Do you like apples? Do you like apple cider? Do you like apple cider donuts? Do you like small towns? Do you like friendly people? Do you like small towns full of friendly people? Do you like rolling hills, mountains, and change in elevation? Do you like?… yeah, yeah, yeah, you get the point!
Vermont is an interesting state. It is the second least-populated state; it has the smallest capital city; and no other state has its largest city as small as Burlington (around 40,000 people). This small town atmosphere is refreshing. Vermonters are just some of the nicest people I have ever met.
I was lucky enough to see the fall foliage of the state with friends who came to visit from Chicago. We stayed near the shores of Lake Champlain at Apple Island Resort. We camped in the middle of the forest at Quechee State Park. We took a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury. (By the way, the number of cow puns on the tour is “udderly” ridiculous!) We hiked in the middle of the incredibly scenic Smugglers’ Notch. We spent a day in Vermont’s version of a metropolis – downtown Burlington. We stumbled upon a hidden gem of a restaurant in South Hero. (It’s called Blue Paddle Bistro. Go there. You won’t be disappointed.) We visited Woodstock, “the prettiest small town in America”. We found some culture at a museum, toured an expansive farm, and visited a working orchard – all in Shelburne. Did I mention we had apple cider donuts?
Of all the states I have visited, Vermont is definitely one of my favorites!
- Excellent omelettes, Eggs Benedict, bagels, and muffins at Libby's Diner in Colchester
- Very cool pedestrian-only street in Burlington
- Ben & Jerry's store in Burlington
- Lake Champlain
- Round Barn (Shelburne Museum)
- Jesse James motorcycle made for Airstream (Shelburne Museum)
- Ticonderoga (Shelburne Museum)
- Shelburne Museum
- Random Airstream at Shelburne Orchard
- Making waffles for my guests
- Hiking up Smuggler's Notch near Stowe
- Hiking up Smuggler's Notch near Stowe
- One of several covered bridges in Vermont
- Foliage of Stowe
- Absolutely incredible restaurant, Blue Paddle Bistro, in South Hero
- Quechee Gorge
- One of several covered bridges in Vermont
- Step back in time for dinner in Woodstock
- Snow + Airstream = Interesting
- Cold hills of Vermont
- Lone Tree Hill overlooking Lake Champlain
![A "creek" in Yosemite](http://whereiskylenow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/P10004061-1024x768.jpg "A "creek" in Yosemite")
Heh, when I first saw the title I thought it said “FAIL in Vermont”! But apple cider donuts sound like an epic win.
Looks like nice country, that Vermont. Perfect for Chrissy…Ben & Jerry’s, fall colors and nice people. Find yourself a nice southern belle in Biloxi!
Thanks for being such a generous host. I know my wife and daughter really enjoyed their stay with you in the Airstream. Incredible pictures from an amazing part of the country. I know it will be a vacation they will never forget… great memories.
Isn’t that Ben and Jerry’s tour fun? We did that in September.
Question: How do you do the Lifestream panel? Is there a widget for that?
Thanks,
Randy
Randy, I use the WP Lifestream plugin at http://www.ibegin.com/labs/wp-lifestream/