Vermont Travel Notes

Schedule of Opening Dates for VT Ski Areas

Close behind the end of foliage, winter seems to be rushing in this year in contrast to last year when the slacker did not show up until mid January. There has been natural snowfall on the mountain ridges lately and I've read of several ski areas already making snow. It won't be long. I also read that Killington is going to open tomorrow but frankly, they're just playing around for press coverage and bragging rights as having the longest season in the East.

Here is a listing from Ski Vermont with projected openings for Vermont ski areas this year:

Killington Resort: Opened for pass holders October 13-14, Full opening day expected early November
Stowe Mountain Resort: Saturday, November 17
Sugarbush Resort: Saturday, November 17
Okemo Mountain Resort: Saturday, November 17
Stratton Mountain: Wednesday, November 21
Mount Snow Resort: Wednesday, Nov 21 (11/17 if possible)
Smugglers� Notch Resort: Friday, November 23
Bromley Mountain: Friday, November 23
Burke Mountain: Friday, November 23
Jay Peak Resort: Saturday, November 24
Bolton Valley: Saturday, December 8
Middlebury College Snow Bowl: Friday, December 14
Magic Mountain: Saturday, December 15 (12/8 if possible)
Mad River Glen: Saturday, December 15 (earlier if possible)
Pico Mountain: Saturday, December 15

Ski Vermont has a Facebook page too.

Grunberg Haus Applesauce Pancakes

We're always very happy to share our recipes here at the Grunberg Haus. In fact, some of our recipes were handed down by the previous owners 11 years ago when we bought the inn, others we brought with us, and still others we've come across while searching for new ideas to offer our guests. So we don't jealously guard our recipes and instead freely pass them along for others to enjoy.

One person we shared a recipe with has written about it on her blog called A Mom Named Mindy (sadly no longer online). The recipe is very easy so give it a whirl and perhaps you will fall in love with applesauce pancakes as much as Mindy has!

Two quick notes: the lemon juice may not seem important but the acidity is what gives the pancakes their "body" and helps them brown properly. Another trick we use here is full flavored Grade A Dark Amber Vermont maple syrup.

Thanks Mindy! We hope to see you again some day.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Is Giving Away Gas Money!

The Vermont Department of Tourism is giving away $100 in a weekly drawing that you can enter online. It only takes a minute to answer about 12 survey questions and you're entered to win a $100 gas card. Nowhere else will pay you anything let alone a hundred dollars a minute!

[But wait, there's more! We'll even throw in beautiful scenery like the one above!]

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Restaurant Week

Vermont Restaurant Week starts today, April 29, and runs through May 5, 2011

Vermont's annual restaurant week is a great way to eat at some of the state's best restaurants at a deep discount. The event, organized by Seven Days newspaper, includes dozens of restaurants with prix-fixe menus showcasing their chefs� greatest dishes. Each meal(appetizer, entree� and dessert) is priced at $15, $25 or $35 per person. Moreover, ten percent of the proceeds from event will be donated to the Vermont Foodbank.

This is a very popular event featuring very popular restaurants, so reservations are a good idea.

To find participating restaurants, go to the Seven Days Restaurant Week web page and find the red box with the "Choose a Restaurant" headline on the right side of the web page. I did not count all the restaurants but it looks like more than 75 are participating and they range in location from Middlebury to St. Albans. You can find the list here.

The event has a Facebook
page too if you would like to check news during the week.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Three Vermont Chefs Named as Semifinalists in the James Beard Awards

Eric Warnstedt

Everyone has heard of the Oscar Awards for the movies but far fewer have heard of the James Beard Foundation Award, an equally prestigious award for people in the restaurant industry.

Like the Oscar's, The James Beard Foundation Award has numerous categories even though the most publicized are the awards for chefs. However, there are also awards for food journalists, broadcast media, food and beverage professionals, even restaurant architects and designers.

Three Vermont chefs are semi-finalists in the Best Chef Northeast category. This is the third year in a row that Eric Warnstedt, Hen of the Wood restaurant, Waterbury VT has been nominated. A few years ago, Eric was also named one of the Top Ten New Chefs in the USA by Food and Wine Magazine.

Jason Gulisano of The Green Cup Cafe, Waitsfield VT and Nathaniel Wade, iDuino! (Duende) restaurant, Burlington VT have also been nominated. Only one of the
21 semifinalists will be named the winner at the awards ceremony May 9 in New York City.

Vermont is fortunate to be home to hundreds of great restaurants. Spend some time looking through the Seven Days newspaper's restaurant website and you will begin to get a feel for the scope of what's available.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Okemo's New "Timber Ripper" Mountain Coaster Opens Dec 23

Okemo's "Timber Ripper" coaster is a few weeks late in opening because it was so complicated to build but it's completed now and scheduled to open tomorrow, Dec 23.

The fastest $13 you'll ever spend! . . .

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Sugarbush Trail Grooming With Dogs

The next time you are at Sugarbush, see if you can tell which trails are groomed by these two guys.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Santa Goes Skiing at Bolton Valley

I saw this photo on Bolton Valley Resort's Facebook page and had to share it. Today is "Santa Skis or Rides Free Day" at Bolton - everyone who wore a Santa costume got a free pass for the day.

And it's a beautiful day here with sunshine and temperatures in the mid 20's. Last week we had light to medium snowfalls every day adding several inches each time. I think all the local ski areas, with the exception of Mad River Glen, have been operating for a while and it seems like each day they announce more trail openings.

The two best websites for information on Vermont skiing and snow boarding are Ski Vermont and the Ski Maven blog.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

New Dog Mountain Video and Burlington Exhibit

There is a fun, new YouTube video about Dog Mountain's 2010 fall festival in Saint Johnsbury VT. Stephan Huneck, artist and founder of Dog Mountain and its famous Dog chapel, passed away earlier this year so all the events from now on are in part memorials to his life and work.

Coincidentally, Frog Hollow gallery in Burlington is currently staging a Stephan Huneck exhibit through the end of this month. It features Huneck's prints, sculptures and books including a posthumously printed book entitles "Even Bad Dogs Go To Heaven" and even a replica of Dog Chapel.

Frog Hollow is the Vermont State Craft Center and features works from 250 Vermont artisans. It's located at 85 Church Street in Burlington. Their summer hours are still listed on the website but it should be open most days during winter. You can call (802) 863-6458 for details.

Both Dog Mountain and Frog Hollow also have Facebook pages.

All dog lovers should plan a visit to Dog Mountain located just outside Saint Johnsbury Vermont. It's open seven days a week year around and has festivals each year. For your GPS, plug in the address: 143 Parks Road, Saint Johnsbury, VT, 05819

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Shelburne Vineyard Wine and Food Festival Saturday

Shelburne Vineyard's Autumn Wine and Food Festival will be held tomorrow, Saturday, November 13 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

There will be free wine tastings, live jazz performances, and local food products from VT Smoke and Cure, Cavendish Game Birds, Olivia�s Croutons, VT Creamery, Shelburne Farms, Fat Toad Farms, Red Hen Bakery, Bread & Butter Farm, Daily Chocolate and Shelburne Kitchen.

Wine tasting includes Shelburne Vineyard, Eden Ice Cider, Artesano Mead and East Shore Vineyards.

This event is a benefit for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Visitors are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation and enter a raffle to win food and wine prizes.

Shelburne Vineyards is located south of Burlington VT on Shelburne Road between Shelburne Museum and the VT Teddy Bear factory.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Champlain Valley Quilt Guild Annual Show

Shelburne Farms Coach Barn

28th Annual Quilt Show: Homage to Grandmother
Saturday October 30, 2010 10 to 5
Sunday October 31, 2010 10 to 4
Shelburne Farms Coach Barn

The Champlain Valley Quilters will be hosting their 2010 quilt show in the Coach Barn
at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, Vermont, Harbor Road off Route 7. There will be quilt
displays, merchants, a silent auction, quilt raffle, handmade crafts, and special exhibits
and demonstrations.Lunch and refreshments will be available. Free parking; admission is $6.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Annual Essex VT Fall Craft & Fine Art Show

Fall Show
30th Annual Essex Fall Craft & Fine Art Show
October 29, 30 & 31, 2010
Champlain Valley Exposition
Essex Junction, VT

Named one of the top shows in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine, the Essex Fall Craft and Fine Art Show has become one of the largest. The merchandise is good quality and many of the craft makers and artists are in attendance. It's great indoor entertainment on a blustery day. "The show not to miss."

Tip: there is a discount coupon on the show's website.

Also, please bring non-perishable food item for The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.

Free parking. Admission: $7 / $6 with discount coupon. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.

On Sunday, a local radio station is sponsoring a garage sale at the same Champlain Valley Expo grounds. It's $3 to get in.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Post Peak Beauty in Vermont

Photo taken in Waterbury VT, October 27, 2010

One of the great things about Vermont is its natural beauty even in seasons when you would least expect it. Right now is a good example. Most of the colorful leaves are not only past peak, they're lying on the ground. We're transitioning into Vermont's "stick season" where all the trees look like sticks. While it does not have the gaudy color of two weeks ago, the hillsides are still eye catching. At the lower elevations there are splashes of bright yellow and larger patches of rusty reds. It can be quite striking.

Yesterday was a good example. I enjoy this time of year when the sun is low on the horizon in the morning and late afternoon. It makes for dramatic natural lighting and it's especially fun to observe when the sky is a cobalt blue or swirling gray with sunlit highlights.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Stowe's First Snow Report of the Season!

I got a chuckle today when Stowe's first Snow Report of the season arrived in my email inbox. But they had a good reason for sending it: over two feet of snow there yesterday. Of course, that's at the top but you can see in the report that they averaged a couple of inches elsewhere on the trails.

Most of the ski areas in the northern half of Vermont will get their snow making operations started in a couple of weeks and they will try to open a few trails by Thanksgiving.

Also, if you are considering a season pass, now is the time to get one. The sale prices will go up substantially November 1.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Where to Find VT Foliage

Our weather today was not conducive to foliage viewing but it's predicted to be better tomorrow and fairly good on Sunday. Many areas are past peak now plus the wind and rain has knocked off many of the leaves that changed colors. However, there are still some areas coming into good color.

As I've mentioned previously, the Vermont foliage report I think does the best job is on vermontvacation.com where you can find observations by VT forest rangers who know what they're talking about and are not hyping travel to Vermont. Here is a link to the October 14 Foliage Report.

If you plan to tour VT in the next few days, I recommend that you line up lodging reservations in advance. We are nearly full tonight and full Saturday night for example. However, we have many rooms available Sunday night. That is likely the same situation for most Vermont lodging properties but not all. Click this VT Lodging Forecaster link for a useful guide to how busy inns and motels around the state are. It varies by location.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Marshmallow Farm

While organizing this year's photos, I came across this summer photograph of plastic wrapped, round hay bales on a Route 100 farm a little north of Waitsfield.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Update on Quilt Auction

The quilt auction website mentioned below says more than 75 quilts will be auctioned tomorrow (probably written months ago) but the word "more" understates it by a wide margin.

According to their Facebook page they now have 180 donated quilts for auction. Considering the amount of work that goes into making a quilt, that is an staggering number. It shows the great generosity you find around here.

I didn't see any information about payment methods but I imagine you can polish up the credit card and bring along the check book for back up.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Quilt Auction and Tractor Parade Oct 10

Quilt Auction Saturday October 10

Vermont is a rural state and I suppose nothing says rural like quilts and tractors. If you would like to see to some of the local rural flavor, here are two good Vermont events you can attend, one featuring quilts and the other parading tractors.

Cabin Fever Quilts in Waitsfield Vt is sponsoring a benefit auction of 75 hand made quilts to raise funds for the local Food Bank, Humane Society, Battered Women's Shelter, and Seedbank for Haiti.

The auction will be held at the Waitsfield Elementary School with a preview 9:00 am and the auction at 11:00 am. The quilts are craft made in the local area.

You can see a slide show of some of the quilts to be auctioned here. But be warned, once you see them, you are going to want them!

Charlotte Tractor Parade October 10

Don't worry about the line through the date on the Charlotte Tractor Parade home page. It's just some html that's gone wacky. The event is still this Sunday, October 10.

Event time 11:00 am until 5:00 pm with the parade of well over 100 antique and modern tractors starting at at 1:00 pm. There will be a farmers' market, free children's games,
hayride, music, food, toy tractor display, and more. Specific information and directions are here.

By the way, if you stop and ask for directions to CHARlotte, you will get directions to North Carolina. If you ask for directions to CharLOTTE you will be directed to the village in Vermont. That's just how we roll here - French Canadian influence you know.

The weather forecast is sunny tomorrow but cool - bring a jacket and a camera for the fall foliage too.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Fall Foliage 2010

We got off to an early fall foliage here in Vermont but the colors are still

changing and we have many days left before we're past peak everywhere. I

was looking at the hillside across the street yesterday and was pleased to

see so much bright red and orange has shown up.

As usual, some hillsides are further along than others. Looking closely at the

trees here at the inn, I see some trees that have few leaves left holding on

and other trees that have only just begun changing and are still mostly green.

The tree above is in front our inn and always looks spectacular for a week or

so every year. It doesn't look very good the rest of the year and I hardly pay

attention to it. But when fall rolls around, this tree is one of the first to blossom

with a bright color that makes up for the other weeks of the year.

When the lighting is just right, this maple has a day-glo orange color that is

sometimes so bright, it almost looks fake - as though someone painted it a

color that you would only see on a hot rod, not a tree. It is past its peak now (I

took the photo about a week ago) but plenty of its sylvan neighbors here are

looking very good.

Some people here predicted a quick end to the foliage because of the early

start but they've been proven wrong and I think we have at least a good ten

days left and longer in some areas like the Lake Champlain valley.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Short Term 35% Discount at Killington Ski Resort

Vermont's Killington resort has a "K55" deal available for a short time that you should
take a look at if you are thinking of skiing there a few times this year. The K55 is a
one day lift ticket that costs "just" $55 which is almost a 35% discount from the weekend
window rate of $85. The offer expires October
15.

The K55 is not good during the usual peak periods of late Dec-Jan, mid Jan
MLK weekend, and Presidents' Day week in late Feb.

You are limited to ten tickets but if you are going to buy that many, you should
take a look at some of the other discount programs Killington offers such as
the Express Card or the On-line Etickets. Of course the best deal is a
season pass. You can see some details and analysis on this Alpine Zone page.

Known as "The Best of the East," Killington is the largest ski area in the
East. It has 200 runs and 33 lifts spread out over seven mountains. But a
contender has mounted a challenge to that claim, Sugarloaf in Maine is
adding more acreage and will be larger in some categories. If you care, see
the "East's New Beast - Sort Of" article on Skinet.com.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Harvest Weekend at Billings Farm, Woodstock VT

Photo copyright Billings Farm and Museum

One of my favorite towns in Vermont is Woodstock and one of my favorite places in
Woodstock is the Billings Farm and Museum. In your travels around central Vermont,
Billings is one place I think should be at the top of your list of places to visit.

This coming weekend, October 9 and 10, Billings is hosting its annual Harvest Weekend.
Each day there will be an old time husking bee, barn dance, hand pressing
cider, preserving apples, making butter and ice cream, harvesting the heirloom
vegetable garden, "putting them up� for winter, shelling corn and beans, fence
building, Saturday rug hooking demonstration, apples-on-a-string, and 19th
century games. Hot-spiced cider and homemade doughnuts will be available.
Harvest Weekend is a Vermont Top Ten Fall Event as selected by the Vermont
Chamber of Commerce.

Billings Farm is a beautiful operating dairy farm with an excellent educational building.
It is open everyday until the end of October and then weekends November through February.
Admission is $12.00 for adults, $6.00 for children 5 to 15: $3.00 for children 3 to 4, and
2 & under are free. Billings is a great place to bring kids not only for this event
but also to see the educational exhibits plus horses, cows and sheep.

Billings is located just a little north of Woodstock VT at the intersection of
Route 12 and River Road. From Interstate highway 89, take exit 1 and go west on
Route 4 about ten miles to Woodstock.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Smashing Pumpkins. Not the Band; This is the Real Thing

The 2nd Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival is being held at The Boyden Family Farm in Cambridge VT on Sunday, October 3, 2010.

There will be catapults and trebuchets in action throwing pumpkins hundreds of feet. Competition matches start at 1:00 in the afternoon.

Also, the American Chunker Air Cannon team from Merrimack, NH will be there early to launch its first public appearance. This incredible air cannon was recently completed after nearly a year's work and a $100,000 investment. The cannon has a barrel over 100 feet long and is expected to hurl a pumpkin nearly a mile. "Prepare yourself to be amazed at the latest and greatest in pumpkin smashing technology."

More information about this amazing device (big, expensive toy) is on the American Chunker website and their Facebook page.

To get to the Boyden Family Farm, you can plug this into your GPS: 44 Vermont Route 104, Cambridge, VT 05444

Or use this Google map.. The farm is Located in Cambridge at the intersection of Vermont Routes 15 & 104.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Where to Get Updated Vermont Fall Foliage Information

I've watched Vermont fall foliage reports for a decade and the one I put the most faith in comes from Vermont Department of Forestry rangers. They are out in the field and they know what they're talking about. Heck, they even studied it in college. For years. At great expense.

Their report is available at the Fall Foliage page on the Vermont Dept. of Tourism page.

You will find reports on other websites but if you look closely you will see that they base their reports on the foresters' reports. In other words, they go to the website I mentioned above and rewrite it a bit.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Fall Foliage Starting

Fall foliage in Vermont is off to a good start. Small spots of color have been visible for about a week and now they are gradually becoming larger spots. No bright reds yet, mostly yellows showing. It seems a little early to me but I think the foliage should last well into the second half of October because we've had good rain the past few weeks to help the trees avoid stress and thereby not shed their leafs faster.

The photo above is from a newsletter I got from Jay Peak, about an hour's drive north of us nearly on the border with Canada. Their leaves are roughly a week ahead of ours here in the Waterbury area.

So, is it leaves or leafs? Click here.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of ...

... internal combustion engines.

Two big car shows are going on this weekend here in northern Vermont:
the British Invasion in Stowe and the Northeast Street Rods Nationals near
Burlington.

The British Invasion is open to any British made car or motorcycle from
old classics to modern cars. It's a concours event so you will see the best
original or restored vehicles - there's not a rust spot or dent in this
crowd. You can find the British Invasion at the Stowe Events Field on
Weeks Hill Road across the street from the Swimming Hole indoor pool.

The National Street Rod Association meet is being held
at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction VT.

I've been to both events and I am happy to report that they attract many
hundreds of cars and they're both top quality shows.

The weather forecast is for great weather so put the top down and drive
on over.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Route 100 Glassblowers Open Studios Weekend

Glenn Ziemke

On September 18 and 19, Waterbury's Ziemke Glassblowing
Studio will be part of an Open Studio Weekend at five
glassblowing studios up and down scenic Route 100 from
Granville to Hyde Park, Vermont. The event will feature
glassblowing demonstrations, prize drawings, sale
pricing, and a chance to win a glassblowing lesson
if you visit all five studios.

More information and a printable map are available
at the Vermont Glassblowers website.

The five participating studios are:

Ziemke Glassblowing Studio, Waterbury Center, VT
Artist: Glenn Ziemke, 802-244-4126
www.zglassblowing.com
Map

Green Mountain Glassworks, Granville, VT
Artist: Michael Egan, 802-767-4547
www.eganglass.com
Map

Mad River Glass, Waitsfield, VT
Artists: David & Melanie Leppla, 802-496-9388
www.madriverglassgallery.com
Map

Little River Hotglass Studio, Moscow (Stowe) VT
Artist: Michael Trimpol, 802-253-0889
www.littleriverhotglass.com
(1/2 mile off Route 100)
Map

Seasholtz Glass, Hyde Park, VT
Artist: Matt Seasholtz, 802-635-2731
www.windsedgestudio.com
Map

Vase by Little River Hotglass Studio

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Megapickles Vermont Photo Blog

I've written previously about how much I enjoy Megapickles, a daily photo blog by John Hughes, a professor at Saint Michael's. The Vermont landscapes and architectural photographs are well done and fortunately they make up the bulk of John's work. If you want to see what Vermont look like to a superb photographer, this is where you can find what you're looking for. The photo shown in the screen capture above is a good example. The reduced size here takes much away from how striking this photo is so please click the link and see the original. In fact, I suggest you go to the Megapickles website and see especially the photos posted between Sept 4 and Sept 11.

When I visit John's photo blog I'm reminded that there are many beautiful places all around the world and I'm fortunate to live in one of them.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Country Singer Jamie Lee Thurston at Ben & Jerry's

Country singer and Vermont native Jamie Lee Thurston will hold a free concert at Ben & Jerry's factory on Route 100 in Waterbury VT on Saturday, September 11, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Free ice cream and a free politician too! (Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.)

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Book Review: "How To Survive the Recession, A Vermont Perspective"

"How to Survive the Recession - A Vermont Perspective" by Bob Stannard:

A fun read by Manchester Vermont resident Bob Stannard made up from some newspaper columns he wrote in recent years plus new material especially for this book. Bob figured he could help his country in this time of trial and tribulation by explaining how Vermonters get up every morning (well, most mornings), pull on their boots, and go about the task of wrestling with the bear (i.e., living).

Bob sketches the characters (and I mean characters in every sense of the word) he has met and events he has witnessed or instigated, and uses these vignettes to show how Vermonters deal with the challenges and rewards of life.

The book in written in a conversational voice thankfully lacking in pretense. If you stopped by Bob's house, sat down with him in front of his fireplace and asked him what it's like to live in Vermont, this book would be his response. It's a very easy and quick read.

For the most part he does not stray too far into being preachy. He often just presents people and events and then lets you draw the conclusion. For instance, he enthusiastically veers into talking about playing serious blues harmonica ("harp") with the likes of B.B. King. He relates the stories King tells of losing a profitable gig to another blues performer and how his early manager cheated him. Yet King remains non bitter, even grateful for the experience and cherishes what these men did for him rather than what they did to him. That's how to live a full and happy life.

The book available directly from the author: Bob Stannard

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Waterfalls Website

www.vtfalls.com website

I don't know why we all love waterfalls. Perhaps we've never seen a bad one. We've seen other bodies of water look bad such as muddy streams, filthy rivers, scummy ponds, and polluted lakes. But not a waterfall. If somebody did something to pollute one, it would get flushed out quickly.

Perhaps it's "The Sound and The Fury" as Faulkner would describe a big waterfall. Or the speed. Some of them are like roller coasters after all and many of us would like the exhilaration of riding one like that. Waterfalls look like fun!

Whatever the reason, it's always to thrill to see one, especially a big one. Vermont has many waterfalls due to our steep terrain and frequent precipitation year around. A good source of information on waterfalls is www.vtfalls.com, a website run by photographer Chris Hungerford.

Chris is a full time science teacher and part time photographer living in St. Albans VT who specializes in outdoor photography. He has photographed and filmed many Vermont "waterfalls, cascades, glens, rapids, gorges, and many other natural wonders" as he says on his waterfalls website. He also has a website for his other photography that you can see here and on Facebook and Twitter.

The listing of waterfalls by name, height and nearby town is helpful but the VTfalls website does not tell you exactly where the falls are. You could end up spending a lot of time looking for them. While that can be fun in itself. it would be more enjoyable if you knew you were at least on the right track.

One solution is to stop in the nearby towns mentioned in the list and simply ask someone there. All the locals will know where their nearby waterfall is. Another solution is to purchase the book, "New England Waterfalls" by Greg Parsons and Kate B. Watson. It's an excellent guide and has driving directions.

If you are visiting in summer and are interested in swimming holes, you could combine it with your waterfall search because some of the falls end up in a pool suitable for swimming. The best source for swimming hole information is SwimmingHoles.info/VT and see my August 7, 2007 Vermont Travel Notes blog entry and the August 18, 2008 Waymark.com blog entry.

NOTE: the usual cautions about venturing outdoors apply. If you are walking, hiking, swimming or just messin' around near rock cliffs, deep pools of water, and fast moving rivers, there can be some danger involved. Don't assume that if the locals are doing something goofy that it must be safe. It's not - it is both goofy AND dangerous. Decide for yourself how much of a chance you are willing to take. For years there was a sign at Moss Glen Falls, between Warren and Granville, recording the dates and details of the deaths and paralyzing injuries of daredevils that took place there. The falls are beautiful but they are like a lot in nature: lack of sense can get you knocked even more senseless.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Slate: "The Only Luggage You'll Ever Need"

Starting a positive review with a criticism is probably the wrong way to go about it, but I'll do it anyway because I won't be able to continue writing unless I get it off my chest.

A recent Slate magazine headline, "The Only Luggage You'll Ever Need" is wrong. The article is about the Patagonia Maximum Legal Carry-on (MLC), which looks like a great travel product and has many positive user reviews on Patagonia's website. It's sized to fit in airline overhead bins or under the seat in front of you.

How that qualifies as the only luggage you will ever need, I don't know. There may be times when you need to travel with a suit or dress for instance. They won't fit in this bag and even if you managed to fold them up enough to get in, they wouldn't look too good at the other end of your journey.

I will admit this bag would probably be my go-to bag most of the time. I'm a big fan of Patagonia products and have owned a few including a great fly-fishing rain jacket I'm still using after more than a decade of use. I don't own this travel bag but if I still flew on business I most likely would. These days, I only fly once or twice a year (thankfully) and I'm in no rush. If I have to wait a few minutes at a baggage carousel, I don't mind.

I look back and chuckle about years of hustling through airports, choosing the best seat assignments, closest car rental lots, etc. But I was in the consulting bidness so we were always conscious of our hours. Either we were billing the time or we were losing revenue. There was no neutral time. If that's the way you fly, and you prefer carry-on luggage, this is probably what you want. It looks like it would be a good one for car trips as well.

I remember looking for a bag like this years ago. I tried several somewhat like it over the years but nothing ever really served well. This one looks like it would have been a home run. It also converts into a back pack and is made of water proof 1200 denier polyester - as tough as polyester gets.

I'm a big fan of Slate too so if they like it, I'm sure it's top notch.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Hardwick VT Featured in Yankee Magazine

Once the site of a thriving granite mine, Hardwick VT became a pleasant but hardscrabble looking town after the mine closed. Then it got hit by a major fire five years ago which destroyed several important old buildings in the middle of town. But it has made an admirable comeback in recent years. Most of that is due to the local food movement. Several articles have appeared with headlines along the lines of : "The Town That Food Saved."

The current issue of Yankee Magazine now describes Hardwick as "The Center for an Agricultural Economy." It was written by Bill McKibben, a Vermont resident famous for his work on global warming. Mr. McKibben writes about some of the key people involved with the local food movement including the local investor funded restaurant, Claire's, and organic seed producer, High Mowing Seeds. It's an interesting read and provides insight into many of the related types of activities going on in Vermont today.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus, located about half an hour from Hardwick

VT Lodging Featured in Huffinton Post

I've been a Vermont inn owner for ten years and I still come across a few new inns each month that I've not heard of before. If memory serves, I think I read years ago that there are 1800 some lodging facilities in little ole Vermont but I just read an article about a place that may top them all.

I had never heard of Twin Farms in Barnard VT until I came across an article about it in the Huffington Post. In summary: WOW!

I'm familiar with top shelf places like Rabbit Hill Inn and the Pitcher Inn but Twin Farms is something else.

There are 20 accommodations including suites each with fireplace, full bath; plus cottages of different designs and each in its own secluded environment, set throughout the property's 300 acres. Take a look at Twin Farms website's photos - these cottages would make fine primary residences for most people. I love the rustic Vermont theme incorporated in many of them.

Naturally, we always want to know the rate. Sit down and hang on. Rates at the Twin Farm start at $1400 and go up to $3100. That's per night with a two night minimum weekends and holidays. For two people. Plus 27% service fee and tax. If there is just one person, they reduce the rate $100! I can't imagine anyone would go there alone but it must happen from time to time I suppose.

The website does not say how much an extra person is if you have a group larger than two people but you can rent the entire facility for $41,000 per night. That's what I want to do and I want to invite you and everyone I know. When I win the Powerball Lottery. However, in the interest of full disclosure, my chances of winning are even lower than all those who play because I never buy a ticket. So don't hold out any hope I'll be able to fulfill my generous offer.

Those rates include breakfast, dinner, drinks, and full use of all the facilities including a spa. So while the rates are very high, I would bet Twin Farm's expenses are very high so the rates should be reasonable for the value delivered. Taxes alone must be staggering for a place like this. Having to pay VT tax on my little property, I can only imagine how large a train load of money that Twin Farm must send to Montpelier every year.

Even if you never go to a place like this, it's fun to read about. But I hope you do get to go someday. If so, write and let me know how it was. Add photos too.

Jeff Connor, Way out of Twin Farms league but still a nice place to relax, Grunberg Haus

Moose Watch

Photo credit: www.central-vt.com/moose "Montpelier, Vermont, the nation's smallest capital city had an unexpected visitor Monday, July 19th as a moose wandered leisurely during the lunch hour. This picture was taken by an administrative assistant at Vermont State Housing Authority on 1 Prospect in the city. A co-worker, Lindsay White, remarked that she loves the ruralness of Vermont, and this was the exclamation point of the day! "

I think the most frequent question we get from guests is "Where's a good place for dinner?" A close second is "Where can we go to see moose?"

Answering the first question is easy because we have dozens of good restaurants in the immediate area.

Answering the second question is tougher because we don't have dozens of moose hanging around nearby. We have one (perhaps more) around the inn that must come through about once a week judging by the fresh tracks we see that often. In fact a guest and his family last week pulled into our driveway one evening to find a moose standing right in front of them just a few yards off Route 100.

Moose are most frequently in remote, rural areas but they are located all over the state and, as seen in the photo above, they can even wander into a city This one was spotted in downtown Montpelier, the state capital. Once in a while deer are seen feeding on the state capitol lawn in the evenings but moose are a very rare sight in the city.

We have more moose road signs I think than actual moose. The last time I saw a statistic, the VT Fish & Wildlife Division estimated our herd between 4,000 and 5,000. In fact, the last two moose hunting seasons, F&W increased the number of permits to help reduce the size of the herd. This year, they reduced the number of permits back to 700 something. About 200 moose are killed by automobiles each year in Vermont. Moose have little or no fear and they will usually not hesitate to step in front of a car.

When I'm asked about where to see a moose, I tell people that you need a lot of luck to see one. For instance, the photo at the top of this blog was taken by a guest a few years ago through the windshield of his car. By the time he got the car pulled over and stopped to get out and take a better quality photo, the moose had already walked across the road (Route 100 between Warren and Granville) and was headed up into the woods. The point is that if he had left from our inn a minute earlier or a minute later, he would have missed the moose entirely.

But having explained that, we suggest the area around Island Pond, VT for good moose watching. Island Pond is a good central location for exploring the most remote part of Vermont known as the Northeast Kingdom (NEK).

The Appalachian Mountain Club website has a little primer on moose watching you might like to read. Note especially the warnings about getting close to these animals. They're not known for being aggressive but they are wild animals and you can never be sure whether they will attack. A mother moose (cow) will almost certainly be aggressive if she is with a calf.

An even better article is on the Island Pond, VT town website .

Route 105 is Vermont's "Moose Alley" but other roads such as 114, 111, 5 and 16 are worth driving as well. The back roads are also worth exploring but make sure you have enough gas in the tank before heading into backcountry.

But I would not go to the NEK just to see moose. I'd go to see the countryside with the idea that seeing a moose would be a special bonus.

Here is an enjoyable double (!) moose sighting video shot in the NEK by jenawesome

Good luck on your moose hunt! And drive carefully, especially at night.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Draft Horse Days at Billings Farm

Copyright � 2010 Billings Farm & Museum

As mentioned below, if you are visiting the Quechee Balloon Festival today or tomorrow, I recommend a trip over to nearby Woodstock. It's one of my favorite towns in Vermont. And one of my favorite places in Woodstock is the Billings Farm and Museum, a beautiful facility.

This weekend, Billings Farm is holding Draft Horse Days from 10:00 to 5:00 both days. There will be demonstrations and activities showcasing Billings Farm's draft horses, including traditional fieldwork, horse shoeing, horse-drawn wagon rides. Draft horses teams will demonstrate plowing, planting, cultivating, and mowing in the farm fields during narrated programs at 11:00 a.m., 1:00, and 3:00 p.m. each day.

Each morning will begin with braiding the horse's mane and tails. There will also be shoeing demonstrations on the farm's Percheron, making horseshoes, and rope making. Children can learn how to make clothespin horses, take part in hobby horse races, and play Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Horse.

Billings Farm is well worth the visit not only for the Draft Horse Days but also for their everyday displays plus work that goes on the farm such as cow milking. It's a great place for children and for adults who would like to witness and learn about farm life.

Admission: adults: $12.00; 62 and over: $11.00; children 5-15: $6.00; 3-4: $3.00; under 3: free.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Quechee Balloon Festival June 18 - 20

One of central Vermont's most popular events is taking place this weekend. The 31st annual Quechee Balloon Festival features about 20 hot air balloons which launch twice a day at 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. In some cases, they can accommodate passengers and there will also be tethered balloon flights. About 60 craft vendors are there and there is music, food, and children's activities.

The deepest gorge in Vermont is located in Quechee and the town is known for its antique stores and shopping opportunities.

While you are in the area, I recommend a visit to Woodstock VT, one of the most picturesque villages in New England. Woodstock is located a short drive west on Route 4 from Quechee.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Stowe Summer Attractions Open This Weekend

Stowe Alpine Slide

This Saturday, June 19, Stowe opens its summer attractions including my favorite, the Alpine Slide.

This adventure starts with a chair lift ride to the top of Spruce Peak Mountain. At the top, you are given a plastic sled on wheels and directed to one of the two parallel fiberglass tracks. The starter, one of the many young people from all over the world who serve as summer interns, holds the people going down and lets them go about every minute or so to allow plenty of separation from other people on the same track. You're not supposed to race the person in the track next to you but the starter sends you both at the same time so who's to say you can't get a little competitive?

The track has curved sides to help hold the cart in. You would have to be going crazy fast to fly off a corner but, of course, a few people have found a way to do that. The ride is very safe if you don't take wild chances. You control the sled with a stick between your legs: push forward to go faster, pull back to slow down and stop at the bottom. The ride down is two or three minutes long.

I recommend you get at least two tickets because when you come down the first time, you will almost certainly want to do do it again.

In addition to the Alpine Slide, Stowe has a gondola ride to the Cliff House restaurant near the top of Mount Mansfield (great views), bungee trampolines, inflated obstacle course, and climbing wall . . . great times for young people and fun watching for the older folks who bring the kids.

Note: the Toll Road to the top of Mount Mansfield is under repair and will open in early July.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Waterside Dining in Vermont

One of the new Vermont travel blogs I've been reading for the past few months is called Love Vermont. It's written by Katherine Kerrigan who describes herself as a "girl who fell in love with a state and a state of mind" which is actually a common situation in Vermont and one that applies to me and many others who find their way here as well.

Her blog yesterday is especially helpful for Vermont travelers looking to find unique dining experiences. "top ten tuesdays - waterfront dining" is a great little article with quick reviews of the best dining next to lakes, ponds, and rivers throughout the state.

I've only eaten at four of the ten restaurants so I have some work to do. But in a state awash in great dining, it takes more than the decade I've been here to get to a large number of them let alone all of them. But that's part of the charm I suppose - the never ending discovery of new places to enjoy Vermont.

One word of advice about one of the restaurants, Hen of the Wood located near me in Waterbury: it is a small restaurant that is highly popular so reservations well in advance are always a good idea. The waterside here is a nice waterfall and river immediately behind the old brick mill building which houses the restaurant. See my January 11, 2009 blog post which has a winter photo (ice and snow) of the falls but will give you and idea of the setting during more hospitable weather.

Love Vermont is one of several fine Vermont blogs I have included in the right hand column of Vermont Travel Notes under the heading Travel Friends. I recommend going through it for ideas of things to see and do while traveling Vermont. There are a lot of good ideas there written by people who love Vermont and love to share their knowledge.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Round Barn Inn on YouTube

The Inn at the Round Barn is one of my favorite places in Vermont. It's in a beautiful valley a few minutes drive from the village of Waitsfield. It's not only a great place to stay but also the perfect venue for a Vermont country wedding if you're in the market for such a dream event.

Dave Hartshorn, shown in the video, owns a farm and farm stand nearby on Route 100 - - about half way between my inn and the Inn at the Round Barn. He has vegetables, maple syrup, honey, and other goodies on hand most of the summer and early fall. It's worth a stop just to see rural Vermont at work.

I have had the good fortune to sample some of chef Charlie Menard's creations and I am happy to confirm that his work is outstanding.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Tour Vermont With an Expert Photographer

Here's a great way to get a personalized tour of the most picturesque parts of Vermont and also get some help in photographing it all. It's like getting two for the price of one!

Steve Mermelstein is a professional photographer who
makes a living doing commercial, fine art, and wedding photography. He also operates VT Photo Tours, a company in South Burlington Vermont that escorts small groups of people to photograph some of the most picturesque scenery around this beautiful state. You can see some client samples here.

