ★★★★★

Old Bennington: A Historical Haven

May 31, 2020Miscellaneouskiminvt Leave a comment

A sunny path near the Old First Church and its cemetery in Old Bennington.

Old Bennington is technically part of the town of Bennington in southwestern Vermont. However, this neighborhood definitely feels like its own separate world, in a positive way. Walking down the street amidst stately homes and other buildings first erected in the 1800s and reading about the history of the location is almost like taking a step back in time. There’s a lot to appreciate here.

The Bennington Museum (and Trails)

Coming from downtown Bennington, the Bennington Museum would be one of the first attractions you’d see as a welcome to the world of old Bennington. Though it is temporarily closed at the moment I am writing this (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), normally it would be open from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, six or seven days per week depending on the season, with a $12.00 admission fee for adults, a discounted rate of $10.00 for students and seniors, and a delightful rate of “free” for all children age 17 and under. Inside the museum, the exhibits change as with most museums, but there are some mainstay featured galleries.

The museum is probably best known for its sizable collection of paintings by Grandma Moses, which is the first exhibit a visitor would encounter when entering the building. This is the only gallery in the whole museum where (non-flash) photography is not permitted so I cannot share any visuals here, but when I visited, I remember being really impressed by the details of community she created in her paintings, as well as appreciating being able to watch an interview with her conducted by Edward R. Murrow as part of the display.

Aside from the many paintings by Grandma Moses, there is plenty of other art to appreciate in the museum, including pottery, church relics, flags and textiles, and more modern art. As you can see below, I found the dolls and the classic car to be quite noteworthy.

A memorable room in the Bennington museum…

Next to the museum is a relatively small but lovely series of walking trails that is free for all to experience. On the George Aiken Wildflower Trail, various wildflowers are labeled with information and it is a sight to behold in the late spring and early summer. There is a children’s sculpture garden where kids (and adults) can create sculptures with rocks, pinecones, and other natural objects. You can also walk up to a meadow (featuring a unique crow sculpture) or down to a sweetly bubbling brook. Dogs are permitted with the usual expectations (keeping the pup on a leash, cleaning up any messes that may come up). The museum is worth a visit and following the experience with some fresh air on the trail only makes the experience better.

Old First Church and Cemetery

Right next to the Bennington museum is the Old First Church, which in its present form was built all the way back in 1805 (though an earlier meeting house for the congregation was built in 1763). In general, the church offers Sunday worship services, though again, things are a bit different now because of the coronavirus pandemic that has upended so much in our world lately. Even from the outdoors, the building is impressive and you can feel the history emanating from its steeple.

Right beside the church, one can enter can enter the Old Bennington Cemetery, which is also known as the Old First Church Cemetery. The majority of the graves here are the resting places of men and women who died hundreds of years ago, and their contributions to our country’s (and our state’s) history are described on various educational and informative plaques and other signage throughout the area. The most famous resident of this cemetery is none other than the poet Robert Frost, and there are several signs indicating the way to observe the grave of Frost and his deceased family members. Despite the negative connotations that a cemetery may instill, this is a lovely and peaceful place, where a person can learn a lot about various individuals from the past.

A section of the Old Bennington/Old First Church Cemetery.

The Bennington Battle Monument

The Battle Monument in Bennington is arguably the most famous attraction in the whole town of Bennington, and its is certainly a notable landmark in the area of Old Bennington. At a little over 306 feet tall, this is the tallest man-made structure in the entire state of Vermont (and this fact really reinforces how different my new home is compared to my old neighborhood in New York City). The Monument was built in commemoration of the Battle of Bennington, which was a Revolutionary War battle that took place on August 16th, 1777. This August 16th date is known was “Battle Day” around these parts and various celebrations take place each year to honor this battle and the history of the town and state. (Personally, I’ve run in a “Battle Day” 5K and I’ve taken advantage of the free Monument elevator rides on this particular date.)

The Monument is surrounded by a circle (not surprisingly called “Monument Circle”) that includes residential homes, a gift shop, and a sprawling lawn with other historical statues and information. Many people use the area around the Monument for walks or runs – each time around is approximately a quarter mile (at least, according to my FitBit). It is free to appreciate from the outside, but a visit to the top generally involves a $5 admission fee (with the exception of “Battle Day” when anyone can come inside for free). Inside the Monument on the ground floor you can read the story of the Battle of Bennington and view a diorama or two depicting the fight. When you get on the elevator, a knowledgeable guide can tell you more about the battle and the Monument, and answer any questions that may come up. Once you reach the top, one has the opportunity to view green mountain landscapes of Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts, depending on where you are standing. Each view is breathtaking. This is definitely an attraction that adds value to the town, in terms of its beauty as well as in terms of its history.

The same can be said for the whole area of Old Bennington in and of itself: it’s a historical haven, and a gorgeous one at that.

Freshly Vermont rating of Old Bennington (and its various attractions and landmarks): five out of five stars. ★★★★★

A Relaxing Retreat: Lake Paran and the Robert Frost Trail

April 30, 2020Hiking trails, LakesNorth Benningtonkiminvt Leave a comment

The geese appreciate the beauty of Lake Paran in the summer months.

In the village of North Bennington, one of the main attractions is Lake Paran, along with the Robert Frost Trail that begins (or ends, depending) at the lake. At one end of the trail is the lake and at the other, in Shaftsbury, is Robert Frost Stone House Museum. Though I have yet to visit the museum, I’ve visited the lake and trail multiple times, sometimes on my own, sometimes with my husband, and sometimes with my husband and my adventurous young dog, Fiddle. Both the lake and the trail have many wonderful qualities, but both also have shortcomings as well.

