• Soaking Up the Final Weeks of Summer in the Green Mountains
    Soaking Up the Final Weeks of Summer in the Green Mountains

    Lakes are nice, but when it's summer in the Green Mountains, I prefer exploring the peaks. Last week, I spent five days visiting Vermont ski areas -- Smugglers' Notch, Stowe Mountain Resort, and Bromley Mountain -- for my work with All Mountain Mamas, a family travel...

  • Scenic Drive: A Detour on East Bethel Road
    Scenic Drive: A Detour on East Bethel Road

    I recently stumbled upon East Bethel Road after taking a wrong turn in Randolph Center. Dave, Phoebe and I were heading north on Interstate 89 back from my sister's place in New Hampshire when we decided to get off the highway and meander over to...

  • Family Camping at Silver Lake State Park
    Family Camping at Silver Lake State Park

    One of the most relaxing weekends we’ve experienced all summer was camping at Silver Lake State Park. The 35-acre state park is located in Barnard, about 10 miles north of Woodstock. Dave, Phoebe and I camped with our friends Gina and Andre, their two young...

  • After Facing an Uncertain Future, the Barnard General Store is Thriving
    After Facing an Uncertain Future, the Barnard General Store is Thriving

    On Route 12 near Silver Lake stands the 183-year-old Barnard General Store. The country store made headlines across the state three years ago when it closed for business. It then captured the attention of national news outlets when local fundraising efforts helped rescue the store...

  • The House that Rockingham Built, Abandoned and Embraced
    The House that Rockingham Built, Abandoned and Embraced

    It’s hard to believe that the Rockingham Meeting House once sat unused and unappreciated. The meeting house is the oldest unchanged public building in Vermont. It was built as a combination church and town hall between 1787 and 1801 to meet the needs of anticipated population...

  • Inspiration Along the Robert Frost Trail in Ripton
    Inspiration Along the Robert Frost Trail in Ripton

    “We love the things we love for what they are.” –Robert Frost Just beyond the farmhouse at Homer Nobel Farm stands a fragile log cabin where Robert Frost spent summers for 24 years. The small town of Ripton in the Green Mountain National Forest is where the...

  • A Quirky Spirit of Independence at the Warren July 4th Parade
    A Quirky Spirit of Independence at the Warren July 4th Parade

    The Warren July 4th parade along Main Street celebrates independence with a twist. Now in its 67th year, this small-town parade has achieved legendary status in Vermont. This is by far my favorite Independence Day celebration in Vermont. In addition to the classic cars, lively performers...

  • Strafford is the Prettiest Vermont Town You’ve Probably Never Visited
    Strafford is the Prettiest Vermont Town You’ve Probably Never Visited

    The Strafford Town House is one of those iconic Vermont buildings that looks very familiar. You’ve probably seen photos of the white clapboard building in guidebooks, magazines, or coffee table books. But photos don’t do it justice. The Town House is one of those places...

  • A Plan to Save Mount Ascutney Ski Area
    A Plan to Save Mount Ascutney Ski Area

    Ascutney Mountain may not be a lost ski area for long. The West Windsor ski area, which went bankrupt and closed in 2010, could be turned into a community recreation area offering backcountry skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The town just needs to raise...

  • Vermont Perfection at Lowell Lake State Park in Londonderry
    Vermont Perfection at Lowell Lake State Park in Londonderry

    In all the years I've spent in Vermont, I had never heard of Lowell Lake State Park in Londonderry. For our 11th wedding anniversary, Dave, Phoebe and I made our annual weekend trip to the Inn at Weston.  Innkeepers Bob and Linda Aldrich, a wonderful couple...