Not only does Steve know where to go, he knows what time of day to be there to get the best light. As someone who has found a great scene but was unable to get a good photo because I was facing straight into the sun, I know the value of being at the right place at the right time.

As Steve says on his website, "You�ll have opportunities to take photographs of breathtaking landscapes, lakes, ponds, classic and historic architecture in small villages, covered bridges, barns and farm scenes, and/or visit locations where wildlife is often observed."

Plus, he's very willing to modify the tour to meet client requests.

Prices vary from $299 for a half day tour to $399.99 for a full day (up to 3 persons) and usually concentrates on northern VT but he is happy to accommodate southern VT tours for a small additional gas fee. Groups larger than three are welcome too.

Steve even has a money back guarantee! See the website for more details and contact information.

Right now he is booking both Spring and Fall foliage foliage tours.

Steve is on Facebook and Twitter.

Jeff Connor, Grunberg Haus

Burlington VT Jazz Festival Social Media

As a follow-up to last week's posting about the Burlington VT Discover Jazz Festival, I wanted to add that the festival has a Facebook page and a Twitter account. They are a great way to keep up to date and discuss what's happening with the festival as it moves to its June debut.

Jeff Connor, Grunberg Haus

Magic Hat Presents World's First Twitter Pub Crawl?

If it's not the world's first Twitter Pub Crawl, it definitely is Burlington VT's first. And who else but Magic Hat would put on such an event.

It's scheduled for April 22, 2010 at 7:00 pm and it is structured as a team event. Throughout the night each four person team will receive clues from Magic Hat via Twitter on which pub to go to. At the end of the night, Magic Hat will check each team to see if they made it to each pub. The names of all the successful teams will be put in a drawing to determine the overall winner. Each person on the winning team gets the top prize of a round trip ticket from JetBlue to wherever the airline flies.

All proceeds will go to The Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS). The cost to each team is just $5 per person. Also,the entry price includes one of the coolest looking T-shirts I have seen in a long time. That alone has to be worth a lot more than $5.

Round up three other drinkers, er, friends, and help Magic Hat, JetBlue, and COTS with this first of its kind event. Who knows, maybe years from now it will the equivalent of saying you were at Woodstock.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Burlington Summer Jazz Festival Announced

The line up for this year's annual Burlington Discover Jazz Festival has been announced and ticket sales are available at the Flynn Center ticket website. This year's jazz performances start June 4 and go through June 13.

Now in its 27th year, the Discover Jazz Festival has been called "One of the top ten festivals in the world!" by the The Music Festival Guide (Chicago Review Press, Inc.), named an "Editor�s Pick � Local Secret, Big Find" by Travelocity and IgoUgo, and described as �laid back and hospitable: with its brewpubs, boating, biking and big Green Mountains adding a nice edge to the scene,�
according to DownBeat Magazine. New England Jazz News simply summed it up as �This is the way a Festival should be run��

It's a good idea to order tickets well in advance because this is a very popular event.

Jeff Connor, Grunberg Haus

Franklin County Quilt Show April 10 and 11

Approximately 100 quilts will be on display at the 12th annual Franklin County Quilt Show this weekend. You can find the show at the St. Albans City Hall, 100 North Main. St Albans is about 30 miles north of Burlington and close to Interstate 89 (exit 19).

There will be special exhibit quilts including Purple Hearts Quilts, Breast Cancer Quilts, and local charity quilts.

In addition to the quilt displays, there will be vendors, a silent auction, door prizes, demonstrations and a raffle. Admission is FREE. The quilt show's web page has contact information.

The show will run from 9:00 to 4:00 Saturday, April 10 and 10:00 to 3:00 Sunday, Arpil 11.

Jeff Connor
Grunberg Haus Inn

Two Beer Festivals in VT This Weekend

There are two beer festivals in northern Vermont this weekend and it would be easy for you to attend them both if you would like.

On Saturday, September 26, Siptemberfest is taking place at Mad River Glen on Route 17 near Waitsfield VT.

Some of Vermont's best known brewers will be there: Magic Hat, Long Trail, Rock Art, Trout River, Otter Creek, Wolavers. In addition to the "big guys," the festival will present an unusual opportunity to sample local beer from Lawson's Finest Liquids plus beers that are only available on the premises at The Alchemist Pub and Brewery, Bobcat Cafe, and American Flatbread.

The Skinny Pancake will be making their crepes on site and the Mad River Glen Pub will be serving food as well.

Mad River Glen will be running their single chair lift for fall foliage viewing. It's a great way to get close to the magnificent fall colors compared to looking at them through a windshield.

Just up the road in Stowe, Oktoberfest will have will have a parade, live music and dancing, vendor and craft booths This is a family friendly event put on by the Stowe Rotary club. For children there will be games, pumpkin and face painting, and a Jumping Fun Haus.

Oktoberfest runs both Saturday and Sunday at Jackson Arena on Park Street in Stowe.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Harvest Festival at Shelburne Farm

Shelburne Farms is hosting its 31st Annual Harvest Festival and Energy Fair Saturday, September 19 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This is a very large event and a great place to take the kids.

There will be about 15 bands performing throughout the day, Spanish Horse demonstration, antique tractors, hands-on cow milking, llamas, wagon rides, wood furniture building demonstrations, puppet making, "bubble magic," cider pressing, face painting, grape vine wreath making, wheat braiding (where else can you learn that?), post and beam demonstration, giant pumpkins, wood bowl making, decoy carving, cheese making and sampling, rug hooking, pellet stove demonstration, solar and wind energy displays, and much, much more. You will have more things to choose than you have time.

Whenever our guests ask us for the best places to visit in Vermont, we always mention Shelburne Farms. It is an amazing facility that Vermont is fortunate to have.

Shelburne Farms is located a few miles south of Burlington VT on Harbor Road.

I highly recommend a visit there anytime.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

British Sports Cars and American Hot Rods Travel to VT This Weekend

I just posted a few photos from the 2007 British Invasion on Flickr to give you a small sampling of what this car show is about.

As mentioned in my September 6 blog entry below, there will be hundreds of beautiful British cars from old to new. The British Invasion web site has more details. My friends from the Classic Bike Experience will be there as well to display some British Motorcycles.

The Boston Sunday Globe named this event as their number one choice for "Best 10 things to do within a day's drive of Boston." And the Vermont Chamber of Commerce has named it several years in a row as a Top Ten Event in Vermont.

The event will be held at the Stowe Events Field on Weeks Hill Road, just off Route 108.

It runs this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

On the same weekend, there's a very large street rod show at the Champlain Expo Center put on by the National Street Rod Association.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Shelburne Museum Goes to the Dogs Sept 13

TiconderRover, winner of the costume contest in2007, wearing a model of the Ticonderoga steamship which is on display at the museum

Dogs, dogs,dogs. Flying disc dogs, retrieving dogs, pointing dogs, sled dogs, obedience dogs, agility dogs, police dogs, working dogs, dancing dogs, and even fashion show dogs in costume - they'll all be at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne VT Sunday, September 13 starting at 10:00 am and continuing to 4:30.

Shelburne Museum Goes to the Dogs is a fund raiser for area animal welfare groups and an admission of $10 for adults and $5 for children is charged.

The PAWsitively Vogue Fashion Show and Canine Costume Competition is at 1:30.

(c) 2009 (except the photo) Jeff Connor

Killington Hay Bale Festival

If you are traveling around the Killington VT area in the next few weeks, you will see some unusual hay bale sculptures alongside the roadway.

They're part of the Killington Hay Festival, an annual exhibit of clever sculptures made of both round and square hay bales.

Get your camera ready and head out to see giant 30 foot hay bale structures fashioned into whimsical characters. There are 35 of them around the Killington area. The festival's website has a map of them so you can plan your tour. The exhibits are left in place through October. They are made by artists and enthusiastic amateurs.

Cabot Creamery is sponsoring the exhibit and providing free sample of their cheese at the Killington Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center on Rte 4.

You can stop at the Killington Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center on Route 4 to pick up a Hay Festival Scavenger Hunt guide and complete the quiz on Vermont agriculture. Answers are provided at each sculpture. There will be prizes and complimentary Vermont Cabot Cheese at the Welcome Center.

Some more photos are available on the festival's Facebook page.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor (except the photographs) Grunberg Haus Inn

Burlington VT Art Hop Sept 11 and 12

17th annual Burlington South End Art Hop , Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12, has works on display from 500 artists in 100 studios and business facilities around town.

There is a juried art show, an artist designed mini-golf course made of recycled materials, fashion extravaganza, and artwork for sale.

It starts Friday from 5:00 to 9:00 pm and continues Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. If you can't attend these two days, you will have other opportunities because most of the art will be on display for another month or so.

The web site has a Artists and Sites page which lists all the display locations and which artists' works are there.

There is an enormous number of intriquing events such as tortilla baking demonstrations, hat making workshop, mini golf putt-putt on the artist-created recycled materials course built on-site, family drop-in and create center, yarn spinning and glass bead making demonstration, classic car and motorcycle show, fabric art demonstration, quilting demonstrations (make and take yo-yos!), build or rebuild chairs workshop, and much more.

The web site mentions a map but I couldn't find it in a few minutes of looking. However, if you just go to Pine Street in Burlington VT, you will find many of the event locations and you can probably get more information on locations there.

This is a very popular event in Burlington and highly recommended.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

09-09-09

I just found out that Magic Hat Brewing is having a "#9tacular" event tomorrow to celebrate 09-09-09, September 9, 2009. There's no mention of the next one a thousand years from now so it's best to attend this event which will be held on Church Street in Magic Hat's hometown of Burlington VT.

Magic Hat has a special affinity to nines because of one of the brewery's most popular beers is named #9. And if there's anything this company likes almost as much as beer, it's having a good time.

#9tacular starts at 6:00 pm and goes 'till 10:00. That's pm, not the next morning. There will be live karaoke, a performance by The Rubblebucket Orchestra band, a laser light show, a scavanger hunt to benefit the non-profit Burlington City Arts, and a chance to win a very cool #9 cruiser bike (contest ends Sept 18).

If you can't travel to Vermont for this, there will be many other #9tacular events around the country that may be nearer for you.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor (except the Magic Hat artwork) Grunberg Haus Inn

British Invasion Car Show, Stowe, September 18 - 20

A boy and his car.

My first car was a 1959 MGA. I bought it for $350 and sold it a few months later, a deal I had to make with my parents to get them to acquiesce to what I thought was one of the greatest ideas of all time: me in a sleek, fast, and nimble car to try out my inestimable driving skill

I sold it for the same amount I had bought it for and I broke even except for gas plus all the polish, wax, and other chemicals I put on or in it.

I enjoyed - no, make that - LOVED, driving the MG that summer. I spent hours each day driving or working on that car. It has rusted out rocker panels which I carefully scrapped out and painted rust-proof silver. With a meticulousness worthy of a new category of dementia, I sanded each wheel and sprayed them in short stages with the leftover paint from the rocker panel project. There was not one run in the paint. Of course, it took me more than a week of light spraying to achieve that. And I had to mask the tires each time to keep overspray off them

The tires were so old they had dried out and developed hundreds of fine cracks. New tires would have been the only sane solution but to a teenage boy with more hormones than money, I found a better answer in a product called tire paint while I was wandering the aisles in an auto parts store. The first thing I thought of was that if I had found it earlier, I could have just painted over any silver overspray. Oh well. You learn to say that a lot when you own an old car but especially old British sports cars.

I had tried tire dressing first but the tires simply soaked it up and kept asking for more by displaying the same faded gray color they had before I spent an hour applying multiple coats of dressing.

This was back in the days before Armor-All so you never saw cars with shiny tires. But my MG's tires were beyond shiny - they looked absolutely glossy with their new coat of tire black. I didn't like the look but most of my friends and family did not mind too much. That may have been due to their bewilderment that someone would actually take the time and money to do such a time wasting thing. I had a car with super black tires but all they could see was a black hole.

A year or two later, I scored the ultimate achievement, an MG TD. It had been restored and didn't need much of anything until a few months later in upstate NY when a plug on the engine rusted out, draining all the water, and turning the engine into a stationary metal grinder.

I sold it and began my VW beetle period. But I never fell out of love for those old MG's and I hope they are still on the road. That's one reason why I look forward each year to the British Invasion car show in Stowe VT.

I'm sure it is one of the few places in the country where you can go to see a large gathering of old British motorcars as the British call them (to distinguish them from non-motor cars I guess - pedal cars and so on?).

Last year, 610 cars and motorcycles were entered in the British Invasion. Perhaps with the economy the way it is, there may be a drop in attendance but certainly there will still be more than enough cars to see. And they will all be magnificent examples - they don't allow junk or near-junk like my old MGA.

If you enjoy cars, especially old cars, you will certainly want to be there. I have to work that weekend but I'll try to find a little time to hop on my old British motorcycle and blast up there.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Architecture & Design Film Festival Sept 24 - 27

As if architects, designers, builders and anyone interested in their work needed a reason to travel to Vermont during fall foliage, the Big Picture Theater in Waitsfield VT, will be showing more than 30 feature-length films, documentaries and shorts about how architects and designers create.

"The films profile visionary architects, the creative design process, environmental issues and the brilliant designs that we see and use every day." Filmmakers, architects and designers will also be leading discussion sessions.

The Architecture and Design Film Festival will benefit the Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Warren VT, which has over 150 hands-on courses per year in design, construction, woodworking, and architectural craft and offers a variety of courses concentrating in sustainable design.

The festival runs four days from September 24th through the 27th. Information about advance ticket sales is available on the website.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Mad River Valley Craft Festival

The 39th annual Mad River Valley Craft Fair takes place on September 5 and 6, 2009, at Kenyon's Field in Waitsfield VT.

About 100 exhibitors displaying accessories, clothing, dolls and clothing, drawings, etchings, fabric/fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, mixed media, painting, photography, pottery, porcelain, sculpture, wood. There will also be music, food, children's activities, door prizes, and live demonstrations.

This is a very high quality show with top exhibitors from Vermont and a few surrounding states.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Balloon Rally at Shelburne Museum Sept 4 - 7

Here's another reason to visit the Shelburne Museum, a magnificent facility that I consider a must-see in Vermont.

This Labor Day weekend, the Vermont Balloon Rally will be held on the grounds of the museum from September 4 through 7. About 30 balloons are expected to attend.

Spectators will be allowed to walk among the balloons and watch the flights each day early mornings and late afternoons. Children are no only allowed, they're encouraged to come see this colorful event. There will also be face painting, bounce house, free rides on the museum's antique carousel, nighttime balloon glow and a balloon walkabout where kids and adults can actually walk through a partially inflated balloon lying on the ground.

Rides will be offered including tethered rides and full flight rides. If you would like to do a full flight, it's best to make reservations in advance which you can do on the website.

Thanks to some generous corporate sponsorship, prices for the event are very low: children 12 and younger are free; children 13 and older (yes, that includes adults) are $7 for a four day pass. Or, just pay $20 for a carload up to a maximum of 6 people. The value of the museum and this event far exceeds those prices.

The Shelburne Museum is located Route 7 a few miles south of Burlington on the shore of Lake Champlain. This Google map has it on the wrong (east) side of the road but it will get you close enough.

Balloon walkabout

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor (except the photos) Grunberg Haus

Vermont Travel Videos on MSN

MSN has an online video series hosted by Andrew Zimmern in which he travels around the country recording interesting places to visit, usually focused on food. Zimmern was host of the Travel Channel show, "Bizarre Foods" and now hosts Travel Channel's "Bizarre World" in addition to being a chef, writer, and teacher.

Zimmern was recently in my area of Vermont to visit Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Little River Hotglass Studio, and Cold Hollow Cider Mill. He doesn't just visit though - he gets right into production, creating his own Ben & Jerry's flavor in the test room, blowing a glass jar at Little River Hotglass, and making cider doughnuts at Cold Hollow.

These Appetite for Life. episodes are a good way to get some behind-the-scenes views of popular attractions in Vermont and elsewhere.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Fiestavus Vermont Comedy Tour

The Fiestiavus Vermont Comedy Tour begins tonight at the Big Picture Theater in Waitsfield VT.

The tour features eight standup comedians traveling around Vermont giving five performances from August 26 through September 2. Some of them are traveling in a prototype Ford Fiesta as part of that company's Fiesta Movement program. One of the tour organizers, Seth Beck, was a winner of the Fiesta Movement contest which awarded 100 "agents" like him the use of a new Fiesta for six months.

Here is the tour schedule: Wednesday, August 26, 7:30 p.m., Big Picture Theater & Cafe, Waitsfield. $5 cover charge.

Thursday, August 27, 9:00 p.m., Positive Pie restaurant, Montpelier, VT. $5 cover charge.

Friday, August 28, 8:00 p.m., The Hartswick Studio, Sheffield, VT. Purchase $10 tickets here.

Saturday, August 29, 8:30 p.m., On the Rise Bakery, Richmond, VT. $5 cover charge.

Wednesday, September 2, 7:30 p.m., One Half Lounge, Burlington, VT. $5 cover

At all these events except the September 2 performance, the Ford Fiesta will be on display.

The Fiestavus Vermont Comedy Tour was created by native Vermonters Nathan Hartswick and Ford Fiesta "agent" Seth Beck.

For a preview of what to expect from the comedians (some R rated material by the way), you can take a look at the Vimeo or YouTube videos.

Fiestavus Vermont Comedy Tour's Ford Fiesta

(c) 2009 (except the photos) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Alchemist Brewpub Update

The Alchemist Brewery and Pub is one of the most popular spots in this area for tourists and residents alike. Anyone who is a beer lover should put The Alchemist on your must-do list (bucket list?). It's located on South Main Street in Waterbury VT.

To keep up with what brewer John Kimmich is preparing, you can subscribe to the blog RSS feed. A recent entry talks about the gluten free offerings as well as other Summer Time Beers. John started preparing gluten free beer and food offerings after his wife and co-owner Jennifer discovered she needs to consume gluten-free products.

The food there is excellent so be sure to give it a try too. Executive Chef Jeff Lang uses a lot of locally grown fresh produce in his imaginative menu which you can look over on the website before you arrive.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Moose

Mad River Glen moose population has grown by two this year.

One of the most frequent questions we get here at the inn is "where can we go to see a moose?" There are several areas nearby where the possibility is greater but sighting a moose is a rare occurrence even for people who live and work in the forests.

The moose photo at the top of this Vermont Travel Notes blog is a good example. It was taken by a guest in early November several years ago while he was driving on Route 100 between Warren and Granville VT, a popular place to spot moose because of the swampy areas alongside the road. It's not a particularly good photo because he quickly took the shot through the car windshield. He got some better quality photos after he stopped the car and got out but by then the moose was into the woods and walking away so the angle of the photo does not work well. But he was lucky to see it at all. If he had left here a minute earlier or a minute later he would have missed the moose entirely. That's moose spotting for you (or seeing any unusual wildlife for that matter).

I have seen two moose this year but that is very unusual. Most years I don't see any. We have one walking through our property about once a month but we never see it. He or she comes through late at night and all we see are the footprints the next day.

Last winter, we had a few skier guests tell us of seeing a moose near the trails at Mad River Glen. One of them even hit the moose after coming around a corner and seeing it standing right in front of him. He reacted fast enough to squat down so he only bumped the moose a little bit. It must not have bothered the moose too much because it merely looked at the skier for a moment and then walked slowly into the woods.

The moose above may be the same one and, as you can see, it's a female with two calves it had this year. This moose photo and other Mad River Glen photos can be seen on the Gallery page at the Mad River Glen web site.

So, if you want to go moose spotting, the best area is the most remote part of Vermont, the Northeast Kingdom as it's known. Just try the roads around the town of Island Pond. Even if you don't see a moose, it's a beautiful area to do some sight seeing. Stop in some of the local country stores and ask around about where people have seen moose lately.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn except for the moose photo by Deb Steines and Bob Rogers on the Mad River Glen website

Burlington Sunset Over Lake Champlain

Photo by John Hughes

We often recommend Burlington to our guests and, if they decide to go, we suggest they stay up there to watch the sunset over Lake Champlain. This photo is a good example of why. It's from my favorite photoblog, Megapickles, which has a new photo every day by St Michael's College professor John Hughes. I highly recommend bookmarking the site and checking it frequently. I've been following it for years and it consistently has great work.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Fly Fishing Festival in Manchester VT

American Museum of Fly fishing, Manchester VT

I enjoy fly fishing even though I'm not good at it. And I'll probably never get good because I go so infrequently. Over the years though, it has been the motivation to put me in some beautiful places and that's what I enjoy most about fishing for trout. The fly rod is just so I don't look like some idiot standing alone in a river. Now I look like a harmless old fool flogging the water with a stick. That's much better don't you think?

Early last fall, instead of going fishing as I should have, I visited the American Museum of Fly Fishing. It is a very impressive facility located next to the Orvis headquarters in Manchester VT. The building itself is a beautifully restored home on Route 7A a few minutes south of the town. If you enjoy fly fishing and all its traditions, you'll enjoy spending some time there. When I visited, admission was free to the main part of the museum but the art gallery had a small charge.

I was able to visit the library, reading room, museum store, and other rooms - there is enough there to hold your interest for an hour or more. And if you bring your fishing gear, you can fish the nearby Battenkill, one of the most famous trout streams in the world.

This Saturday, August 15, the museum is holding a fly fishing festival with displays and vendors of antique tackle, rod builders, artwork, fly tyers, fish carvers, and more. New to the festival this year is a great opportunity to "Cast with the Legends" where you can test famous antique rods to see how they feel. It's a rare opportunity to not only hold but also cast rods that would cost a lot of money to buy.

While you are in the area, I also suggest a visit to Hildene , the estate of Robert Todd Lincoln, some of President Abraham. It's a beautiful home with impressive gardens and grounds.

Manchester is known for its outlet stores, many of them very upscale brands. If you are a shopper, brace yourself to see many compelling bargains. Also, as mentioned above, the Orvis flagship store is located next to the museum and is a must stop too. Be sure to see the huge trout swimming in the pond that is half outdoors and half in the store. Just up Route 7A going north toward town, the Orvis outlet store has some incredibly low prices.

Orvis Flagship Store

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor (except the American Fly Fishing Museum and Orvis photos which are owned by those respective organizations )

Rave Reviews at the Weston Playhouse

Jeremy Leiner in "Rent" - photo courtesy of Weston Playhouse, all rights reserved

The rock musical, "Rent" is playing at the Weston Playhouse and receiving rave reviews. Great reviews are common at the Weston Playhouse and the comments for this play indicate that the cast and crew of "Rent" are giving a traditionally strong Weston performance.

Here are a few of those comments:

"It blew me away! I�ve been coming to the Playhouse for close to 20 years and this production goes to the top of my �fave� list."

"This was a wonderful show. A terrific cast, amazing voices, a fabulous set. You�ve got to see it�Go with an open mind and you�ll leave with an open heart. Well done all of you!"

"Came to the Sat. matinee and didn�t expect to be so overwhelmed by the show. First rate cast delivered a first class performance. The standing ovation was well deserved. How lucky we are to have such quality theater here -Broadway has nothing on Weston!"

"Rent" had a strong run off Broadway and later on Broadway where it won a Tony Award� for Best Musical.

The play continues through August 22 on the Playhouse Main Stage, Village Green, Weston VT

Note that the play has a rating of NC17 - Adult language, content, and brief nudity. It may not be appropriate for people under the age of 17.

Weston Playhouse productions often sell out so it's a good idea to get tickets in advance.

Weston Vt is also home to the Vermont Country Store, one Vermont's top shopping attractions. It's very close to the Playhouse, on the opposite side of Main Street.

(c) 2009 (except the photograph above owned by the Weston Playhouse) Jeff Connor

Time to Plan Fall Foliage Travel

Our parking lot, September 27, 2008

With all the rain and cool temps, it seems like we haven't started summer yet so fall has to be far off. And, while we have about two months before the fall season rolls in, planning for it should be started.

Looking at our reservation book, I can see the early birds have been calling steadily already. We are far from full in late September and early October but we are close enough now that you should make lodging reservations very soon for the last week in September and first two weeks of October (maybe a week later in southern Vermont). Fall foliage is our busiest time of year and if you want to find a place to stay, especially on weekends, you should decide now.

That's not true just for us - every inn and motel is filling in their most popular rooms. You can wait until the last minute if you must, but you will get either the smallest or the most expensive rooms as options. And I certainly would not drive or fly here without having your lodging reservations lined up and confirmed. Every year we get some people looking for a room after they have arrived in the area and they often end up spending a lot of their valuable time looking for a room.

Last year's fall foliage colors were spectacular and the season was one of the best in the most people's memories. It was a year like this year with a very rainy June and July. Not so great for people but trees loved it. They had a low stress summer and celebrated with a fireworks display of color. I swear some of the trees looked fake they were so bright and colorful, especially the reds. Some of our maples had orange leaves that looked like they had been painted on with neon paint. I can't wait to see what our beautiful Vermont hillsides will look like this foliage season.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Northwest Airlines Logo(s)

I've seen Northwest Airlines planes for many years but I never noticed something peculiar about them until it was pointed out to me a couple of weeks ago.

The logo is obviously a compass marker pointing in the northwest direction when you view the plane from the port (left) side. But if you view the airplane from the starboard side, the logo is suddenly pointing northeast!

Northwest is northwest no matter where it is viewed from. And it is so marked on every compass in the world. Why Northwest Airline chooses to do otherwise on one side of their airplanes is a mystery to me. If anyone knows why, I would appreciate hearing from you. The first one to respond gets a $30 discount voucher toward a stay here.

By the way, Northwest (recently acquired by Delta) flies twice a day between Detroit (DTW) and Burlington VT (BTV). You can see flights from all the airlines into Burlington on the BTV website. There are 45 to 50 flights a day into Burlington from 12 airports in 10 cities.

� 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Mother's Day Ideas

Nobody loves you as much as mom. You can give her a Mother's Day she will cherish with the gift of Vermont. Take her to a Vermont inn, restaurant, attraction, or simply a drive in the country.

If that's not possible this year, you can send Vermont to her with a Vermont Teddy Bear. They are very good at online orders and ship quickly. If you are going to travel to Vermont next weekend (Mother's Day is May 10), a tour of the Vermont Teddy Bear factory in Shelburne VT would be fun.

Vermont Teddy Bear has several pages of Mother's Day bears on its website, plus a grandmother bear too.

Make reservations soon and enjoy your day with mom.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Billings Farm and Museum Starts Its Summer Season

Billings Farm and Museum is now open

Two of my favorite places in Vermont are the village of Woodstock VT and the Billings Farm and Museum located there.

Billings summer season of events gets underway this Sunday, May 3, with the 23rd annual Plowing Match. This contest pits teams of oxen and draft horses against each other. Each team and its handler is judged on how well they perform together.

The doors open at 9:00 a.m. and competition begins at 10:30 a.m. starting with the walking plow contest and continues into the afternoon with the team sulky competition. Special activities will include horse-drawn wagon rides, visitor plowing with the Billings team, ox programs, and rope making demonstrations.

Woodstock is located about 15 minutes west of White River Junction. Take Exit 1 from Interstate 89 and drive west on Route 4. Zoom in on the Google map from the link here and you will see Billings Farm clearly marked.

There is much to see and do in Woodstock including great inns, restaurants, shops, Simon Pearce glass works, and great country drives in the area. Charge those camera batteries.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Fiddlehead Festival May 2 in Randolph Center

Fiddlehead ferns are a delicacy in Vermont. Go to the festival and ask for recipies!

The third annual Fiddlehead Festival will be held tomorrow at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center VT about 30 mins north of White River Junction and 30 mins south of Montpelier.

Free admission to all events unless you want to buy a ticket to the farmer's lunch: $9 for adults and $4 for children under 12.

See the tractorcade, animal power parade, children's activities, wild edibles workshop, gardening with Henry Homeyer, sustainable living workshop, Gary Howe's Glimpse of the past restored Delco light plant, sheep dog demonstration, tractor obstacle course, Renewing Local Communities workshop, oxen power demonstration.

It does not get any more "Vermonty" than this.

See some impressive pulling power at the Fiddlehead Festival

Photos courtesy Roger Ennis & Robert Eddy, Randolph, VT

(c) 2009 (except the photos) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Conde Nast Traveler Magazine Names VT Restaurant One of the Best

I was looking this evening at my Facebook friends/fans pages when I came across some surprising news from Northeast Kingdom Travel and Tourism Association's Facebook page.

They reported that Claire's Restaurant in little 'ol Hardwick, Vermont had been chosen for one of the most prestigious awards around.

Conde Nast Traveler magazine named it one of the top restaurants in the country, an award they gave to only 43 restaurants nationwide, and just three in New England.

In commenting on Claire's, Conde Nast Traveler said: "Appropriately, Claire's serves simple food that highlights exceptional ingredients from Vermont's fertile agricultural community: slowly leavened breads, peppery radishes, and creamy raw-milk cheese. Local microbrews, artisanal sodas, and ice wines from Shelburne Vineyards keep the drinks as interesting as the cuisine."

Conde Nast Traveler sends out its reviewers anonymously to act like any customer including paying for the meal. There's no "comping a freebie" to get a good review. The restaurant has to stand on its day-to-day quality. Conde Nast did not even tell Claire's they had won the award. A friend of the restaurant happened to see the article and passed the word along to Claire's!

Claire's is a Community Supported Restaurant, a concept where local people make an investment in a community restaurant in order to have a good quality facility in what is usually a rural environment where the economics of such a facility often don't work.

I have not been to Claire's so I can't personally vouch for the quality. And I am only a little surprised there is a good quality restaurant in Hardwick. The phenomenon of top quality restaurants in small villages is not unusual in Vermont.

What I am surprised at is that someone from a big time magazine somehow found Hardwick, Vermont. While it is a fine enough town, and a classic Vermont village, it's not often a destination or even on the way to anything except to Vermont's beautiful but least populated land. It was probably a tip from someone and I would love to know the story behind Conde Nast Travelers' discovery of Hardwick and Claire's.

In the meantime, I'll have to just put it on my long list of first time restaurants to visit. There are so many great restaurants in Vermont I think I will run out of life expectancy and money before I get to them all. But it's a goal.

You'll find Claire's at 41 South Main Street in Hardwick about 30 minutes north of Montpelier and maybe a little less than that west of St. Johnsbury.

There is an interesting article on chef Steven Obranovich at the Seasonal Chef website in which answers questions about his approach to using locally produced ingredients even in the middle of a Vermont winter.

Here's a thought: if you stay with us at the Grunberg Haus, go to dinner at Claire's (about a 45 minute drive), and bring back your review and a copy of the menu for our collection, we'll give you a $20 discount off the normal $115 room rate, double occupancy, for a room with a private bathroom, full cooked breakfast included - offer good anytime May 1 - June 15.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Alchemist Brew Pub Closing for One Week

The Alchemist Pub and Brewery in Waterbury is planning some extensive kitchen renovations and will therefore be closed from Monday, May 4 through May 11. They will be reopening Tuesday May 12 unless their projects go as well as mine do.

With these new renovations, Chef Jeff is planning to bring some new items to the menu. I can hardly wait to see what those will be. The Alchemist blog says that right now, he's off to his home town of Cincinnati to learn more about making Cincinnati chili and to hunt turkeys. Hmmm - is that trip related to new menu items?

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Learn How To Make Chocolates Workshops in Stowe VT

Photo courtesy of Laughing Moon Chocolates

Laughing Moon Chocolates is a wonderful little store in Stowe VT which makes and sells an extensive line of chocolates using mostly locally produced ingredients.

Laughing Moon is offering workshops this spring and summer on how to make chocolates. These Chocolate Experience Workshops are intended for recreational users who would like to learn how to make their own candy at home. The cost is $150 per person. For more information and to register, contact owner Leigh Williams at (802) 253-9591.

Friday May 1
Chocolate Dipping Experience Workshop
6:00-8:00pm
A two-hour hand-on workshop on how to cook truffles, melt and temper chocolate, and hand-dipping.

Friday, June 26
Marshmallow Making Workshop
6:00-8:00pm
A two-hour workshop on how to make homemade marshmallow, prepare them for dipping, and hand-dip them in milk, dark and white chocolate. How to prepare S�mores or mix it with caramel or truffle centers.

Friday, July 10
Chocolate Dipping Experience Workshop
6:00-8:00pm
Same as the May 1 workshop above.

Friday, August 14
Local Bounty Workshop
6:00-8:00pm
Two-hour workshop highlighting Vermont made specialty foods including Mitzi�s Fresh Mountain Breakfast, Boyden Valley Winery, Rock Art Brewery, Green Mountain Distillers, The Nutty Vermonter & The Sweet Crunch Bake Shop. Thee will be instruction on how to make peanut butter using fresh Virginia-grown peanuts and work with other locally made foods to create chocolate specialties. Prepare homemade centers and hand-dip them in chocolate. Also, how to use fresh local blueberries and raspberries, and how to make make chocolate at home.

Laughing Moon Chocolates has created a niche by incorporating locally produced foods into their chocolates. They make truffles with Boyden Valley Winery Big Barn Red Wine, Green Mountain Distillers Sunshine Vodka and Maple Liquor, Flag Hill Farm Pear and Apple Brandys, and Rock Art Vermonster Beer. The store offers chocolate covered homemade cookies baked by the Sweet Crunch Bake Shop in Hyde Park, and using Mitzi�s Fresh Mountain Breakfast and The Nutty Vermonter�s Triple Nut Butters.

Even if you don't want to attend the workshops, you should visit the store just to see how good it smells! There is a great selection of chocolates to meet every taste. Online ordering is available on the website too if you can't wait to get here and try them.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Bird Tours

Photo (c) copyright Bryan Pfeiffer

Bryan Pfeiffer is probably the best known name in birding around this part of Vermont. He is also a naturalist and lepidopterologist of some note.

Most of all for birders, he's an enthusiastic, engaging speaker and teacher. There may not be anything he loves more than birding but if there is, it would be talking about birding. He's a treasure trove of fascinating information and he loves to share it.

A few years ago, he was often on WDEV, the local radio station, speaking about birds in the area and taking calls from listeners. Often those callers wanted to know what kind of unusual bird they were hearing. They would give the most awful imitation of what they were hearing and quick as lightning, Bryan would be playing a recording of the actual bird and telling the radio audience some interesting facts about it. How he could interpret what these callers were trying to sound like is beyond me but it must have come from years of hearing people try to describe (terribly and inaccurately) what they had heard.

Bryan is exactly the kind of person you would want to go birding with. You will have several opportunities to do so coming up soon.

If you are a beginner, Bryan's Spring Birdwatching for Beginners will be held May 1 and 2. He will be discussing all the basics from boots and binoculars to bird songs.

On May 16, he will be hosting the Bird Bonanza at Berlin Pond, a bird sanctuary near Montpelier VT. May is the peak of spring bird migration and Brian has seen more than 150 species of birds there over the last 25 years. You might even see a Bald Eagle or Moose on this outing.

Later in May, Bryan will be leading the Warbler Weekends at Highland Lodge overlooking beautiful Caspian Lake. These outings will be held May 22-24, and May 29-31.

July 5 is the date for a different type of watching. Bryan's Butterflies for Beginners has introduced hundreds of people to the wonders of the butterfly world through this course. You will be on the hunt for the Great Spangled Fritillary, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, and many more.

For more information on the tours, see Vermont Bird Tours website.

You can learn more about Bryan at his Wings Environmental website and see some beautiful photography at his Wings Photography website.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Cheese Making Classes in VT April 3 and 4

Photo courtesy of River Arts

If you're a cheese lover, perhaps you should look into making it yourself. You may have wondered if it's easy to do. Here's your opportunity to find out.

River Arts in Morrisville VT is holding two days of cheese making classes this coming Friday and Saturday.

You will have the rate opportunity to learn how to make Mozzarella, Cheddar and Ricotta. The cost is just $35 for one day or $55 for two days. You can sign up on the River Arts website or call them at (802) 888-1261.

"River Arts is a nonprofit organization that brings the energy, creativity and experience of the arts to all ages. We serve the Lamoille Valley of Vermont from Hardwick to Cambridge, from Eden to Stowe."

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

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Mount Snow Brewers Festival April 4

This Saturday, April 4, Mount Snow in southern Vermont will be hosting its Winter Brewer's Festival.

The event starts around 2:00 pm and continues into the evening. Some of the brewers on hand will be Magic Hat, Allagash, Long Trail, Harpoon, Rock Art, and Red Hook, Stone, North Coast and Budweiser.

Admission is $12 for adults age 21 and older and it includes a free first drink and free Mount Snow pint glass.

There will also be live music and a BBQ.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

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Vermont Junior Iron Chef Competition March 28

Can kids really cook? You bet they can! And very well too.

You can watch and sample the results at the 2nd Annual Junior Iron Chef VT this Saturday, March 28, at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction, Vermont.

This is a state-wide competition by members of the Burlington Food Council. It is also a fundraiser for the Burlington School Food Project and VT FEED farm to school education program.