The Lake

While things have undoubtedly changed since the pandemic, Lake Paran is generally open for swimming and canoe rentals on weekends starting Memorial Day Weekend and during the weekdays starting mid-June, closing after Labor Day. The admission is $3.50 for adults and $1.00 for kids, which is a fair deal. The hours, however, are not clearly stated on the website, and I learned this the hard way: showing up for a 10:00 AM swim on a blistering summer day, only to then find out that the lake is not open for swimming until 11:00 AM. After later searching “Lake Paran hours” I eventually discovered that during the dates mentioned previously it is open from 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

I visited the lake for swimming at least once during each of my (two) summer spent living here in Vermont. The first time was just glorious – the water temperature was perfect, the crowd was very small (two other adults in the water, each focused on their own exercise), and it felt like the purest form of relaxation to see a tree-lined landscape everywhere I turned. The second time I visited, I arrived for a swim at the same time a summer camp session was going on. The water still felt amazing, but it felt a bit awkward to be swimming on my own while camp activities were taking place nearby. In addition to more clarity on the hours, I do feel like the general public would benefit from further information on when summer camp sessions are taking place, so people can plan their solo swims or family trips accordingly.

The lake itself is set up nicely for swimming; a shallow end and a spacious deep end are roped off for safety. Lifeguards are on duty during the lake’s hours and I’ve witnessed staff working to clean up the lake before the swimming hours begin. There’s a floating raft in the middle of the lake that can be used for jumping into the water or simply taking a break while you’re swimming in the deep end. The beach area is small but large enough for some fun in the sand for kids looking to build a sand castle or otherwise enjoy their beach toys. It’s a sweet escape and one that will undoubtedly be missed by many this coming summer if the current situation requires keeping it closed.

The Trail

The Robert Frost Trail start, or ends, at Lake Paran. There is a helpful sign welcoming visitors to the trail and supplying information at this point, as well as at the other end near the museum in Shaftsbury. The trail is two miles long and generally easy to traverse, as trails go.

Though it’s only a short trail, the terrain changes enough to make it interesting. The section by the lake is memorable as there are many wooden boardwalks and a variety of gorgeous views of Lake Paran from different vantage points. There is a bridge over Paran Creek right in the middle of the trail that provides a perfect place to take in a beautiful view and/or pause for a moment on the benches as needed. The trail is still open for walking during the current pandemic, and I have taken advantage of this fact recently. The following view was a breath I sorely needed to take in on one particular stressful day of remote teaching (technical difficulties have since improved):

Sunny beauty was greatly appreciated after a less than ideal work day.

Another aspect of the Robert Frost trail that I absolutely adore is the section where you can choose a “tougher” or “easier” option. This is a small fraction of the trail (after you choose, it’s only a few minutes until both sections come back together to the main trail), but you have to appreciate that the a trail named after the author who wrote “two paths diverged in a yellow wood…” involves making a choice like this.

There are two major negative aspects to this calm and idyllic trail and those aspects are, simply, ticks and wasps. While my dog Fiddle had a blast every time he visited this trail, he never managed to return from the adventures without at least one tick, if not a boatload, crawling on his fur. I would recommend wearing long pants and making sure to check yourself (and if you have a dog, check them especially!) for ticks following a walk on this trail. As for the wasps, my husband and I have come across multiple wasp nests here and one memorable walk on the trail involved him literally running away from them, almost like a real-life Animal Crossing situation (thankfully he got away in time and did not end up with a swollen eye…). In addition to care taken with regard to ticks, I would also recommend anyone visiting keep their eyes open to this wasp situation. In general, I have found this is more of a summer issue and have had many delightful, wasp-free, walks along the trail in the spring.

Fiddle loves the Robert Frost Trail, but unfortunately, so do ticks…

The Robert Frost Trail and Lake Paran are both abundant in natural beauty and a sense of peace and calm. However, there are drawbacks to both, and it’s best to plan your visit accordingly.

Freshly Vermont rating: four out of five stars. ★★★★☆

The Standard Viral Update: Small Town Edition

March 25, 2020Miscellaneousbenningtonkiminvt View all 4 comments

Like everyone else in the world right now, the main thing on my mind is COVID-19 and all of the changes going on related to it, as well as concerns over the future of our country and the world at large. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have moved out of New York City (where 60% of cases in the U.S. can be found right now at the moment of writing this) with my husband when I did, in the summer of 2018. In addition, my brother moved out of the city years before I did, and my parents moved out this past summer of 2019 (they now live in Colorado and South Carolina, respectively). However, several of my friends and many former colleagues still live there and my thoughts are with them whenever I consider the dangers of this destructive pandemic.

The morning of our trip out of NYC, back in July 2018.

Here in small town Vermont, the dangers may not be as extreme as within a big city, but our government has responded with serious measures to contain the spread and flatten the curve and our town and workplaces are taking it seriously. This is what my life looks like right now, which may seem very familiar to you:

Professional Life

I am an elementary school teacher. My last day working with students before the height of this crisis started was on March 16. I had two kids in my class that day. Those two kids had a blast, receiving tons of attention and earning lots of play breaks, even if they also were instructed to wash and/or wipe their hands 20+ times in the day (there were so many times I’d see a hand go into a mouth 5 seconds after the child in question had just washed…). On March 17 just the teachers went in to create learning packets to help the students practice their academics over a period of weeks. The idea of social distancing while all sharing one copier was a bit of a challenge, but we made it work the best we could that day. After that, everything has been from home. I am using a classroom app, sharing videos of myself and sweet corgi Fiddle, calling and emailing families, meeting with my colleagues virtually, and completing report cards from my home office space. I am extremely grateful to be able to continue working without a serious loss of income at this time. I realize that many, many people are not so fortunate right now, including members of my students’ families. There are several kids in my class who are constantly on my mind during this period of school closing – ones who have told me that they are bored at home over the weekends and wish they had school every day, ones who are in foster care and were already dealing with the trauma of missing their parents, ones who struggle with learning despite their best efforts. It’s a strange and tough situation to be sure but I absolutely agree with the decision for schools to be closed right now (see: anecdote above, about frequency of hands in mouths in a K-2 classroom) and I am thankful that the safety of my students, their families, and my fellow educators has been seriously considered.

