Outdoors Archives - Page 2 of 10 - Happy Vermont

Outdoors

  • 7 Things to See and Do in Vermont Before Labor Day
    7 Things to See and Do in Vermont Before Labor Day

    It’s hard to believe, but Labor Day is nearly a month away. Still, four weeks is plenty of time to see and do summery things in the Green Mountain State. Here are seven ideas to make the most of late summer in Vermont. Go blueberry picking Vermont’s blueberry...

  • Vermont Ancient Roads Showcase History and Offer Access to the Outdoors
    Vermont Ancient Roads Showcase History and Offer Access to the Outdoors

    Spencer Crispe spends as much time as he can walking or cross-country skiing on Vermont ancient roads. Ancient roads—often lined with stone walls—can be found across the state. You might also come across tiny cemeteries, old stone chimneys, and cellar holes near these dirt pathways. “They're almost...

  • Vermont Wildflower Walks and Guided Hikes
    Vermont Wildflower Walks and Guided Hikes

    Vermont wildflower walks are a chance to see columbines, bloodroot, trout lily and other spring ephemerals in forests and trails throughout the state. Here are a sampling of trails and conserved areas, as well as upcoming events, where you can see wildflowers this spring and summer...

  • What’s the Story Behind These Vermont Place Names?
    What’s the Story Behind These Vermont Place Names?

    Vermont has no shortage of offbeat place names. What is special about Vermont place names is that they come with a story—either a true one or a mix of myth, folklore and fact. Esther Monroe Swift wrote Vermont-Place Names: Footprints in History in 1977. She spent...

  • Stratton: Forests, a Fire Tower and a Tiny Population
    Stratton: Forests, a Fire Tower and a Tiny Population

    Imagine if Stratton lost its status as an official Vermont town. In the 1930s, the Vermont Legislature decided that towns with tiny populations, like Glastenbury and Somerset, would no longer be organized towns. Some wondered if Stratton would face the same fate. At the time, Stratton's...

  • Vermont Winter Outdoor Events and Activities You’ll Love
    Vermont Winter Outdoor Events and Activities You’ll Love

    Sunsets after 5 o'clock, sunnier days and warmer temps are easier to come by in February and March. Fortunately, this time of year is also jam-packed with Vermont winter outdoor events and activities. The second half of winter arrives Monday, Feb. 3, officially marking the season's...

  • Vermont Winter Carnivals to Celebrate the Season
    Vermont Winter Carnivals to Celebrate the Season

    Ski jumping, a wood sawing competition and a nine-mile sleigh ride were some highlights of the first Chester Winter Carnival in 1922. The sleigh ride to Rockingham and back brought locals to a supper and dance at the Rockingham Grange Hall. The night ran long that...

  • A Good Life in the Shadow of Terrible Mountain
    A Good Life in the Shadow of Terrible Mountain

    Susan Leader makes pottery in a small shed at her home in Andover. In a field outside her doorstep is a view of Terrible Mountain. Terrible Mountain sits between Andover and Weston. Folklore surrounds the mountain's ominous name, and its mystique was likely heightened by the crash of...

  • 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...