Celebrity judges will score the meals prepared by teams of students from middle school and high school.

For spectators, the event offers activities for the people of all ages including cooking demos, food vendors, a farmers' market, and prize raffle. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Admission is $3 for adults or $5 per family.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Stowe Inside Line Newsletter

Photo courtesy of Stowe Inside Line newsletter

This photo was in today's Stowe Inside Line newsletter and I thought it was a great picture to represent the great spring skiing conditions we are having now.

"Great" is the word I heard most often from our inn's guests and other people I spoke with about this weekend's skiing at all four local ski areas: Stowe, Sugarbush, Mad River Glen, and Bolton Valley. Both Saturday and Sunday were sunny and warm, making for classic spring skiing conditions.

The weather forecast calls for some rain on Wednesday and Saturday night but that will probably change - forecasts of more than a couple of days out always seem to. However, most everyday for the next week should offer some very good "popcorn" snow conditions.

All four local ski areas offer daily email reports first thing each morning. I especially like Bolton's and Mad River Glen's narrative reports. Stowe's Inside Line is fairly short but good and also has promotional listings of events around the resort. Sugarbush's report does not have any narrative - just a listing of trails and conditions.

If you don't want to get a lot of emails, check each resort's website for conditions and also use the Trail Reports on Alpine Zone as recommended a few days ago on this blog.

Just a few weeks of skiing left and conditions are excellent. The ski areas have several feet of snow pack left to work through so you have a little time to make some more runs before Vermont closes out what has been another outstanding winter sports season.

A note for snowmobilers: I am starting to see bare ground on lower elevation trails. Check carefully when making your plans on where to snowmobile. The VAST website Trail Reports page has details along with a link to a satellite map of snow coverage. There is still good coverage in the upper elevations.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus VT

12th Annual Green Mountain Film Festival

Green Mountain Film Festival web page all rights reserved

The 12th annual Green Mountain Film Festival runs this year in Montpelier VT from March 20 through the 29th.

Several dozen films including two world premiers will be shown in 110 screenings. In addition, there will be several special events including conversations with some of the films' directors.

The event's web site has a page with descriptions of each film.

The films will be shown at the Savoy Theater and the City Hall Arts Center.

There are more than 16,000 tickets available but each year a number of the films sell out so advanced tickets are recommended. The Film Festival's web site ticket page has information about ordering by phone or mail.

You can also get tickets at the Montpelier ticket office. Hours and location are on the web ticket page page above.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Reminder to Enter Ultimate Ski Vacation Contest

I wrote a VT Travel Notes blog entry January 29 about The Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce (Waitsfield and Warren VT) Ultimate Ski Vacation Contest and wanted to follow up with a reminder that entries are due no late than Sunday, March 8.

As mentioned, the grand prize winner(s) gets:

- Cat skiing at Sugarbush- a ride in a luxury cabin Snow Cat to have first tracks in the best terrain before the lifts start running.
- Seven nights lodging in a slope side luxury condo with two outdoor hot tubs, heated outdoor pool, fitness center, game room
- Six day "Ski the Valley" pass good at Mad River Glen and Sugarbush ski areas, plus Ole's Cross Country Ski Center
- Free use of high-end demo equipment
- Four dinners for two people at four of the area's best restaurants
- A lunch for two at the very popular Warren Store Deli
- Fresh flower bouquet from Blue Toad Florist
- 60 minute couples therapeutic massage at Mad River Massage

There will also be a First Prize Winner and five Second Prize winners.

Enter now. The winners will be drawn Monday March 9. Good luck!

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Ben & Jerry's Winter Festival March 7

Ben & Jerry's Homemade ice cream 7th annual Winter Festival is tomorrow, March 7.

Their factory tours will be free of charge and they will have games, ice cream (!), snow sculptures, food, sugar on snow (melted maple syrup poured over snow), and a gift sale.

Umiak Outfitters will be there offering snowshoe tours, along with food samplings from Cabot Cheese, Red Hen Bakery, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and Cider House BBQ Restaurant.

The event is at the Waterbury VT factory on Route 100 about 3/4 of a mile north (toward Stowe) from exit 10 on Interstate highway 89.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Latest Unbiased Reports on Alpine Zone

Image (c) Alpine Zone

Most of the Vermont ski areas I follow give fairly honest reports on their conditions but they are sent out at the beginning of each day. Much can happen after that and I have found myself more and more taking a look at what is said on Alpine Zone.

These Trip Reports are usually at the end of the day but sometimes you will see mid-day reports. They often contain useful details on which trails the person skied and what they found there. Many of the reports are from people who are frequent skiers or riders (many are local Vermonters) who know which trails to choose and what to expect.

For example, here is what one skier reported just a few hours ago on his experience today at Stowe which started off looking bad but ended up being great.

I especially like the Twitter Reports so I can stay up to date and tell callers who ask about current conditions. It's great to be able to give them a report that is very current.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Burton Super Demo at Stowe

Photo courtesy of Stowe Resort

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Burton Snowboard Super Demo Tour arrives at Stowe.

They will be presenting next season's boards, along with Anon, RED, and V-Rocker products. Snowboarder Magazine will be there along Nature Valley in sampling tents and domes.

There will be demos, amateur series contests, and product give-aways all three days, plus a party at Spruce Camp from 3:00 to 6:00 Saturday, highlighted by the �Chuck Norris Roundhouse Kick� contest.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Summer Camps for Young People

Tennis Magazine chose Windridge as one of the top ten tennis camps in the US.

Vermont has a very long tradition of summer camps for children and young adults. Some camps, such as Sangamon, have been in operation since the early part of the last century.

There are traditional camps, farm camps, sports camps, all boys and all girls camps, adventure camps, arts camps, wilderness camps, education camps, fitness camps . . . something for everyone.

A good place to start looking is the Vermont Camping Association website. It lists private, agency-based and religious-affiliated camps. Many are resident camps but there are also day camps which appeal to families who are on vacation in Vermont. The adults can go play while the kids enjoy camp during the day.

Many of the camps listed on the VCA website are also members of the American Camp Association and are accredited by that association.

Another camp directory is the American Summer Camps directory which also has a good overview of camp selections.

Now is the time to start making camp choices. Many of these camps are very popular and will fill up soon.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Using Google Maps to Find GPS Coordinates

This evening I stumbled across how to use Google Maps to determine GPS coordinates.

I did it by doing something I had never done in years of clicking the Link button on a Google Map - I actually read the link. Usually I'm busy getting the link to put into an entry in the blog. I never read the jumble of letters for heaven's sake! I'm right in the middle of trying to get something done dammit.

But this time I stopped long enough to look at it - which comes dangerously close to proof reading.

As I did, it dawned on me that some numbers in the middle of the link looked similar to GPS coordinates. Could it be? After a minute or two of copy and paste activity, I had my Duh-Oh! moment. They ARE coordinates! Who knew?

Well actually, I bet a lot people know. It's probably another example of the rest of world way out in front of me and I'm back here in the mountains of Vermont sucking wind.

So, for my fellow in-the-weeds, off-the-grid woodchucks, I proudly present how to find GPS coordinates from Google Maps . . .

Go to maps.google.com, enter an address in the search bar and click Enter

On the next page, right click the red balloon on the map. In the popup, click the last item, Center Map Here. (Or right click elsewhere on the map if the red balloon is not where you want the coordinates.)

In the upper right part of the blue bar, click Link.

In the window under "Paste link in email or IM" you will see what looks like a tragic explosion in a type setting shop:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en& geocode=&q=94+pine+street+duxbury+vt&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=30.130288,56.601563&ie=UTF8&ll=44.295457,-72.771957&spn =0.006635,0.013819& z=16&iwloc=addr

'Bout two thirds of the way through all that are the letters UTF8&ll and then the = sign. The numbers immediately following the = sign . . . 44.295457, -72.771957 . . . are the coordinates for my inn at 94 Pine Street, Duxbury, Vermont, the street address I entered in the Google Maps search window back in step 1.

You will probably notice that some other numbers in the Link code are coordinates. You are correct. It's weird but the first is for Coffeeville Kansas and second is, I kid you not, Baghin Iran. What's going on with that, I have no idea. And I really don't have time to mess around with it now but I'd love to some other time.

At any rate, if you ever need coordinates for your travels, that's how you can use Google Maps to help. Give it a try and email me to let me know how it works out for y'all.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Writers Workshop in Middlebury VT

Writers and would-be writers: would you like a good excuse for a trip to Vermont? Sign up for the League of Vermont Writers Workshopcoming March 14 in Middlebury VT.

The workshop is entitled "Promoting Your Talent" and it will cover how to sell your story ideas to book and magazine publishers, and how to promote a published book.

See the website for biographies of the speakers, more information about the workshop, and information about registering.

Also note on that website page, there will a March 19 - 22 Writers' Retreat in Craftsbury, and a May 30 Memoir writing workshop in Middlebury.

If you are a professional writer, part time or full time, check with your accountant to see if you can deduct the expense!

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Historic Vermont Ski Jump Reopens

Photo from Harris Hill Ski Jump

Almost every year for the past 85 years, ski jumpers from around the world have converged on the village of Brattleboro Vermont to take part in the "original extreme sport."

They will do so again this year on February 14 and 15 but the difference will be that the Harris Hill jump has been completely rebuilt. It's literally brand new and with luck it will last another 85 years.

After the town got together and raised about half a million dollars, demolition and rebuilding continued through the last year. It was either that or lose what those in the ski jumping world consider an iconic structure in the sport. There are no others in New England and only six others in the USA of its size.

Harris Hill was built by a visionary named Fred Harris who devoted a large portion of his life to building and maintaining the jump.

The jump is just one mile from Exit 2 on I-91. Driving directions are on the website.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Winter Carnival Season in Vermont

Barre Blizzard snow sculpture

We're in the midst of winter carnival season here in Vermont. Here are four more coming soon from far northern VT to southern VT and in between:

Winter Carnival, Island Pond VT, February 6-8, 2009
Snow sculpture competition, ice skating, bonfire, children�s fishing derby, snowshoeing, horse-drawn rides, torchlight parade, sled racing and more. See the Island Pond Chamber of Commerce website for details.

Blizzard Blast (my choice for best carnival name) Barre VT, February 6-8, 2009
Tobogganing/sledding, snowshoe and extreme sled demos, ice skating in the old quarry, a sugar-on-snow party, snow sculpture competition, neighborhood snowman competition, Saturday night bonfire, and more. Most events originate from The Lodge at Millstone Hill, 59 Little John Road, Websterville (map and directions on web site).

Winter Carnival Shebang (second best name), Manchester VT February 7-14, 2009
Fireworks, family fun slalom at Magic Mountain, full moon snowshoe hike, dog sledding, a chili contest, and more.

Snowmobile Torchlight Parade and Winter Carnival,
Poultney VT, February 13-14, 2009
Friday evening snowmobile parade at the East Poultney Green followed by a spaghetti supper at the Poultney United Methodist Church. Saturday Snowmobile Carnival with snowmobile rides, sledding, snowmobile poker run, games, and more. Free. Information available on the town website - click the events calendar dates in the right hand column for details or call (802) 287-9755.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Follow Me and Friends on Twitter

If you are on Twitter, you can follow me at twitter.com/GrunbergHausVT/. If you are not familiar with Twitter, you can read about it on Wikipedia.

The graphic above is a clever illustration of the links between me and those who I am following, plus those following me, and who we have in common on Twitter.

If you go to my TweetWheel page, hover the cursor on a user to see which friends we have in common. Click the users' names to see their profile pages.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Three Types of Festivals This Weekend

Three types of festivals here in Vermont this weekend: two winter festivals, a music festival, and a distinctive, old time ice harvesting festival. Imagine all that in this one tiny state!

Not just a winter festival, but a Viking Winter Festival! Saturday and Sunday, January 31 and February 1 in Ludlow VT.

Make a snow sculpture and enter in the sculpture contest, watch the parade on Main Street, play in the kids' obstacle course, view fireworks in the town park and enjoy the bonfire and hot chocolate.

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The Bennington Winterfest is Saturday, January 31.

There will be an ice sculpture contest, Penguin Plunge, house tours, dog sled rides, indoor food featuring a chili tasting, and for the kids, face painting, bouncy house, games, prizes, band and some other nonsense. Be sure you see the pet winter fashion contest and bring your own well dressed dog or cat to enter.

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In nearby Brattleboro, the Northern Roots Festival is celebrating its second annual gathering this Saturday.

The festival brings together about two dozen local and regional musicians who specialize in old musical traditions including Irish, Scottish, English and French Canadian.

It will be held at New England Youth Theater, 100 Flat Street, in downtown Brattleboro.

Performances start at 1:30 and go to about 5:00. There is also a 7:30 evening performance.

Northern Roots has a MySpace page you can visit here and listen to some of the music.

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The 30th Annual Brookfield Ice Harvest on Saturday, January 31, recreates ice harvesting as it was done in the days before refrigeration. Back in the old days, large chunks of ice were carved form lakes and ponds to be stored in buildings with thick walls sometimes insulated with hay, wool, newspaper or whatever else was lying around. It provided an efficient way to store food to keep it from spoiling.

There will be a talk, a demonstration, cutting competition, and hauling competition that adults and kids can try (prizes will be awarded). Also, there will be snowshoeing and ice sculpting. Brookfield is famous for its floating bridge.

Thee will also be food, ice skating, and dog sledding. Brookfield is a wonderful little town full of Vermont charm.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Win the Ultimate Ski Vacation

The Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce (Waitsfield and Warren VT) is sponsoring a drawing for an incredible grand prize.

Some very lucky winner of the Ultimate Ski Vacation will get:

- Cat skiing at Sugarbush- a ride in a luxury cabin Snow Cat to have first tracks in the best terrain before the lifts start running.
- Seven nights lodging in a slope side luxury condo with two outdoor hot tubs, heated outdoor pool, fitness center, game room
- Six day "Ski the Valley" pass good at Mad River Glen and Sugarbush ski areas, plus Ole's Cross Country Ski Center
- Free use of high-end demo equipment
- Four dinners for two people at four of the area's best restaurants
- A lunch for two at the very popular Warren Store Deli
- Fresh flower bouquet from Blue Toad Florist
- 60 minute couples therapeutic massage at Mad River Massage
- Guided naturalist program with your very own experienced environmental educator, taking you on a personalized, guided outing in a unique alpine setting.

I have no idea what a "gold class" vacation like this would cost but I'm sure it's thousands of dollars.

And that is just the Grand Prize Winner. There will also be a First Prize Winner and five Second Prize winners.

Somebody has to win - it might as well be you. It's easy to enter and no purchase is required. Entries must be received by March 8.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Cabot Cheese Super Bowl Recipes

Cabot Coop is a group of Vermont dairy farmers that was founded in 1919. They have a very good blog with lots of helpful information including recipes.

The blog just posted some Super Bowl Recipes I think you will find useful. They certainly sound delicious:

Point Spread
Cheese and Bean Quesadillas ("Sudden Turnovers")
Habanero Cheddar and Black Bean Spread
Hot as a Torch! Jalapeno Poppers
Baked Jalapeno Poppers
Hot Broccoli-Cheddar Dip
Pizza
"Pig Skins "
Hero Sandwiches
Nachos

The website also features a handy online recipe box you can use to store your favorites for future reference.

There is even a beer and cheese pairings page.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Nordic Relay Cancer Fundraiser

Limited edition note cards and posters with this special Nordic relay artwork are available on the American Cancer Society website

While we are on the topic of fundraiser to help battle cancer (see Tubbs Romp to Stomp article below), there is an all night relay on March 7 at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe.

The only event of its type in the country, the 2009 Nordic Style Relay For Life starts at 6:00 pm on March 7 and runs until 8:00 am the next morning. Participants can use cross country skis, snowshoes, or walk.

More details are on the website, including an informative six steps to prepare for the event.

If you are going to be a fund raising participant or volunteer at this event, let us know and we will be happy to give you a ten percent discount that weekend as our way of saying thanks.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Tubbs Snowshoes Event to Benefit Breast Cancer Fight

For the past six years, the Tubbs Snowshoe Company has been holding a series of snowshoe walks and races to raise funds for the Susan G Komen for the Cure organization.

Last year, Tubb's Romp to Stomp was held in five US cities, had 3,800 participants and raised about $250,000 for the Komen foundation.

Vermont's 2009 Romp to Stomp will be held January 31 at the Stratton Nordic Center.

There will be three events: a 3K fun run, a 3K walk, and a 5K walk. Representatives from Tubbs will be on hand for free snowshoe demos. Even if you have never used snowshoes, you can participate. Snowshoeing is easy to learn and a lot of fun. It's a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors.

You can pre-register online ($30) or at the event ($35 - arrive early to do so). Checks or cash only are accepted.

Stratton is located in southern Vermont.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor (except the Tubbs photo above)

Free Snowmobiling for Military Personnel

VAST Snowmobile Photo

The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers is a huge association made up of snowmobile clubs around the state. Next Saturday, January 31, they are offering a free snowmobile ride event for military personnel (past and present) and their families.

The event will be at the field behind Kenyon's Variety Store on Route 100 between Moretown and Waitsfield Vermont.

The event starts at 10:00 am and goes to 2:00 pm. "This is a great chance to try out snowmobiling
at no cost in a safe environment."

Our inn is located about ten minutes away. We normally offer a five percent military discount but for this event we will double that to ten percent that weekend.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Backcountry Skiing Festival at Bolton

(c) Bolton Valley Resort

Bolton Valley Resort and the Catamount Trail Association are presenting a Backcountry Ski Festival tomorrow, January 25 starting at 10:00 am.

There will be equipment reps available to answer questions. Instructors will be on hand to help new and intermediate skiers and there will be a guided tour of Bolton's well know back country terrain which is a great way to learn the territory without the worry of getting lost - it's a very large and remote area.

If you don't have backcountry ski equipment, you can rent it at the Bolton Nordic Center. It is best to call ahead and reserve it: 802-434-6876.

There is a $25 charge for festival participants which includes a Nordic trail pass, access to the clinics, tours and the vendor area.

The Catamount Trail Association maintains Vermont's Catamount cross country ski trail which runs some 300 miles the length of the state north and south.

Bolton Valley is located off Route 2 between Waterbury and Burlington.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Forbes Says One of the Best Winter Drives Goes Past My Driveway

Forbes.com has an article called America's Best Snowy Drives with an accompanying slide show listing the top ten winter drives in the US.

Of note to us is that one is in Vermont, one is in nearby upstate New York, and they missed a great one in New Hampshire.

The Vermont drive is Route 100 from Stowe to Rochester. This is a 48 mile section of Route 100 that I am familiar with because my inn is on that road in Waterbury. You will find the entire drive enjoyable but the best part will be between Warren and Rochester where you are driving in the Green Mountain National Forest. I wrote a travel review of Route 100 on Milebymile.com that includes this section. It will have more details on what you can expect to find.

A nearby drive in upstate New York is within an easy drive of Vermont. This Lake George Loop starts and ends in Glens Falls NY at the southern end of Lake George.

One of my favorite drives in the country is in nearby New Hampshire. It takes me just 45 minutes to get over there from my north central VT location. The road is State Route 112, the Kancamagus Highway, a magnificent drive. The road runs East and West so it is best to drive it without the sun in your eyes. In other words, from east to west in the morning, and west to east in the afternoon.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Free "Try and Buy" Program at Okemo

Photo (c) Okemo

Here is a very good deal I just found on the Okemo Blog. Starting tomorrow, Thursday, January 22, and continuing through Saturday, January 24, Okemo is extending its "Try and Buy" from 60 minutes to 90 minutes.

This program starts when the lifts start. It gives you a chance to see what the conditions are like before you purchase a lift ticket.

More information about this and other lift ticket information is available on the resort's website.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor

Ice Climbing Lessons

There are all manner of things to do in the winter and if you are looking for something different to try, consider ice climbing. It's basically mountain climbing on large, frozen waterfalls.

Sunrise Adventures Climbing School here in Vermont is offering an ice climbing school at the end of this month at Smuggler's Notch near Jeffersonville.

Sunrise is based at Triple Diamond Ski and Sports on Route 108 a couple of hundred yards from the Smugglers Notch Ski Resort.

There will be equipment demonstrations, classes, slide show, and some apres' climbing socializing. The classes are on Saturday January 31 and Sunday February 1. See the schedule on the Ice Bash 2009 web page (scroll down to see the class listings and prices). You can register online or use their email or phone number to get in touch with them.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Stowe VT's von Trapps and the Sound of Music

Johannes von Trapp is handing over management of the famous Stowe VT lodge to his son Sam.

Fortunately, finding Vermont travel topics is easy. Unfortunately, there are so many of them that I can't get to them all.

I have a stack of Vermont information so large, I think I could write several hours a day and never exhaust the ever-growing list. As a result, items linger and I have to weed them out as they become less timely. This blog entry is about just one of those items.

A few weeks ago on Christmas eve, the New York Times ran an article about the real von Trapp family of Stowe. Nearly everyone in this country has heard of them and probably seen the movie. And judging by the number of guests at our inn, many people are big fans of the movie even though it is now about 40 years old.

But, as the article explains, there is quite a difference between the fictional family of the movie and the real von Trapps. The story is based on real people and real events but it takes quite a few liberties with the story.

The Trapp family lodge in Stowe is a very large facility now and does not have the quaintness that some visitors are expecting. However, it is a beautiful place in a magnificent setting with great views. There is an excellent cross country facility there (the only one around here that makes it own snow), they have sleigh rides in the winter, and in the summer the meadows are used for outdoor concerts. It is worth a visit if you are in the area.

Sam von Trapp, grandson of the famous Maria, is now taking over from his father Johannes. Even though he is far removed from the original story, the article makes it clear that he understands the family's appeal to many fans.

If you have not visited Stowe yet, you may be surprised to see that there are a number of lodging facilities and homes there that have Austrian architecture. Even our inn, the Grunberg Haus is built in Tyrolean style and we are about ten miles from Stowe. The von Trapps were not the only Austrians attracted to the mountains here. And people from other mountainous countries such as Sweden and Switzerland found their way here as well.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor

Learn Outdoor Nordic Skating in Vermont

Nordic skating at Lake Morey VT

Nordic skating is a very old style of Scandinavian outdoor ice skating that many people find is an easy way to learn.

In fact, classes are taught here in Vermont at Lake Morey in the east central part of the state near the border with New Hampshire.

The classes go over selecting the right equipment for each individual, safety, types of ice surfaces, how to use a Nordic skating pole to test the strength of the ice, efficient skating technique, etc. Registration can be done online or by calling (802) 649-3939.

There is a fee of $25 for three hours of instruction, plus equipment rentals.

The website says that Nordic skates are "remarkably simple to learn on" and that Nordic skating poles make the skating easier for people without good balance.

The workshops will be taught January 17 and 18; January 24 and 25; and January 31 and February 1 at Lake Morey. On February 7 there will be an afternoon workshop on City Bay, Lake Champlain.

The longer blade on nordic skates is one of the reasons they help make it easier to learn ice skating

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Sportsman's Classic This Weekend

The Benoits, a family of famous Vermont deer hunters who lead guided hunts and have published books and video on how to hunt deer, will be at the Sportsman's Classic. The father, Larry, (pictured above holding the rifle) lives about a half mile down the road from our inn.

One of Vermont's largest events, the Sportsman's Classic, takes place this coming weekend at the Champlain Expo facility in Essex Junction near Burlington.

About 15,000 people will fill the halls to view displays about hunting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits. The event starts at noon on Friday and ends Sunday afternoon.

For the children, there will be a reptile show, trout pond, casting competition, archery shoot, pellet gun shoot, and shooting simulator .

For adults, there is a fly casting pond, 45 free seminars, free ATV demo rides on a one mile course, prizes, raffles, and giveaways.

A portion of the proceeds benefits Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a special Vermont camp for children with cancer. Last year the show raised an amazing $10,000 for the camp.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Stowe Winter Carnival Jan 19 - 25

Stowe Winter Carnival Snowshoe Trek

Stowe VT celebrates its 35th Winter Carnival with the theme this year of "Stowe Away Your Blues."

Visitors and locals can spend a few days setting aside the economic travails of these times and enjoy some inexpensive fun.

There are ten major activities planned for both adults and kids including an ice carving competition, snow volleyball tournament, snow golf tournament at the local country club, youth hockey tournament, super G race, movies, kids carnival, the popular main street block party, theater, dance, fireworks.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Waterbury Area Restaurants Reviewed in NY Times

Big Time NY Times Wanders Into the Backwoods To See What the Woodchucks Are Eating These Days

Mark Bittman, a writer for the Dining section of the NY Times Dining, must spend a good amount of time around the Waterbury VT area - he certainly knows the restaurants here, a couple of them off the beaten path for most visitors and even some locals.

As his December 28, 2008 review shows, he is very impressed with Hen of the Wood restaurant, a quality restaurant that was opened by a pair of chefs here in Waterbury about four years ago if memory serves.

One of the chef's mother stayed with us while the two young men were working to get their new place prepared for opening so we got an early insight into what kind of place they were aiming to establish in a highly competitive market.

As you can see by the newspaper's headline reference to "Backwoods" Vermont, many people come here expecting to be nearly on the edge of civilization, lucky to have a decent diner and maybe a couple of good potluck church dinners.

The fact of the matter is that there about 100 two and three star quality restaurants within a half hour's drive of where I am sitting now. Stowe alone has more than 50 quality restaurants and ranks third in New England for the number of two and three star restaurants (behind Boston and Providence). I've lived here nearly nine years and I'm still working my way through all the restaurants here.

Four quick items about Hen of the Wood that come up most often when I'm speaking to guests about it:

Yes, this is the restaurant with the chef (Eric Warnstedt) mentioned in Food and Wine Magazine as one of the Top 10 New Chefs in the US for 2008.

No, I don't know what they mean by "new." He ain't new - he has been a chef for years.

Hen of the Wood is a type of edible mushroom.

Yes, reservations are almost always needed. The restaurant is small and highly popular.

The other restaurant Mr. Bittman looks at is the Kitchen Table in nearby Richmond VT. It is very close to Exit 11 off I-89 a few minutes south of Burlington.

Like all of the best restaurants in Vermont, the Kitchen Table puts a great emphasis for getting as much of the ingredients locally as they possibly can. This is far more time consuming and expensive than buying from a restaurant supply house but it pays off for the customers in a superior dining experience.

Somehow, Mr. Bittman found the Green Cup quietly located on a small side street in little ole Waitsfield VT. What I thought was a local secret showed up on the radar of a New York restaurant reviewer. I guess that's why they get their jobs - they know how to find the best food no matter where it is. One note on this place - don't expect a fancy schmanchy atmosphere. The food is the only star here.

The Red Hen Bakery was located about a 1/4 mile down the road from our inn until they moved a little over a year ago to a larger facility where they now have a nice cafe. Their bread is served in all or nearly all the best restaurants around these parts. You can get it in some of the local grocery stores and delis too.

I suggest you read over this article - it's very well done and makes for interesting reading and insights into the local culinary scene but it just scratches the surface of what's available here.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

A Brew Pub That Serves Tea - How Vermont!

I was poking around some of my links a while back and discovered on the Alchemist Brew Pub blog that they are now serving tea.

Specifically, it's Kombucha tea, a sweet tea that originated in China centuries ago and is alleged to have some medicinal qualities.

According to the Alchemist blog, Kombucha is "fermented black tea that is loaded with antioxidants, amino acids and many different pro-biotic cultures." Whether or not that is good for you is up to you to decide.

The Alchemist Brew Pub opened about five years ago and was an immediate hit. We have had guests from all over the country tell us that a friend or relative recommended it to them as a "must see."

It is easy to find in downtown Waterbury VT. That link will take you to a Google map page that has another link to 20 reviews of the Alchemist.

They have very good food there by the way. They actually have a chef who prepares a short but wonderful menu. The portions are small but so are the prices - about $10 for an entree.

Be prepared for a wait if you arrive there after 6:00 pm most of the time even during off season for tourists. During holiday and fall foliage time, it is virtually impossible to get in unless you get there at the 4:30 pm opening time.

Our inn is only about four miles away so anytime it is too crowded, I can wait a few days or a week to get in without much of a wait. But if you do have to wait, it is well worth it.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Winter Dew Tour on NBC Sports and USA Network. I think.

If you can't make it to Vermont this weekend to see the amazing Winter Dew Tour (see my blog entry from yesterday) at Mount Snow, you can watch it on television Saturday afternoon, January 10.

Here comes the confusing part. I thought it was on USA Network Saturday afternoon. (That's the network with Monk and House marathon weekends if you can't remember which one it is).

The Burlington VT Free Press newspaper television section lists it on USA at 4:30 pm. However, when I searched around online, the schedules say it is on NBC Sports. Both networks are owned by NBC so you can check your local listings to see where it actually is. Look for it at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon.

Also, there are some great videos of today's winning runs online at the Alliance of Action Sports website. Amazing displays of skill.

The event runs tomorrow and Sunday so you still have plenty of time to get there. See my blog entry from yesterday for more information.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Two Days of Continuous Snow Adds Up

Photo from the Mount Snow Dew Tour

Man, that was a LOT of snow. It has snowed (with a little sleet mixed in at the middle) for two days almost non stop. Weather forecasters call for a little more this weekend, mostly in the form of flurries so the white stuff is going to stay fresh for a while.

If you have been thinking of heading to Vermont for any kind of snow activity, I can say with complete confidence that now is the time.

Mount Snow Resort in southern VT got 10 inches of snow and Jay Peak in far northern VT got 20 inches.

Speaking of Mount Snow, the Winter Dew Tour, sponsored by Mountain Dew soft drink, is there this weekend. The resort is near West Dover VT, about mid-way between Brattleboro and Bennington.

There are some great freeski slopestyle videos here (in the right hand column) so you can get an idea of what you will see this weekend plus snowboards on the pipe. Spectator admission is free all weekend.

Olympic gold medalist and Vermont native Hannah Teter will be there along with other stars.

It will be cold this weekend - bring your warmest stuff.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Free Snowshoe/XC Skiing in VT Jan 10

See the Winter Trails website for information about this rare opportunity to test cross country and snowshoes free.

There are ten ski areas around the state participating in Winter Trails 2009. Most of the Vermont ski areas are holding the event this coming Saturday, January 10 except Bolton Valley which is holding the event January 11. It would be a good idea to contact your selected ski area to confirm the event is still planned. Links to each area are on the Winter Trails website.

Also, note that you have to fill out a Registration & Release Form - there is a link to it on the website.

This is a great way to see some of Vermont's prettiest woods and countryside. It's easy to do and you generally stay warm from exercising. If you have not tried it, now is the time!

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Attention Skiers and Riders: 6 to 12 Inches On The Way

Weather radar 8:30 pm Tuesday, Jan 6.

In technical meteorological terms, the radar picture above shows a "big honkin' storm" that is bearing down on Vermont ski areas. It starts tonight and goes through Thursday.

When it is all said and done, we will get six to twelve inches of snow according to local meteorologist Roger Hill of Weathering Heights Forecasting. He is consistently the most accurate of weather forecasters in this area.

Roger is also calling for some sleet during the storm: "potentially moderate to significant snowfall northern 2/5ths of state, and 'sleety snow middle part of state...to glazing, icy travel southeastern 1/4 of state' all going back to lighter periods of snow before exiting Thursday."

Check your favorite ski resort's web site for trail reports this Thursday and be ready to jump in the car to head for Vermont. It looks like Saturday should be a very good ski and ride day on fresh snow. Temps will be in the teens this weekend so pack your warmest gear.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Beautiful Fall Foliage Video

I know that now might not be the right time of year for this, but I just ran across a great fall foliage video that is enjoyable to look at no matter when you see it.

It is an unusually well done amateur video with good editing and music. Videographer Roger Shealy shot this footage last October during a visit to Burlington and Lake Champlain.

This video will inspire you to visit VT to see the foliage colors even if you have been here to see it previously. They always look great but last year was a spectacular year for color - many more red leaves than I ever remember seeing before and the orange and yellow leaves were extremely bright too. The season started early but remained a long time.

Start saving your $$$ now and plan to travel to VT and see this year's foliage show!

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Ski Areas Assoc Online Game

Here's an entertaining time burner. The Vermont Ski Areas Association has a game on their website called "Peg Your Friend."

You upload a picture of a friend which is then pasted into an animated character. When the game starts, the character/friend moves around the scenery while you use your mouse and cursor to follow and throw a snowball. The number of hits is recorded.

This will no doubt be the most meaningless thing you have done so far this year but you might win prizes such as Kombi gloves, Darn Tough socks, Eider apparel, Cabot cheese and other stuff in a random daily drawing.

Have fun!

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

VT Ski Areas Offer Learn to Ski/Ride For Free Events

Sample VT Ski Areas Association web page with listings of free ski lesson availabilities.

You can't beat the price: Learn to ski or ride free at
some resorts that are offering a day of free equipment and lessons this week.

You should act right away because openings are limited. The Vermont Ski Areas Association has a special free lessons page on their website that lists. Use the drop down menu to choose a day of the week and the website will return a table of resorts and number of openings at each. I don't know how well they are keeping this information current (it's up to the resorts no doubt) so get in touch soon with the ones that look most likely.

As I was searching through the dates and resorts list yesterday, it looked like Wednesday and beyond are the best bets.

If you sign up for one of these lessons and need a place to stay, give us a call and we will give you a 15% discount when you mention this blog post.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Ski/Snowboard Lessons Just for Women

Photo (c) Sugarbush Resort

Sometimes you just need to get away for a little while. Men need to get away from women, women need to get away from men, and both need a break from the kids.

For women who would like to learn or improve ski or snow board skills, there are several places in Vermont ready to help without the distraction of children and away from male competitiveness (or whatever else they do that gets on your nerves).

Yes, I know you love them. You will love them even more when you come back refreshed from some time away.

Here are some places you can do that (note: reservations are often required):

Sugarbush Women Ski and Ride Discovery Camp is a three day program that includes daily lessons both outdoor and indoor, practice time, video analysis, breakfast and lunch each day, wine and cheese social the first night, snowshoe hike, plenty of time for relaxing at the end of each day. Offered January 14-16, 2009 and March 9-11, 2009. The price is $389 but lift tickets are extra.

Umiak Outfitters in Stowe is holding a Women's Telemark Clinic taught by certified North American Telemark Organization Instructor Wendy Bridgewater. The beginners clinic runs from 10:00 to noon, and intermediates from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Prices start at $49.

Stratton Resort has two and three day women's camps feature five hours a day on snow, specialized instruction and video sessions for beginners or experts. In addition to the lessons, there are breakfasts, body awakening stretching sessions, lunches, class room talks, and motivational instruction round out the day.

Stratton's two day workshops are $298 and are scheduled for January 29-30, 2009 and March 9-10, 2009. Three day workshops are $399 and will be held February 9-11, 2009 and March 9-11, 2009.

Okemo not only offers women's lessons but also they have Ladies' Day on select Tuesday's for just $39 plus group lessons for only $25. The dates are January 13, 20, 27; March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31.

Okemo's Women's Lessons are scheduled January 22-23, Jan 26-30, January 9-11, February 6-8, and February 25-27, 2009.

Okemo also offers participants discount lodging at their Jackson Gore Inn with free access a new fitness center with swimming pool, sauna and spa facilities, ice skating at their new rink, and chef prepared meals.

Mad River Glen offers Women's Telemark Ski Clinics coached by women. It includes lunch, coaching, video and group discussions, and will be held January 9.

Mad River Glen Women's Alpine Ski Clinics will be held February 6 and March 6. $110 per person or $145 with a lift ticket.

Stowe Resort's Women In Motion programs will be held January 9-11, February 9-11, and March 2-4. The three-day programs are for intermediate and advanced alpine skiers.

Killington Women's Weekends are for intermediate or higher level women and feature four hours of daily on mountain clinics (10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.), with personal feedback.

Killington also offers two day women's clinic that are $299 including lift ticket or $199 without lift ticket. The dates are January 17-18, February 21-22, and March 21-22.

Jay Peak's Jay Peak's Women's Clinics for intermediate or better skiers or riders start February 14th. The cost is $229 and includes the clinic, lift ticket, video analysis, lunch, & apr�s ski cocktails & snacks.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

First Night Celebrations in Three VT Towns

Back from a couple of weeks of vacation followed by busy days of cleaning up after the insulation company blew new "dense-pack" into the attic, reorganizing the items we took out of the attic, moving them around from room to room to make way for guests, putting them back into the attic, followed by some quick wall painting and a few small repairs, and somewhere in there I got over a cold, put up the Christmas tree, mailed holiday cards, and wrapped a couple of presents, plus the day-to-day details of running an inn such as answering inquiries, taking reservations and emailing confirmations.

One way I got all that done was by slacking on this blog. Now I have a one inch stack of topics ready to be written about. Number one on the list is New Year's celebrations. Three cities in VT have First Night celebrations.

Originated in Boston in 1976, First Night celebrations have spread to many other cities in the US plus Canada and New Zealand.

First Nights are family friendly events that are alcohol and substance free.