Personal Life

My husband already worked from home so nothing has changed for him, aside from me being around more, which he appreciates, at least for now. For my dog Fiddle, this pandemic means both his parents are home and with him all day, and he is overjoyed. Though when we go out for walks and he sees someone else, especially when he sees a child, I can tell he’s upset that he’s no longer allowed to walk up to them and roll around cutely in expectation of endless belly rubs.

Fiddle loves being with humans all day but he misses meeting new people.

I am only going out for exercise and dog-walking. I had planned on running my first marathon in July 2020 and I started training for this in the first week of March. I am quite aware that it may not happen but I’m continuing to follow the training plan anyway. I used to switch between outdoor runs and runs on the treadmill but of course our local gym is now closed and it’s currently outdoor runs only – I do my best to run six feet or more off to the side if I see anyone else in my path. If I start to feel sick in any way, I will completely stop outdoor exercise aside from walking my dog.

My husband is in charge of all of the shopping for grocery and pharmacy needs. He is wearing gloves on his trips, being as careful as he can, and washing his hands upon return, but I’m still concerned each and every time. We have a couple of rolls of toilet paper left and haven’t been able to find any more. We have one large bottle of hand sanitizer that I had bought before the coronavirus had even appeared in our state (teacher life means frequently restocking one’s hand sanitizer collection). We have plenty of food but it’s been difficult for me to follow the diet I was trying to previously to lose a few pounds. I’m trying to focus on the positive aspects of the situation, though: I am fortunate to live with a husband who cares about me very much, to have pets to keep me entertained and add a little more in-person (in-animal?) social interaction in daily life, and to have all my basic needs met.

I am thinking of my friends and family members all over the country at the same time: friends who have just given birth, friends who are pregnant, friends and family members who have or will have to delay wedding plans, family members who are older and who have health conditions…there are many people I know who have had to make big sacrifices for safety in this time and while this is necessary, it also stinks.

Neighborhood Life

Aside from my own friends and family, my town is on my mind a lot. Within the past year, our town has suffered major losses in the closing of a local college and a factory, both of which employed many people in the neighborhood. I saw the effects firsthand as a teacher as many families moved out of state after the loss of jobs. Considering the economic difficulties many already faced around here, I am highly concerned about what will happen to many local businesses.

I am thinking of the places I’ve reviewed on this blog, such as Madison’s Brewing Company, Fuji, and The Marina. I am thinking of the diner and the kennel, each owned by parents of my students. I am thinking of all of the local shops on our main street. I can only hope that our lawmakers are thinking of them too.

Delectable Delights Right on Main Street: Madison Brewing Company

February 29, 2020Restaurantsbenningtonkiminvt One Comment

Creamy and savory cheddar ale soup, available in bowls or cups at Madison Brewing Co.

Madison Brewing Company is one of the first places my husband and I ever visited in Bennington, Vermont, which is now our hometown. It was during a rainy, cold April afternoon that we first stepped foot into this popular establishment, looking for a satisfying lunch on a busy weekend filled with travel. Seeing the words “cheddar” and “ale” next to each other was all that was needed to convince me to try the cheddar ale soup and my husband knew a brilliant decision when he heard one. This soup is deliriously satisfying, especially on a chilly day, but this restaurant and brewery has even more to offer.

After this first experience at Madison (where the soup was followed by a large plate of messy wings and the delightfully cheesy Parmesan truffle fries, served with a roasted garlic aioli that I wouldn’t mind adding to all meals, forever), my husband and I have returned many times. Whenever we have a visitor, whether it’s a family member or a friend, we make sure to introduce them to the tastiness of this local establishment.

Since it is called Madison Brewing Company, it’s no surprise that a craft beer menu is provided upon each visit. I really enjoy the way the beer menu changes with the seasons, so that one can revel in pumpkin-flavored glory during the autumn or appreciate the crispness of a German lager as winter ends and spring begins. In addition to the seasonal changes, there are also the mainstay standards that are a taste for all times – my husband has demonstrated a fairly steady relationship with the Sucker Pond Blond Ale while I usually like to check out what’s new, especially if there are any kind of berry-related flavors involved.

Seasonal pumpkin ale, complete with cinnamon rim!

In addition to changes in the menu of brews, Madison provides a list of specials for every evening, a few appetizers and a few entrees each night. On their list of specials, I recall being very impressed by a squid ink pasta dish and the lightly breaded, white-wine soaked scallops I enjoyed just a few weeks before the time of writing this blog post. The standard menu is full of variety enough to please any kind of crowd – there are salads, soups, burgers, sandwiches, pub food entrees, meat dishes, and so on – plus the side selection is top notch. The portions are generally very large, which is great in terms of value (considering the absolutely reasonable prices here), but not always great in terms of the tightness of pants across one belly. I remember coming here to celebrate completing the first full week of school one September and my husband and I got it all that Friday: appetizers, beers, truffle fries, and, of course, our main meals. It was all delicious but we could barely walk out of the restaurant with how completely full we were. So the only thing I can say about the desserts here is that I’ve been too full to even think of them during each of my visits. I have a sneaking suspicion that these are delicious and beyond filling, as well, though.

