• The Starkness of Early Spring

    Bare branches near Lake Champlain in Charlotte. Now that the snow is mostly gone, I'm doing my best to appreciate the neutral landscape of early spring.The stretch between March and late April in Vermont is always a toss up -- it can be mild and...

  • The Long Trail Celebrates 100 Years
    The Long Trail Celebrates 100 Years

    The first time I hiked the Long Trail was in 1979 during an elementary school class trip. We hiked on a cold autumn day to the summit of Bromley Mountain, a ski area in southern Vermont. I carried my lunch and a small camera in...

  • Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock

    Every spring Dave and I set aside a day to visit Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock. The operating dairy farm, established in 1871 by Frederick Billings, offers agricultural exhibits, educational programs, and special events throughout the year. The farm's rural setting is beautiful and the...

  • Maple Sugaring at Bragg Farm

    [caption id="attachment_2279" align="aligncenter" width="648"] Doug Bragg works in his sugarhouse in East Montpelier.[/caption] Doug Bragg of Bragg Farm Sugarhouse is optimistic about this year's maple season. The weather in Vermont is cooperating with freezing nights and warm, sunny days, and Bragg is already spending most his...

  • Pieces of History in Harriman Reservoir
    Pieces of History in Harriman Reservoir

    The size of Harriman Reservoir is impressive, but its history is what grabs your attention. Along the reservoir's floor are remnants of an old logging village that was flooded in the 1920s when the Deerfield River was dammed to generate power. Harriman Reservoir, also known as...

  • Spring Skiing in Vermont
    Spring Skiing in Vermont

    Some of Vermont's best skiing and riding can be found in March. The snow is soft and the sun is warm, making conditions ideal for classic spring skiing. March tends to be Vermont's snowiest month, but it varies from year to year. Still, most Vermont resorts...

  • A Stone Wall in Ripton
    A Stone Wall in Ripton

    This stone wall in Ripton at Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English always catches my eye. At least once a year I take a leisurely drive along Route 125, a scenic route also known as Middlebury Gap Road. During these drives, I always stop at...

  • Town Meeting in Vermont

    [caption id="attachment_2268" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Goshen Town Hall[/caption] Town Meeting, held the first Tuesday in March, is an annual tradition in Vermont. Residents gather in town halls and school gymnasiums around the state to vote on local budgets, debate community issues, and elect town officials. Attendance at Town...

  • Village Bridge in Waitsfield

    The Village Bridge in Waitsfield is one of my favorite covered bridges in Vermont. The bridge, built in 1833 and restored in the 1970s, spans the Mad River. This is one of the oldest covered bridges in Vermont and includes a pedestrian walkway. Vermont has about...

  • Elmore Mountain and the Fire Tower

    Elmore Mountain is the northernmost and smallest peak of Vermont's Worcester Range. The mountain, which has an elevation of 2,608 feet, is a popular hiking destination and home to an accessible fire tower. Start your hike from Elmore State Park off Route 12, located along the...