Burlington's First Night has a New Year's eve parade, music performances, plays, circus acts, dancing, eating, and fireworks at venues throughout the downtown, all within walking distance of each other

This is a large event put on by a non-profit organization with 3 full time directors, a board of 14 members, many corporate sponsors, and 500 volunteers.

Other First Nights nearby are Montpelier, and a little farther away in St. Johnsbury, where they are proud to raise a lighted ball at midnight instead of lowering it as they do in some other cities.

Admission ranges from $10 in St. Johnsbury to $15 at Burlington for adults.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

Killington and Sugarbush Celebrate 50th Anniversaries

This old but undated photo shows one of Sugarbush's gondolas that was painted from, believe it or not, a winning entry in a design contest

Killington Ski Resort is celebrating its 50th anniversary December 12 through the 14th. On the web page you will see that Killington sold all their commemorative medallions but the events are open to other people who have not purchased one.

On Friday night, there is a "Ski Sweater Soir�e" at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel and Spa. Tickets are $75 and include dinner and entertainment. On Saturday, there is a 50th Birthday Poker Run throughout the resort. On Saturday night , there will be a torchlight parade, snowcat parade, kid�s activities and entertainment, live entertainment and dancing, and a giant birthday cake.

It is surprising that at the same time 50 years ago, Sugarbush was also getting started. Its 50th birthday celebration is the same weekend as Killington's. The two ski areas are about an hour's drive from each other so it's possible to attend both events.

Both ski resorts have new owners as of a few years ago and both are undergoing upgrades, especially Sugarbush which has seen major improvements over the last several years. Once known as "Mascara Mountain" for its tony clientele a few decades ago, Sugarbush will be hosting special events, meals, lodging, and skiing the weekend after next. Click the website link in the paragraph above to get details.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Thanksgiving Weekend

Photo courtesy Billings Farm and Museum

The Billings Farm and Museum is a beautiful working farm in Woodstock VT.. Its annual Thanksgiving Weekend starts tomorrow and continues through Sunday from 10:00 to 4:00 each day. There will be traditional cooking demonstrations, history of Thanksgiving and how it was celebrated long ago, draft horse wagon rides, tours, and other activities for the whole family.

Thanksgiving At Hildene, located near Manchester VT, will be this Friday through Sunday. There will be self-guided tours through the mansion decorated for the season. Hildene was originally the home of Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham,$12.50/Adult,
$5/Children, Members and children under 6/Free.

In nearby Manchester VT, there will be a Christmas tree lighting at 5:00 on Friday November 28 at the Town Green. It will be followed by a reception with Santa at Hand Motors. With all the upscale outlet stores in town, including the Orvis headquarters store, there will be opportunities to get some holiday shopping done.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

Thanks For Reading VT Travel Notes

Thanksgiving artwork by Jacquie Lawson, all rights reserved

For Thanksgiving, I want to say thanks to the folks who have sent emails with compliments and suggestions. (No complaints . . . so far.) And to everyone else who has not written an email, thanks for just reading. This blog is now 2 1/2 years old and has received more than 430,000 visitors, an average of 474 per day.

The artwork above is from an animated e-card a friend of ours sent the other day. It was created by Jacquie Lawson, an e-card company with a wide selection of greeting cards. You can see, and hear, this animated Thanksgiving card here and other autumn season cards here.

Jacquie Lawson lives in England. Her web site has about 188 animated cards and adds about 20 new ones each year in 34 categories ranging from holidays to personal greetings such as birthdays and get well cards. For just $12 per year ($18 for two years), you can personalize these distinctive cards and send as many as you would like to family and friends. Some of the artwork is also available on printed calendars, note cards, mugs, tote bags, etc. You don't have to get in the car and drive around to find cards. For just the cost of three or four printed cards, you can get a year's worth of unique cards from this website.

For all our American readers, best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Annual VT Christmas Bird Count

The Christmas Bird Count is a 109 year old event held each year all around the country. It is sometimes held on Christmas day but often takes place on other days in December and early January depending upon each local group's preferred timing. In Vermont, there are about 20 bird counting groups with the earliest counts starting December 14 and going through January 5.

This is a great way to get out and see some Vermont scenery and enjoy a day with local and out-of-state birders. You don't have to be an expert. There will be at least one experienced birder leading each group.

Detailed information about this year's count is available on the Vermont eBird.org website page. This website is a good source of information not only about the Christmas bird count but also year around information about birding in Vermont.

Two other birding websites I like are Virtual Birder (it has weekly reports of rare bird sightings around the state) and the Vermont Audubon (including links to the group's state office and local chapters).

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Several VT Ski Areas Open

Stowe - November, 18 2008 (photo copyright Stowe)

Five ski areas are now open here in Vermont. In alphabetical order (with number of trails open in parens) they are: Jay Peak (3); Killington (27); Okemo (17); Stowe (9); Sugarbush (7). Most of these ski areas have base depths in the one to two foot range. In addition to some natural snow, Stowe must have had the fan guns on the highest setting 24 hours a day last week- they have depths of two feet to four and a half feet.

I'm surprised that a couple of cross country ski areas are open already. Catamount Family Center, located in Williston VT (near Burlington) has 35 km open (perhaps benefiting from lake effect snow - Lake Champlain is a few miles west of Williston).

And Three Stallion Inn , a very nice facility in Randolph VT, has 25 km open.

To keep track of who is open, check the VT Ski Areas Association web site conditions page.

(c) 2008 (except the Stowe photo) Jeff Connor

Unusually Good Sales in VT This Weekend

Somehow, long ago, the tradition of having super sales during deer season got started in VT. If you live here, you know what I mean. You see newspaper advertisements addressed to "deer season widows" whose husbands are off in the woods in pursuit of deer. The deer hunting season in this state is huge, and so is this kick off to the shopping season.

There are two super sales that you might be interested in as destinations or stop offs while traveling in Vermont this weekend.

One of the biggest sales is the Cabot Hosiery Company ("Darn Tough") annual sale in Northfield VT, just a few minutes drive from the state capital of Montpelier. The company has been holding this sale for 29 years and it is a big one. Cabot Hosiery makes socks for both indoor and outdoor wear. I plan to go tomorrow and load up on Merino wool socks.

I went to the Black Diamond sale a few years ago and was impressed with the great prices on outdoor wear, mostly winter jackets, pants, and hats. Black Diamond, located just outside Montpelier, has excellent good quality products.

Remember the famous line: "The more your buy, the more you save!" Our economy needs you. Well, actually, it needs your money.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Another Great Megapickles VT Photograph

Today's Megapickles photograph of a Lake Champlain scene reminds me of a Salvador Dali painting - it just needs a drooping clock hanging over the tree . . .

One thing I do most every evening is go to Megapickles Photoblog (see link in this blog's right hand column), one of my all-time favorite web sites. John H is the website owner. He publishes a photo every day, usually of outdoor subjects but he switched to indoor subjects and even a self-portrait earlier this year after slipping on ice and ending up in a leg cast. Some of his recent photos around Burlington and Lake Champlain meant he had to get up well before dawn and drive around looking for opportunities before heading off to his day job. That job is as a Political Science Professor at St. Michel's College.

Not only does John post a photograph each day but also he includes a note about what music he is listening to at the moment. He has an deep affinity for classic and jazz music - his collection of albums and CD's must be staggering.

I suggest you take a few minutes to poke around his website - I'm confident you will enjoy it and appreciate the amount of work that goes into it. There are many brilliantly composed and rendered photographs there.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

Make VT Thanksgiving Restaurant Reservations Now

Google is a great tool for finding a list of local restaurants in Vermont that you can research yourself or discuss with your innkeeper.

Thanksgiving is coming up in two weeks. If you will be in Vermont then and want to eat at a restaurant that day, you should make reservations now. Many restaurants will be closed for the day and those that are open may be busy. Find out from your innkeeper which local restaurants are open and get reservations just to be safe.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Used and New Ski and Snowboard Equipment Sale at Okemo

Just came across a news item that Okemo, Ludlow VT, is also having a new and used ski and snowboard equipment sale November 21, 22, and 23 at the resort's base lodge. Friday's times are 4:00 to 7:00; Saturday is from9:00 to 5:00; and Sunday is 9:00 to 1:00.

If you have equipment you would like to sell, you can drop it off this Saturday, the 15th, Sunday the 16th, or next Wednesday the 19th - each day is from 10:00 to 3:00. Equipment should be in good condition and not more than seven years old. Items are sold on 25% consignment with proceeds going to Okemo Mountain School. For further information, contact Mariel Meringolo at mariel dot meringol at okemomountainschool.org or 802-228-1512.

I mentioned in yesterday's blog about the Waitsfield sale that I would like to see a fishing gear sale and, wouldn't you know it, the Okemo swap also welcomes fly fishing equipment! I'm tempted . . .

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Great Deals at the Waitsfield VT Ski & Skate Sale

A few years ago I visited the Waitsfield VT Ski and Skate Sale because I had driven by it the previous couple of years and noticed a great number of cars parked there. Inside, I found an impressive amount of gear at tempting prices. And it was not only skis and skates despite the name. There were also many boots, snowboards, snowshoes, jackets, helmets, and pants. Much of the gear was adult size but there was also a lot of children's equipment. If you have a family to outfit, this event could be a big help to your budget.

The newest gear tends to go fast on Saturday, depending upon size and price. Sunday is the day for the best deals. Usually around 11:00 on Sunday, they start slashing prices to help move the gear out faster.

Waitsfield is in the Mad River Valley, home to Sugarbush and Mad River Glen ski areas. To say that the area is full of skiers is an apt description. Like most skiers anywhere, the people here have a lot of gear and they often buy new stuff to get the latest and best. I've noticed the same trait with golfers and fishermen. I'm one of them. I have enough fishing equipment to outfit about three people. I wish someone would hold a sale like this for fishing gear. On second thought, I would probably buy more stuff than I sold so I'm probably better off without it.

There are many sales like this around New England and this one is one of the oldest, being in existence for the past 29 years. The sale will be held at the Waitsfield Elementary School on Route 100 (scroll down the list on the left to find the Waitsfield school link at the bottom) Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. There is no admission charge. Parking however, is a challenge. You will see people parked everywhere along the road and in nearby parking lots. Be prepared for a ten minute walk if you can't park close.

If you have stuff to sell, it should be checked in at the school on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. There is a 20% consignment fee. I don't know if they take gear on Saturday or Sunday too but you can use the contact information on the web page.

This event is about a ten minute drive from our inn. Since you will be bargain shopping, we'll help you save money by discounting our rooms ten percent. Call us at 800-800-7760 for information.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Southern VT Travel Blog

About nine years ago, we traveled to Vermont and New Hampshire to look at inns for sale. One of our favorites was an inn in Brattleboro VT called 40 Putney Road, named after the address there. It had beautiful French architecture and a nice location. We ended up passing on it because we found our current VT bed and breakfast inn that was a better fit for us and made our numbers work better. Since that time, 40 Putney Road has changed hands a couple of times I think. The new owners, Tim and Amy, look like they are doing a great job with it - see especially the room photos on their website.

They also write a blog I found a couple of months ago just as we started heading into the big fall foliage rush. Now that the extra busy period is over, I am getting around to writing about the blog. It's called "InnBrattleboro" and I have found it to be an interesting source of information about the area of southern Vermont. They also write some about southern New Hampshire which is a very short drive across the Connecticut River from their Brattleboro VT location.

It's nice to find this blog because a couple of other southern Vermont blogs I was following ended up dormant and I took them off my links list in the right column. InnBrattleboro looks like it has been going since December last year so I have hope the writers will keep it at it. I will put a link to it under the Travel Friends heading on the right.

Tim and Amy don't write frequently: twice in October and twice in September (during the busy season, remember) but prior to that they were writing blog entries roughly four times a month. Some of the photo links are broken but the ones that do work just take you to a slightly larger version of the photo. Thanks to InnBrattleboro, I've learned about new places to visit down there and this blog will be the first place I will check the next time we plan a trip to southern VT.

Tim is also a website designer. His company, Loose Leaf Design, does some nice looking work.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Killington: Nevermind

They skied and snow boarded at Killington for five days but now it has come to a halt due to the unseasonably warm weather we've been having. Even with a 30 inch base in some spots, you just can't keep going when daytime temperatures are nearly reaching the 60's and nighttime temps are in the 40's.

There was some unofficial skiing at other areas, even Mad River Glen which does not make snow. But, it turns out it was all just an amusing early season appetizer of what is to come.

Right now, Killington is aiming for a reopening on November 14. Next week's night time temps will be the key. To get current information, check Killington's conditions page on their website. The resort has spent $8.4 million in improvements this year and they are anxious to show them off.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

VT Author Archer Mayor

One of the most surprising things about moving to Vermont was discovering the number of artists, writers, actors, musicians, and other artistic people who live here. They are literally everywhere. Vermont is smaller than tiny (teeny?) but it's brimming with talented folks.

One of the best known is author Archer Mayor , a resident of Townsend, a beautiful village in southern VT. His crime stories have been best sellers for about two decades. Mayor's 19th novel, The Catch, has just been published by St. Martin's Press. Like all his Detective Joe Gunther (the main character) stories, this one also takes place in Vermont but it soon moves to Maine where Joe is in pursuit of two "evil doers" as George Bush would say.

Mayor himself probably would not make a very good character for a novel because he would not be believable - too much of an over achiever! He has been a "scholarly editor, a researcher for TIME-LIFE Books, a political advance-man, a theater photographer, a newspaper writer/editor, a lab technician for Paris-Match Magazine in Paris, France, and a medical illustrator . . . He is also a death investigator for Vermont�s Chief Medical Examiner, a deputy for the Windham County Sheriff�s Department, and has 25 years experience as a volunteer firefighter and EMT."

Unfortunately there is not much more information about his background except that he grew up in the US, Canada, and France but that just piqued my curiosity even more. It would be interesting to see more details about his family, early life, education, and details about his work experiences.

If you would like to meet him in person, he has a busy calendar of personal appearances this month and next throughout New England and New York. You can see the schedule here. .

On his website is a series of short videos, one of which I found particularly interesting: why he chose to live in Vermont.

Another video I suggest you watch is a humorous story involving doughnuts that took place while he was working as a police officer.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

New York Times Article on Burlington VT

The New York Times Travel section has a feature called "36 hours in ___." A few days ago the Time published such an article about Burlington VT.

It's pretty well done and covers the upper downtown area around Church Street for the most part. This street is closed off from car traffic and paved with bricks to make it an inviting pedestrian plaza. We often recommend it to guests who want to visit Burlington. There are a good number of specialty shops, restaurants, and bars which makes it a lively daytime and night gathering place.

One area the Time's article does not feature is the great waterfront including the Burlington Boat House. The article does mention Burlington's "Stonehendge" park and the accompanying slide show also mentions the ECHO Museum at the waterfront so readers can find the rest of the waterfront on their own. Of course, it is not as inviting this time of year as it is during months of milder temperatures.

This article is a reprise of similar "36 hours" article the Times did about six years ago.

There is much more to see and do in Burlington and the surrounding area but if you really do have just a few hours, this guide is a good overview of some main highlights.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

We're Skiing in VT!

This photo is copied from the Killington website so the "watch video" link does not work here . . . go to the Killington website to watch the videos and see how much snow they have.

Believe it or not, today marked the first day of ski season in Vermont, as the East's perennial first-starter (and longest season record holder) Killington opened for skiing today with nine trails and two lifts swinging into action.

Hard to believe I know but we have had snow at the upper elevations for a few weeks now. Killington's snow is a mixture of natural and artificial snow of course but they have about an 18 inch base going which is impressive.

If all goes according to schedule, nearby Okemo will be the next Vermont ski area open. They plan to do so on November 15. Other planned openings: Sugarbush and Stowe, Nov 22; Stratton, Nov 26; Jay Peak, Smuggler's Notch, and Bromley, Nov 28.

The other ski areas in the state plan December openings. It all depends upon mom nature of course. The best single source of information on openings is Vermont Ski Areas Association website

To see the latest information as it becomes available, go to the Ski Conditions page and check the Trails Open column.

(c) 2008 (except the Killington photo) Jeff Connor

Ben & Jerry's Online Halloween Games

One of the games on the Ben & Jerry's Halloween website pages is this "Undead Smackdown" (or ""Whack-A-Ghoul") game that I wasted about ten minutes playing. Use your mouse button to move the shovel and left click to bring the shovel down. Have fun!

I know from experience in talking with our inn's guests that many of them check the Ben & Jerry's website before they travel to Vermont (the company's Waterbury VT factory is about ten minutes from our facility). It is a very entertaining website with a mix of some seriousness thrown in once in a while.

If you go to the website, you can check the Ben & Jerry's Halloween page to find a lot of information including the history of Halloween, seasonal recipes, crafts, coloring book pages, safety tips, and some games. Note: when you go to the page and click on the Jack O Lantern, your pop-up blocker may prevent it from working. On Firefox browsers, click the bar above the web page and then click "Allow Pop-ups from benjerry.com." Then you can click the Jack O Lantern again to get into the website's Halloween section. Look at each page carefully and run your cursor over the various items that will then lead you to other pages.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

University of Vermont Fleming Museum Exhibits

There are two unusual exhibits at the University of Vermont's Fleming Museum you may find interesting.

Buddha in Paradise at the Wolcott Gallery runs through December 19. It is about finding "Pure Lands" or paradise in western terms and is a collection of ancient paintings dating back to the 13th century. Also, during this week, October 15 - 22, Buddhist monks are constructing a circular painting called a mandala made from colored grains of sand to represent the universe. You are welcome to watch the construction and also the eventual destruction when it is cast into a pool of water, a part of the process that "symbolizes the impermanence of existence and the ideal of non-attachment to the material world."

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Architectural Improvisation: A History of Vermont's Design/Build Movement 1964-1977 runs through December 19 in the East Gallery. This unique exhibit looks at a group of architects who formed the Vermont Design/Build movement based on their Bauhaus theory education at Yale School of Architecture and the University of Pennsylvania Architecture program in the 1960s. These students, many of whom are still here in Vermont, set out to explore "radical social, technological, and aesthetic experiments."

I've seen several examples of their work around Waitsfield Vermont. Some are lacking in practicality, grace, ingenuity, creativity, advancement, longevity, or relativity but they are a magnetic curiosity and a great symbol of the futile side of the 60's. It's good that this approach did not go far and it's not surprising but sometimes you have to know what does not work in order to know what does work. This is an excellent body of work for the student of the 60's to know about.

The Yestermorrow school in Waitsfield VT is a product of this movement. It has an intriguing line up of classes.

The Fleming Museum's hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturday & Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Closed Mondays.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

Ski Free - - - Get a Job at a Ski Resort

This could be your new place of employment. Sugarbush Ski Resort

Sugarbush in Warren VT is holding a job fair for the coming winter ski season. There are full time, part time, and seasonal jobs available. It's a great way to get a fun job and enjoy perks like free skiing and boarding.

Other Sugarbush job fairs will be held October 25 and November 15. If you can't make it to the fairs, try contacting Sugarbush Human Resources at hr@sugarbush.com

Many ski areas will be hiring for this winter and possibly even beyond. If you are interested but don't know which ski areas to approach, try the Vermont Ski Areas Association Ski Vermont Job Center. Right now there are not many listings but that will change soon.

Of course, you don't have to wait for job postings. You can contact the ski areas' human resources department now and get the jump on things.

There is page of listings for alpine resorts and another one for cross country ski areas.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

VT Teddy Bear Presidential Poll Shows Surprising Results

The next leaders of the free world. God help us.

In my September 21 entry, I mentioned that the Vermont Teddy Bear Company was selling Obama and McCain teddy bears. Now that the Vice Presidential candidates have been announced, Vermont Teddy Bear has rounded out the ticket with their four bears.

I had mentioned that it would be interesting to know which bear ticket was selling the most. In fact, if you look at the company's website, you will see that several thousand people have cast their "votes." You can do the same.

I was surprised to see that the McCain/Palin ticket was winning handily by about 2:1 over the Obama/Biden team - that certainly goes counter to all the polls I have seen lately.

Visit the company's Vermont stores In Shelburne VT and Waterbury Center VT, or order online the bears of your favorite candidates and don't forget to vote on November 4.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

More on Dogs

Shortly after I wrote the entry below about the Dog Party at Dog Mountain, I ran across this quote which I've seen before but had not remembered for a long time. As a dog owner, it's one of my favorites:

"We are alone, absolutely alone on this chance planet: and, amid all the forms of life that surround us, not one, excepting the dog, has made an alliance with us." - Maurice Maeterlinck

Maeterlinck was a Belgian poet, playright, and Nobel Prize winner who lived 1862 to 1949.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

Spectacular Foliage Today

I took a quick snapshot this afternoon of the hillside across the street. The foliage colors this year are magnificent. If you ever wanted to travel to Vermont to see the fall colors, you couldn't do any better than this year. Some of the upper elevations are a little past peak but still look very good and some areas have yet to peak. You still have time.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Dog Party At Stephen Huneck's Dog Mountain

(c) Stephen Huneck

Play like a dog at Stephen Huneck's Dog Mountain on Sunday October 12. There are fields, ponds, beautiful views, and lots of happy people and pets at this annual event. There will be food (hot dogs of course), book signings by Stephen, and an "applause-o-meter" contest for largest, smallest, youngest, oldest, best kisser, best singer, farthest traveler, best swimmer, etc. Visit the dog chapel and leave a note or photo of a departed pet or just enjoy reading moving tributes that other people have left there. Located a little ways outside St. Johnsbury VT in the northeast part of the state but easy to get to from I-91. I wish we could take our pup but we, and by default he too, will be tending to inn keeping activities.

Our Cody - a lover of people and other animals

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

More Events October 11 and 12

Felted landscape by Weston Craft Show exhibitor Dorothy Riley, Flower Mountain Studio, 367 Graham Road, Chester, VT 05143, p. 802-886-1337, e. paintbox@vermontel.net

The Weston VT Craft Show has been selected as one of the prestigious Top Ten Vermont Fall Events by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. It is being held this weekend in quaint village of Weston VT.

Fifty craft makers are invited each year to this juried show and that means top quality items will be on display and available for purchase.

Weston is home of the Vermont Country Store, a large facility with room after room of interesting items.

Another nearby show is being held at the Chaffee Art Center in Rutland VT. This is their 47th annual fine art and craft show, and it too has been named a Top Ten Vermont Event.

While you are in the south central Vermont area, make your way over to the totally restored village of Grafton VT for the Fall Festival at the Firehouse on Route 121 a little east of the village. This is a community gathering with tag sale and BBQ. A great way to mix with the locals.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor (except the Dorothy Riley artwork above)

Mt Snow Oktoberfest, Crafts Show; Newfane Festival

Mount Snow

It's an Oktoberfest time of the year and this weekend it is Mount Snow's turn. Located near West Dover VT in the southern part of the state, this ski area is hosting its 11th annual Oktoberfest. It is being held in conjunction with 35th Annual Harvest Arts and Crafts Show. The surrounding area will be bursting with foliage color this weekend and the weather forecast is for mild temperatures. Get in that car and get going!

Newfane Festival

The Newfane Festival is celebrating its 38th anniversary. This is a classic Vermont village and features several buildings in a Currier & Ives setting. I highly recommend you stop in the village whenever you are in southern Vermont whether you can make it to this festival or not.

The festival this weekend has 80 vendors selling crafts and artwork including quilts, paintings, furniture, clothing,
pottery, and more. Also, you will find a food court, deli, fresh apple pies and cider, live entertainment, and children's activities area. Take a look at their super raffle here.

Newfane is located near Brattleboro VT which also is a great town to explore. Also, the villages of Dover, Bennington, Manchester, and Arlington are just a few minutes away and the drive this time of year is outstanding with fall foliage on the mountainsides.

Newfane VT classic architecture

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Stowe Foliage Arts Festival This Weekend Oct 10, 11, and 12

Two hundred artists will be displaying their creations at northern Vermont's premier arts and crafts festival this weekend in the beautiful village of Stowe VT. This event is produced by the same organization that put on the festival in Manchester VT last week (see below). Like that festival, the one in Stowe has a live entertainment, and a wine and food court featuring including the Vermont cheese, beer, and sausage tent made with locally produced foods.

If you like fine quality crafts, don't miss this event - it is one of the best. And while you are in Stowe, check the local art galleries - there are several which have works from top New England artists. You can see a list here.

The event will be held at the Topnotch Events Field, about four miles from the village of Stowe on Route 108 (Mountain Road). It's a photogenic setting with the Green Mountain range nearby in the background.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Foliage Drive Suggestions

Recommended Vermont drives to see fall foliage

"Where should we go to see foliage?"

That's a question we get several times a day this time of year. It's usually an easy question to answer because you can drive anywhere and see good color on the trees. Later this month, the number of good drives begins to dwindle of course and the task takes more research.

Much of the answer depends on whether or not the person has a particular type of drive in mind or is open to any suggestion. For instance, some folks want a drive on remote country roads while others would prefer to go to the mountaintops.

Some of our favorite drives are on the highways which often surprises people. But the highways here in Vermont are free of billboards and often offer sweeping vistas. It's better for the passengers who have time to look but drivers don't get as good view because they are busy driving and there are few opportunities to pull over and look around. In our area, Interstate 89 around Montpelier has some great views to the west. And the same highway traveling south from Burlington, has another great view a few miles south of Exit 12.

Around our location, Route 100 either north or south is a good bet. And Route 108 from Stowe to Jeffersonville through Smuggler's Notch is one of my favorites summer and fall.

Your innkeeper can tell you about the best local roads to drive but the Vermont Department of Tourism has also put together a web page of 20 recommended foliage drives. Many of these are lengthy adventures, some of them 100 miles and more. Of course, you don't have to drive the whole route but these suggestions are a good starting point.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

The Best Place to Find VT Foliage Information

The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing does an excellent job of providing information about the state's popular fall foliage season. Click here to go to the state's Foliage Forecaster page. You will see the map shown above which you can automate or stop by clicking the dates alongside the map. It shows the foliage progression starting from the northern part of the state and the upper elevations, and then moving south and into lower elevations. Not every year has the same timing and some seasons last longer than others. The trees are very healthy this year from the rainy summer we had so everyone is expecting the colors to last a long time.

The VT Foliage Report report, compiled by reports from state is a great source of information about foliage all over the state and it provides recommendations for roads to drive. It is updated twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

One thing the Foliage Forecaster does not do is tell you the names of the counties on the map. nor are there any town names to help you serach for lodging. Here is a link to a county and village map so you can know where to look for lodging if you are not familiar with the state.

Fall Foliage Travel Planning

Here at the Grunberg Haus, we are full the first two weekends of October which is typical of most lodging places this time of year. However, we and many others have numerous weeknight openings. You have plenty of time left this month to see the trees in their full glory.

Last year was a spectacular year for color. This year is looking even better and may be the best we have had in many years.

If you are thinking of traveling to Vermont this fall, right now is the best time to get your plans pinned down.

Enjoy the natural fireworks!

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

VT Foliage, Antiques, Antiques, and Antiques . . .

Two fall traditions in Vermont are foliage "leaf peeping" and antique shows. There are other activities as well this busy weekend so let's get started:

(Quick aside: the weather this weekend will be very nice: mostly sunny and day time temperatures in the upper 50's F. The evenings will be cool with temperatures in the high 30's F. Bring some warm clothes especially if you plan to spend time at upper elevations.)

FALL FOLIAGE

The next two to three weeks you can see some incredible color on the mountainsides and valleys. I have talked with a large number of people here and read in several VT blogs that this year's foliage display may be one of the best ever. I am very surprised at the large amount of red leaves I'm seeing. All the colors are bright. I'm sure we'll be talking about this year's Vermont foliage for years to come.

A fun way to to see the foliage is to get out of the car and into the fresh air on a ski area chair lift. It's an exhilarating experience that you will remember for a long time. Many ski areas offer this service. Just ask your innkeeper where the nearest ski area is that's offering rides - they are located all over the state.

Vermont's largest ski area, Killington is offering foliage chair rides, a Brewfest on Saturday, and hosting ABC's Good Morning America live broadcast on Sunday.

The 13th Annual Killington Brewfest features displays of microbreweries and craft breweries from Vermont and other New England states. It starts at 1:00 pm and goes to 6:00 pm.

Good Morning America LIVE from Killington Peak will start broadcasting Marysol Castro's weather reports and Vermont feature segments from 6 am to 9 am. You can take a free ride on the K-1 Gondola and get a FREE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST atop Killington Peak. They are encouraging people to attend so they will have an enthusiastic background audience just as they do in New York City. In fact, bring your homemade cardboard signs, jump up and down, and see if you can get on national television. It's a great way to see foliage, get entertained and fed, all for free. The view from Killington Peak includes five states and Canada on a clear day.

ANTIQUE SHOWS

There are two antiques shows in northern VT this weekend and a bunch in southern VT.

The New England Antiques Show formerly presented the antiques show at the Champlain Expo fairgrounds but it has moved this year to Burlington Sheraton Exhibit Center. I don't know the politics behind this move (looks like somebody got mad at someone else) but now there are two major antique shows in Burlington on the same weekend.

The Champlain Valley Exposition and Vermont Public Television are presenting the Vermont Antique Expo and Sale October 4 and 5. The weekend will feature sales, seminars and exhibits on a wide array of antiques and related topics. Located at the Champlain Valley Exposition , 105 Pearl Street in Essex Junction, Vermont. They are expecting about 60 dealers.

The New England Antique Show is being held Saturday and Sunday at the Burlington Sheraton, 870 Williston Road, Burlington, VT. It's easy to find: just take Exit 14W (make sure it is West exit, not the East exit) from I-89. The Sheraton is the large building on your right.

The WESTON ANTIQUES SHOW is being held at the Weston Playhouse in the middle of the village. As they point out, there have 220 dealers and four other antique shows within a 20 minute drive the same weekend. This is their 50th year. I like their slogan too: "Go green...collecting and using antiques is the ultimate recycling." Weston is also home to the Vermont Country Store where you can find modern versions of a lot of antique products - the kind of items you did not think were made any more.

The OKEMO ANTIQUES SHOW is being held at the Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow VT . The Preview is Friday from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm and the show is Saturday 10am to 5pm.

A few minutes away, the 44th annual LUDLOW ANTIQUES SHOW is being held at the Black River High School with the from Preview Friday, 7 - 9 pm and the show Sat 10am - 5pm.

The 31st annual BROMLEY MOUNTAIN ANTIQUES SHOW will have 30 country dealers at the Bromley Ski Area Base Lodge on Route 11, Peru VT
Preview Sat 8 - 10am, Show Sat 10am - 4pm, Show Sun 10am - 4pm.

The 24th annual ANTIQUES IN VERMONT show will be at the Riley Rink, Route 7A North, Manchester Center VT Sat Preview 8 - 10am and Sat Show 10am - 4pm.

OTHER VERMONT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

If you are looking for some non-shopping activity, how about apple picking at Shelburne Orchards . There are 80 acres of apple trees, including 10 acres of organic apple trees. It is located a little south of Burlington VT on Orchard Road off Route 7.

There is a large Craftsproducers Festival at Hildene VT October 3, 4, and 5 that will have 200 artists and artisans displaying and selling their products, all made by the artists - no imports in other words. The show is in heated Camelot tents.

Along with the crafts, the festival has fresh food and live entertainment. The VERMONT CHEESE, BEER, AND SAUSAGE TENT will be the center of a food festival within the craft festival. More than a dozen micro brews will be available, plus a variety of Vermont cheeses, sausages, and wine will be available.

The nearby town of Manchester is full of designer outlet stores and it is the home of Orvis, the American Museum of Flyfishing next to the Orvis store, and the famous Battenkill River.

The QUECHEE VILLAGE 18th Annual Fall Foliage Crafts Fair will be October 4 and 5.

Nearby in Woodstock VT is the Billings Farm & Museum, a great place to take the kids. It has events year around. The one this weekend is the annual Pumpkin and Apple Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, October 4 & 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be an apple taste test, hands-on apple pressing to make cider, pumpkin and apple ice cream, apple races, pumpkin bowling, apples-on-a-string, pumpkin Legos� (what do you suppose that is?), making apple butter being in the farmhouse kitchen, and more. The pumpkin display includes white, blue, and striped pumpkins with explanations about this "hearty, nourishing, and versatile vegetable, first cultivated 9,000 years ago." Horse-drawn wagon rides are included with admission. Your kids will love it and you will be impressed with the quality of this facility. I highly recommend this event for families.

Billings Farm and Museum, Woodstock VT

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus inn

RIP Paul Newman

I was saddened to hear today that Paul Newman has died. I never met him but our paths crossed, or nearly crossed, a few times.

The first time was when my wife and I took the kids on a driving vacation around New England about 20 years ago. We were on our way north to Quebec and stayed for a night at the North Hero House Inn. The owners had a photo album on display at the front desk. One of the photos showed Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in an old VW beetle convertible at the inn. They had stayed there sometime before we were there but I don't remember how long before.

I know the North Hero House has different owners now but if you ever get to travel there (very nice place by the way), you can ask if they still have that photo album. I doubt they do - I'll bet the previous owners took it with them. But at least you can say you stayed the same place Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward stayed.

The drive up Route 2 through the islands is OK enough. Most people think more of it than I do. The islands looks better from the water I think. Rent a boat while you are there and see for yourself. It seems to me that the islands are like flat farmland most anywhere and they don't compare at all to the mountains a short distance away. Most of the time you are on Route 2 you cannot see the water except for a few exceptions like North Hero House

That's just one person's opinion. Travel to Vermont and look at both the mountains and the islands, and you can then write to tell me I'm right or wrong.

The other times I saw Paul Newman were at sports car races at Watkins Glen NY. My brother was racing and Paul Newman had the pit garage next to my brother's team a couple of times. The last time I saw Newman race was a few years ago when he was in his late 70's. He was an excellent driver and when I was watching practice sessions, I was very impressed with how much speed he was carrying through the corners in his car. It would have been impressive to see anyone going that fast but to see someone almost 80 years old hustling a car that hard was inspiring!

Godspeed, Paul Newman. I hope you enjoyed your visit to Vermont.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

Foliage Will Be Great This Year

Most all the Vermont locals I have talked to agree that the fall leaf colors this year are much better than average. I am seeing more red than any year in recent memory. We had a very good foliage season last year and I think this will be better.

On Thursday, my wife and I drove down to Manchester VT in the southwestern part of the state. We saw a lot of good color already and those areas are just getting started. It seems like the eastern side of the state is a little ahead of the western side. We saw more color on Route 100 than we did on Route 7. Wherever you are, you will only need to drive around to find good color. Check with your innkeeper for their favorite drives and local reports on foliage color progress.

I took a picture of the hillside across the street from us because it looked so good in person but it did not show up as well in the camera. The sky is overcast today which makes the colors pop even more. However, there is a bit of moisture in the air from the rain we got yesterday and the camera picks up the mist in the air that the human eye can look through I guess.

Below is a better picture showing our parking lot just to give you a taste of what it looks like around here. I hope to get out and drive around Sunday or Monday (we're very busy this weekend) and take some photos of all this great foliage. The foliage should last several weeks but we get so busy that I have to get out whenever I can.

Speaking of which, we are full the first two weekends of October, as are most inns around here, but there are rooms available mid-week. If you are thinking of coming here to see this year's unusually good display of fall foliage, I suggest doing it mid-week if you can. We have an availability calendar on our web site and you will find the same on many other inn's websites as well.

Grunberg Haus parking lot, Sept 27, 2008

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Fine Wood Furniture Festival in Woodstock

The Vermont Fine Furniture and Woodworking Festival is being held this weekend, Sept 27 and 28, in the central Vermont village of Woodstock. Look for the high school on Route 4 west of the village. Very good directions are on the website too.

The website also lists about 45 Vermont furniture and wood craftsmen including links to their websites. There are some great looking furniture being made here in Vermont so stop by the show if you can or shop from home if you cannot travel to Vermont this weekend.

If addition to the furniture festival, you'll get to visit Woodstock VT which is not only one of the prettiest villages in New England, I think it is one of the best looking in the country. It is located a few minutes east of Exit 1, Interstate 89 near White River Junction VT.

Bed by Walt Stanley, Brookside Woodworking. He writes an interesting blog too.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Wine and Harvest Festival Sept 26 - 28

This event is a good way to meet some friendly Vermonters

The Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce and Vermont Life Magazine are hosting the Vermont Life Wine and Harvest Festival this weekend, September 26 - 28 in the southern Vermont towns of Dover, Wilmington, and Whitingham. The event is aimed at being a showcase for the best of Vermont wines, specialty foods, and artists.

Activities kick off with a Welcome to Vermont Bluegrass Party and BBQ on Friday evening at the Matterhorn Inn in West Dover. On Saturday the main festival runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at juncture of Routes 9 E and 100 S next to the White House Inn in Wilmington, VT. There will also be live music including the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Brass Trio Fanfare and other bands, plus a Vermont Life food writers discussion panel with book signing opportunities. That evening there will be wine pairing dinners at some of the local restaurants (reservation required - most of them are already booked - see the website for details).

