Vermont - Green Mountain State
We visited Vermont in October to do some leaf-peeking and experience the beautiful fall colors. Our daughter Marnie and her husband Terry have a condo near Mount Snow, primarily for snowboarding in the winter. They had never been there in the fall, so this was a first for them, too. My friend, Lynda La Salandra, had also wanted to go to New England in the fall, so the 5 of us met at the Albany airport and Terry drove us to Dover. Their Weimaraner, Tula, came along for the ride. It was a tight squeeze in the car, but we made it there safely, stopping for dinner along the way.
Our first day was spent hiking in a wooded area near Bennington. To get to the trail, we walked through a tunnel which was decorated with artwork/graffiti inside and out. It was an interesting juxtaposition to the streams and woods that were everywhere else. We enjoyed the crisp mountain air as we walked along the lovely, rocky trail, crossing a stream several times. Unfortunately, on one such crossing, Lynda tripped and fell into the water. She was not harmed, except for her dignity, and had to suffer with muddy jeans for the rest of the day.
Vermont is known as the Green Mountain State because, from a distance, mountain peaks appear to be swathed in deep blue-green foliage. Maple trees adorned with emerald, five-fingered leaves contribute to the state’s maple syrup production, for which it is famous.
There is a lot of history in Vermont since it was admitted to the union as the 14th state in 1790, after 14 years as an independent republic. We visited several places that brought that history to life. A plaque at the Bennington Battle Monument read: “On this site stood the Continental Storehouse, object of the British attack that was repulsed by the colonial forces at the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777.” Nearby is a stone obelisk, completed in 1889, which was then the tallest battle monument in the world. At 306 feet, it is still the tallest structure in Vermont.
Bennington Museum houses a collection reflective of the region’s art, history and innovation. Permanent exhibits include the Bennington Flag, one of the oldest Stars and Stripes flags in existence. Andy loved seeing the Martin Wasp, a 1920s luxury automobile made in Bennington. In the gift store, Lynda bought a beautiful necklace, made by a local artisan, which she wears frequently. Surprisingly, a bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln with two other figures, a little nude boy and a young girl, stands in front of the museum. It is thought to be one of the strangest Abe statues anywhere, and some people find it quite disturbing. Hmm.
While our days were busy exploring the sites, our mornings and evenings were very cozy and comfortable in the condo. Marnie and I are early risers, so we would take Tula out for her morning walk each day. The temperature was often in the low 30s, which is not cold for the New Jersey folks, but felt chilly for me! Fortunately, there was a warm puffer jacket in the closet that I borrowed for those early morning jaunts.
One morning, while everyone else slept in, Marnie and I took Tula with us for a hike to see Hamilton Falls. The leaf colors were brilliant, and the slippery gray shale rock provided the perfect backdrop for the cascading water of the falls. Marnie and I loved this hike and Tula, happily off leash, was in seventh heaven.
Another day we went to Wilmington, a charming town with several interesting upscale shops. The sidewalks were lined with hanging flowerpots filled with blooming flowers, including one of my favorites, ornamental cabbages. I bought some beautiful sheets for our guest room, with the help of Lynda who has excellent design sensibility. I also bought a pair of warm gloves and a turtleneck sweater, and Marnie found a dress which suited her perfectly. We had a hearty lunch at the Maple Leaf Tavern because all that shopping made us very hungry.
The countryside around West Marlboro was spectacular, with views of trees that were just what you would imagine for a perfect fall day in Vermont. And a covered bridge in Dover, surrounded by brightly colored trees, was as picturesque as if it were one of the Bridges of Madison County.
In Brattleboro the first permanent English settlement, Fort Dummer, was established in 1724. It is located in the Connecticut River Valley, surrounded by rolling hills and green mountains. A three-block stretch, on the banks of the river, is a thriving downtown community with many shops, restaurants, and a very impressive art gallery called Vermont Artisans and Designs. We spent a couple of hours there, enjoying and learning about local artists, artisans and photographers. Down the street, the Centre Congregational Church is noteworthy for its tall white steeple. Nearby is Stone Church. With its ivy-covered walls and brilliantly colored stained-glass windows, since at one time it was All Souls Unitarian Church, it has now been reborn as a stunning yet intimate venue for live music.
Near the condo, Marnie and Terry went with us up the ski chairlift to the top of Mt. Snow, where the views of the countryside, mountains and lakes of southern Vermont were breathtaking. We tried to imagine what it would look like covered with snow, but on this warm sunny day, that was nearly impossible.
On our last full day, we drove to Manchester to see Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home. This 24-room Georgian Revival mansion was built in 1905 as a summer home for Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s only child to live to maturity. His story is so interesting. When he visited Manchester with his mother and brother Tad in 1864, he was so impressed with the beauty of the area that he returned years later to build this 412-acre estate. In the meantime, he had become president and CEO of the Pullman Co. His descendants lived in the house until 1975. We took a self-guided tour of the home, listened to an original Aeolian 1,000-pipe organ, and strolled through the formal gardens. Later, we walked from the house to see a restored Pullman Palace car, a cheese-making factory, and a herd of adorable (and noisy) goats. Andy immediately bonded with the goats, and we thought we would never get him out of there. Really, they were very cute.
Vermont is such a beautiful state, it was a perfect time of year to visit, and a wonderful time was had by all!
