So, I didn’t make anything crafty this weekend… Instead we took advantage of the long weekend (Thank you, Columbus!!) and took a little road trip to Vermont!! We’ve driven to Vermont a few times, and each time we fall more in love with the state!! Of course, it doesn’t hurt that it’s peak foliage weekend, and fall is my absolute favorite season!! Here’s what we did… (Warning… this will be an epically long post with pictures :)
We got up early Saturday, started the drive north before the traffic got bad… and our first stop was the Quechee Gorge… Still early, and a little bit foggy, but beautiful!
You know you’re in Vermont when you pass a truck on the highway with 3 GIANT pumpkins in the back :)
Stop number two was the Rock of Ages Granite Quarry… We got there just in time to take the tour up to the actual quarry… Pretty neat!
After the quarry, we also saw their outside granite bowling alley!
and we knocked down a few pins!
A trip to Vermont wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Ben & Jerry’s… We did the tour there and then had ice cream… Maple Walnut… Yummy!!
Next was the Round Church, which is the only round church in the US… A very nice man from the local Historical Society was there and gave us lots of information about the church itself and the history.
Next on the list… Lunch at Bove’s, Funny story about Bove’s… When I first met Mike, he and one of his friends were doing the website for Bove’s, and they used to get paid in sauce :) once a month or so, a box would arrive filled with various types of Bove’s pasta sauce!! Yummy!!
On the road again… The Vermont Teddy Bear factory is next! We took the tour here too, and I have to say I am shocked to find out that the Vermont Teddy Bears are all hand finished, the entire back part is hand stitched on, that’s crazy!! That was a fun tour! I had no idea how they were made, I want to move to Vermont and sew teddy bears!!
Next up was a little driving tour just to see what we could see, it was raining out, but that never stops us! One stop was in Bristol… Love the quintessential downtown!
We stayed in Shelbourne, at the T-Bird Motel, which was, BY FAR, THE CLEANEST motel/hotel we have EVER stayed in… And we travel a lot!!! It was not fancy, and it was not super modern, but I haven’t ever stayed in a cleaner place… It was great!! We will absolutely stay there again… And, it turns out the the owner used to work in Tewksbury, small world!
Breakfast at the Dutch Mill restaurant, right next to the motel, and another fabulous small family owned place. The owner was very personable, and even took Sean on a little tour of the kitchen to see how they make the home fries, ’cause according to Sean, they were the best home fries ever!
Our plan for the day was the Shelbourne Museum, but we had a little time before it opened, so we went to the tallest filing cabinet in the world :) 38 drawers high, made in 2006 by artist Ben Alvarez. It’s quite the kitschy site!
We did spend the rest of the day at the Shelbourne Museum… Mike and I have been before, and it’s fabulous!! a collection of old buildings and artifacts that have been moved there, and they are all full of amazing exhibits.
The lighthouse from the top of the hill.
The end of the Circus building.
The working 1920’s Carousel
From the deck of the Ticonderoga
another shot from the deck of the Ticonderoga
In front of the old schoolhouse
On our way home… We had another fabulous breakfast at the Dutch Mill, then we took the ferry to NY… It was early, and pretty chilly, but not a bad ride!
Hey! There’s me :) and Sean (Kathryn was in the car trying to stay warm!)
and on to the ruins of Fort Crown Point…
I love this one with the ruins of the fort, with the brand new bridge in the background!
The lighthouse.
Then on to Fort Ticonderoga…
Then Mount Defiance where you can drive to the top and see Fort Ticonderoga from the top of the opposite mountain!
Back across the ferry to Mount Independence… which wasn’t as great a view as Mount Defiance, but we’re still glad we drove over… Lots of real working farms along the way, and we even got to watch them harvesting corn! Think Sean is tired of posing with his sister??
After Mount Independence, we started to head home… Saw some more beautiful foliage, and also drove over many of the new bridges that were a necessity after Hurricane Irene’s destruction last year…
It was a full weekend, but it was so fun! We {HEART} Vermont!