Sunday starts with an Indigenous Vermonter Breakfast sponsored by Vermont Smoke and Cure and hosted by the Deerfield Valley Sportsman Club in Whitingham from 8:00 to 11:00 am.

The Mount Snow Valley is popular destination for people visiting Vermont and this weekend will be a great time to see an extra dash of fall foliage to make it event better.

While you are in the area, also look for 25 "Vermonster" outdoor sculptures created by Vermont artists using new, found or recycled Vermont materials displayed around the area.

There is also a local scarecrow competition and a home tour of some of the area's finer country homes on Saturday.

(c) 2008 (except the photo from Mount Snow Chamber of Commerce) Jeff Connor

Stowe Oktoberfest Sept 26 - 28

Right now, work is underway to convert Stowe's Jackson Arena municipal skating rink into a Bavarian village for this year's Oktoberfest, September 26, 27 and 28. It's one of the village's most popular events for both tourists and locals.

The entire family is invited. There will be lots of Otter Creek craft brewed beer, German foods including bratwurst and knockwurst, American foods such as hotdogs and chicken, live music and dancing, pumpkin and face painting, Saturday morning parade, raffles, games, craft booths, and general merriment.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

National Hunting and Fishing Day Open House at Beagle Wear

Fishing and hunting are a big part of Vermont's heritage. For most native Vermonters, hunting is a tradition going back generations. There are many people here who take a week or two of vacation each year to go deer hunting. The regional radio station, WDEV, even broadcasts a few minutes each morning from a deer camp nearby once deer season opens.

VT deer hunting season is coming in the near future and the timing of the National Hunting and Fishing Day is well placed. To celebrate, Beagle Outdoor Wear is holding its annual open house at its store in Johnson VT , about 45 minutes north of us. The event goes from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and features some of the northeast's best hunters such as the Benoit Brothers and Bob Howe from Maine's Pine Grove Lodge.

Everyone is invited to this family event especially young people and adult newcomers who are interested in learning more about outdoor sports and how hunting and fishing affect Vermont�s wildlife.

Also attending the event will be VT Fish & Wildlife officials , Kingdom Knives, Outdoors Magazine, Iron Skillet Seasonings, VT Federation of Sportsmen, and the VT Big Game Trophy Club. Beagle Wear will be displaying their jackets and other clothing, some of which will be on sale. Plus, there will be a barbecue and door prizes.

Beagle Wear is traditional VT outdoor clothing manufactured in the USA and guaranteed for life. The company store is open most days but if you can't visit Vermont, you can order from their website.

Beagle Barn, Route 15, a few miles east of Johnson, VT

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vote for the Best Bear for the Job

Did they have to make the ears stick out so much for the bear on the left? At least the bear on the right does not have age spots.

Who is the best bear to take on a bear of a job? You decide '08 . . . vote by purchasing the Obama Bear or the McCain Bear at Vermont Teddy Bear.

I imagine the company is keeping track of which one sells the most but they don't say anything on their website about releasing the results. It would be an interesting poll.

You can stop in their headquarters store in Shelburne VT, a few miles south of Burlington. You can also tour the factory there. The website link has information about tour and store hours.

VT Teddy Bear also has a store in Waterbury Center VT which has a full selection of bears and costumes plus a Pajama Gram outlet store where you can often find some very good bargains.

If you aren't traveling to Vermont before the election, you can order online of course and put your candidate on display for all to see - much more attention-getting than a bumper sticker or lapel pin.

I hope your candidate wins but, if not, you can curl up with your "best candidate" bear to comfort you through the next four years.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

STOMP! in Burlington Tues and Wed

STOMP Out Loud, the famous performing percussion group has made Burlington VT its temporary home for a few weeks as it prepares to go on the road for a long tour.

They're creating and rehearsing new routines that you can be the first to see this Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.

Go to that Flynn website for tickets.

Here is a YouTube.com video - there are many more on the site too:

STOMP started as street performers in the UK. You can read a little background on them on Wikipedia.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Puppet Shows in Southern VT

From Sweden, the Dockteater Verkstan Puppet Theater company delights young audiences with its story about monkeys who have all sorts of zany adventures trying to run a circus

I wrote an entry Sept 12 about the amazing puppet shows in the Brattleboro and Bellows Falls area this past week. The festival winds up this weekend with multiple shows Saturday and Sunday. It is about a 2.5 hour drive from us but if I were in southern VT, this is what I would be attending this weekend. See the Puppets in the Green Mountains schedule here.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Here is Why I Live in Vermont

Brewster River photograph from my favorite photoblog: Megapickles . . . see the September 16, 2008 entry.

The Brewster River runs north down from Spruce Peak to the town of Jeffersonville VT where it empties into the Lamoille River.

More Brewster River photos are available here.

There is a widely photographed falls you can find in Brewster River Gorge. Locally, it is sometimes called Jefferson Falls.

If you want to fish the area, stop by an excellent little fly shop called Green Mountain Troutfitters to arrange for a guide, get the current flies, etc.

Be sure to drive Route 108 from Jeffersonville to Stowe or the opposite way from Stowe to Jeffersonville. It goes through an area called Smugglers Notch and it is one of the prettiest drives in Vermont.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor (except the photo from the Megapickles website

There Is A Lot Going On This Weekend, Sept 20 and 21

There are a lot of events going on in Vermont this weekend, too much to review here but I've chosen what I think are a good cross section. If you would like a longer list, go to Vermont Vacationwebsite.

Northern Vermont

The Northeast Kingdom Quiltfest 2008 is being held Saturday, September 20, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the New port VT Municipal Building, 222 Main St. (map on the website home page). Admission is free. Quilt displays, demonstrations, door prizes, raffle quilt, scavenger hunt. Free admission.

Nearby in St. Johnsbury is the Festival of Traditional Crafts at the Fairbanks Museum, on Saturday, September 20, 2008. Artisans and history experts demonstrate the skills that New Englanders used a few hundred years ago including soap making, log boring, chair caning, basket weaving, boat building, natural fiber dyeing, rope braiding, blacksmithing, wood carving, weather forecasting techniques, grafting apple trees, etc. This is part of The Fairbanks Institute for Traditional Crafts series of events - check the website for future workshops. The festival continues into the night with a 7:00 performance by The Bob Amos Band and guest Drexel Rayford who blend several types of music to create a "Sounds of the Kingdom." Here is a Google Map for the museum.

Boyden Family Farm Harvest Festival, September 20 and 21 in Cambridge VT. Go ahead and bring the kids to the festival to see grape picking, grape crushing and pressing, stomping contest, music, clowns and face painting, old farming demonstrations, apple pressing and cider tasting, wine tastings, live music, cheese and bread tastings, Green River Canoe tours.

Battle of Meach Cove Civil Ware Reenactment both Saturday and Sunday. Free admission to "two days of Civil War battles, cannon fire, demonstrations by the artillery, cavalry & hospital corps, infantry drill and camp life of a soldier from the North and the South. Learn about Vermont�s role in the Civil War, see Union and Confederate troops squaring off against each other using 1860�s tactics and talk with reenactors about the life of a typical soldier." At Meach Cove, just outside Shelburne and about 15 minutes south of Burlington.

While you are in the area, you can pick apples at the Shelburne Orchards

Central Vermont

September 20 and 21, Ludlow VT
Antique tractors, engines, and machinery show with demonstrations of a shingle mill, saw mill, drag saw, threshing machine, wood splitter, cider press, ice cream maker, evening music and dancing. Tractors and parts for
sale.Tractor pulls on Sunday.

Take Bixby Road off Route 103 and follow the signs.

Mushroom hunting Sept 21, 2008 at the Senator Justin Morrill State Historic Site 214 Justin Morrill Highway from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Mushroom hunting with mycologist Faith Hunt, who shows which can be eaten and which cannot. After the hunt, taste there will be a tasting of cooked wild mushrooms.

Sculptfest 08
on Marble Street in Rutland VT. This is an annual event held for the last nine years, "presents large-scale, outdoor installations. An invited curator selects up to ten artists to respond to the post-industrial landscape surrounding the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center. The Studio works with Gawet Marble and Granite Company to accommodate individual artistic visions. This year�s opening reception will again feature a Fine Art Raffle of donated works by well-known sculptors."

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Two Large Car Shows This Weekend

Car lovers have two great shows to attend this weekend. Whether you prefer '32 Highboys or Drop Head Coupes, or if you love both types, you will have a great time in northern VT this weekend.

The 40th annual Northeast Street Rod Nationals are being held at the Champlain Valley Expo near Burlington. This is one of the largest hot rod shows in the country and attracts meticulously made custom cars from the eastern half of the US and Canada.

About 45 minutes away in Stowe VT is the annual British Invasion, a British only car show that features a concours competition, driving tours, parade, display contest, costume contest, British music, British beer, and much more. It's actually a British Lifestyle Event celebrating everything British.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

A Summary of Your Rights As An Airline Passenger . . .

"ZIPPO. ZILCH. NADA. "

That is the extent of your rights when you step onto an airplane (or "INto" an airplane as George Carlin liked to point out) according to Marc Britton. He should know - he's an attorney who was once General Counsel at Expedia and now runs his own legal advice website called Avvo.

He recently wrote a succinct article on this topic at the Journey etc. website

Airlines cannot discriminate against you by selling your seat to someone better looking or more pleasant. Nor can they punch you if you get on their nerves. But beyond that, the sky is the limit, as pilots like to say.

And who gives them the right to treat you like cattle? You do. When you buy a ticket, you agree to abide by their terms in the Carriage Agreement that they print on their tickets in microscopically small and very light type.

However, they are not heartless bastards. Bastards, yes. But not heartless. Maybe we should qualify that with the word "usually" not heartless. They are a slow, inconsistent, ungainly, and profitless bureaucracy. They are frightening to deal with but you don't have a choice if you need to get somewhere far within a reasonable period of time. And, like a strikingly similar bureaucracy, you do have a vote but the choices are not great and probably don't make a difference in the long run.

I wrote an article last Nov 24 about Rule 240 that gives you a little bit of a fighting chance sometimes. You can learn more about the Rule at the Peter Greenberg travel website..

Air Sickness Bag (and humor) from European flight operator Hapag-Lloyd Express

(c) 2008 except the photo Jeff Connor

Amazing Puppet Shows Sept 12 - 21

Image from Les Sages Fous (Qu�bec)

This is the sixth year for the Puppets in the Green Mountains festival, an collection of amazing puppet shows from around the world.

The festival begins with a two day showing by Animals of Brazil, a musical without words. More than 50 puppets are used during the production to represent the animals found the Brazilian jungle. The first presentation on September 12 is outdoors at Living Memorial Park and the second is indoors at the Bellows Falls Opera House on Sept 14.

On September 17 at 7:30 pm, there is an open symposium called "When Images Speak Louder Than Words: The Power of Visual Theater." It will be held at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center.

The next day, the Carnival of Taiwanese Hand Puppetry (Happy Puppetry Company) will give a noon performance at the Bellows Falls Opera House. At 8:00 pm on the same date, Bulgarian puppeteers will present "Daddy�s Always Right" at the New England Youth Theater in Brattleboro.

The Happy Puppetry Company from Taiwan will perform again at noon on September 19 in the Latchis Theater, Brattleboro. "Family audiences will not want to miss this. Great epics, hilarious clowning, stunning acrobatic and martial arts, are all part of the repertoire of these extraordinary wooden actors."

There are many other performances - too long a list to get into the details here. The best thing to do is to study the online schedule and plan your attendance.

Ticket information is also available on the website.

Image from Grupo Contadores de Estorias(Brazil)

(c) 2008 (except the photos) Jeff Connor

Archaeology Weekend at Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Hundreds of old shipwrecks lie at the bottom of Lake Champlain, well preserved by its chilly waters.

September is Archaeology Month in Vermont and there are a number of interesting events open to the public. One of the main events is this weekend at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum located near Vergennes, a few miles south of Burlington.

The museum has long been active in marine archaeology and its staff has helped in the locating and documenting of many shipwrecks lying at the bottom of the lake, some of them dating back to the Revolutionary War.

This weekend the museum will be showing three films: one about a gunboat from Benedict Arnold's fleet still lying at the bottom of the lake; the second about the birch bark canoe as used by native Americans and showing the construction of a replica of a canoe from the 1600's; and a third film presenting the findings of the Middlebury College ten year sonar survey of the lake bottom.

Visitors can work the Shipwreck Simulator to learn the skills of documenting a shipwreck site and take a behind- the-scenes tour of the Conservation Lab to meet the archaeologists working to preserve timbers from 1809 steamboat Vermont.

There will also be on-water boat excursions to the site of a shipwreck where visitors can watch a Remotely Operated Vehicle descend to the wreck and transmit back images to the on-board monitor. Space is limited on this excursion so register in advance by calling (802) 475-2022.

These events take place both Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14 from 1:00pm-3:00pm. There is a discounted price for Archaeology Weekend of $10 per person, less than half the usual cost of $22 per person.

On Sunday, there will also be a canoe paddle to the site of an ancient Native American village near the confluence of Dead Creek and Otter Creek. This is a short canoe trip led by LCMM Staff Archaeologists who will show artifacts, give stone tool-making demonstrations, and lead a fish netting activity to catch the same fish species that Native Americans came here to catch centuries ago. This event is Sunday, September 14 from 9:30am - 3:30pm. $40/adults; $15/age 15 and under

In addition to these events, there are exhibits you can see including a photographs showing the seasons and "moods" of Lake Champlain taken by both professional and amateur photographers.

Another exhibit is called Fish Stories. It tells the stories of a number of Lake Champlain�s eighty-one fish species � through a fish-eye lens. The exhibit includes paintings by local artists, recordings of �fishing stories� by seasoned Lake Champlain anglers, descriptions of Abenaki and Iroquois fishing practices, and examples of fishing equipment used over the centuries.

Maritime Machines is another current exhibit which consists of interactive stations around the museum where visitors can experience first-hand the specialized machines of the maritime trade. This includes a working steam engine of the 1893 steamboat Comet, a Windlass where visitors can actually move a heavy stone block across the ground, a set of working bilge pumps, a scale-model waterwheel powering a miniature sawmill and grist mill, bosun�s chairs where visitors hoist themselves up like sailors do, plus others.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Bike Vermont Foliage Tours

We have had several guests over the years tell us that they have taken tours by Bike Vermont and recommend the company very highly.

Bike Vermont offers 38 foliage tours and they still have some openings this year. The tours vary in length from three days up to six days, and range in cost from the low $400's to mid $1300's including lodging at some of Vermont's best inns.

Their website has a handy map with towns highlighted to see what part of the state each tour covers.

For example, the October 3 - 5 Churchill House Inn and Shoreham Inn tours have opening, and during the week of October 5 - 10 , the Historic Windsor County and Swift House Inn tours have openings.

And there is one discounted special you should take a look at: the "greatest views imaginable" on the Moose Mountain Lodge four day tour October 10- 13. The price has been reduced from $715 to $595. I wish I weren't working then - I would love to take this tour.

Other tours have openings and they do get the occasional cancellation so it would be best to call (800-257-2226) or email them to get the latest information.

I notice that they "strongly" recommend travel insurance. In fact, Bike Vermont even sends an insurance application with each confirmation. Recommending travel insurance is something I have been thinking might be good for me to recommend to our guests.

We've been running our inn about 8 1/2 years and in that time had just a very few guests who had a problem while traveling. One case involved a woman who got pneumonia while traveling through New Jersey and had to cancel her New England trip because she was hospitalized.

A few years ago, we had a couple here for a four night stay but their daughter got sick back home and they had to leave after just one night here.

There have been a few others out of thousands of reservations we've had over the years. But it's like most insurance: the vast majority of it goes unused.

Located in Woodstock VT, Bike Vermont is in its 32nd year of offering a wide range of Vermont tours during the spring and summer too. They also have tours in Maine, Ireland, Scotland, and Italy. You are welcome to ride your own bicycle but they have them available if you do not want to bring yours.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

New Blog: Travel-Vermont.Net

I came across an exciting new Vermont blog recently and was highly impressed with its quality and scope. It is called Travel-Vermont.Net and is just a few months old but already has compiled a long list of articles about touring Vermont.

They are well written and usually have a good photograph to go along with them. The information is fresh and the author's insights are very helpful.

Christine Sawyer is the blog owner. She is prior resident of nearby Quebec and her blog is available in French as well as English. She and I have similar backgrounds in marketing communications . . . my status is former and hers is current - she owns Birchwood Ridge Group, a marketing and advertising firm here in Vermont. She has an interesting history you can read in the Our Story page of the website.

There is a useful and accurate Search function on the site but no RSS feed that I could find. Maybe that's just as well - I have a lot of feeds coming in. I try feeds for a while to see how often and how useful they are. The list can get long but it's easy enough to trim them from time to time.

This is an excellent resource for people planning to travel to Vermont. Over the last two or three years, I've seen about a half dozen Vermont blogs show up and then fade away after a few months. This one looks like it has staying power because it has a capable and motivated person behind it.

There is no doubt in my mind that Travel-Vermont.Net is a very valuable resource for Vermont and will help both tourists and the state's travel industry.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

Glory Days of Railroading This Saturday

Rare REO railbus (REO was a truck manufacturer that eventually added automobile manufacturing using the last name of its founder, Ransom E. Olds: Oldsmobile.

Railroad buffs should head over to White River Junction VT for the 16th Annual Glory Days of Railroad Festival this Saturday, September 6, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Rain or Shine)

Adult admission is just $3 but excursion train ride is extra.

The VT Chamber of Commerce has twice (five years ago and last year) named the event a Top 10 Fall Event.

In addition to the railroad equipment displays and excursion train rides, there will be food, music, antique car show, and crafts.

This event is produced by the New England Transportation Museum located in the White River Junction Amtrak station. It has displays available year around if you can't make it to Glory Days.

When you are in the area, I recommend visiting two of my all time favorite towns: Hanover NH, home of Ivy League Dartmouth College, and Woodstock VT. It's my opinion that Woodstock is one of the prettiest villages in New England. There is a lot to see and do there including the Marsh Billings Rockefeller Park and Billings Farm and Museum, a very good place to take the kids too.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

There Really is a Town Named Podunk

And naturally it's in Vermont, world center of tiny towns and villages located in the middle of nowhere.

I have John Hughes to thank for placing this photo on his wonderful Megapickles website. I cropped the sign photo from a much larger photo of a nice looking field in Podunk so click on the link to see a better image.

I have written about his website several times previously because it one of my favorites and is superbly well done I think - a new photograph every day! To see a wonderful series of pastoral Vermont photos, check this month's photos. One great Vermont photograph after another.

Google Maps says there are Podunks in CT, PA, and two in MI. Two! Whoever heard of two towns in the same state with the same name?

Vermont's Podunk is located in the southern part of the state so if you are going to be in the Brattleboro, Bennington, Manchester area, you can take a nice drive in the country to see it. Don't forget to take your camera so you can have bragging rights that you have been everywhere including Podunk.

And finally, there is a website called ePodunk that I have used a few times to do some research. It has good statistics and other information on most every town and city in the US including our beloved Podunk VT.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor (except the photo above by John Hughes,Megapickles )

Stowe Inside Line Newsletter

Stowe's Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont at about 4400 feet

Stowe Resort has a good email newsletter they send out weekly and the latest issue has a very nice photo I thought I would include here. The Inside Line focuses on news about Stowe Resort but there's always a lot going on year around which usually makes for interesting reading.

I cropped and reduced the photo to get it to fit in this blog but you can click on the newsletter link above to see it better. If the photo is different when you view the page, just click your browser's reload button. It may be removed in the future to make way for other photos.

The building shown on the mountain is the Cliff House restaurant which is serving lunch this time of year but not dinner (with the exception of once a month special dinners).

I assume the photo was taken from the Toll Road which runs all the way to the top of the mountain. It's a trip I recommend often to our guests. The drive takes about 20 minutes and is well worth the $23 toll per car (no bicycles or motorcycles are allowed but you can walk it if you want). You can see rates on all Stowe's summer activities here.

The view from the top of the mountain is magnificent of course. There is a ranger station at the top and I suggest asking the ranger for directions to "Frenchman's Pile" a pile of rocks where you have a 360 degree view. You can easily see Burlington and Lake Champlain below, the Adirondack mountains of New York to the west, Vermont's Worcester Mountain Range to the east, and on clear days, the White Mountains of New Hampshire farther to the East.

The toll road will probably be closed all day this Sunday for the Race to the Top of Vermont, a foot and bicycle race.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Fairs

The Vermont State Fair, the state's second largest fair, is getting started this weekend for a week long run while the Champlain County Fair, the state's largest fair, will be finishing Monday.

The state fair, now is its 163rd year, is in Rutland and the Champlain fair is in Essex Junction. Directions for both events are on their web sites.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Mad River Valley Crafts Fair

One of the exhibitors at the Craft Fair will be Baby's Breath Quilts, a Barre VT quilt maker.

The Mad River Craft Fair is being held this weekend at Kenyon's Field in Waitsfield VT. I've been to the fair several times and always enjoyed seeing the wide variety of great crafts and artwork on display. We've bought a few items over the years, most notably some great Alpaca sweaters for the grand kids. It's a fun event to attend with very good food, a wide variety of crafts and excellent live music (a swing band on Sunday!). I recommend it highly and can almost guarantee you will find something you just have to buy. It's that good.

If you have children in tow, don't hesitate to go. They have plenty of activities geared toward the younger set to keep them entertained. In the meantime, you can stroll and browse pottery, wood crafts, paintings, jewelery (lots of jewelery), unique clothing, baskets, toys, furniture, and much more produced by area artisans.

This show has been going on for 30 years and features more than 100 of the region's top crafts people and artists. The show is put on by the Valley Players, a long time Waitsfield theater group. It is open Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Three demonstrations are given each day. I think I will try to get to the 1:00 Saturday demonstration by Michelle Wildflower (great name!) who is listed as an "alchemist." I don't know what that is but I want to find out.

The event is a fund raiser for a local theater group called The Valley Players.

By the way, that group is presenting some unique ten minute plays with the Vermont Playwrights this same weekend.

$3 admission, under 12 free. See you there!

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Travel Ideas on Waymark . com

I've been poking around the Waymarking.com website from time to time and enjoying what I have found. There are more than 1700 entries on 70 pages in the Waymarking Vermont category.

I'm not sure what order everything is presented in. The Vermont listings start with covered bridges for no apparent reason so I suspect all the entries are posted in order that they are received. There is a good search function on the site so it should be easy for you to narrow your search.

"Secret Waterfalls"

The screen shot above shows a listing for "local secret" the Old City Falls waterfalls that sounds very inviting and larger than most of the falls in Vermont (first step of 25 feet and a second step of 20 feet). It is located near Stafford VT.

We have what I would guess are a million waterfalls here but most of them are not large. I suppose most of them are a "secret " to folks from out of state but all are certainly well known to locals. Quite often they are part of popular local swimming holes too. Ask around wherever you are and most Vermont locals will be happy to share the information and give you directions.

If you don't want your children (or yourself for that matter) to see some of the locals swimming "in the buff," just ask what the usual practice is too. Most of the time, everyone will have on swimming gear but occasionally you will find a swimming hole, often a more remote one, where there is a greater chance to see people in their birthday suits. Don't get excited about this prospect. If you have not experienced it, you will quickly learn that the vast majority of people look a lot better with their clothes on.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Feast of Fools in Burlington Aug 8 - 10

Burlington City Arts is presenting the Festival of Fools this weekend. It is described as a "curated festival of street theater" but it looks to me like a mix of goofy fun, slapstick, circus stunts, and silly music - some very funny entertainment in other words.

There is a Feast of Fools web page that describes the performers in detail and has links to each one's web site.

Looks like a lot of fun and worth checking out if you are in the area. And there is all the usual great things to see and do in Burlington such as Church Street Market Place, ECHO Aquarium and Museum, Waterfront Park (great place to watch the sunsets over the Adirondack mountains on the other side of Lake Champlain), Maritime Museum, cruise boats, ferry to NY, etc. Lots of good restaurants and pubs too. Plus people watching.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Stowe Antique and Classic Car Show Weekend

Stowe's annual antique and classic car show draws about 800 automobiles for display and a goodly number of other interesting vehicles driven by "spectators" who drive their own unique car just to see the show but not as participants. Just look around the parking lot when you arrive and you're bound to find some interesting cars that are "drivers," not official show cars.

One of the most well attended parts of the show is the Car Corral where cars are not part of the official judging but are there just to be sold. The Corral is at the back corner of the display field.

Also, this is a good parts collector show where you will find a fairly good number of professional and amateur parts sellers.

You can find the show on Route 100 a mile or so south of Stowe village. Take Exit 10 from Vermont Interstate 89 and go north. It's about a 10 or 15 minute drive from the highway.

The car show runs Friday through Sunday, August 8 - 10. It has been rainy here, so bring your umbrella and best mud shoes or boots. If your car is dirty, just wash the upper part because the lower part will get muddy.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

National Dowsing Convention at Killington VT

The American Society of Dowsers is holding its annual convention at the Killington Grand Hotel from August 6 through the 14.

If you have ever been curious about dowsing, this is a good place to look into it. There are speakers, workshops, vendors, books and lots of folks to talk to about this ancient practice.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont's Big Summer Kick-off Weekend

Vermont Free Family Days at State Parks and Historical Sites

Admission to all state owned parks and historical facilities is free. Here is the best source of information on this event and others throughout the summer.

Echo Aquarium and Science Center
Burlington, VT
Echo's Body Language exhibit is geared toward children but interesting for adults too. It covers the topic of how our bodies move and the complex but fascinating physics behind it. There are 17 interactive displays including dancing with your shadow and emailing the image to your family or friends. Continues through September 1.

Manchester Antique and Classic Car Show
Manchester, VT Friday - Sunday, June 13 - 15, 2008
Address: Dorr Farm, Route 30, Manchester, VT
A large show with some 800 old vehicles on display in one of Vermont's prettiest towns.

Ethan Allen Days
Friday - Sunday, June 13 - 15, 2008
Hildene Mansion 1005 Hildene Road Manchester, VT
A weekend of Revolutionary war displays, camps, battle re-enactments, displays, kid's tent, fife and drum corps - located in the area where Ethan Allen lived in during a very important time in Vermont's history.

Antique Gas & Steam Engine Show
Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15
Old Stone House Museum , 109 Old Stone House Road, Brownington, VT

Hot Air Balloon Festival
Quechee, VT
Friday - Sunday, June 13 - 15
One of Vermont's top events. Also includes craft fair and food tents. Bring the camera to get some great shots.

Vermont Culinary Classic
Stowe, VT
June 13 - 22, 2008
A ten day celebration of culinary arts that includes cooking demonstrations and tastings.

Green Mountain Corvette Classic
Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15
The fifth year of this well attended car show which gets a large number of old and new Corvettes.

Kids' Pirate Festival
Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 472 Basin Harbor Road, Vergennes, VT
A popular event for families that encourages kids to participate in pirate-themed activities.

Green Mountain Brass Band Concert
Sunday, June 15, 2:00 pm
Waterbury Center State Park 177 Reservoir RD Waterbury Center, VT 05677 +1 802-244-1226

Carving Studio & Sculpture Center Gallery
Annual Members' Show
West Rutland, VT
Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15

Indoor Livestock Barn Days
Adams Farm, 15 Higley Hill Road, Wilmington, VT
Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15
A good event for families with young children. Hands-on activities such as goat milking, demonstrations, learning how farms work.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Chocolate Show This Weekend

Vermont is chock full of food producers. Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Ben and Jerry's ice cream, King Arthur Flour, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Cabot Cheese are the best known but the list goes on and on with what seems like hundreds of small and medium size companies making items as diverse as cookies, pizza, beer, and tea. If you like good quality food, you will love Vermont.

This weekend is a good opportunity to sample chocolate from Vermont and other places in New England. The Vermont Chocolate Show was formerly held in Stowe but it has moved to The Inn at Essex, a larger venue near Burlington.

The exhibitors are mostly made up of chocolate manufacturers but also some surprises such as an art exhibit and a Vermont vodka company that makes chocolate flavored spirits!

The event is scheduled to run Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18th.

(c) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

VT Open Craft Studio Weekend May 24 and 25

The Vermont Craft Council, an association of several hundreds craftspeople throughout the state, started the Open Studio Weekend 16 years ago as a way to increase awareness of the craft-making community.

It's easy now to not only see the scale of the craft industry here, but also the deep wealth of skill right here in our little 'ol state. The trees, farms, and mountains are beautiful but they can overshadow a great supply of talented people here sometimes.

This year's Open Studio Weekend is taking place Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25. It's a great time to see both studios that are open frequently to the public and also the "off the beaten path" studios that are rarely open to visitors.

There is an incredibly detailed Open Studio guide and map guide on the Vermont Craft Council website. Some 250 studios will be open on the weekend. Let me emphasize that this is not people making flea market junk. These are first rate craftspeople. For example, take a look at the Studio and Gallery page on the Craft Council's website.

If you don't want to print a lot pages from the website, you have enough time to order the complete tour guide free by US Postal mail. Just click here. It will also be available at most of the studios and also the state's official welcome centers on the highways and main roads leading into the state.

It's a great time to visit. Everything here will be fresh and green, the daytime temperatures will be warm and the night time cool.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

St. Johnsbury VT Athenaeum Included in NY Times

The New York Times Travel section last week published an article about athenaeums around the eastern US, mainly New England. "Where Greek Ideals Meet New England Charm" includes a mention of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, a combined library and art gallery located in downtown St. Johnsbury. It's an outstanding facility where you can easily lose track of time.

The town of St. Johnsbury is a wonderful place to visit and great entrance to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Other attractions in the area include the
Fairbanks Museum, Old Stone House Museum, and Stephen Huneck Dog Mountain.

More information about these attractions and others are listed on the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce website.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor (except the photo above) Grunberg Haus

Budweiser Clydesdales at Mount Snow March 21 and 22

Budweiser Clydesdale horse photo from Mount Snow

Mount Snow is the only northeast ski area that will be hosting the Budweiser Clydesdale horses this year.

They will be available for viewing at a Friday night pizza party, a Saturday afternoon parade, and in one of the parking lots after the parade.

Mount Snow Ski Resort is located in southern Vermont near Wilmington VT, between Brattleboro and Bennington.

More information is available at the Mount Snow Events Calendar.

(c) 2008 [except the photograph] Jeff Connor

Telemark Ski Festival at Mad River Glen This Weekend

One of the largest telemark ski events in the country takes place every year at Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston Vermont.

The North American Telemark Organization TeleFest takes place this coming weekend, March 8 and 9. About 1,000 telemark skiers will be taking part in races, clinics, equipment demonstrations, fun runs, and parties.

The cost is $54 per day or $104 for two day. and includes lift ticket, clinics, use of demo gear, contests, and Magic Hat dance party.

About a week later, March 17 - 21, the next door ski resort at Sugarbush will host the FIS Telemark World Cup Finals with the best telemark skiers in the world competing.

If you are not familiar with telemark skiing, you can read a good article about it on Wikipedia.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor (except the photo from NATO) Grunberg Haus Inn

"Do Y'all Still Have Some Snow Left in VT Now?"

That's the question I got from a wonderfully cheerful person somewhere south of the Mason Dixon line who had never seen snow and was calling in early March. He wanted to know if he had missed the snow this year or if there was still time left to travel to Vermont and see snow. I was happy to tell him that most years we get the greatest amount of snowfall in March compared to other months.

Most of the people I speak with are surprised to hear we get more snow in March. When they are seeing the beginning of Spring where they live, Vermont is building to a grand winter finale.

To see what I mean, take a look at Stowe Resort's five year weather history. Not only is March the snowiest (I guess that is a real word), but it's the end of the month when the largest amounts of snow are falling. The last week in March averages 32 inches at Stow, far more than any other week there.

Stowe's Snow Report shows 309 inches of snowfall so far this season, just short of the season average of 327 inches.

It's been a great year for skiing and other winter activities but don't feel that you have missed it if you have not been here yet. There is plenty of snow here for you to enjoy and more is on the way.

In fact, this is a good time of year to enjoy winter. The days are longer, temperatures are higher, and there aren't as many people skiing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing, etc. I wish more people were aware of how good it can be here in March. It would be great to see the ski areas and the Vermont's Department of Tourism getting the word out about March. I'm sure more people would come if they knew what it is like here this month.

For the more technically inclined, and maybe a few inexperienced skeptics, you can view a current snow depth map from the National Weather Service to see how much snow you can expect when you travel to Vermont or other New England states.

The areas in dark blue represent depths of 20 to 39 inches (50 cm to 100 cm), and the purple lines, which you can see run along the mountain ranges, represent 59 to 98 inches (150 to 250 cm). Those are current snow depths, not the amount that has fallen this season. The map is updated every day.

Plan a trip to Vermont and enjoy this great winter season we will continue having for the next month.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

�A Celebration of American Artisan Cheese� presentation Friday March 14

The Inn at Baldwin Creek in Bristol Vermont has a restaurant called "Mary's" that is well known and highly regarded around here. It has won many awards and reviews including Yankee Magazine 2005 Editor's Choice Award and 2005 Restaurateurs of the Year award from the VT Lodging and Restaurant Assn.

Each month, the Inn holds a dinner presentation and the selection this month is artisan cheese. The featured speaker is Jeff Roberts of Montpelier, VT, author of the Atlas of American Artisan Cheese , co-founder of the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese at the University of Vermont, and a Slow Food USA director.

Jeff Robert's Friday March 14 presentation includes dinner at 6:30 pm with tastings of regionally-produced artisan cheeses and a talk based on his research, stories about artisan cheese makers, and links to broader changes in American agriculture.

You can make a reservation by calling toll free 888-424-2432 or emailing info@innatbaldwincreek.com. The dinner and talk is $25 per person.

This presentation is part of The Inn at Baldwin Creek Annual Table Talk Dinner Series which are held the second Friday of every month. The inn's website has a list of the monthly presentation dinners as well as cooking classes.

Mary's Restaurant Chef/Owner Doug Mack has been there about 24 years. You can see him making fried zucchini flowers (!) on Vermont Public Television's Feast in the Making cooking program.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Dog Sled Rides and Skijouring in Vermont

Photo courtesy of October Siberians

I read today that the famous Alaska Iditarod race is starting this Saturday and it lead me to thinking about all the sled dog activity here in Vermont. (Side note: many participants in the sport prefer the term "sled dog" rather than "dog sled" but you will see both terms used even by the people who run professional operations.)

In fact, if you would like to see a sled dog race and won't be in Alaska this week, there is a race you can watch at Burke Mountain Ski Resort in East Burke VT. There will be races both Saturday and Sunday.

A number of operations around Vermont offer sled dog rides and a couple of them offer skijoring too. Skijoring is done on skis and involves the dog(s) pulling the person via a harness attached to the dog. I've seen skijor racing a couple of times and it's impressive how fast they get going. You certainly don't want to fall down . . . I'm not sure the dogs would stop for a while - they're pretty enthusiastic.

The best one-stop source of information about sled dog rides in on the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association website. Atii is listed as one of the sled dog outfits but they are taking a year off from sled dog rides because they are rebuilding their group of dogs. Many of the current dogs have gotten too old to pull. However, Atii is still offering skijoring this year.

It's a unique adventure. Give it a try.

(c) 2008 [except the October Siberian photo] Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Snowshoe Marathon Race March 8 in Pittsfield VT

Peak Adventures is a Vermont company that puts on extreme races several times a year. Their snowshoe marathon is coming up next weekend on Saturday March 8 starting at 8:00 am in Pittsfield VT.

The course is a 6.5 mile loop with 7,200 feet of elevation change along ungroomed and snowmobile trails. See the topo map on the website for more detail. The marathon runs four loops, the half marathon runs two loops, and there is a one loop fun run for those who just want to give snowshoeing a try. There is a ten hour time limit for all racers.

For beginners: I can tell you from personal experience that running in snowshoes takes twice the exertion of road running so plan accordingly! It's not enough to be in good shape. You have to be in great shape.

You can register online at peakraces.com and click the link to runrace.net or register that morning at the General Store in Pittsfield from 5:30 to 7:30 am. Registration costs $75 and includes a beanie hat and the post race meal.

The post race celebration begins at 6:30 pm and includes lobster and shrimp dinner, "plenty" of Long Trail beer, the awards ceremony ($1200 for the marathon only to the top three men and women - $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $100 for third place; plus unique finishers awards for everyone and a special award for top three male and top three female in the marathon and half marathon).

(c) 2008 [except the photo from Peak Adventures] Jeff Connor

Ben and Jerry's Winter Festival This Saturday

Ben & Jerry's Homemade has a winter festival every year but this year is a little special because the company is celebrating its 30th birthday.

On Saturday, March 1, from 11:00 to 4:00, there will be free tours at the Waterbury VT manufacturing plant, plus games, snow sculpting, cake, music, food, snowshoeing, and other fun stuff - there may be a small fee for some of those.

When you are there, they will give you a small pin to put on your shirt or jacket. Show that pin to some of the many businesses in Waterbury to get a discount. Some restaurants, gift stores, an antique store, and even the local pharmacy are participating.

