Mountains, Lakes & Rivers Archives - Happy Vermont

Mountains, Lakes & Rivers

  • Art, Nature and Beauty in Montgomery
    Art, Nature and Beauty in Montgomery

    Traveling east on Route 118 along the Trout River is a nostalgic scene with covered bridges, barns and mountain views. After a few bends in the road, a clear view of the Montgomery Center for the Arts unfolds. The Greek Revival building was empty the first...

  • Whimsy, Hiking and History in Wallingford
    Whimsy, Hiking and History in Wallingford

    Stacy Harshman needed a change. While living in New York, she Googled words like "nature, mountains and community." The search brought her to Vermont, where she eventually opened The Sparkle Barn. The Sparkle Barn is a wildly popular gift shop on Route 7 in Wallingford, complete with an...

  • Little-Known Vermont Winter Trails to Explore This Season
    Little-Known Vermont Winter Trails to Explore This Season

    For a small state, Vermont is big on trails. The Long Trail, Catamount Trail, and Kingdom Trails are among the state's most legendary areas for hiking, backcountry skiing, and mountain biking. Fortunately, access to Vermont winter trails can happen without going to a ski resort...

  • 5 Easy Vermont Hikes to Try this Fall
    5 Easy Vermont Hikes to Try this Fall

    Fall is the best time for easy Vermont hikes, especially with kids. The bright foliage and cooler weather make it an ideal time to climb the Green Mountains and enjoy incredible views. But what if you have young kids in tow or want an alternative to...

  • Hiking The Long Trail in the Heart of Vermont
    Hiking The Long Trail in the Heart of Vermont

    Hiking the Long Trail might mean seeing an old stone wall, a cellar hole, or an abandoned road. On mountains like Camels Hump—where the century-old Long Trail crosses its peak—nearby wreckage from a 1944 bomber plane crash has fascinated historians, hikers and locals for decades. But hikers...

  • The Wonder of Old Trees at Gifford Woods State Park
    The Wonder of Old Trees at Gifford Woods State Park

    It’s hard to imagine, but most of Vermont’s forests and hillsides were clear-cut in the 19th-century. Still, while 80 percent of the state had been deforested, a handful of Vermont’s old forests miraculously survived. Some of those old trees—more than 300 years old—can be seen...

  • Podcast: The Magic of Blueberry Hill in Goshen
    Podcast: The Magic of Blueberry Hill in Goshen

    On a dirt road in the small town of Goshen is where Tony Clark bought a run-down farm and eventually turned it into an inn and trail center. The Blueberry Hill Inn is a bright yet soothing shade of blue that’s hard to forget. The same went...

  • Forest Service Roads in Vermont to Seek Out in Fall
    Forest Service Roads in Vermont to Seek Out in Fall

    Leaf-peeping on U.S. Forest Service roads in Vermont is a good option for out-of-the-way scenic drives and outdoor exploration. Forest Service roads in Vermont can be found across the Green Mountain National Forest, from Searsburg and Sunderland to Goshen and Granville. The national forest encompasses more...

  • Exploring the Heart of Downtown Brattleboro
    Exploring the Heart of Downtown Brattleboro

    Visit downtown Brattleboro and you'll quickly find how the town embodies what Vermont represents: progressive values, a buy local mindset, and an unwavering commitment to the community. The heart of downtown Brattleboro is Main Street, a busy but cozy, walkable section of Route 5 lined with...

  • Best Vermont Sunrise and Sunset Hikes
    Best Vermont Sunrise and Sunset Hikes

    Albert Einstein once said, “Look deep into nature, and you will understand everything better.” Vermont sunrise and sunset hikes are a perfect way to connect with the outdoors and clear your head. Hiking in the Green Mountains is rewarding no matter what. But catching an orange-reddish sunrise...