The food is wonderful (if abundant) and the brews are fun, but what about the ambiance? It’s definitely got an interesting look. Across the walls are portraits of various famous people drawn by a skilled hand, but it’s not clear what these portraits really have to with anything. At our last visit, we sat next to portraits of Jennifer Lawrence and Adele. Why these ladies, I don’t know, but I suppose it does give guests some opportunity for discussion. The theme of the restrooms is much clearer, with each gendered room labeled “mALE” and “femALE”. The connection to the brewery can’t get much clearer than that. In addition to the paintings and the restroom play on words, the dining room also features brewery tanks and equipment in plain view, and a full bar (complete with bartenders) near the entrance. This all definitely works well in terms of celebrating the drinks made here, and keeping the guests’ minds on such things.

The service at this establishment is excellent. Despite the fact that it is often crowded at peak times (Friday and Saturday evenings) and one might need to wait a bit for a seat, the servers are absolutely on it once you’re in. We’ve never needed to wait long for any of our courses and everyone who works here has been friendly and accommodating of any request (my husband and I often need extra napkins because we’re not the neatest eaters, and when our friends with a baby visited with us, a chair and general adoration were provided for him with minimal fuss).

Despite the handful of times I’ve left Madison Brewing Company uncomfortably full, I love it for its variety and sense of indulgence, and I am very glad to see how successful it continues to be in the midst of small town where many businesses are having difficulties. We will definitely be back, and soon.

Freshly Vermont rating of Madison Brewing Company: five out of five stars. ★★★★★

Manchester Marvels: The Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park and the Rail Trail-In Progress

January 28, 2020Hiking trails, Parksmanchesterkiminvt Leave a comment

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.

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. ★★★★☆

Fuji: Fine Small Town Fusion

December 31, 2019Restaurantsbennington, restaurantskiminvt Leave a comment

The extravagantly delicious Bennington Roll at Fuji

Back in New York City, all kinds of dining experiences were available everywhere. It was a given that even within my relatively smaller neighborhood of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, that one could find a delicious Asian food-related establishment on any block on 3rd or 5th avenue; you could get Hibachi, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and so on, by walking less than a mile from wherever you might reside.

Things are very different, food-wise, in small town Vermont. While there are many great restaurants here in Bennington (as well as in relatively nearby towns such as Manchester and Brattleboro) , Asian establishments are few and far between. Luckily, one of these rarities happens to be Fuji Hibachi & Asian Bistro, a restaurant with a most excellent ratio of taste to pricing and a great variety of delicious options.

I had only heard of this place’s existence because of my coworkers – many of them have taken advantage of the amazing lunch special during a professional learning day and I still need to try this myself – you can get a combination of 2 or 3 rolls, sushi, sashimi, a bento box, or some kind of Thai noodle, with many of these options available for under $10. After hearing only good things, of course my husband and I had to try it for ourselves.

During my first visit to Fuji this past August, I went all out: I ordered a plum wine (if there’s wine with the name of a fruit preceding it on a menu, I’m pretty much sold every time), a salad with the most perfectly flavored ginger dressing, pad thai, and a vanilla mochi. Both my husband and myself were highly impressed by the ginger dressing – nothing ginger-related has ever compared for him. As for the pad thai, I was less than impressed. I ordered the shrimp type and while there was a sizable amount of actual shrimps in the dish, the flavor was weirdly sweet. It tasted like there was a thin veneer of sugar over everything and the noodles were a bit gummy. I had a few bites of my husband’s extravagant sushi platter and knew I had made a mistake; his meal was fantastic. I did get over my jealousy when the main courses were done and I indulged myself with vanilla mochi. The plating was beautiful, with ribbons of chocolate sauce embellishing the preciously sweet creation on the plate. It was an A+ dessert, would definitely consume again! Overall, I was pleased with the experience but made it a point that I’d avoid the Thai foods and focus on sushi the next time.

Good news – there has been a next time! My husband and I returned in early November – we were out and about and he needed to eat something quickly due to a health condition when, what luck, we happened to be right near Fuji. This time I kept it simpler. I forgot about my goal to avoid the Thai foods and ordered the chicken satay as a starter – fortunately, this was great, with a really rich peanut sauce. Then I finally got my sushi, in roll form. My mouth is still watering thinking about the Bennington Roll, one of the Chef’s Special Rolls, which contains salmon, eel, crab, avocado, cream cheese, spicy mayo, and caviar on top. The amount of savory items all crammed into one little circle of rice doesn’t sound like it should work so well, but it absolutely does. Every bite is an adventure.

Though I’ve only been two times, I’ve been generally impressed with the food at Fuji. The service is decent and there’s an efficiency with how the food is prepared and delivered. It’s generally not crowded and there’s a great variety of food to choose from. You can enjoy a wine or beer with your meal and if you have more than a half hour to grab your lunch on a general weekday (as I surely wish I did) , you can get a great deal. As long as you avoid the pad thai, you’re golden.

Freshly Vermont rating: four out of five stars. ★★★★☆

Joining the Club – The Start of a 251 Adventure

November 30, 2019251 Clubkiminvt One Comment

As you may be able to tell by this blog’s very existence, I am enjoying exploring all there is to see, eat, and do in the state of Vermont after moving here about a year and a half ago. I love photographing and documenting adventures, because it’s a way to relive great memories and it is a way to cheer oneself up during less positive times, as well. I am also an organized person who derives perhaps too much satisfaction from checking items off lists. So, as soon as I heard about the 251 Club, I knew I had to join.

The point of this club is to celebrate the beauty and charm of the state of Vermont by visiting all 251 towns within it. When you join, you receive your own page on the site to keep track of your adventures, a hard copy checklist, a newsletter, and invitations to related gatherings. You can also order extra merchandise – I personally chose to order the Vermont travel journal, which contains spaces to write about each town, as well as the date each town was founded. It also has some sweet artwork on the cover.