Who knows, maybe Ben and/or Jerry will show up. They both still live in the area and stop by from time to time even though they are retired from full time work now.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

CNN Article On Stephen Huneck Dog Chapel

I've written Vermont Travel Notes entries about Stephen Huneck's unique dog chapel in St. Johnsbury VT as well as his artwork and galleries around the state (the newest is in Stowe). His whimsical and sometimes touching artwork is very popular with dog owners all over the world. As a result, he has received publicity in a large number of places, the most recent being CNN and its website. The article is entitled "Doggy Disneyland draws animals, owners by the pack" and it's a good description of Stephen, his artwork, and his 175 acre farm with widely known dog chapel. It's quite a structure, requiring an expenditure of several hundred thousand dollars, and well worth a visit if you are a dog lover. From our inn, it is a little over a 45 minute drive to Dog Mountain..

Another great place to visit in the St. Johnsbury area is the Fairbanks Museum. I also recommend a drive north to Lake Willoughby and then over to the area around the town of Island Pond to do some moose spotting.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Discount Carrier AirTran to Begin Vermont Flight Service

AirTran has the newest fleet of Boeing 717's in the US

On May 21, AirTran will begin nonstop flight service three times a day between Burlington, VT (BTV) and the Thurgood Marshall Airport, Baltimore/Washington (BWI). The airline will be using Boeing 717-200 planes which seat 117 passengers, 12 in business class and 105 in coach.

There are 14 AirTran destinations available from BWI, plus service to about another 50 cities you can view on the AirTran website Destinations and Route Map pages. Boston is one of those cities and is a popular airport for visitors to Vermont and other parts of New England.

AirTran is kicking off its Burlington service with a low introductory fare of $59. It must be booked by March 17, 2008, for travel through June 11, 2008. Fares listed are one way, available daily and are valid in either direction. There are some other charges such as $3.50 segment fee, $10 Sept 11 fee, and $18 airport passenger facility fee so be sure to read the fine print. You can book online or call 1-800-AIR-TRAN (1-800-247-8726) (extra $7.50 fee for phone calls too).

Currently, the Burlington airport has service to and from Atlanta, Cleveland (CLE), Cincinnati (CVG), Chicago (ORD), Detroit (DTW), Newark (EWR), New York (JFK), New York (LGA), Orlando (MCO), Philadelphia (PHL), Washington DC (DCA), Washington DC (IAD). To see details on these flights, go to the Burlington airport website

Winter tip: if you are flying here, we recommend renting a four wheel drive car. One of our recent guests requested one but it was not available when he arrived so he got a front wheel drive substitute . . . which he greatly regretted when we got a lot of snow during his visit. Be sure to insist on no substitutions for your four wheel drive car. None of the rental car companies have winter tires for some unfathomable reason but four wheel drive will help you get around much more safely. Remember, you are coming to the mountains of northern New England: we get a LOT of snow.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Mardis Gras at Jay Peak This Week

Jay Peak's Mardis Gras is taking place this week with ski races, Louisiana style dinners, and music performances. I guess this is as far north from New Orleans as you can get in the USA to celebrate Maris Gras.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

Big Storm On The Way Will Make For a Great Ski Weekend in VT

Most of the weather forecasts I've seen for north central Vermont call for about six to ten inches of snow Tuesday and Wednesday. However, Josh Fox at The Single Chair Weather Blog is forecasting 13 to 18 inches. The upper elevations, such as the Mad River Glen ski area he is forecasting, get more snow than standard forecasts because of their altitudes. That seems like quite a disparity between 10 inches and 18 inches but it is not unusual for the upper elevations to get twice as much snow as the standard forecasts call for.

The headline in Fox's blog entry yesterday says: "Here we go !!! Big mid-week dump is now in the making !!"

I enjoy reading Josh's blog because he writes in a very friendly and well constructed conversational style. The entries are often detailed but when I find the writing has gone into more detail than I have time for, I just move on to something else.

And he is not perfect. But when he does have a cold streak (pun intended), he owns up to it and often explains how it happened. It gives the non-meteorologist interesting insight into how weather forecasting is done.

Roger Hill is a popular Vermont meteorologist located here in Waterbury. His web site is Weathering Heights (pun intended). He is not saying much about accumulation yet. His web site has lots of colorful weather maps if you enjoy getting into the details of weather.

Another popular weather forecasting service is put out by the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury VT. It is called Eye on the Sky and is produced by Chris Bouchard. His forecasts are the ones used by Vermont Public Radio.

Eye on the Sky is calling for one to three inches of snow Tuesday east of the Green Mountain and two to five inches west. The snow could mix with rain at times over the far southern valleys. On Tuesday night, Chris expects an additional three to seven inches.

Whatever the snow accumulation ends up being, this latest storm should make for good skiing, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, etc. We have deep base almost everywhere except I noticed snowshoeing at the lowest elevation in the Mad River Valley yesterday that the snow is only a few inches deep there. Most upper elevations such as our inn have a couple of feet of snow on the ground and the ski areas have much more.

For weather forecasts in other parts of Vermont, you can use the weather do-hickey in the right hand column of this blog. Just enter the zip code of the place you would like to visit or use one of the samples I supplied.

As a side note, I noticed on the Eye On the Sky website that on this day in 1936, three inches of BROWN snow fell in Vermont. It was most likely due to dust storms in the Great Plains. So I guess that was a "dusting" of snow (pun intended).

There's snow time like the right time to stop writing before I pun again.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

This Is A Good Time To Buy Winter Gear On Sale

Vermont's Tubbs Snow Shoes

I just received an email from my friends at Umiak Outfitters in Stowe VT that they are having their annual 30% off sale on skis, boots, snowshoes (20% on Tubbs brand) and sleds this weekend.

In addition, Umiak has a online retail store page with discounted prices plus a clearance sale page on their website you might be interested in if you can't make it to their sale.

In fact, in your travel to Vermont over the next few weeks, it's a good idea to drop into the local ski shops and outdoor outfitters to see what they have on sale. Most of these shops have their summer gear on order and their new stuff is already starting to arrive.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Green Mountain Hooked Rugs School

Photo by Robert Eddy FirstLightStudios.net

Green Mountain Hooked Rugs in Montpelier offers classes several times a year but they have one big school event that takes place every summer. The school was founded in 1981 by the mother of the current owner and classes have been offered every year since then.

This year's 27th Annual Hooked Rug School will be held June 6�15, 2008. There will be one five-day and two weekend sessions with a total of 23 classes. Class size is limited to about a dozen students so now is the time to look over the course outline and decide whether to attend.

From the Green Mountain Hooked Rugs web site: "Classes range from beginning hooking, dyeing, fine hooking tapestry to primitives and wide-cuts, pictorials, folk art, punch needle, penny rugs, braiding and more. Students select one class per session.

"Teachers hail from all over the United States and Canada. Rug exhibits and a well-stocked rug shop are open daily. "

Green Mountain Hooked Rugs has a shop that is open year around at 2838 County Road, Montpelier VT.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Mardis Gras in Burlington This Weekend

The highlight of the Burlington VT Mardis Gras weekend is the big parade with dozens of floats tossing over thousands of beads, Louisiana Moon Pies, and Lake Champlain Chocolates. The parade attracts a large but fun and easy going crowd.

Get into place about 2:00 to 2:45 in the afternoon. The parade runs on Burlington's Main Street and Church Street.

Magic Hat Brewery is the sponsor of the event. On their website, they offer this advice for where to watch the parade:

"2:45 pm- Line up on Main Street between South Winooski and Church Street and Church Street between Main and Cherry and spread out!!!

"3:00 pm- Catch beads, Moon Pies, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and more as the event parades down Church Street

"Families with children 7 and under can watch from the Little Jambalaya Zone on the courthouse side of Main Street"

The Magic Hat Block Party takes place after the parade featuring bands and a comedy show performing at several venues around town.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Today Show and The Learning Channel in VT Feb 21

The Today Show will be broadcasting from the Timbers restaurant at Sugarbush Ski Resort on Thursday, February 21. This is the first time that all the on-air team from the Today Show has traveled to a location for a live broadcast. The very next day, the same team will broadcast live from Miami FL.

Coincidentally, on the same day The Learning Channel will be in Waitsfield and other Mad River Valley locations to film a thirty minute segment of their Destination Weddings & Honeymoons program. This special is scheduled to be broadcast nationally in April on both The Learning Channel and Women's Entertainment network. After the initial April airing, cable affiliates can broadcast it in their markets.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Stowe Winter Carnival

The 2008 edition of the Stowe Winter Carnival will be held Jan 18 - 26. This is one of the biggest winter events in Vermont and New England with ten major activities including ice carving, movies, children's carnival, and a large village block party.

Tourists are invited to join the locals in fun events like the snow volleyball tournament, Super G ski race, snow golf tournament, costume contest, music and dancing, church supper, and general merriment at the local bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. Click here for the events calendar. Better descriptions are available on the Stowe Area Association calendar.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

VT: What Happens Here, Stays Here. But . . .

I found this Vermont Sweatshirt on Shawn's Blog. It does not say where he found it. There is a good local store called Rocking R that sells souvenir T-shirts and other clothing so I may take a look to see if they have this item.

I suppose this is the kind of image you have when you're a small, rural state. In reality, there are tons of things to do here, especially in outdoor recreation, dining, the arts, and shopping. It's enough to make someone think about writing a blog on what travelers to Vermont can find here.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

So-so Ski Conditions This Week

It is not unusual for Vermont to have a January thaw but the one we're working our way through now seems much warmer than normal.

Today's high was around 50 degrees F (10 Celsius) and tomorrow's forecast is a few degrees higher. It will cool down to day time highs in the low 30's F by the end of this week but we are going to have several days of light rain, sleet, and a little snow for the next few days. The ski report we just received from Jay Peak describes the conditions as "spring like."

All the ski areas especially in northern Vermont have so much base built up that the conditions won't be terrible but if you have been reading how great the skiing has been in Vermont, don't expect those conditions to exist now.

The skiing this week won't be terrible but it won't be great either. By Saturday, conditions should be back to normal. Keep an eye on the weather forecasts.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Check Your Flight Status on Google

You can use the standard Google Results Page to check the "real-time" (as opposed to fake time, I guess) status of any flight. Just type the name of the airline and flight number (e.g. Jet Blue 123, aa456) into the Google search box. The most up to date information from FlightStats.com will be displayed.

Better yet, get a free subscription to Flight Stats on their web site. There is an enormous amount of information available including airport flight delays, security wait times, and other important pieces of information all air travelers need these days.

Google has a long list of "Subscribed Links" such as this. They include Gas Buddy for the best local gas prices, Weather Channel, Calorie Lab for nutritional information, City/Town Info for information about cities you are visiting, and more.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Jay Peak Has the Most Snow in the East

Jay Peak photo credit: Brian Keet photo of skier Mike Britt, taken Jan 2, 2008.

Today I received a snow report email from Jay Peak with the photo above and very little text. The photo nearly says it all so there's little need for much text.

Without a doubt, Jay is the King Kong of snowfall in the eastern United States. So far this ski season, they have had 200 inches of snow. It looks like this year will exceed their annual average of 350 inches of snow.

Several characteristics contribute to this. Jay is located in far northern Vermont , just a few miles from the Canadian border. It is at the far northern reach of the Green Mountain range which creates a "snow belt" that catches moisture soaked clouds. These clouds pick up their moisture from nearby Lake Champlain or the Great Lakes farther to the west. When they hit the upper elevations, they release the moisture in greater quantity than lower elevations.

See Jay Peak current conditions here.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

Great Ski Weather in VT This Weekend

The weather forecast for Vermont this coming weekend looks ideal for skiing and other outdoor activities. Friday's high should be around 30 degrees F (about -1 C). Saturday and Sunday will both be in the mid to high 30's.

We have a ton of snow on the ground so downhill and cross country skiing, dog sledding, sleigh rides, sledding, snow shoeing, will be great. For more detail, you can click on the Weather Channel link here or in the right column of this blog.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Happy New Year

New Year's Eve fireworks at Sugarbush.

Resolve now to spend part of this year in Vermont!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Plowing and grooming at Sugarbush.

I can't remember when Vermont has had this much snow so early in the season. It just keeps coming and I'm spending a bundle to have Butch, my snowplow guy, keep the driveway cleared and sanded. Today he was here twice at $50 per visit. Our inn is more than 600 feet from Route 100 which is nice but we pay for it this time of year.

Also, I have hired Dustin part time to help roof rake and shovel. If I did it all myself I won't have time to do much else.

In fact, we've had so much snow Butch had to bring up his John Deere tractor with front bucket to lift the snow banks farther away from the driveway. His 3/4 ton pickup and plow just can't move snow when it gets piled up more than a couple of feet.

Last night and this morning we had about eight inches of snow. The National Weather Service is calling for another 8 to 14 inches tomorrow. A quick check of the Stowe snow report shows that they have had about two feet of snow this past week and 148 inches of snow this year, 111 in December alone. That year-to-date total is about 50% greater than the five year average as shown on the Stowe Weather Data Summary page on their website.

I hope we get a lot of ski guests this year to help offset the cost of moving snow around.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

First Night New Years Celebrations in Vermont

There are more than 100 cities across the world that welcome the new year with a "First Night" celebration. The concept was developed to offer an alcohol-free and substance-free way to start the new year. Boston was the first city to start this tradition and Burlington Vermont was the fourth to adopt the concept.

This year is the 25th anniversary of Burlington's First Night. It is the city's largest one day arts festival and will attract thousands of visitors. There is a wide range of performances which you can read about in the festival's 48 page guide.

In addition to Burlington, First Night celebrations are held in Montpelier and St. Johnsbury.

All the first night celebrations are family friendly but the one in St. Johnsbury puts special emphasis on children's entertainment.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor (except the St. Johnsbury festival logo above)

Waterbury's Alchemist Brew Pub Starts Blogging

The Alchemist brew pub and restaurant in Waterbury has been hugely popular right from day one four years ago. They have about seven excellent brews available including some standards and some specials from time to time. Moreover, they actually have a chef preparing food so the fare there is much better than the average hamburger and fries that most bars have. As a result, it is crowded most nights. If you like craft brewed beers, the Alchemist should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Vermont.

John Kimmick, the brew master, just started a blog and has one entry posted so far. It's a pretty good one as a matter of fact and gives the reader a good insight into what kinds of beers he is offering and some of the thought and work that goes into creating them.

The blog is called Notes from the Brewery and is subtitled "or What's Going on Down Here and Why." (The Brewing equipment is in the basement under the pub.)

I've seen quite a number of Vermont blogs get started only to dwindle quickly. That is why I usually wait until I'm sure the blog will really keep going before I recommend it or add it to my list of links in the left column of this blog. But I'm making an exception this time and we'll see how it works out. John even mentions being busy with work and family so I won't be surprised if the Alchemist blog has only occasional entries but that is OK as long as they are as good as the first one and John keeps writing them once in a while.

In addition to the blog, take a look at The Alchemist website for more information about the brews, the menu, news, operating hours, map, etc.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Make Holiday Dinner Reservations Now

The week between Christmas and New Year's is one of the busiest of the year here. With all the snow we have had already this year, the out-of-state skiers are fired up about getting their season off to a good start with several days off from work and plenty of snow on all the Vermont ski trails.

Right now is a good time to plan ahead and get dinner reservations in order to beat the crowd and avoid long waits or having to call around to even find a restaurant with an opening. Naturally, it's easier to find an opening early or late evening, so you may have to be flexible in your plans.

Call or email your innkeeper or look online to find restaurants. Any good innkeeper will be able to tell you the best restaurants in the area that will fit your needs. Or, if you like to do some shopping for restaurants on your own, do a online search for the regional chamber of commerce website for the area in which you will be staying.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

How to Prevent Lost and Broken Luggage

"ngader" posted this luggage wheel photo on Flicker with this tip in the caption: " Rule of thumb : When buying luggage, check the wheels. Try not to buy wheels with rubber bits. Buy the full fibre / hard plastic wheels."

Yesterday, I received an email alert from Squidoo about a blog on how to prevent lost luggage.

The writer, Victoria Neely, once worked for an airline as a baggage agent so she knows what she is writing about. With all the things she has seen go wrong with luggage, she says she is "frankly amazed that most checked bags return to their owners unscathed!"

Even if your bag is not lost (and there is a six in one thousand chance it will be), it's likely to get broken or dirty at some time or another.

You can't make it impossible for something to go wrong but there are a number of things you can do to improve your bag's chances of greeting you in good shape at the other end of your mutual journey.

There are a lot of useful tips in this article along with some interesting and surprising facts. For instance, did you know there is a reason baggage is handled roughly instead of gently?

And Ms. Neely is not hesitant to recommend some bag brands that she has seen hold up well.

Take a look - I'm sure you will read something you did not know!

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Free Lessons at Leading Vermont Ski Areas

The Vermont Ski Areas Association is sponsoring a learn-for-free program January 5 -13, 2008.

This is a heck of a good deal. The lessons can be for either skiing or snowboarding, and include lift ticket and equipment rental at no cost whatsoever.

They are calling it the "Ski Vermont New Year�s Resolution" program. It is geared toward first time skiers and snowboarders ages six and older.

The participating resorts are the best in the state: Ascutney, Bolton, Bromley, Burke, Jay Peak, Killington, Mad River Glen, Magic, Middlebury, Mount Snow, Okemo, Pico, Smuggs, Stratton, Sugarbush, and Suicide Six. To see where these resorts are located, go to the VT Ski Areas Association map page.

Spaces are limited so I suggest you register right away. You can do so on the VT Ski Areas Association website Learn for Free page.

Don't put this off. It's such a great deal that spaces will fill quickly.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Snow Depth Up to Four Feet at Stowe

Stowe's first rail jam of the season, November 24.

Vermont skiing is off to a good start this year with plenty of snow. For example, at Stowe, the snow-making trails have 1.5 to 4 feet of base built up so far. Stowe has received about a foot of natural snow the past week and a total of nearly three feet this season. You can get details on the Stowe Snow Report page of the resort's website.

Things are looking good for the big kick off week between Christmas and New Years. Now is a good time to make reservations.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Airline Travel Tip: Use FAA Rule 240 If Your Flight Is Cancelled

Peter Greenberg's website is full of useful travel information.

Here is some ammunition to use with the airlines if your fight is canceled. It involves a little-known FAA rule that requires the airline to book you on the next available flight whether it is their flight or another airline.

It's called Rule 240 and it's a good thing to remember when you are dealing with an airline front desk person or supervisor.

However, like most things in life, there are exceptions. You can read more details about it at the Peter Greenberg website.

Most Influential Travel Blogs

People who write blogs are also people who read blogs. Chris Elliott writes one of the best and he recently posted a blog entry of what he considers the "Seven Most Influential Bloggers of 2007" that he has been reading.

I am familiar with most of these blogs but a few are new to me. I guess they are "influential" but to me they're mainly interesting and informative blogs I enjoy reading.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Another Travel Shopping Site

" 22" Flash Trolley" by Titan Luggage of Germany . . . Made with 100% polycarbonate . . . extremely lightweight and scratch-resistant, with sturdy ergonomic telescopic handles and protected exterior zippers . . . fully lined and padded . . . removable garment and toiletry cases . . . TSA approved combination lock and 4 swivel wheels" It's $475! but it will probably survive 20 years of airline abuse so that's just $24 per year: on the Luggage section of Flight 001.

Flight 001 is a website with travel related products including "luggage, carry-on, tech-to-go, packing aids, groom bags, essentials, travel i.d., wallets, jet comfort, meal service, aerotherapy, time travel, gadgets, entertainment, books, and airtunes."

I found myself spending a lot of time just looking around this website and learning about all the different products I didn't know were available.

If someone asks you what you want for the holidays, have this website bookmarked for them.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Where to Buy Travel Gear

I was recently looking for travel bags and came across a site you might be interested in too. It's called Trusty Pony for no reason that I see but it has a lot of "cool stuff for travelers" as it claims.

You can find helpful items under categories such as Air, Family, Fancy, Gadgety, Girly, International, Outdoorsy, Road Trip, Sporty, Urban, Warm-weather, Luggage & Bags, Body, Books & Guides, and Gifts.

There are countless worthwhile and clever items that you can use even when you are not traveling. Give it a look - you'll probably see something of use to you or someone you know (think holiday shopping).

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Reminder: Make Your Holiday Reservations Now

Snowshoeing is easy to do and can get you into some back country that you would not ordinarily be able to see.

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is one of the busiest of the year for Vermont tourism. It is considered the kick-off week for the ski season even though there has been skiing on some trails since mid November.

Skiers usually account for about half our business that week and I assume the same is true of other lodging establishments except those right at the ski resorts.

Whether you want to ski or not, right now is the time to make travel plans and get lodging reservations made.

By the way, you will find many inns have a two or three night minimum that time of year because it is such a busy time and they can't turn over rooms fast enough if they have a lot of one night reservations. You may find some exceptions and perhaps a last minute, fill-in type availability if you can only stay one night.

A good place to start a search for Vermont lodging is at the state's official tourism website: VermontVacation.com.

(c) 2007 (except the vermontvacation.com photograph above) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

VT Ski Areas at the Boston Snow Expo This Weekend

Representatives from many of the Vermont ski areas will be at the Boston Snow Expo this Thurs - Sun. The Expo is being held at the Bayside Expo Center on Mount Vernon Street. There will be many special offers, drawings, free gifts, contests and special promotions. The Expo draws a lot of people because it has an equipment sale at pre-season discounts. The link above will take you to a PDF page that lists all the resorts and vendors who will be at the Expo.

Adult admission is $10 but there are $3 discount coupons available if you submit your email address at the Onthesnow.com website.

If you have young children, you can introduce them to skiing at a gentle practice ramp that will be set up specifically for that purpose. And there will an artificial ice rink too.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Stowe and Okemo Opening Too

Stowe and Okemo are jumping on the early opening bandwagon along with Mount Snow and Sugarbush. Stowe has had 6" to 12" of natural snow at the highest elevations plus they have been making snow for a couple of weeks. They will open Saturday and Okemo opens Friday. I have not checked all the ski areas in Vermont so there may be some others opening also.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Sugarbush Open This Saturday

Nov 11 photo by Sugarbush President Win Smith . . . "Hmmm - I wonder if we could open early this year."

Sugarbush is officially opening on Thanksgiving Day but snow conditions there are so good now that president Win Smith decided to have a sneak preview this coming Saturday. You can see photos from his recent hike up the mountain when he began thinking about an early opening.

Two lifts and four trails will most likely be open. Lift tickets are $40 for adults and $30 for juniors. The resort will then be closed until Thursday so it's Saturday or wait until Thanksgiving to get your first runs in this season.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

12 Digital Photo Tips From Vagabondish Blog

I enjoy skimming the Vagabondish web magazine from time to time. Today I read a helpful article there on clever ideas for using a digital camera in your travels.

For instance, it recommends writing a reward poster in case you ever lose the camera. Write your email address and a reward amount on a piece of paper. Be careful on that - you don't know who will find your camera. So don't write your name, address, and phone. Use only an email address as the article recommends, and use one that does not contain your full name.

Take a photo of the poster and lock the file so it does not get erased. If someone finds your camera, all they have to do is look at the stored photos and they'll see your contact information and reward. That greatly increases the chances of your getting the camera back.

Another good use for a digital camera is to take a photo of local maps so you can refer to them in your travels. The article uses the example of a subway map.

I think you will enjoy reading the other ten ideas in the full article at the Vagabondish blog.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Mount Snow Open for Skiing and Snowboarding

Mount Snow, located in southern Vermont mid-way between Brattleboro and Bennington, spent all summer and $6 million on upgrades including 101 new, state-of-the-art fan guns (see their Oct 10 video for details)

I was surprised to see that Mount Snow resort opened last weekend. Usually Killington likes to lay claim to having the longest season in Vermont by opening early and not closing until late May or early June. Let's make a note to check the Killington website in June to see what they are doing to keep their record intact. I predict they will be trucking in Zamboni shavings from indoor ice skating rinks throughout New England.

Mount Snow says on their website that this is their earliest opening since 1998. And they did not open just one token trail. They had 11 of them operating, plus four lifts. You can see video of last weekend's first day on the video page of their website.

By the way, the Ski Magazine reader survey I discussed in yesterday's blog entry, ranks Mount Snow number 18 in the East. Another Vermont ski area ranked in the top 20 is Stratton, which came in number 13.

Stratton is an interesting place. It would probably rank higher in the standings but it is known as a very expensive place to ski. And, in the world of skiing, that is really saying something.

Stratton is ranked sixth in the east for snow quality and fifth for grooming. It also has the third highest ranked lift system. What holds it back is its 32 ranking for value. At Stratton you get some of the best skiing and snowboarding but you're gonna pay for it. Big Time. That does not deter some folks. In fact, we once had a guest at our inn who told me he liked the fact that it is expensive because it means uncrowded lift lines and trails.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Has Five of the Top Ten Eastern Ski Resorts

The new lodge and heated outdoor pool at Sugarbush - photo courtesy of SKI Magazine

The longest running and most respected ranking of ski resorts in North America is published each year by SKI Magazine. . It has an independent research company survey its readers to rank ski resorts on 18 criteria: "Overall Satisfaction, Access, Apr�s Ski, Dining, Family Programs, Grooming, Lifts, Lodging, Off-Hill Activities, On-Mountain Food, Scenery, Service, Snow, Terrain/Challenge, Terrain/Variety, Terrain Parks, Value and Weather."

This year, 7,000 readers took part in the survey. These are active skiers who put in an average of 23 days a year on the slopes.

According to those readers, the top 10 alpine ski areas in the East are:

1. Tremblant, Que.
2. Smugglers Notch, VT
3. Whiteface, NY
4. Stowe, VT
5. Holiday Valley, NY
6. Sugarloaf, Maine
7. Sugarbush, VT
8. Killington, VT
9. Bretton Woods, NH
10. Okemo, VT

The best single source of information on Vermont ski areas is at the Vermont Ski Areas Association website. That website was down this evening but it should be back up soon.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Transitions from Fall to Winter

I'll make you a deal. If you spend a few hundred dollars to travel to Vermont, in exchange we will give you million dollar views that will return your investment many times over.

Here in northern Vermont, we are moving quickly from fall into winter as this photo illustrates magnificently. It was taken yesterday afternoon from the Burlington area looking east toward Mount Mansfield. This is all natural snow and on the other side of the mountain, Stowe ski resort has been busy the last couple of weeks making even more snow to build a deep base for the skiers and snowboarders. The resort opens its trails November 21.

That bump on the right side of the mountain ridge line is known as the "nose" and the larger lump on the left side is the "chin."

This photo is from "Hugho" who posts a photo every day on his Megapickles photoblog. There is a link to the blog in the left column of this Vermont Travel News blog too. You should go to his blog to see the full size version of this photo. I also recommend you spend some time poking around the archives to see the great diversity and talent on display. I look at it every day and am always rewarded with a new and beautifully rendered photo. Most of them are taken around northern Vermont with a rare foray into, for example, a nearby area such as the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Hand Crafters Show Nov 15 - 18

Vermont Hand Crafters was formed in 1955 and now has 200 members, most of whom will be at the group's annual show Thursday through Sunday, November 15 - 18.

Some 150 crafters will be on hand with samples of their work for sale. They include items such as paintings, fiber art, fine art, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, photography, pottery, stone, toys and figurines, and wood.

The event will be at the Sheraton Conference Center, located at exit 14 W from Interstate 89 in South Burlington.

This show was named by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce as one of the Top Ten Events held each year.

Admission is $7.00 for all four days ($4 for Sunday only admission) but there is an online discount coupon available on the Vermont Hand Crafters website.

(c) 2007 (except the show logo above which is copyright by Vermont Hand Crafters, Inc.) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Cheese Making Classes

Vermont is a mecca for cheese lovers and there is even one farm where you can take cheese making classes. Lazy Lady Farm in Westfield Vermont is a small dairy farm with about 25 alpine goats they call "lazy ladies."

The farm holds cheese making classes during the winter. "The classes are for the curious and for the future cheese makers." To get more information and schedule a class, call Laini Fondiller at 802-744-6365 or laini@sover.net.

To learn more about cheese makers in Vermont, visit the Vermont Cheese Council website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

It's Snowing in Vermont

Jay Peak has a 25-year, month-by-month snowfall table on its website

Last night we had rain at our place but the mountaintops received a dusting of snow that looked nice when the sun came out today. This is the second or third snowfall at the upper elevations this year and it will melt soon most likely. The same thing happens every year and it serves as a reminder that the big stuff is on the way. We don't have much time left to clean out the gutters and get the snow tires on.

Stowe and Sugarbush have both been making snow for a week or so, and both plan to open in a couple of weeks.

Somewhere below I mentioned that Jay Peak averages about 350 inches of snow per year. That number is close enough to their 20 year average of 366 inches but actually for the last ten years, Jay has averaged 385 inches per year. The resort has a Historical Snowfall Totals page on its website that makes for some interesting reading. Last year got off to a bit of a slow start but Feb and Mar made up for it. Note the monthly totals for the epic 2000/01 season. Last year was in the same category. It will be interesting to see what this year brings but whatever it is, it will be big - it always has been.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

New Long Trail Map Published by the Green Mountain Club

We're lucky to have the Green Mountain Club offices just a few minutes drive from our inn ( (map here). It is the single best source of information about hiking in Vermont. The club is best known for being the organization that maintains Vermont's Long Trail, the only trail that spans the length of the state from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border.

The club has just issued its latest version of the Long Trail Map. You can order on the club's website which also has hiking books.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Here is Something Different To Do: Green Mountain Alpaca Show

Travel to Vermont and you will see the dairy farms that are a large part of the state's image. But from time to time you'll see other animals too, some of them exotic breeds you would not expect.

There are a goodly number of sheep and goat farms now (mainly to support all the small cheese producers here), exotic bovines such as Scottish Highlander Cows that look like Musk-Ox cousins (there are usually some out at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe), buffalo and elk (they're being raised for restaurant consumption), miniature horses and donkeys, and I even know of a camel (it's on Route 2 a little south of Richmond VT, on the west side of the road).

I know of several places with Llamas and Alpacas but I did not know there were so many of them until I read the list of Alpaca farms in VT on the Sponsors page on the Northeast Alpaca Association's Fall Spectacular website.

The public is invited to the show being held at the Champlain Valley Expo this weekend, November 2, 3 and 4, 2007. About 100 Alpaca farms from all over the northeast will be displaying some 500 alpacas.

These are fascinating animals and you can learn more about them at Benefits of Alpacas page on the Log Cabin Farm website.

Alpacas originated in the Andes mountains of South America so it is a breed of animal very much at home in the mountains of the northeast but they adapt well to other environments as well. They are small, easily handled animals known for being intelligent, calm, and clean. They don't need a lot of land, they are disease resistant, and they produce a fiber as soft as cashmere that's also lighter, stronger and warmer than wool. The hair is just cut off them like shearing sheep wool, so the animals are not butchered.

You can even purchase an Alpaca there. "Coco," pictured above, can be yours for just $20,000 for example. Everybody in your neighborhood has a dog or a cat but you can set a new standard with an alpaca in the backyard! Besides Coco (who is owned by Alpacas of Easton ), there others for sale on Alpacas For Sale page on the Association's show website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

TheStreet.com Recommends Vermont's Jay Peak For Uncrowded Skiing

TheStreet.com is an stock market investing website run by Jim Cramer, whom you may have seen on CNBC's Mad Money television show.

One of the columnists on that website, Mike Woelflein, recently wrote an article entitled Avoid Lift Lines and Ski More This Season on where to find the best uncrowded ski areas around the country. The first place he mentions is Jay Peak, located in Jay, Vermont.

Jay Peak is located in northernmost Vermont, a few miles from the Canadian border. It is known for getting the most snowfall of all the Vermont ski areas, averaging about 350 inches per year. It's very popular with Quebec skiers because it is only about an hours drive from Montreal. From Boston, it is about a 4.5 hour drive.

At our inn, we don't get too many skiers going there because it is about an hour's drive and we are close to Stowe, Sugarbush, Mad River Glen and Bolton Valley. However, the guests who do spend a day at Jay invariably come back with great compliments about the experience.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Spooky Beer from Magic Hat

The folks at Magic Hat Brewing are known for being, shall we say, a little off beam but they make a high quality product, have fun doing it, and contribute generously to charities.

They produce special runs from time to time and here is their Halloween seasonal offering:

The beer is great plus you get a distinctive box you can use to store your Halloween decorations.

They have a factory tour, tastings, and souvenir shop at their South Burlington factory.

(c) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Vermont Inn

World's Largest Halloween Jack-o-lantern Pumpkin Carving Display

freefoto.com

This Saturday, October 27, Bennington VT is determined to win the Guinness World Record for the most jack-o-lanterns on display in one place. The current record is held by nearby Keene NH which set the record in 2003 with 28,952 officially counted.

Who says Americans don't have enough leisure time?

There will also be a Main Street parade at 4:00.

Seeing that many jack-o-lanterns will probably be an impressive sight so don't forget your camera.

Bennington is a nice town to visit with many architecturally and historically significant buildings. I recommend you take the walking tour around the Old First Church and cemetery on the west side of town. There is a very good quality Welcome Center in an old brick blacksmith's shop at the Corner of Route 7 and Elm Street where you can pick up literature on things to see. For some reason, it is closed on Sundays - when most visitors would be coming into town.

The Bennington website has a listing of local attractions.

You will also be near Arlington and Manchester, both of which are scenic towns. Manchester is known for its outlet stores but even if you won't want to go shopping, you should drive through this very pretty village. Just take Route 7 north from Bennington. It's about 15 minutes to Arlington and another 15 to Manchester where you will see the Reluctant Panther and the Equinox, both world class ($$$$) lodging and dining facilities. Since we are now entering "low season", The Equinox is running some specials, one of which offers three nights of lodging for just $333 - a fraction of what the rooms cost during busy seasons.

There are many other good quality inns and motels in the Manchester area that are not as expensive.

Southwest Vermont is one of my favorite areas to visit but it's been a while since I was there so I think I'll take another look at lodging places down there and get a trip scheduled soon.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Bennington Old First Church,
the oldest church in Vermont

Jeff Foxworthy on Vermont

Bartonsville VT covered bridge courtesy of Freefoto.com - - chosen for this blog entry just because I like covered bridges and it looks "Vermonty"

This landed in my email inbox from a friend who was forwarding it after it had been forwarded to him. I don't know if Jeff Foxworthy actually wrote this or if it is from someone who is imitating him, but it's worth a couple of chuckles.

By the way, up here country folks are not called Rednecks. They're "Woodchucks."

Here you go:

"Forget Rednecks . . . here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Vermonters. . .

"If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you live in Vermont.

"If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Vermont.

"If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Vermont.

"If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Vermont.

"If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of New York City for the weekend, you live in Vermont.

"If you measure distance in hours, you live in Vermont.

"If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Vermont.

"If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, you live in Vermont.

"If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Vermont.

"If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you live in Vermont.

"If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in Vermont.

"If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Vermont.

"If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Vermont.

"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in Vermont."

I especially enjoyed the Home Depot remark because yesterday I stopped to help a guy who was cutting long and awkward wire shelving and needed a hand to help steady it while he used the metal clippers. I did not even give it a thought until I read this. And that reminds me too of a few weeks ago when I helped a woman and her husband who were looking at the same deck stain I had bought the month before. After we discussed what color the stain would actually be compared to the color chip on display, I took them around to the aisle that had the paint pads and poles I used too.

People here are more quiet and reserved than you will find in some other parts of the country where folks are friendly and more outgoing. However, here you find it's just polite to keep to yourself. Vermonters don't want to intrude but don't let that seem standoffish to you. If you start a conversation with a Vermonter, you may want to find a place to sit because you're going to be there a while. Just the way it's done here.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Airfare Refunds and Discounts

I did some research about airlines refunding the difference between the price paid for a ticket and the difference if the airline later drops the price on that flight. (See my October 17 entry about Yapta.com.)

Turns out that this is not consistent among airlines. Some do it and others don't. And some, such as Delta and American, will charge you a fee just as they would if you were to change your ticket. That charge is usually $100 on domestic flights and about double or triple that on overseas flights.

There are exceptions: Northwest charges $25 while United, US Airways, and JetBlue don't charge.

Many times you won't get your money refunded in cash but as a voucher for future use. I did not see any information on how long these vouchers last and no doubt that varies from airline to airline and from time to time.

NOTE: don't believe everything you see in this article. What I have written here is what I found on the internet and none of it is from the airlines' own websites. I could not find anything on their websites about this topic but admittedly I only checked three of them by entering the word "refund" in their search boxes . . . I find dealing with airlines more dismal than dealing with government regulations. However, as I have noted in previous blog entries, JetBlue is one of the best airlines to deal with.

And it probably goes without saying in any conversation about airlines, nothing is consistent even within the same company. One person will give you one answer and another person at the same airline will tell you something different. The best thing to do is to make an inquiry if you find out that tickets on your flight are being sold for less than you paid. I'm still surprised when a polite and friendly phone call will get me a discount or adjustment. Give it a try and let me know how this works for you.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Peak Foliage is Over Up North But Still Available South and West VT

The last two days were beautiful with warm temperatures and clear skies. Today was the opposite with rain and wind all day long. Yesterday we still had a lot of colorful leaves on the trees in north central VT except along the high ridge lines. Today many of those leaves got knocked off. However, I made a trip to Burlington this afternoon and, while the spectacular scenery is gone, there still many spots of bright yellow, gold and orange on the hillsides.

This has been the best and longest lasting fall foliage season we have seen in the seven years we have lived in Vermont. I've never seen so many red trees as I did this year. One of our guests drove up to Lake Willoughby a couple of weeks ago and was still stunned and shaking his head the next day as he told us about a huge mountainside that was mostly red. He had never seen anything like it and could not even imagine such a thing if he had not seen it himself.

There will be areas of southern Vermont that are at peak now, especially in the valleys, as well as in the Lake Champlain basin. It won't last too much longer so if you want to see the best foliage period in years, you should get up here in the next week to ten days.

Honest and accurate foliage reports by state foresters are available on the VermontVacation.com website.

Why and how leaves change color is a bit complicated but if you would like to read up on it, here is a link to VemontVacation.com web page an article reprint from the U.S. Dept of Agriculture.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Travel Bag Will Get You Through Airport Security Faster

Leave the sandwich bags for sandwiches - this is a true leak-less solution.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airplane carry-on regulations on liquids, gels, and aerosols mandate that carry-on bags are limited to a maximum of three ounce liquid containers, that they be in a clear bag of a maximum of one quart capacity, and a limit of one bag per person. It's known simply as the 3-1-1 rule.

Here is a practical solution from a company called 3-1-1 Travel Bag

The Clear Bag System Original, $24.95:
Four (4) medium (1.0 oz) pumps
One (1) mini (.50 oz) pump

The Clear Bag System Fashion, $34.95:
Two (2) large (1.75 oz) pumps
Two (2) medium pumps
Two (2) mini pumps

The Clear Bag System Fashion Elite, $44.95:
One (1) large pump
Two (2) medium pumps
Two (2) mini pumps
Two (2) small (.50 oz) jars

All the containers are reusable and additional jars and pumps are available in an assortment of sizes starting at $4.00.

The 6-X-8-inch clear cases meet the TSA carry-on regulations and the pumps are non-aerosol, airless pumps as specified in those regulations. Each bag has some extra room for toothpaste and deodorant. These bags are a ideal solution for carrying liquids in your checked luggage too.

Keep all those friendly folks at the X-ray machines happy (and fellow passengers too). You could buy small containers of your favorite brands but that gets expensive if you can even find them in those sizes. And, trust me, I know from personal experience that sandwich bags are not dependable.

You can purchase online at the Clear Bag System website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Annual VT Craftworkers Show Oct 26 - 28

Vermont Craftworkers website

The 27th annual Essex Fall Craft and Fine Art Show will be held three days, Friday through Sunday, October 26 - 28 at the Champlain Valley Expo center in Essex Junction, Vermont.

This event has some 400 exhibitors and is ranked as one of the top shows in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine. There will be artisans displaying "hand blown and stained glass, fine scents and herbal soaps, forged iron, garden accents, original oils and watercolors, weather vanes, candles, pottery, music, leather and sheepskin, calligraphy, note cards, furniture, jewelry, baskets, florals, and gourmet specialties such as dips, sauces, vinegars, and sweet treats. "

There is a one dollar discount coupon available on the show's website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Signature Chefs Event on Monday Oct 22

This Monday evening, the Green Mountain Signature Chefs Event will be held at Stowe Mountain Resort to benefit the March of Dimes.

Tickets are $75 per person. There will be a benefit auction for items such as restaurant dinners, lodging stays, chef prepared dinner in your home, cooking lessons in your home, shopping spree for wine and cheese, etc.

Details are available on the Vermont March of Dimes website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Vermont Sports and Recreation Expo Oct 20 and 21

I am often asked by visitors what there is to do here in Vermont. The first things that comes to mind are outdoor activities such as hiking, bicycling, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, sailing, skating, swimming, skiing, snowshoeing, dog sled rides, and so on. Vermont is blessed with beautiful scenery and clean air that visitors can enjoy outdoors year around.

There is a great showcase for all these activities at the All Sports, Recreation and Fitness Expo this weekend at the Champlain Valley Expo center near Burlington in the northern part of the state.

The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Division of State Parks, and the Department of Tourism and Marketing have partnered to put on this event and create a �Vermont Village where visitors can sign up for their hunting license, book campsites at state parks and participate in a 3-D laser shoot. The Expo will feature commercial exhibits, interactive activities, demonstrations, clinics, seminars, sports celebrities, product/service sales."

One hundred exhibitors and 60 demonstrations will cover a wide variety of activities for people of all ages including golf, yoga, rock climbing wall, extreme sports, hockey on a plastic ice surface, children's activities team sports, dog agility trials, nutrition, skiing, U.S.A Luge track, etc. There will almost certainly be several things you will be interested in.

Here is a link to a $2 discount coupon you can print and bring with you.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Something You Probably Did Not Know About Air Fares

Yapta.com could save you hidden money on your airfare

Did you know that if you pay for an plane ticket and the airline later reduces the price for that flight, you can get a refund for the difference? I sure didn't.

But how do you find out if your ticket would be eligible for this price drop refund? Go to the travel site Yapta.com and sign up for their free service.

All you have to do is enter your flight information and the price you paid for your tickets. Yapta will then track that flight for you. If the airline drops the fare before your trip, Yapta will let you know and tell you how to get the refund.

To see how airline fares bounce around, click on the Farecast.com link here or in the column on the left side of this blog. Farecast will let you know the probability of your fare being lowered. Yapta will also let you track flight numbers and they will alert you if the fare changes but Farecast I think does a better job of showing you the big picture by depicting the flight's price history and probability of change.

One downside to Yapta, which admittedly is in Beta, is that it is only available at this time for Internet Explorer 6 and 7. Firefox and Mac versions are in development however.

The User's Agreement you have to acknowledge requires that you agree this is for your personal use only, not for commercial use - you can't resell the service for example.

Once you have signed up (it's free) you will see a list of airlines and travel sites such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity. Priceline is not included, nor are Northwest and foreign airlines. I suppose this will change as time goes by.

I have not tried this service yet but when I have the opportunity to do so, I'll write a follow-up entry

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Fall Foliage Photographs

(c) Judith Lombardi Golden Acres Photography

There must be a billion photographs of Vermont fall foliage, mostly taken by us amateurs but there are some professionally taken examples that accurately render the scenes we saw but perhaps did not photograph too well.

One place to find excellent photos is at the fall foliage page on the Golden Acres website.

Golden Acres is the photography business run by Judy Lombardi of White River Junction, VT. She photographs mostly nature subjects which you can see on her beautiful web site.

Put a photo on your wall and you can enjoy a little of the magnificence of Vermont fall foliage year around!

What Do the Tango and Horace Greeley Have in Common? Vermont of course.

There is always a wide range of things to see and do here in VT . . . but usually not this wide.

I got a chuckle of this and thought you might too. And just to give you an idea of the diversity of things to do in VT, here is a weird coupling: the sensuous and dramatic I Tango show and the Horace Greeley Writers Symposium both of which are this weekend.

The I Tango show is in Burlington and and the Horace Greeley Symposium is in Poultney VT. Greeley has a connection to VT because he was a printer's apprentice in Poultney. He is most often thought of as the man who said "Go west young man" and although he did write that in one of his editorials, he was actually the second newspaper writer to do so. A writer from a Terra Haute IN newspaper actually wrote that line first, about 14 years before Greeley did but it was Greeley with a large New York city readership who popularized the term.

Wikipedia has a brief biography of Greeley.

The Symposium is being held at Green Mountain College in the picturesque village of Poultney VT.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

USA Today Article on Great Restaurants in Northern VT

Many of our inn's guests are surprised at the number of quality restaurants here in Vermont. It's all tourism-driven; we wouldn't have nearly as many if they had to rely only on local residents.

Collectively, all the restaurants I am aware of in north central Vermont would amount to the selection in any major city.

It's great to live in a place where we have so many restaurant choices. We have been here more than seven years and we are still working our way through the list. We will probably never get to them all.

A couple of weeks ago, USA Today newspaper had an interesting article on some of the best in the area. It is a small sampling of what is available here locally.

From the article: "Ben & Jerry's socially aware ice cream factory near Waterbury put northern Vermont and its back-to-the-land vibe on the foodie map in the late '70s. Now the area boasts talented cheese-makers, chocolatiers, bakers, maple-sugar craftsmen, vintners and microbrewers � and the prestigious New England Culinary Institute."

The article credits Laura and Michael Kloeti at Michael's on the Hill restaurant with being among the first to partner with and promote locally produced ingredients, but the author did not review the facility presumably because he did not eat there I guess. However, the author, Jerry Shriver, has short reviews of some others.

The reviewed restaurants are Hen of the Wood ("The lasting impression is that you have stumbled on a New England outpost of the Garden of Eden."); Taste of Burlington; The Kitchen Table Bistro("Chef/owners Steve and Lara Atkins take the local/seasonal/sustainable approach so seriously, they credit the local composting company on their menu, along with about 30 farmers, cheesemakers, bakers and brewers."); Butler's at the Inn at Essex.

Flash Earth Aerial Photographs

Flash Earth image of Stowe ski area

I recently came across a web site where you can quickly compare the high altitude aerial photography available from Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Ask.com and NASA. It's called Flash Earth and it's a free service.

A quick check showed that Yahoo had the best looking photography of Stowe and I liked the Microsoft version which had labels of such landmarks as Mount Mansfield.

If you want to look at some aerial photography of where you will be traveling in Vermont, you will find this device enjoyable and easy to use.

The site was created by Paul Neave, a Flash designer who has more impressive animations, games, and gizmo's at his website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Fall Foliage Looks Great

A lot of red foliage on Vermont's mountainsides this year. We're right in the peak period and it should last about another week in this Waterbury/Stowe area before moving south and into the Burlington/Lake Champlain areas.

Two of our guests went about an hour and a half north to Lake Willoughby today and said the colors up there looked great. We often recommend Lake Willoughby to our guests because it is one of the prettiest lakes in Vermont.

Man, I picked a great place to live.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

How Small is Vermont?

"Freedom and Unity" - the crest on the Vermont state flag

As a Vermont innkeeper, I get many questions about the state. A guest asked recently if this is the smallest state in the US (state size, not population). I knew that Rhode Island and Delaware are smaller, and that New Hampshire is about the same size. However, I was surprised to find that New Jersey and Connecticut have smaller land areas than Vermont.

Here are the six smallest states:

. . . . . . . . . . . . .Rank . . . . .Square Miles
Vermont . . . . . . .45 . . . . . . 9,615 square miles
New Hampshire . .46 . . . . . . 9,351 square miles
New Jersey . . . . .47 . . . . . . 8,722 square miles
Connecticut . . . . .48 . . . . . . 5,544 square miles
Delaware . . . . . . 49 . . . . . . 1,954 square miles
Rhode Island . . . .50 . . . . . . 1,545 square miles

I found this information at Enchanted Learning which looks like a website for elementary school students and teachers.

And here are the populations for the ten least populous states.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rank. . . Population
New Hampshire. . . .41. . . . 1,235,786
Hawaii. . . . . . . . . .42 . . . .1,211,537
Rhode Island . . . . . 43 . . . .1,048,319
Montana . . . . . . . . 44 . . . . .902,195
Delaware . . . . . . . .45 . . . . .783,600
South Dakota . . . . .46 . . . . . 754,844
North Dakota . . . . . 47 . . . . . 642,200
Alaska . . . . . . . . . .48 . . . . . 626,932
Vermont . . . . . . . . .49 . . . . . 608,827
Wyoming . . . . . . . . 50 . . . . . 493,782

The population numbers are from the 2000 census.

Fall Foliage Coming Up to Peak in North Central Vermont

Today the leaves took a big step forward in color in my local area. I think the past two nights of very cool weather did that. I have read that some scientists say it is not the temperature that causes leaves to change color but my personal experience is the opposite. I think it is the same weather conditions that make the sap flow well in the spring: cold nights and warm days.

We have been directing guests to the Northeast part of the state for foliage color and they have come back with good reports. Now the color change has ramped up in our Stowe/Waterbury area and it will continue to work its way south as the days go by. Upper elevations south of us such as Mad River Glen ski area are reporting peak or near peak conditions. Come on up and take a look!

If you do not already have a lodging reservation, here is a tip. There are still some rooms available but rather than calling inn after inn, check with the chambers of commerce. In this area they are the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-82VISIT; Stowe Area Association, 1-877-GOSTOWE (877-467-8693); or Central VT Chamber of Commerce, 1-877-887-3678 (their web site is not helpful for finding which lodging facilities that have rooms).

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Stowe Art and Craft Festival plus German Car Meet Oct 6 and 7

There are two events in Stowe this weekend. The Stowe Foliage Art and Craft Festival is a high quality event attended by 185 artists and artisans who were chosen from a very large pool of applicants. These participants are the best in this part of the country and they will be displaying paintings, pottery, blown glass, photography, furniture, clothing, and weavings.

The event is held in giant "Camelot tents" complete with heating, so the event is held rain or shine. It continues this weekend Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7 from 10:00 to 5:00. There is a specialty food tent with all fresh food cooked on site. There will be top quality live music and demonstrations of glass blowing, raku pottery, paper embossing, wood turning, wood carving, and intarsia woodwork.

Directions: from Stowe, take Route 108 out of town about four miles to the Topnotch Field on the left.

The Festival is held in conjunction with OctoberFAST, a gathering of German collector cars including Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, VW, and Audi. The car meet is at the same Topnotch field as the Art and Craft Festival.

(c) 2007 [except the photograph] Grunberg Haus

VT Chef of the Year's Great Restaurant and Cooking Classes

Michael Kloeti chef/owner of Michael's on the Hill, one of our favorite restaurants to recommend to guests, has just been named Vermont Chef of the Year by the Vermont Hospitality Council, a part of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Vermont is blessed with many hundreds of fine restaurants so winning this award is a major achievement.

Michael was born and raised in Switzerland although he has been in this country about 15 years. He got his culinary education in Switzerland. Since moving to the US, has worked at the four star Lespinasse in NYC; the Koele Lodge in Lanaii, Hawaii; and New York City's St. Regis Hotel.

Michael's on the Hill has been our favorite restaurant since it opened five years ago in Waterbury Center , about 15 minutes from our inn. We highly recommend it to our guests who are looking for a top quality dining experience.

The food is outstanding but unpretentious. This is a restaurant for food lovers not those interested in a showy display. It is American cuisine with a European influence. Michael makes no secret of the fact that the foundation to his food preparation is the use of fresh ingredients. He has been an area leader in the Vermont Fresh Network (an organization of farmers and chefs), The Slow Food Movement, and Local First Vermont. Michael's on the Hill consistently gets enthusiastic reviews from our guests.

Michael's wife and business partner is Laura Kloeti. She has a bachelor's degree in Restaurant Management from Syracuse University, and also attended the The Culinary Institute of America in NYC. She has worked as a chef and manager in various hotels and restaurants in Switzerland, New York City, Hawaii and Vermont. Laura most often makes the deserts for the restaurant.

Cooking classes - an unusual opportunity to learn from a master chef.

Most chefs of Michael's caliber do not want to work with people who have not had years of training. However, Michael has a strong passion about food preparation and loves to teach an appreciation for it. He is enthusiastic about sharing solid food preparation methods with people who really want to learn no matter what their level of expertise.

Six class options are offered including A Taste of Vermont; an Extravagant Lunch; Hors d'oeuvres; and A Dinner Party. See the cooking classes page on the website for full details including prices.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Free Apple iPods in Vermont Apple Orchards

If you go apple picking during your travel to Vermont, keep an eye out for a prize apple like this.

Spending some time outdoors picking apples is rewarding enough but now there is extra incentive with a contest that will reward you with an Apple iPod if you can find one of the winning apples.

Eleven specially marked wooden apples are waiting in participating apple orchards around Vermont. If you find one, just turn it in to the orchard owner, and Small Dog Electronics will send you an iPod. See the VermontVacation.com website for rules.

Small Dog Electronics headquarters and one of their retail stores is a just few miles from our inn. They are Mac specialists who are fairly well known around the country by Mac aficionados.

Participating Orchards:

North
Adams Apple Orchard, Williston
Allenholm Farm, South Hero
Chapin Orchard, Essex Junction
Crow Hill Orchard, Saint Johnsbury
Franklin Orchard, Franklin
Hacketts Orchards South Hero
Halls Orchard, Isle La Motte
Shelburne Orchards, Shelburne
West Swanton, Orchard
Cider Mil, Swanton

Central
Champlain Orchards, Shoreham
Douglas Orchards, Shoreham
Liberty Orchard, Brookfield
Happy Valley Orchard, Middlebury
Mendon Mountain Orchard, Mendon
Stevens Orchard, Orwell

South
Cortland Hill Orchard, Brattleboro
Dwight Miller and Son, E. Dummerston
Green Mountain Orchards, Putney
Harlows Sugar House, Putney
Mad Tom Orchard, East Dorset
Wellwood Orchards Inc, Springfield

A map marked with all the Vermont orchards taking part in the Apple iPod contest. You can see a large version on the VT Dept of Tourism website.

(c) 2007 [except the photograph and map] Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus.

VermontVacation.com

I was checking the Vermont Department of Tourism's website this evening and was quite struck with this photograph. It's not a "gee whiz" spectacular vista, just a pleasant, classic Vermont country road scene. At first I thought I might know where this road is (North Road from Bethel to Barnard) but I'm not at all sure because I began remembering other roads that look similar. However, no matter where you are in Vermont, there are pretty drives nearby - just ask your friendly innkeepers - they are used to being asked and will probably have several ideas for you.

By the way, the Vermont Vacation website is a tremendous resource and I recommend it highly.

(c) 2007 [except the photograph] Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Champlain Valley Antiques Festival Oct 6 and 7

This coming weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7, "antiquers" and "leaf peepers" will descend on the Champlain Valley Expo Center in Essex Junction near Burlington for the annual Champlain Valley Antiques Festival.

It is the largest antique show in Vermont and one of the largest in New England. There will be about 125 dealers and about 30 room displays.

To get an idea of the scope and quality of this show, you can review many photos from the 2005 show on the New England Antiques Show website.

Admission is $8 but you can get a one dollar discount coupon on the Antiquing Vermont website.

(c) 2007 [except the photograph] Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Baked Beads Jewelry Factory Clearance Sale

Baked Beads is a jewelry manufacturer a few miles down the road from us in Waitsfield VT. Each year on Columbus Day weekend they hold a clearance sale where you can get prices below wholesale. Look for their big tent on Route 100 in Waitsfield in front of the Big Picture Movie Theater. The sale runs three days, October 5 - 7, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Their product line includes earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, hair accessories, scarves, belts, beads, and eyeglass chains.

If you can't be here for this sale, you can sign up for their email newsletter about future sales and online specials.

Here is a list of their coming clearance sales in other cities:

BARRINGTON, RHODE ISLAND
November 2-3, 2007 � Friday-Saturday � 10am-5pm
June 2008 � Friday-Saturday � 10am-5pm
The White Church

MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS
November 9-10, 2007 � Friday-Saturday � 10am-5pm
The Masonic Lodge

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK
November 29-December 1, 2007 � Thursday 2-9pm � Friday 10am-5pm � Saturday 10am-2pm
The Arts Center

ESSEX JUNCTION, VERMONT
December 6-8, 2007 � Thursday-Friday 10am-8pm � Saturday 10am-5pm
Champlain Valley Exposition

SO. YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
DENNIS-YARMOUTH GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
December 14-15, 2007 � Friday-Saturday � 10am-5pm
Howard Lodge

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Master Harold and Shakespeare's Henry V Plays

Since I referenced Shakespeare in an entry a couple of days ago, it's fitting that I mention the Lost Nation Theater's current production of Henry V which runs through October 7 in Montpelier.

A couple of famous quotes come from this play. One is the speech Henry gives before the Battle of Agincourt, when he addresses the troops by begining with the line:

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;"

At another battle, Henry says "Once more unto the breach, dear friends..."

You can see more about this play on Wikipedia.

-------------------

Now playing on the road around Vermont, the Weston Playhouse's production of "Master Harold" is inspiring such reviews as this:

"...If you think you can only go to see one play, one production, during this 2007-2008 season, I tell you without any reservation that this is the play and this is the production of the play that you should see�indeed, must see." -Dan Wolfe, Vermont Times-Sentinel

The play takes place during the Apartheid period in South Africa.

The play will be performed at these times and locations:

TUES., OCT. 2 at 7:30pm � Casella Theater Castleton State College, Castleton, VT

WED., OCT. 3 at 7:30pm � Dibden Center for the Arts Johnson State College, Johnson, VT

THURS., OCT. 4 at 7:30pm � Chandler Center for the Arts Randolph, VT

FRI., OCT. 5 at 8pm � Flynn Center for the Performing Arts Burlington, VT

SAT., OCT. 6 at 7:30pm & Sun., Oct. 7 at 1pm � Phillips Exeter Academy Exeter, NH

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Northeast Animal-Power Field Days This Weekend

This Saturday and Sunday, September 28and 29, Animal-Power Field Days is a two day trade fair and conference with panel discussions, vendor exhibits, field demonstrations of animal-powered farming and logging equipment, equipment auction, children's activities, music, food, and farmers market. See the website for a very good .pdf brochure with all the details.

The event is open to anyone, especially farmers, loggers, and landowners who want to learn more and network with others interested in using draft animals to help manage their lands. Discussions of "conservation, stewardship, small farms, healthy forests, and the roles they play in vital rural communities" will be included

Plus you get to see huge draft horses - always the best part for me.

It's being held at the Tunbridge World's Fairgrounds on Route 110 in the east central part of the state.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Woodworking Festival and Stowe Octoberfest 2007

Brookside Woodworking

The Vermont Fine Furniture and Woodworking Festival, is being held Saturday and Sunday this weekend at the Woodstock High School arena on Route 4 a few miles west of Woodstock village. About 30 Vermont fine furniture makers and wood artisans will be exhibiting, selling, taking orders, and making demonstrations.

Stowe Octoberfest, in Stowe, Vermont is a family friendly event being held this weekend, both Saturday and Sunday. Stowe's Jackson Ice Arena has been transformed into a Bavarian village for this annual celebration that includes oompah bands, authentic German foods, Vermont beers, pumpkin painting, puppet theatre -- there's something for every "villager".

"The Play's the Thing . . . "

"The play's the thing, wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King" wrote Shakespeare in Hamlet but local plays are capturing the appreciation of audiences. Several theater companies are offering performances for the next week or so.

At the Hyde Park Opera House, the Lamoille County Players are presenting The Spitfire Grill, through October 7. Tickets are $15 and the play is performed Thursday through Saturday at 7:00 pm and Sunday at 2:00 pm. The play is based on the film of the same name which was filmed here in Vermont. It is "an unconventional, upbeat musical with beautiful songs and ballads and a unique story that is tough, touching and light-hearted." �An abundance of warmth, spirit and goodwill!� USA Today

The Stowe Theater Guild presents "Little Shop of Horrors." Tickets are $20 for performances that run Wednesday through Saturday, 8:00 pm at the Town Hall on Main Street. The theater guild presented the same play ten years ago and earned a highly popular reception. It's being brought back by popular demand. The play has some great laughs and compelling 50's and 60's doo-whop music that makes it very popular.

In Waterbury Center, the Waterbury Festival Playhouse is presenting �Murder Mistaken� through October 6. Tickets are $20 and the shows are Saturday, September 29; Wednesday, October 3; Saturday, October 6, all at 7:30 pm, with a matin�e Saturday, September 29 at 2:00.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Lake Champlain Sunsets

Lake Champlain Sunset

I guess it is water vapor in the air over Lake Champlain that creates the sunsets seen there frequently (one more thing I should look up someday). We often suggest to our guests a short trip to Burlington because it is such an interesting city, has much to see and do, good restaurants, and a nice lakefront park from which to watch the sunset. Every evening in nice weather, you will see people coming to the park and finding a bench to watch.

Pictured above is today's photo from one of my favorite Vermont blogs, Megapickles. There is a text link to it in the left column of this blog too. Another good sunset photograph called Burlington Harbor was posted August 18.

All the photos are excellent and a new one is added every day. The landscape photos are my favorites - see Jeffersonville Sept 23; Hay Bales August 9; Mt Abraham August 1.

I have taken a few snapshots over the years and I posted some on the Scrapbook page of my inn's web site. Not the same quality as Megapickles but interesting to look at.

(c) 2007 (except the photo) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Art in the Round Barn, Waitsfield VT

The beautiful Round Barn, Waitsfield VT

The Inn at the Round Barn Farm is one of the top lodging and restaurant facilities in Vermont. It is a place I would put on my itinerary if I were traveling here. You will find it on East Warren Road outside the town of Waitsfield in the north central part of the state.

Another good reason to visit this time of year is to see the annual Art in the Round Barn show which opened today and runs through October 8. This juried show presents the works of some of the best artists in New England.

Seeing the Inn at the Round Barn and its magnificent 240 acre landscaped grounds is something you will be glad you did.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Fall Foliage Is Starting

VermontVacation.com Foliage Forecaster Map

The leaves started to change here about a week and a half ago when we had a short cold snap. I would guess about ten percent of the leaves in my area have changed so far. I think this weekend should be pretty good for color especially at the higher elevations and in the northern part of Vermont about a hour's drive from us.

Our inn has been fully booked this coming weekend and the next. You will find that is true of virtually all lodging places in the northern half of the state. However, weekdays are only partially booked so you should be able to find a room if you can take a day or two off from work. We are about half booked for the second weekend in October but that will be filling in soon.

If you would like to travel to Vermont for one of our most amazing transitions, plan to come midweek or from the second weekend on to the end of the month. However, you should get on the phone and get something pinned down now.

We got a call from a very nice California gentleman this evening who said he was planning to fly in here and drive around New England for a few days without any itinerary. He was just calling to see if fall foliage is a popular time to visit Vermont. We told him it is our busiest time of year. He also wanted suggestions on which dates he should be here which we were happy to give him. We also told him he really, really needed to make reservations now but we were unsuccessful in convincing him. I hope he enjoys his trip to Vermont but I suspect he will not because he will likely have an awful time trying to find a place to stay.

The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing website has very good updates on the progress of foliage change. It's compiled from reports by state forestry rangers so it's highly reliable.

The same page has an article about why leaves change color and also an animated foliage forecaster that is very helpful in seeing how the foliage changes throughout Vermont during the season. Note the dates to the right of the illustration. You can click on them to freeze the animation.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

At the Risk of Sounding Like A Shill For JetBlue . . .

Fool4Travel logo

I wrote up JetBlue in an August 11 entry this year but I just ran across this article at Fool4Travel about this blogger's recent experience with JetBlue and I thought I would share it. JetBlue has had its share of scheduling catastrophes but compared to other airlines, it's a gem. They have several flights per day between JFK and the Burlington VT (BTV) airport. All our guests who have flown JetBlue have had good experiences with it. Fool4Travel looks like a good blog by the way and you may want to add it to your favorites. I'll be spending some more time looking it over.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor [Except the illustration above this article which is (c) copyrighted by Fool4Travel Grunberg Haus

Two Great VT Products for Winter

Beagle Tracker Jacket

If you will be traveling to Vermont in the next few months, take a look at your winter jacket before you come. If that old coat has already lead a full, productive life, maybe it's time to retire it and start looking for a replacement. Or, if you are all set for another winter, maybe you are looking for unique gift ideas.

I have a couple of suggestions for two very high quality Vermont made products. Conveniently, their stores are only a few miles apart in northern Vermont (map).

Most every outdoors person in this state has probably owned a Johnson Woolen Mills product and probably still has one or two. The company has been around for 165 years and it is a traditional favorite of Vermonters, especially hunters and loggers. The company not only makes its products in the USA, they make them here in Vermont. Anyone who has ever spent time with the average Vermont worker will agree that the word that best describes these people is "solid." They work steadily and are quietly proud of what they do. But they're nonchalant about it too as if being proud is too close to being boastful.

In addition to jackets, Johnson Woolen Mills is known for its long-lasting woolen pants and hats, capes and ponchos, handbags, and more.

Coincidently, the company has a store in a village named Johnson. It is in the middle of town, on Route 15 (click map link above).

If Johnson Woolen Mills is "old school," Beagle Outdoor Wear is the high tech version. Their outdoor coats and other gear are treated with the latest in waterproofing technology:

"1. Beagle outerwear is made from very tightly woven wool, treated with DuPont Teflon� fabric protector, so water beads up and rolls right off!

"2. Most products are available with FABTEX�-5X, a thin layer of breathable laminate, which stops wind and water from passing through.

"3. For cold weather, choose our MICROTHERM� lined models. Besides the extra warmth, it also wicks moisture away from your skin, keeping you toasty warm and dry."

Both companies have an excellent reputation in Vermont and their products are WARM, even in the middle of a Vermont winter.

Johnson Woolen Mills Boston Bag

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor [except product photos which are owned by the respective companies] Grunberg Haus

Moose in Vermont
I've taken a break from blogging recently as you can see. We got slammed (that's a "good thing" as Martha would say) with business over the Labor Day weekend. Now we are in a quiet period before the fall foliage rush and I am scrambling to get some outdoor work done while the weather is good and I have the time. The weather here has been perfect lately with mostly clear days and pleasantly cool temperatures.

One of our guests was asking a little while ago about moose. We often have guests asking about moose but it seems like more than normal lately. This summer, I've been able to tell them that we have one (I think it is probably the same one) around our inn. It has been coming through every two to three weeks but there was one period when I did not see any sign for about five weeks. However, I have seen fresh tracks in the woods and our driveway lately. Yesterday I saw new tracks in the parking lot and along the forest trail up to our cabins. "Our" moose comes through late at night and I see the fresh tracks in the morning.

Although moose can be seen anywhere in Vermont, the best chance to see them is in the "Northeast Kingdom" section of the state, especially the area around the towns of Island Pond, Averill, and Ferdinand. There have been many sightings on Route 2 between St. Johnsbury and Lunenburg, VT. The photo at the top of this blog page was taken on Route 100 between Warren and Granville, a few miles south of our inn.

Female moose are about six to seven feet high and weigh 600 to 800 pounds. Male moose are about seven or eight feet tall and weigh 1000 pounds - that's right, a half ton.

For more about moose in Vermont, see my blog entry dated July 9 of last year. You can use the Blog Archive or Search devices in the right column to go to the article.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

37th Annual Mad River Valley Craft Fair
This coming weekend, Sept 1 and 2, the 37th Mad River Valley Craft Fair will be held. It's one of the best and oldest craft fairs in Vermont. Limited to about 100 craft producers who meet the criteria of a juried craft show, it includes some of the very best crafts produced in the Northeast. There will also be demonstrations by artists doing such things as felting, folk art painting, wood-working, painting on silk, patchwork. You can't hold an event in Vermont without good food and music, and this show is no exception.

Every year I see something clever, interesting, and beautiful. Admission is just $3 for both days (children under 12 are free and there is a very good play area for them). This is a fun way to get your Christmas shopping done early this year and find unique gifts.

Located in Kenyon's field on Route 100 just a few minutes north of Waitsfield VT.

A list of exhibitors and links to their websites is here.

If you are interested in crafts you should also visit Vermont Crafts Council website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Champlain Fair and VT State Fair

Photo courtesy of Champlain Valley Fair and Exposition

The 85th Annual Champlain Valley Fair & Exposition is underway and continues through September 3 in Essex Junction, a suburb of Burlington in northern VT. "This is Vermont's largest fair and biggest annual event, with an outstanding variety of free entertainment, agricultural and educational exhibits and competitions, Vermont's largest fair craft show, a 35-ride midway, 200+ commercial exhibits, major grandstand shows, antique tractor pulls, ox and horse pulling . . ." On site camping available.

The Vermont State Fair will be held in the central VT town of Rutland August 31 through September 9. "Midway rides, food booths, demo derby, farm museum, carnival, ethnic foods, maple sugar house, commercial exhibits, agricultural exhibits, antique tractor pulls, kiddie rides, crafts, live entertainment, ox and horse pulling, and music."

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum to Launch Replica 1776 Gunboat

The Philadelphia II Replica 1776 Gunboat

During the American Revolutionary War, Lake Champlain was the scene of much activity with the British moving soldiers and supplies southward from Canada to the fight in the Colonies. The Colonists thought it would be a good idea to stop them there and, as a result, there were some sea battles on Champlain as well as land battles at the British fort at Ticonderoga near the lake shore.

On the water, the rebels and the British used a variety of watercraft. The colonists employed the gunboat whose sole function was to be a platform for a cannon or two. These gunboats were simple affairs, just a bit more than a large raft and often built on the spot. A large, well armed ship could easily defeat one but when the gunboats were used in numbers and spread out, they could inflict serious damage on a larger and more powerful enemy ship.

Archaeologists and re-enactors from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum will launch this weekend a full-sized replica 1776 gunboat at the Falls Basin in Vergennes. The ceremony begins at 11:00 Saturday the 25th and the public will be invited aboard until mid afternoon. At that time the gunboat will proceed along Otter Creek to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Burlington. There will be viewing opportunities along Otter Creek.

The gunboat, named the Philadelphia II, will take part in Sunday's Rabble in Arms event, a reenactment of American Revolutionary War times. The museum's gunboat will take part in naval maneuvers and gunnery exercises.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor except the photo which is courtesy of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Learn How to Be a Logger

As summer winds down, it's time to think about firewood for the winter. Actually, here in Vermont and the rest of New England, 12 months of the year is a good time to think about firewood. I have an older neighbor who spends the summer cutting and splitting firewood. He makes up what appears to be about four cords of wood so I assume he must be heating his neat-as-a-pin log cabin with a wood stove.

Like most things, there is a right way to cut trees and a wrong way. The most recent mine disasters notwithstanding, the most dangerous occupation in the world is logging. Unless you know a trained professional who can teach you, you have to figure it out on your own (not a safe way to go about a dangerous job). Or you can take a course but they are not easy to find. Here is a school in Chester, Vermont that can help.

It is run by John Adler and his wife, Mary Beth who own Eagle Forest Improvements Inc, a logging company. They have 15 years experience teaching logging.

They own Northeast Woodland Training, Inc., a school that conducts classes employing a training technique called the Game of Logging. It is a widely known technique developed in the 1960s by Soren Eriksson, a Swedish logger turned training instructor. The Game is a combination of traditional Scandinavian logging and modern safely equipment and techniques.

The first day of the logging course covers chain saw operation and safety as well as basic tree cutting techniques. The second day is devoted to chain saw maintenance and sharpening plus more tree felling. The third and fourth days are devoted to more challenging trees such as leaning trees along with limbing and bucking techniques.

Even if you are just an occasional user of a chain saw around the yard, this course is great way to learn how to do it safely and in an enjoyable environment. You don't have to take all four days. There are classes for homeowners, professional loggers, high school/college, trail crew, etc. The school's website has a list of October classes.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Canning and Other Food Preparation and Preservation Classes

Note for all the classes: class size is limited; advance registration is required. Directions will be provided upon registration. To register, call (802) 496-5690

Salsa Making Social, Thursday, August 23, 2007 1pm to 3pm. Make and preserving by canning salsa using local tomatoes, onions, and peppers. "This salsa is far superior to anything found on the supermarket shelf." There is a $10 material fee (to cover jars and ingredients) payable at the class and each participant will take home 2 jars of salsa.

Elderberry Jelly Social Wednesday, August 29, 2007 5pm to 8pm How to make Elderberry Jelly from picking the berries to cooking to water bath canning. The $5 fee includes a jar of homemade Elderberry Jelly. The social will be held at the Yestermorrow Design/Build school on Route 100 south of Waitsfield and north of Warren.

Gathering and Gardening for Your Immune System, Wednesday, September 5, 2007 1pm to 3pm See how the immune system works and learn how to prepare herbal items such as vinegars, honey, alcohol and drying.

Preserving Tomatoes for the Winter Workshop Wednesday, September 5, 2007 5pm to 7pm Learn about a variety of ways to preserve tomatoes for the winter including canning (water bath), roasting, freezing, and drying. $10 material charge a quart of tomato sauce to take home.

Applesauce and End of the Season Vegetable Pickles Workshop Sunday, September 16, 2007 3pm to 6pm. $10 material charge includes a jar of applesauce and a jar of pickles for each participant to take home.

Sauerkraut and Kimchi Social Wednesday, September 19, 2007 1pm to 3pm. Participation is free and attendees should bring cabbage, carrots, and radishes as well as quart-sized jars. Each participant will receive a quart of Kimchi and a quart of Sauerkraut made from the ingredients brought to the class.

Grass-Fed Lamb: What it is, how to grown your own Monday, September 24 4pm to 6pm Why is grass-fed meat healthier for the land and for you?