Since I am now an official member of this club, I’ve decided I’d use this blog to share my progress in my quest to experience all Vermont towns have to offer on this blog, in addition to more specific reviews. As of today, I have visited 20 out of 251 Vermont towns, which are:

Arlington

Arlington is close to our hometown so I’ve visited multiple times, sometimes with my husband, sometimes with my husband and Fiddle. The first time we visited, we drove around looking at the local homes and visited the Chocolatorium, which was quite impressive in the amount as well of the quality of the chocolates throughout the store. We’ve returned and visited the Arlington Rec Park several times. It’s a beautiful little park, with walking trails that coincide with the Battenkill River and a shallow pond that welcomes swimming for kids or dogs (Fiddle, relatively new to swimming, decided he’d hop right in when we visited). Another stop of interest in our visits was the local dairy bar – it didn’t have as much variety as our dairy bar in Bennington, but it was still a cheerful and delicious time.

Bennington

Before we moved to this town in July 2018, we had visited three times. The first time involved heading to a coffee shop and Gamers Grotto in the midst of a camping trip, and the second time involved freaking out over how absolutely stellar the cheddar ale soup is at Madison Brewing Company. When we arrived for a third time, we knew we’d be moving here so we checked out many trails and restaurants during a long weekend stay at the delightfully artsy Harwood Hill Motel.

Making feline friends back in the spring of 2018.

Of course we enjoyed all of our visits, or we would never have moved here. This is a small town, but it has enough for one to ease the transition from the big city to VT life – there’s a movie theater, restaurants, several grocery stores, a farmer’s market, a museum, the famed Battle Monument, and lots of fun festivals throughout the year. Despite its commercial side, it’s also abundant with areas of natural beauty, such as the White Rocks Trail and Headwaters Park.

Unfortunately, since we moved we’ve seen some devastating blows to this town, including the closing of Southern Vermont College and the impending closing of the Energizer factory. I am hopeful that things can turn around for this little historical community, but I’m concerned, as well.

Brattleboro

I’ve visited this charming town a few times, and each has been decidedly delicious. The first visit was during our 2014 camping trip, where we walked along the beautiful trails and visited friendly animals at the Retreat Farm. I still have fond memories of ambling along as leaves peacefully glided in the wind, wondering if this state would ever really be my home. The next time I returned to this town was on our way back from our wedding, where stopped and ate at the Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery. Every time I think of that place, I start craving the greasy grilled cheese with maple bacon that was simply the perfect lunch for the “wind-down” day after a busy wedding weekend. I’ve returned to this town a few times since then, often related to the fact that it is the central station for Southern Vermont’s Girls on the Run program, a program which I contribute to as a coach and generally admire for its mission. This past year I definitely went overboard with love for the food at The Marina and The Top of the Hill Grill. I think, based on these experiences, I’ve really got to head back there and try out the rest of this town’s restaurants.

Burlington

Lake Champlain, as it looked in March 2019.

We went to visit Burlington when our friends, the ones with the baby, visited. They had planned a trip there for their fifth wedding anniversary and they wanted us to come too, which I took as a compliment. We drove up with then four month-old Fiddle on a Saturday morning and stayed at the Doubletree by Hilton, was very dog-friendly and reasonably priced. Though it was a brief weekend we managed to get in a lot: walking on a frozen Lake Champlain, making our way through crowds of corgi admirers in the Church Street marketplace, attending a pancake and cider breakfast to celebrate the launch of a new cider by Citizens Cider, eating amazing crepes at the Skinny Pancake, and eating snow with maple syrup as part of “maple weekend”. We also, of course, appreciated exploring with our friends and getting to know their baby, as well as letting Fiddle bask in the endless attention he received in the city environment. It was a great time during what I consider to be a rather bleak month of the year, and I’d definitely like to visit again.

Dorset and Dover

I’m writing about these together, as each as already received some serious attention in previous blog posts (see: Dorset and Dover). Based on my one visit, Dorset seems like a gorgeous town full of stately homes, and I am impressed by the fact that it has a community theatre, something I’d love to become involved with in the future. As for Dover, I only experienced the section known as West Dover, but it was quite memorable in how sleepy it was, with the one noted exception being the bustling Valley View Saloon. Many parts of the lovely Valley Trail are also located in West Dover, and they were wonderful to experience in the prime of autumn.

Hartford and Jamaica

I didn’t even realize I had visited the town of Hartford until I joined this club and started looking into the map. I was looking for Quechee, as I had visited Quechee Village and its majestic gorge in the spring of 2018. It was on no map, so a quick Google search revealed to me that Quechee is not its own town, but rather part of Hartford. So I’ve been to one section of Hartford, one where I took in a mesmerizing sight and pet some cute alpacas.

Jamaica has the honor of being the first town I ever visited in the state of Vermont. You can read more about my camping adventures in this town here.

Killington

Pure serenity at Mountain Meadows Lodge.

Killington will always have a special place in my heart, as this is the town where I had the privilege of getting married at a cozy mountain lodge in the spring of 2017. Our first visit to Killington was in the spring of 2016, with the purpose of getting down to business with wedding planning. It was not the best experience, as I went on this trip with the worst illness I have ever gotten from working as a teacher (knocking on wood that this will still be the case). This illness involved four days of a high fever, constant coughing, and extreme fatigue. However, even with the sickness clouding my mind, I could see that Killington and this particular lodge were places of fantastic serenity and beauty and fit the ideals I had in mind for my upcoming nuptials.

We returned again in during my spring break in April 2017 to finalize all plans, and toward the end of May 2017 to get married. The wedding was small but full of fun, and, even though it may be cliche to say so, one of the best days of my life. My husband and I sang songs, there were goats and a pony to pet, and a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream cake – what more can a girl ask for?

Three tiers of Ben and Jerry’s goodness!

During all of our visits, we experienced the beauty of the Thundering Falls Trail and many great local dining establishments, with The Foundry being a big favorite of mine. I also had a friend recently tell me she was still thinking about the sandwiches we had gotten from the local market while we were getting our hair done. This was a great place to get married for its peaceful vibe and idyllic environment, but it also awesome in terms of efficiency – the marriage license process was extremely simple and straightforward, as well as the process of working with many talented vendors in this area. I would love to visit again for one of our anniversaries and relive the great memories.

Manchester

After moving to Bennington, I’ve come to appreciate Manchester as a sort of older sibling of our town. Something about it just feels more sophisticated. I’ve had several notable experiences in town, including browsing the outlets at Manchester Center, hiking toward watery views on the Lye Brook Falls trail, eating the best french fries ever with my visiting parents at the Raven’s Den, and bringing Fiddle to the sparsely populated dog park, where the first time he was the only dog there and the second time he managed to mingle with a single other canine. The dog park is located within Dana Thompson Memorial Park, which is home to swings and walking trails and general large green spaces to enjoy the outdoors. My husband and I also ate our Thanksgiving dinner in Manchester a mere few days ago, at Ye Olde Tavern, which was a dining experience indeed worthy of a holiday.

Delightful whimsy outside the Northshire Bookstore on a sunny November day.

Aside from its fine dining and large areas for dogs to play within, Manchester is also home to one of the most impressive book shops I’ve ever had the privilege of entering: The Northshire Bookstore. One could spend an entire exploring this shop, due to its size as well its highly impressive variety of reading material.

Peru, Pownal, and Rupert

These three towns were each visited briefly but memorable: my husband and I accidentally came upon a bus heading to the Peru Fair during our very first visit to Vermont, which was followed up with a super fun visit to Bromly Mountain Adventure Park – I could go down those alpine slides all day!

I’ve yet to experience the “town” part of Pownal, but I have walked throughout most of, if not all of, Mountain Meadow Preserve, which goes through Pownal as well as Williamstown, MA. Despite visiting on a gray fall day, there was significant natural charm to appreciate.

As for Rupert, Fiddle, my husband, and I had one excellent weekend day exploring the trails and admiring the farm animals at the Merck Forest & Farmland Center. Despite our length visit, there are still plenty of trails we will need to go back to experience – there are over 30 miles of trails at this center, which is completely free to visit.

The verdant loveliness of Merck Forest & Farmland Center in June.

Rutland, Shaftsbury, and Springfield

Rutland is one town where I was not sure whether to count, but the fact of the matter is that the wonderful wedding cake pictured way above came from the Ben & Jerry’s in this town and multiple visits were made to ensure this cake’s existence. I haven’t done much here that wasn’t ice cream-related but perhaps there will be a time to check it out further in the future.

In Shaftsbury, I’ve visited Lake Shaftsbury and the park that surrounds it, which was an excellent place to experience in early spring this past year. I’ve also walked the full length of the Robert Frost Trail, which goes between Shaftsbury and North Bennington, several times, though after seeing A. wasp nests and B. Fiddle get covered with 25+ ticks on this trail, I’m not sure that I’ll be traversing this path again anytime soon.

Springfield was interesting. When I was looking for teaching jobs in Vermont, I had an interview in this town. For some reason, they were not able to do a Skype interview, so my husband and I drove all the way here from NYC. Aside from the interview (which did not pan out), we explored the town which seemed to be struggling and sparsely populated, though to be fair this was the “mud season” part of early spring. The most memorable part of this trip was that we stayed at The Hartness House Inn for a night and we were the only people there. No staff was present whatsoever – though they did leave out some muffins for breakfast. The lack of other people, plus an abundance of spooky artwork and statues, made this place feel haunted like no other.

Stowe

My husband I decided to visit Stowe during one of our wedding planning trips – we drove out of Killington and walked along the full length of the Stowe Recreation Path (5 miles or so) and back again on an Easter Sunday, following this up with eating endless truffle fries at a small restaurant I can’t find a website for, appreciating beverages at Stowe Cider, and paying homage to the ice cream kings by doing the little tour at the Ben & Jerry’s headquarters. This is a super cute and entertaining town and it is my hope that one day I’ll be able to work out the timing to return in order to experience the famed Easter brunch at the Von Trapp Family Lodge within the next few years. Here’s hoping!

Wilmington and Woodford

Wilmington is a town we’ve driven through endless times, though the visiting has been far less frequent – I’ve had the opportunity to wander the streets of the town once and have twice walked along the Valley Trail, which I’ve written about here. I would love to explore this town in more depth.

Woodford is a nearby town that I’ve visited during the warmer months and once during the colder months. This area is located on a mountain plateau and I tried out snowshoeing for the first time at Prospect Mountain, which was glorious to look at in the early March snow. I’ve also visited the state park, with its beautiful lake, and the Little Pond Trail, which was a sweet but simple hike.

Woodstock

We visited the town of Woodstock in spring 2018, with our main goal being to experience The Billings Farm & Museum.

Happy little lambs, enjoying the Billings Farm lifestyle.

The farm was everything we could ask for – since it was spring, baby animals abounded and we got to see a cool demonstration of border collies herding sheep (perhaps influencing us subconsciously to eventually own a herding dog ourselves). I also distinctly remember eating ice cream made from the milk of the animals of the farm and loving it. The museum was cool, too – it was neat to see the way Vermonters lived off the land throughout this state’s history. When we left the museum, we walked through the town with all its independent shops and restaurants, and all I kept thinking was “very Vermont” in response to everything we saw.

So that’s where I am in my journey. 20 towns visited, all worthy of a trip, and 231 to go…

The Valley Trail: Wonderful Adventures in Wilmington and West Dover

October 31, 2019Hiking trails, Restaurantskiminvt View all 3 comments

The Valley Trail is one of several trails that I’d had the privilege of visiting more than once, both times with my adventure-ready husband and my dear intrepid corgi, Fiddle. The trail is approximately 9 miles long and with one end in the town of Wilmington, VT and the other in the town of West Dover, VT. I enjoyed experiencing this trail on one of the first warm April days of 2019, and one of the last warm ones in later September 2019. In the spring we checked out the river-centric Wilmington section and in the fall we discovered the section located within the lovely but strangely desolate West Dover.

The Deerfield River in Wilmington, VT – late April 2019

Our spring visit to Wilmington was a cheerful one, which took place during my spring break off from school. Back in April, puppy Fiddle was a mere 5 months old and any old walk or hike was a thrill to him, as he could stop and roll his fur all over patches of ice that were slow to melt after the winter chill. Being outside was a thrill to me, too, after months spent mainly indoors during various snowstorms, whiteouts, and plain old cold. Before heading on to the trail, we walked around Wilmington a bit – it’s a super cute town that is constantly on the top of my mental list of “places to return to without the dog”. (There are charming shops, sweet little inns, and a significant number of restaurants and eateries – I hope to tell you all about these things when I do manage to make a visit sans-Fiddle!)

The Valley Trail, starting from Wilmington, meandered around views of the Deerfield River and various meadows, with sojourns through wooded areas as well. In all areas, the terrain was easy and the views were lovely. Due to the timing, our trek was incredibly muddy, but it is rare for someone to avoid experiencing this in a Vermont April. Despite the mud, we ran into a few other people braving the season to enjoy the first warmth of the year – it is definitely one of the simpler places to get muddy, as far as trails go. We enjoyed the views and the feeling of fresh spring air for a good six hours or so, hiking energetically up newly green hills, with Fiddle pulling my dear husband down them at puppy-speed. There were lots of small delights throughout, such as the sad “Vintage Motel” sign pictured below, small man-made bridges, and a portion that most literally went through a person’s backyard, chicken coop included. It was a fantastic April adventure.

Appreciating some spooky signage!
Fiddle needed to appreciate every patch of ice that he saw…
Spring meadow views on the Valley Trail were gray yet lovely.

We returned to this varied and gorgeous trail in September. September is a hard month for me as a teacher – getting back into the school swing takes significant time on evenings and weekends, yet Vermont is at its absolute prime, beauty-wise – especially in later September. However, one sweet Sunday worked out in my favor and I was able to journey back to the Valley Trail with the husband and Fiddle, Fiddle being 10 months old at this time – significantly larger and not much more mature (though still beyond adorable). The vibrant leaves and 65-degree weather felt like a special and exclusive privilege on this day – a privilege well-earned.

Extreme yellow foliage on the Valley Trail near West Dover – late September 2019

This time we traveled through the portion of the trail located near West Dover. During part of the trail, you can elect to travel through this town, which we did. It was fascinating. Almost every establishment in the whole town was closed on this Sunday afternoon. Perhaps it is because this was Sunday, but a quick Wikipedia search tells me that the population of the whole town of Dover (including the non-West part, I’d imagine) is about 1410, so perhaps not. We passed random covered wagons in the grass and an abandoned-looking ski shop with incredibly devilish-seeming mannequins gracing the windows. We were in town around lunch time, so we were keeping an eye out for somewhere to eat. Every restaurant we passed was closed, with the exception of The Saloon.

This restaurant was the opposite of the rest of the town: everyone was here, everyone wanted to chat! We saw a table outside and asked about eating with our dog. The restaurant does not technically allow dogs, but the owner helpfully gave us a place to eat out back. A super friendly waitress spoiled Fiddle with pieces of bacon and talked about Escape Rooms with us. We were technically in the “smoking” section out here, and various men of various ages stopped out for a smoke. I’m not a fan of cigarettes by any means, but I was nonetheless impressed with how friendly each gentleman who came out was, how much all these outwardly-tough seeming manly dudes fawned over a cute puppy. The food was pretty good too – I enjoyed some mozzarella sticks, which were appropriately greasy, as well as a house chili that had a good mix of spicy and savory flavors. I also had to get a cider from the bar, since they were carrying Citizens Cider, which is one of my favorites (to be fair, at least 7 brands of cider are “my favorites”). This was a really good time, though I can’t get over how bizarre it was that this place was bustling like this. (Note to businesses in this area: being open on Sundays seems like a sweet idea, profit-wise…).

Bubbly cider at the cheerful Valley View Saloon.
Ten-month old Fiddle in his fall glory!
The world’s creepiest ski shop…

After this tasty and entertaining lunch, it was back to the trail. Lots of people were also out with their dogs appreciating the majesty of fall on this trail. Much like the Wilmington section, the trail took us through a variety of terrain, including fields, woods, and bridges, with clear markings throughout. The Deerfield river continued to make an appearance. Aside from the beauty of the trees, we managed to appreciate the small loveliness of nature as well, such as colorful caterpillars and wildflowers enjoying their last appearances before the temperatures would drop in October. Throughout the whole experience, there was a feeling of serenity for me, and appreciation of how amazing this (still relatively new) state we live in is, to offer so much within just a mere 9 miles.

Freshly Vermont rating of the Valley Trail (admittedly influenced by the stop at the Saloon): five out of five stars. ★★★★★

Garlic Fest: Scrumptious Samples All Day Long!

September 8, 2019Festivalskiminvt Leave a comment

For the past two years, my husband and I have had the privilege of spending a day enjoying great tastes and good times at the Southern Vermont Garlic & Herb Festival. This event has been held in our (still relatively new) hometown of Bennington, Vermont every Labor Day weekend for the past 24 years. We’ve gone for single days, but truer garlic enthusiasts than us would likely appreciate the fact that it’s held on Saturday and Sunday, so you can soak up the experience all weekend long (and if you have Labor Day off, you can relax and spend the day nursing your stomach after all the indulgence). Adult admission is currently $10.00, which is slightly concerning considering that it was $8.00 only a year ago. However, it is a great time and the staggering amount of tasty morsels one can sample easily makes the experience worth the price.

Tired of walking the grounds? Train rides are available.
The tents and the crowd.
Tacos!

The second time we visited – this past 2019 Labor Day weekend – we invited a couple of our friends and their one year-old baby. I’m noting this because, even though you might not think it, Garlic Fest is very child-friendly with $2 admission for children (12 and under) and plenty of activities kids love, such as a little train ride around the grounds, magic shows, and bounce houses. It is truly fun for all ages, even if, in our case, the baby’s legit greatest entertainment of the day was getting to push the button on the side of my FitBit.

Parking is helpfully free, but my husband I like to walk whenever possible – that’s one aspect of my New York City self I’m more than happy to maintain. From the walking entrance, we started both years by heading into the “food court” area of the festival. Here we’ve gotten some yummy lunches from various food trucks and tents, though all items cost money in this area. This year I enjoyed two beef tacos for $8, which were delicious if extremely messy. My husband felt he needed to get something with garlic to go with the event’s theme, so he got to experience some garlic chicken bites, which I also tasted and approved. You might think the whole festival counts as a “food court”, but there are other distinct areas, which also include the beer tent, Growers Row, a stage for music/entertainment, the main tents/stalls, and, of course, a restroom area which happens to be rather interesting. The port-a-potty bathroom area is most unique due to the fact that there is an open-air urinal and “pee-only” porta-potties which are set up for local farms to collect urine to use as fertilizer – I was not kidding when I mentioned that Vermont really cares about sustainability and the planet! This year I even received an “I donated” sticker after exiting a #1-only porta-potty, which was a most memorable experience indeed.

Saving the earth, with #1…
Garlic samples were ubiquitous, as one would hope!
Just one of many delicious tables full of free samples.
Not all garlic is the same – there were many varieties to try.

Across the path from the food court, music, and porta potties one can find the area where the main attractions of Garlic Fest set up camp: various vendors from southern Vermont and upstate NY are available from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM to share samples of their goods and sell products. The variety of food, alcohol, crafts, and general merchandise available is extremely impressive, as is the amount of free samples available for tasting. This year, I had the privilege of sampling, meat, garlic, hot sauce, garlic vodka, cinnamon almonds, kimchi, pickles, mustard, fudge, rum, wine, peach liqueur, and more. You might notice a lot of alcohol in that sample list – the organizers of the event are aware of this and provide a taxi number for driving safety. There are also supposed to be wristbands for those over 21 but they ran out by the time we arrived and no one asked me for an ID, which was a bit of a bummer, vanity-wise.

Out of all of the samples I was pleased to experience, I did walk away with some favorites. I enjoyed the sweet yet slightly savory taste of the garlic fudge from The Apple Barn, delighted in the fruity samples available from The Wine Slushie Guy, was highly impressed by the nectar known as peach cordial available from the Wild Hart Distillery, and, of course, I could have stayed at the B’s Cheese stall (tragically, no website) inhaling delicious cheese spreads all day if there wasn’t so much else to try. I also made a couple of purchases that were all delectable: the moose-tracks flavored ice cream from Bart’s Ice Cream was chocolate-y perfection and the indulgent lemonade rum cocktail was great, though I can’t recall which vendor sold this excellent concoction. I picked up a few goat milk soaps from Garland Goat Soap, as well – I am a sucker for superbly-scented soaps!

Tasty Moose Tracks!
Yummy rum lemonade cocktails.
Hot sauce samples for all.

Aside from the $2.00 jump in admission pricing, there is one other issue I find to be a problem with this lovely event. Considering that there are large crowds and samples are everywhere, germs are rampant. Guests are often drinking and may forget to be careful with their toothpicks. Each stall has this set up differently, but some are more serious about fighting the potential germ issue than others. Some stalls have toothpicks in shakers, some have them lying on plates, and some, such as stalls featuring honey, have small spoons available. It can get a bit chaotic and I think the festival would be improved if there were some guidelines on how vendors can successfully provide samples without risking the passage of illness. I am saying this as someone who developed a sore throat shortly after the event. The alcohol-related and other beverage stalls don’t have a problem here, as they pour out samples into tiny shot glasses and hand them out individually. I do believe this is an issue that can be corrected with effort and it’s not enough to diminish my strong appreciation for how special this festival is.

Each experience at Garlic Fest has been a positive one for me. As an elementary school educator in a town where school starts the week before Labor Day day, this event provides something to look forward to during the beginning of the school year, which can be an extremely busy and challenging time. There’s enough to see and do at Garlic Fest to keep anyone busy from throughout its hours, and perhaps even throughout the whole two days it shows up each year. This past year, I was thrilled to be able to share this extremely Vermont-y experience with some fellow New England friends and I hope to share it with more friends and family in the future.

Freshly Vermont rating: five out of five stars. ★★★★★

Adventures in the Green Mountains

Exploring Vermont