These classes are geared toward local residents of the Mad River Valley but they will no doubt welcome a few non-residents if there is room. See the Localvore website for more information.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Other Big Country Music Stars in VT Concerts

AP photo

Three major country music concerts are scheduled at the Champlain Expo Center in the Burlington suburb of Essex Junction VT:

Aug. 25, 7 pm, Trace Adkins

Aug. 31, 7:45 pm Brad Paisley

Sept. 2, 7 pm, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price

Tickets are available online.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor (except the AP photo) Grunberg Haus

Vermont Holiday Cards

A Vermont holiday card created by a Vermont artist featuring a Vermont scene .

About an hour south of our inn, there is an artist who works in a small cottage producing richly detailed holiday cards that have a charming nostalgic look.

Mike Biegel, and cat Piper, live and work together near the village of Sharon. Mike produces a line of holiday cards to bring in some money to fund his ski habit and Piper's food habit.

You can see his full line of Vermont-inspired cards, and purchase them too, online at Vermont Holiday Cards and Holiday Cards Online.

Mike also has a web site for his commercial illustration work at mikebiegel.com.

Mailboxes across the country have already been filling with fall catalogs, and the Christmas holiday catalogs are not far behind. The more responsible of you reading this will probably be lining up your winter holiday card purchases soon so I thought I would get his posted now. For people like me, there will be a reminder on this blog in November.

Mike accepts assignments for custom work too. You can contact the artist directly at 802.763.7769 or toll free at 888.267.2300, or by email to mike{insert the "at" sign here]vermontholidaycards.com

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Continental Contretemps

Upside down, backwards, and out of control . . .

In the spirit of being fair to readers, I thought I should let people know what what to look for as well as what to avoid. For airline travel, I covered the what-to-look-for in the Jet Blue article below. On the other hand, you may want to avoid Continental after reading the story about the Continental flight from Caracas to Newark a couple of weeks ago. You can read the story on the Elliott First Aid For Travel blog.

Continental has a Customer First program which states:"Continental Airlines is dedicated to providing a level of service to our customers that makes us a leader in the airline industry today. We understand that to do this we need to have a product we are proud of and employees who like coming to work everyday. Objective evidence shows that we are leading the industry in customer service."

I should mention that Jet Blue had a similar fiasco with unreasonably treated passengers recently and it resulted in the CEO/Founder apologizing and realizing he needed to step down.

True to their characters, Jet Blue stepped up and Continental is unlikely to do so.

You should also note in these false imprisonment fiascoes that the airlines are not alone in their incompetence. The airport managers who don't help by opening a gate or getting buses out to unload passengers are also complicit.

Every company in the world will mess up once in a while or inherit a situation not of their own making. It's how they react to it that matters most.

Continental has flights into Burlington from Boston and Newark. Good luck.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Killington Film Festival Aug 24 - 26

The Killington Film Festival starts Fri Aug 24 and runs through Sunday the 26, featuring documentaries, short films, discussions. There is a different theme each day: Friday, August 24 "Social Awareness Night;" Saturday, August 25, "Vermont Indie Filmmaker Day;" Sunday, August 26 "New England Indie Filmmaker Day." All films will be screened at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Quechee Scottish Festival August 25

The Catamount Pipe Band at the Quechee Scottish Festival [photo copyright by the St. Andrews Society of Vermont]

The 35th annual Quechee Scottish Festival will be held Saturday, August 25, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Quechee Polo Field.

There will be Scottish music and dancing, arts and crafts, highland athletic competitions, pipe bands, sheepdog herding trials, and Scottish and American food.

The directions on the website show (poorly) how to find Quechee but not the Polo Field for some inexplicable reason. Just drive west on Route 4 from Exit 1 from Interstate 89 and you will probably see it but if not, just ask around. Or stop in and ask at Scotland By The Yard, an interesting store specializing in Scottish goods. It is located on Route 4 in Quechee.

Part of the proceeds benefits a scholarship program by the St. Andrews Society of Vermont.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor except the photo above

Whose Directions to Follow: the Innkeeper's or Mapquest's?

We had an arriving family get lost on the way here last night. They should have been here in the evening but they arrived hours later, some time after 11:00 if my memory is correct.

They were exhausted and frazzled. What should have been a pleasant and relaxing evening on our garden deck, living room, or pub/game room was instead spent driving around the dark countryside, lost and frustrated.

What went wrong? We sent them directions in their email confirmation letter. But they choose to use Mapquest. After all, it always, or nearly always, worked in the past, right?

I'm going to write some more about this below but if you just want to get to the point of this article, here it is: someone, probably everyone, who lives in any area of the world has a good understanding about driving in that area. More so than a roomful of mapping software people in Dilbert cubicles in San Jose or Bombay. If you want to get somewhere, go local to get directions. They can provide helpful landmarks ("turn left at the red barn with three silos") while Mapquest and other such sites, do not.

Let's say Mapquest is perfect and knows where every address is in the USA, one of the largest and most complex countries in the world. They know everything there is to know about every street, highway, alley, driveway, and old dirt road. Would I use them? Sure. And I have. Many times. But if a local tells me how to find him, I will just use Mapquest to get me to the area and then I will switch over to the local's directions.

Let's say that there was no problem with Mapquest's directions to our inn. You would still have to follow the directions precisely. One missed landmark, or wrong turn, and you are sunk if you don't realize right away that you made a mistake.

Our guest made a wrong turn somewhere, drove into some remotely settled part of the countryside in the middle of a very dark night and drove for hours trying to figure out what went wrong. No stores or gas stations were open. They tried to use their cell phone but cell phone coverage in the mountains around here is spotty at best.

Here is another tip: if you get a decent cell phone signal in Vermont, STOP! Otherwise you will drive out of it in a minute or two. The exceptions are some larger towns like Burlington.

The underlying problem was that Mapquest told them the shortest route to take. I told them the best route to take. My directions would have added about five minutes to their trip but were far less likely to get them lost and, if they did make a wrong turn, it would be easy to re-find the correct road or to stop and ask at an all night gas station because my directions took them through a large town instead of remote countryside.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Flying JetBlue to Burlington

JetBlue flies non-stop from JFK to Burlington VT Intl. airport (BTV) four times a day. All our guests flying JetBlue have told us that their flight went well, the planes were well kept, and the personnel excellent.

Here is a link to a blog by travel writer Christopher Elliott about his recent experience on a JetBlue flight.

With the challenges of modern airline travel, this article is a useful insight into how one airline operates. If you are planning to fly to Vermont, I would suggest looking at Jet Blue.

(I have no connection to JetBlue and was not compensated in any way for this blog entry.)

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

The Great Perseids Meteor Shower

Perseids photo courtesy NASA

The Perseids (PURR-see-idz) meteor shower is going on now and is expected to peak between Sunday August 12 and Tuesday August 14 when there will be about a hundred visible meteors per hour.

This year should be an especially good time to view the streaking lights in the night sky because we will be in a New Moon period when there will be no moon visible. The best places to view the meteors are in rural locations where there is little or no light pollution from cities. A place like Vermont for instance, with the added benefit of cleaner, clearer air, plus some high elevations if you would like.

According to NASA scientist Bill Cooke, "It's going to be a great show."

The place to start looking is in a north easterly direction starting around 9:00 pm on Sunday. This is when "Earthgrazer" meteors will be approaching from the horizon and hit a glancing blow (a "grazing" type of hit, thus the name) against the earth's atmosphere. The friction will light them up like a match striking sandpaper. Earthgrazers are slower and more colorful than other types of meteors but they are rarer too.

As the constellation Perseus climbs higher in the night sky, the frequency of the meteors will increase and, at its peak a little before dawn, you will see one or two per minute.

Enjoy the show whether you can make it to Vermont or not

Sky map of the constellation Perseus courtesy of NASA

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus except the photo and map

Highest Altitude Restaurant in Vermont

Stowe gondola near the top of Mount Mansfield

Here is a different idea for lunch: eat at Stowe's Cliff House restaurant on Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain in Vermont. The restaurant is nearly at the top of the mountain. It is open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm everyday the gondola is running. Reservations are not taken for lunch.

The food is a little pricey but very good. And you get a million dollar view free through floor-to-ceiling windows. You will see the Worcester Range in Vermont and on most days, the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Cliff House underwent a renovation last year and it looks great. There is a new exhibition kitchen where chef Jeff Egan serves an American cuisine menu with rustic Vermont recipes based on locally grown ingredients.

The Cliff House will be open for dinner August 18 and 25; Sept 1, 15, and 29; and Oct 6 for special Summit Series dinners. These are five course dinners that start with a champagne reception. Reservations are required - you can reserve online or by calling 800-253-4754. Space is limited. You can see a schedule and menus for the Summit Series dinners here..

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Stowe Car Show Reminder
The Stowe antique and classic car show is this weekend. I've been seeing some great looking old cars in the area the last couple of days. Many of the entrants come up here a few days early to do some scenic touring. The show usually attracts nearly 1,000 collector automobiles.

Look for it at Nichol's Field a few minutes south of Stowe on Route 100. For more information, see my July 20 entry by going to the bottom of this page and clicking on the gold "2" to the right of where it says Page 1 of 2, and then scroll down.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Festival of the Arts Continues This Weekend

Candy Barr Plein Air Class

The month long Festival of the Arts continues this weekend with these events (click dates for links to more information):

Friday, August 10
Accessorizing Seminar
Asia In VT...Art & Antiques
Mad For Massage!
Authentic English Afternoon Tea
Culinary Tour of Italy
Kundalinii Express Concert
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Cigarettes
The Fantasticks

Saturday, August 11
Artists' Open Spaces / Open Studio Visits
Art on the Porch at the Creators Shop
Digital Photograph & Photoshop Workshop
Basic Drawing
Farmers' Market Fun
Chinese Exercise & Meditation
Favorite Dinner Party Desserts
Folk Art Workshop
Innovative Homes of MRV Tour
Poetry Workshop, Picnic & Reading
Wilder Raku Firing Workshop
Authentic English Afternoon Tea
Portuguese Dinner
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Cigarettes
The Fantasticks
Kundalinii Express / Prabhata Samgiita Concert

Sunday, August 12
Artists' Open Spaces / Open Studio Visits
Mad For Massage!
Sean Callahan at Artisans' Gallery
Warren Village Street Fair
Eastman School of Music Alumni Concert
Sunset Drumming by River - Mad River Massage
Vermont Philharmonic POPS Concert

Monday, August 13
A Garden Tea
Candy Barr's Plein Air Class
Mosaic Workshop-You Break It, You Make It
Picasso Kids Art Camp
Labyrinth Building at Camp Bridges
Perseids Meteor Shower
Barn-B-Q

Bluegrass in the Green Mountains

Some of the country's best bluegrass bands will be in Alburgh VT this Fri, Sat and Sun for the Lake Champlain Bluegrass Festival.

In the line-up are Rhonda Vincent (seven time female vocalist of the year) & the Rage, Doyle Lawson & Quick Silver (six time vocal group of the year), The Gibson Brothers (three number one albums), James Reams & the Barnstormers from NY state, Adam Dewey & Crazy Creek (MA), Bob Degree & the Bluegrass Storm (VT), Southern Rail (MA), Yonder Hill (Montreal), The Mad Mountain Scramblers (VT), and The Cabin Fever Band (NY).

There is free weekend camping for tents and RV's.

In addition to the performances, there will also be workshops, jam sessions, fiddle & banjo contest, craft shows, hayrides, bonfires, and BBQ's.

Ticket information is on the website, as are some very good directions with your choice of scenic routes or direct routes. It is a nicely done website by the way.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Vermont Swimming Holes

Warren Falls Swimming Hole [photo Copyright � 2005 by Dave Hajdasz]

This is the time of year to enjoy swimming holes. Vermont is blessed with hundreds of them. It's a popular activity for young and old. It's free of charge and free of eye burning pool chemicals.

You could strike out on your own to find a river or stream and probably find a place to enjoy by yourself. It's nearly impossible to drive anywhere in Vermont and not see a lot of streams and rivers. Just find a place to pull off and then you can sit down on a rock and dip your feet in to let the water current carry your cares away. The best swimming holes are well known to the locals in any area so you could ask around locally. But it's easy to do some research before you arrive too.

Last year I came across a great website called swimmingholes.info (or dot org - either one works) and found it an interesting read and full of helpful descriptions about great places to swim. It says it has information on 975 swimming holes in Canada and the US. I counted about 75 swimming holes in Vermont. If you use the information on the website, send the author Tom Hilegass and Dave Hajdasz an email to say thanks. They do an enormous amount of work on the website for free: mail [at] swimmingholes [dot] info (I typed to email address that way to help protect them from spammer robots.)

Note: in some of the more remote swimming holes you may find some skinny dippers. Now before you get excited, I should point out that they will probably be 50 to 60 year old hippies. Just kidding . . . about the hippie part, not the age range. Seriously, there may be a few kids and older folks who are skinny dipping if the swimming hole is well out of sight of a road. It's actually an old country tradition here in Vermont, a rural state where people who lived in the country did not have the money to spend on things like swimming suits. Most of the old folks here will tell you they did it when they were kids but not any more. If that kind of thing offends you, stick to the swimming holes near the roads.

Note: the water will most likely be clean but you should be aware that it is not a good idea to drink it. After a rain, the e.coli level can rise because the rainwater ran through a cow pasture. And if there has been a lot of rain, water levels can be high and fast. It is surprising how just a few inches of rapidly flowing water can push hard on your feet and legs. If you don't see anyone else in the water, or cars with Vermont license plates in the parking lot, or the water is running fast and muddy, it would probably be best to pass it up and come back the next day.

In addition to the swimming holes in rivers and streams, there are numerous beaches at lakes. The reservoir here in Waterbury just reopened after being drained seven years for dam repairs. It's a pretty lake and has a very nice swimming beach and picnic area right off Route 100 in Waterbury Center. A good source of information about beaches around the state is at vtliving.com website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor (except the photo which is Copyright � 2005 by Thomas Hillegass)

1000 Cheese Tastings: American Cheese Society Convention in Burlington
The American Cheese Society Convention is being held this week in Burlington. You have to be a member of the society to attend but there is one event open to the public. Everyone is invited to the Sheraton Burlington on Saturday, August 4th, 2007 from 4:30 - 8:00 pm for a cheese tasting.

This is a rare opportunity to try "more than 1,000 handcrafted artisan and farmstead cheeses, from producers throughout North America . . . entered in the American Cheese Society's Annual Competition . . . there will be wines, beers and specialty foods that complement the stars of this event."

In addition to this event, there is the Vermont Cheese Trail, available year around. The "trail" is made up of cheese producers around the state, many of them open to the public. To find them, go to the Vermont Cheese Council's Cheese Trail page on their website. There are 37 facilities listed here with links to the companies' web sites. The ones open to the public are flagged.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor (except the VT Cheese Council's map above) Grunberg Haus

Vermont Factory Tours
Factory Tours USA is a web site which lists manufacturing facilities open to the public. The factory tours in VT page begins with Ben & Jerry's ice cream here in Waterbury. It is the number one tourist attraction in VT and last year hosted 275,000 visitors with its famous half hour tours.

Food processing is big business in Vermont, so you will find the "manufacturers" here make cider, cheese, chocolate, and beer. And naturally, because of all the trees, there are wood product manufacturers too. Take a look at the list before your travel to VT and you will probably see a manufacturer you would like to visit.

Note: this list is very good but not comprehensive. There are a number of glassblowing studios for instance, (admittedly, they are mostly one person craft studios) not just Simon Pearce as listed on the website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Drive the Wilds of Vermont at the 4x4 Off Road School

I enjoy writing about all the things to do in Vermont including the mainstream activities such as scenic touring, hiking, canoeing, skiing, and so forth. But I also like finding out-of the-ordinary activities and out-of the-way places. This is one of those activities in one of those places:

The 4x4 Center provides an unusual driving school that teaches off road driving. They use specially prepared Land Rovers. The school's experienced staff teaches driving plus how to use all the equipment needed for off roading such as winches.

The school has access to 3000 acres of terrain "ranging from marshy woods to rocky mountainous terrain, with some desert-like conditions" added in.

There is an optional second day which has greater challenges in a remote part of Vermont where the terrain is "very uncompromising, in fact, some spots will require winching just to get through!" Both days begin at 8:30am and go until 4:30pm

How's that for significant cool factor? You can tell everyone back at work that you went off roading in Vermont. Plus, there is some practical application for improving your driving skills and increasing your understanding of and feel for vehicle dynamics and how that works to help you control a vehicle even in adverse conditions. One other important thing . . . it's a ton of fun.

The 4x4 Center is headquartered in Burlington and they also sell and service Land Rovers. See their 4x4 Center website or call them at 802-864-8565 or toll free at 800-864-9180.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Huge Festival of the Arts in Mad River Valley VT August 3 - September 3

The Mad River Valley Festival of the Arts is a very popular, month long series of events in and around the towns of Waitsfield and Warren VT in the north central part of the state.

There will be community dances, ice cream social, musical performances, artist studio tours, gallery events, children's activities, street fairs, fine dining, concerts, readings, plays, dance performances, architectual home tours, workshops, garden tours. A huge event with something for everyone.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Two More of the Best Scenic Drives in Vermont
I wrote an entry June 1 about two of the best scenic drives in Vermont and I'd like to add another two, both of which are the only two toll roads in the state.

The first one, Equinox Mountain Skyline Drive is in Arlington VT, in the southwestern part of the state. Skyline Drive starts from Historic Route 7 in the village of Sunderland. The elevation here at the bottom is 600 feet and by the time you are at the top, you will have risen another 3,200 feet in the five mile drive. There are beautiful panoramas along the way and the summit is amazing. The Battenkill river and the woods below look like miniatures.

This is a winding road built back in the 1940's. With all the environmental regulations we have now, it's safe to say that another road like this will never be built in Vermont. So, it's a rare opportunity to drive a road like this.

The toll is $7 per automobile for car and driver and
$2 per passenger with children under 12 free. Motorcycles are $6 per bike and driver, $2 per passenger.

There was some discussion here back in the 50's or 60's about building a road along the main spine of the Green Mountains similar to the Blue Ridge Parkway in the south but there was too much opposition to it.

The other toll road is the Mount Mansfield Toll Road in Stowe, right off Route 108 a few miles outside the village on the way to the ski areas. It climbs to the top of Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain in Vermont at nearly 4400 feet.

The climate here in the winter is very tough and you will see alpine vegetation that is thought to have survived from the ice age. In the winter, the toll road is closed to car traffic and it is a ski run at Stowe Ski Resort.

The drive takes about 20 to 30 minutes on a dirt road with a few pull-offs along the way where you can admire the view. At the top is a ranger station with a small museum with displays about alpine climate and vegetation.

Vermont's Long Trail, which runs the length of the state, north and south, goes along the ridge of Mount Mansfield. You can walk along the trail and at Frenchman's Pile, a pile of rocks marking the spot, you can see in 360 degrees. The Worcester Range in Vermont and the White Mountains are to the East, and the Adirondacks of NY are to the West. The city of Burlington and Lake Champlain look like miniatures beneath you.

The toll road was built in 1856 as the carriage road to transport guests to the Summit House Hotel. The hotel was was dismantled in 1958.

The toll is $21 per car (plus $6 per person over six people). Bicycles and motorcycles are not permitted on the road. The toll road is open daily 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., May 25 - October 14.

Looking north from the Mount Mansfield Toll Road in Stowe (photo from Wikipedia.org)

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Plays
Summer time and the playhouse theatre (they nearly all spell the word in the Middle English version) season is in full swing. From time to time, I come across a new theater or theatrical group I have not heard of before. I am not sure how many there are in Vermont but it is more than
anyone would think for such a small, rural state. We do love our arts here.

Here is a list of the ones with summer productions, followed by a small list of fall performances:

Southern VT

Dorset Theatre Festival
Dorset VT
"Dulcy" July 19 - Aug 5
"Sleuth" Aug 9 - 25

Vermont Theatre Company Brattleboro
No current schedule posted yet for the season

Old Castle Theatre Company
Bennington
"On Golden Pond" July 13 - 29
"The Fantasticks" August 17- September 2

Central VT

Poultney Summer Theatre Poultney
"The Taming of the Shrew" by Shakespeare
July 26 - August 4

Weston Playhouse
Weston
"A Number" July 25 - Aug 19
"Hairspray" Aug 2 - 25

Northern VT

Lost Nation Theater
Montpelier
"Tartuffe" by Moli�re August 2�19
"Henry V" by Shakespeare: September 20�October 7

Adamant Quarryworks Theatre
NOTE: free admission
"Long Day's Journey Into the Night" until Aug 5
"Charlotte's Web" Aug 9 - 19

Skinner Barn Commons Group Waitsfield
"The Fantastiks" Aug 9 - 19

Stowe Theatre Guild
Stowe
"Into the Woods" now through Aug 4

Waterbury Festival Players Waterbury
"Beyond Therapy" Aug 8 - 25

Fall and Winter Productions

Northern Stage
White River Junction
"Doubt" Oct 4 - 23

Lamoille County Players
Hyde Park
"The Spitfire Grill"
September 27-30 and October 4-7
(A couple of our inn guests, who were very experienced play attendees, went to one of this group's performances a while back and could not get over the high quality of the performance - they told me emphatically to recommended it to all our guests.

Lyric Theatre
Burlington
"West Side Story" Nov 8 - 11

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

VT Scenic Road Reviews on Milebymile.com Web Site
I received an email this evening thanking me for writing a review of Vermont's beautiful Route 100. That's impressive enough to even be thanked (in the years since I wrote the review, I have only received a terse note saying I had misspelled the name of a village) but I was surprised that this individual had ridden a bicycle the entire length of the road, 220 miles. Plus he had to pedal up some serious and numerous hills along the way. Quite a feat.

In you are planning a visit to VT, it would be worth spending a few minutes looking over not only the milebymile.com Route 100 review I wrote but also the Route 17, and Route 2 reviews someone else wrote. They are here. These roads are some of the major scenic drives in Vermont but there are many, many more quiet country lanes and back roads all over the state. Ask your lodging host for some ideas on which roads are good scenic drives in the area.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

American Society of Dowsers Convention July 29 - Aug 6

My Uncle Bill was a very likable person whom I recall as having a bemused smile on his face as though life were a mostly silly affair playing out in front of us. He and my aunt owned a women's clothing store in Worcester MA but in the evenings he sat in his favorite chair drinking a few Carling Black Label beers and listening to his police scanner (rare equipment several decades ago and I'm not sure it was technically legal at the time). We would read and talk but when the radio crackled and a voice came over it, he would cock his head and listen while carrying on whatever he was doing. I would ask him what was going on and he would explain.

Bill (I call him Bill now that I'm the age he was when I knew him) introduced me to the American Society of Dowsers . He belonged to it and told me it certainly did work and that our ancestors believed so too. Like anything, it was a skill that some people were born with and other people had to learn. You got better at it by practicing. I joined. I received an occasional newsletter but, like many teenagers, or at least the lot I hung out with, my interests changed from year to year finally focusing most of the time on such modern wonders as internal combustion powered mobile machinery, and girls.

A few years ago, those memories of Bill came back when I discovered (or re-learned) that the American Society of Dowsers is headquartered in Vermont. Danville to be specific. It's near Cabot, Peacham, and St. Johnsbury in the northeast part of the state, and just an hour's drive from where I live.

Dowsing is the ancient (and I mean ancient - thousands of years) art of finding water by walking over a piece of ground holding a dowsing stick which moves when you cross underground water. It's usually water that is sought but it can be other items too if you are really good at it. In rural parts of the world, like VT, it is how people used to find a place to dig a well. Dowsers are still in use today for such purposes.

Like any self respecting group of five or more people living in two or more places, they have an annual convention . This year will be their 47th. It is being held at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, just 20 minutes down the road from us. I should go. It would make Bill smile. In fact, he would get a kick out of it if a bunch of us went so why don't you plan to show up also.

There will be workshops, schools, speakers, vendors, the usual rigmarole you see anywhere but I think this one will be more entertaining and educational than most I can think of.

Have fun, learn some new things, and keep an eye out for people with pleasantly quiet demeanors, slight grins, and a twinkle in their eye - they may be relatives of mine.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

"Ya Girl" Outdoor Clothing Made By and For Women

When I was in high school, I worked a few summers at the local J.C. Penney store. That was decades ago and, believe it or not, blue jeans for girls were just coming into fashion. I remember a number of high school and college girls strolling right into the men's clothing department to see if they could find a pair of jeans that would fit. Unfortunately, either the waist or the hips would fit but rarely both. It wasn't long before the manufacturers woke up and started producing jeans cut to fit women's bodies.

All that came back to mind when I came across Ya Girl work pants. These are tough, duck cloth work pants manufactured to meet the demands of outdoors activities such as hiking, farming, and gardening, while fitting the female body.

These rugged pants are made in the most rugged part of Vermont known as the Northeast Kingdom. It's a beautiful part of the state with a hardy environment. The people who live there are just as hardy (but friendly!) and most of them make their living outdoors. They need clothing that will stand up to a challenging environment and harsh work conditions.

"Ya Girl" clothing is designed, riveted, and sewn by women in Vermont. The next time you travel to Vermont, you can find them at Addison Outfitters in Vergennes, Middlebury Mountaineering in Middlebury, Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington, and The Pick and Shovel in Newport. Or order directly from the company's online store.

Good Airline Tips

Thanks to a link at Upgrade: Travel Better Blog (link in the left column of this page), I found another blog called Seat 2B with a very interesting article about Northwest Airlines. Northwest has two flights a day into and out of Burlington VT (BTV) from Detroit Metro Airport (DTT).

Essentially, the Seat 2B blogger, Joe Brancatelli, says Northwest has cut back so much that they run out of flight personnel near the end of each month. Here is a key paragraph from the article:

"Steer Clear"

"Northwest is trying to operate with about 25 percent fewer pilots and co-pilots than it employed in 2000. The inevitable result: massive crew shortages at the end of June when Northwest�s remaining pilots �timed out� and could no longer fly. (According to federal regulations, pilots cannot fly more than 100 hours a month.) Northwest canceled more than 1,200 flights during the last 10 days of June. The final 10 days of July and August won�t be much better."

To be fair, Northwest is trying to get better. They have a Customers First pledge they are trying to live up to.

As someone who has used the Burlington airport a couple of times a year for the past seven years, I can say it is a pretty good little airport. Much of this is due to its small size. It is easy to get from curb, to parking lot, to gate, to luggage carousel.

A surprising number of airlines fly into Burlington. You an see a list here. And a list of all the flights is here.

I recommend to guests that they also check flights into Manchester NH, Albany NY, and Boston Logan in that order. Also, check JFK because Jet Blue flies from there to Burlington and it is a better-than-average airline, despite some recent troubles.

Using our inn's north central VT location for comparison, Manchester is 2.5 hours drive, Albany is a little over 3 hours, and Boston is 3.5 hours. Time to southern VT will be about an hour or so shorter. We are about a 40 minute drive from the Burlington airport.

Manchester and Albany are good choices because Southwest Airlines flies to both. Southwest has very good prices and, probably more important, competent employees with pleasant attitudes. Ditto for Jet Blue.

Seat 2B is one of several blogs on the new Conde Nast Portfolio website. It will be interesting to see how many airlines advertise in the magazine. Subscriptions are very cheap by the way: just $12/year. [Disclaimer: I am not receiving any compensation from Conde Nast and in fact have never been in contact with them.]

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Stowe's Antique and Classic Car Show August 10 - 12, 2007

Stowe's Antique and Classic Car Show is one of the state's largest events, attracting more than a thousand rare and unusual vehicles. This year it will be held Aug 10 - 12 and will be located as usual at Nichols Field on Route 100 a few minutes south of Stowe village.

Tip: the best time to visit the show is mid-morning to early afternoon. Usually by 3:00, the majority of the cars have left the field and the exhibitors are out touring or going to dinner. That is especially true on Sunday when many of them leave late morning to begin the trip home which may be as long as a day's drive for some of them.

This event is always held rain or shine. I can't remember what the admission price is (perhaps $8 ?) but it's reasonable. There is a food tent and, while it's not great food, it's probably what you would expect: hamburgers, hot dogs, and so on that are OK. But there are plenty of alternatives: Stowe has about 55 restaurants and they range from good quality to outstanding.

If you are a car enthusiast, you should also note the British Invasion which takes place also in Stowe, Sept 14 - 16, 2007, and is one of the country's largest all British cars shows with about 600 cars entered each year.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Sailing Regatta Looking for Crew Members

Here's something different to do on your trip to Vermont: volunteer to be a crew person on a sailboat at the annual Regatta for Lake Champlain. The regatta is a fun event, not a serious race, that raises money to benefit several organizations working to help the lake. Beginners are welcome.

There is a July 20 Friday adult party from 7:00 pm to midnight (tickets at the door or online) at the ECHO Aquarium in Burlington. The party would be a fun way to wrap up a visit to the Vermont Brewers Festival (see my entry below).

The Regatta is the next day, Saturday July 21.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Doh! The Simpsons Live in Springfield VT
I wasn't going to write a blog entry about the new Simpsons movie opening in Springfield VT in a couple of weeks because it's already received enough publicity and I did not think it applied to most people traveling to Vermont.

However, I've received inquiries about where Springfield VT is located and had some discussions about how it was chosen.

I did not think Vermont's Springfield would win the competition. Shows what I know. But I'm in good company. The producers of the movie did not think Vermont would win either and therefore did not invite the town to participate in the competition. What a bunch of Homers.

I know I have some overseas readers so, for them, here's the story. The Simpsons animated television show had been on the air in the US for 100 years (rounded down to a more accurate 18 years), or at least as long as television itself it seems. The Simpson family live in a town called Springfield. There is a new movie about the Simpsons to be released and the producers wanted to get publicity by having towns named Springfield compete for the honor of hosting the movie premier. Or something like that.

According to USA Today's resident grammarian, Springfield VT beat "out" 13 other towns with the same name as the show's fictional city. (Attention deficit sidebar: I don't know what ever happened to simply "beat" - it seems to have been killed "off" a couple of decades ago about when items on the computer were printed "out" in "portrait," formerly know as vertical, or "landscape," formerly know as horizontal. I don't know how computer science majors managed to get into college when they scored -50 on their English SAT's. I blame the parents . . . people like Homer and Marge. Everyone else but me thinks they are fictional.)

Back on track: you can read the story on the the USA Today website about how Springfield VT was overlooked when the invitations were sent ("out") but then made a video with a local Homer lookalike chasing a donut through the town that cinched the win. Plus, Springfield VT has a nearby nuclear power facility. No, really, they do!

Here is the answer to the questions I have received:

1. Yes, there is a Springfield VT.

2. Yes, you can find it on a map. Here.

3. About an hour and a half south of our inn and two hours from Boston.

3. (a) Yes, NORTH of Boston.

3. (b) And to the guy in Illinois who called and anyone else like him:

Yes, I'm sure.

No, not exactly an hour and a half . . .

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor except the Simpson illustration
Grunberg Haus

Typical Springfield VT residents according to
Matt Groening who no doubt owns the rights to this
illustration and has a fleet of lawyers to prove it,
so please don't forward this to him.

Huneck Art Produced for Stowe Fed Cup Tennis Tournament and New Store Opening

To celebrate the Women's Fed Cup tennis event and a new gallery opening in Stowe this weekend, Vermont artist Stephen Huneck has created a new dog work called "Ball Boy."

You can order a "Ball Boy" giclee as a Black, Yellow or Chocolate Lab at the new Stowe Stephen Huneck gallery or online.

The new gallery in Stowe has its opening Friday July 13. It is located in the middle of the village near the intersection of Routes 100 and 108. Look for the sculpture of a Lady with Labs. Artist Stephen Huneck will be there with gallery owners Patty and David Jaqua to sign his books and artwork. Dogs are always invited in the gallery and there will be treats for them as well.

About an hour's drive from Stowe is Stephen's unique dog chapel, located on a farm called Dog Mountain just outside St. Johnsbury VT (a great town to visit too). All are welcome. As the sign outside says, "All creeds, all breeds." It is a beautiful little church complete with pews and stained glass windows and, more important to the dogs, plenty of room outside to run and play, plus a pond for swimming and fetching.

There is a map on the Dog Mountain website but it's a little hard to read the name of the road. The Dog Chapel is located at 143 Parks Road, off Spaulding Road which you can see better on this Google map.

"I wanted to build a chapel, one that celebrated the spiritual bond we have with our dogs" - Stephen Huneck

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor except Stephen Huneck artwork and photograph which are copyrighted by the artist

Messing About With Boats at Lake Champlain Maritime Museum July 14 and 15

"There is nothing- absolutely nothing-
half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in boats." *

This weekend, Saturday July 14 & Sunday July 15, 2007
the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is having its Small Boat Festival celebrating the pleasures of building and putting a small boat on the water.

You can just watch or be hands-on in learning how to build, row, paddle, or sail. There will be canoes, kayaks, sailboats to try.

The Kids Duct Tape Regatta is always a hoot. Families are invited to design, build, and race a cardboard creation held together with duct tape. It's surprising how well many of them work. Construction is from 11:00- 1:00 with the regatta at 1:30. Tip: see the Museum's "Boat Building in the Champlain Valley" exhibit for some how-to's.

Umiak outfitters will have beginner and advanced kayaking classes.

On Sunday, the Lake Champlain Challenge three mile race takes place at 11:30 and is open to non-motorized boats. Last year, 50 watercraft raced in this event.

There is also a Boats Around the World photography exhibit featuring 125 photographs ranging from fishing boats in Ghana and Malaysia to sailing ships on the Adriatic and the coast of Maine. The exhibit will be on view through July 29.

And there is an exhibit of building a birch bark canoe by Aaron York, an internationally recognized Native American Artist based in Swanton, Vermont, based on academic research to be a replica of the type seen by Samuel de Champlain during his travels here in 1609.

* "There is nothing- absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it."

Rat to Mole in the classic children's book, The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame, published 1908. See the Wikipedia entry for more information. There is no copyright on the book since it is so old and therefore you can read it in its entirety on Wikipedia also.

Ratty and Mole Messing About in Boats

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor except the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum photo, and illustration from Wikipedia

Vermont Brewers Festival July 20 + 21
Vermont is home to more breweries per capita than any state in the USA. To many of us, that's good. Fewer people, more beer.

Once a year, all those brewers put down their hops shovels and get together on a lake front to celebrate and do a little competing. They even invite some of their friendly competitors from Massachusetts, New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Delaware.

This year, the Vermont Brewers Festival will be held Friday and Saturday, July 20 and 21 at Waterfront Park in Burlington in the northwest part of the state. Take Exit 14 from I-89, go toward downtown Burlington 1.5 miles on Route 2, Main Street, to the dead end in front of the old train station. Turn right on Lake Street and you will see the festival on your left.

Participating brewers are there by invitation only, based on brewery capacity, distinctiveness, and product quality. The festival will have many brands of lagers, ales, and unique products such as fruit beers, barley wines, and Belgian-style white beers. You can read descriptions of the breweries and other information in the 16 page Festival Guide which is available at the festival or by downloading here.

The website has a detailed schedule of the musical entertainment, food, vendors, and educational sessions. These educational opportunities include: Cooking with Beer, Organic Beer Panel Discussion, Chocolate and Beer Pairings, Grilling with Porter, Beer & Cheese Pairings, Hop School.

Waterfront Park in Burlington is a very attractive large grassy area next to Lake Champlain with great views of the NY Adirondack Mountains to the west and the Green Mountains in the other direction. Tip: bring your camera and hang around for some wonderful sunsets.

Two Vermont Brewers signs will be raffled at the Festival to benefit the Cooking for LIfe program, part of the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Gift Idea for Skiers

Magic Mountain Red Chairs Now on Sale

Here is a perfect gift for skiers: a chair lift swing from Magic Mountain in Londonderry Vermont. At $500 plus shipping, it's a little pricey I suppose but it does have the swing frame and a coat of fresh red paint or other color if you wish. Considering what skiers spend on their sport, this is a bargain. And of course, you have to add in the cool factor. The swing even comes with a double black diamond Red Line sign.

Earlier this year, Mad River Glen was selling its historic single chairs at auction for a minimum of $1000 each so with Magic Mountain's chairs you are getting twice the chair for half the price!

As they say, you'll be the only one in your neighborhood with a chair lift swing. Heck, you might even be the only one in your state.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

VT Mozart Festival July 15 - August 5
"The hills are alive with music," and Vermont is full of music performances especially during the summer. One of the largest events is the Vermont Mozart Festival which starts this weekend and runs through early August. The Inn at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne VT will be hosting the first performance. (Google map.)

In case of rain, the performance will be moved to the Robert E. Miller Expo Center Champlain Valley Fairgrounds Essex Junction, Vermont. (Google map.)

Many performances are scheduled during the summer and you can see a VT Mozart Festival calendar here. These concerts are a nice way to wrap up a day. Most begin at 7:00 to 8:00 pm and last about two hours. You are encouraged to bring a picnic basket. Dress is casual.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

The King and I at the Weston Playhouse

Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic play, The King and I, is playing at the Weston Playhouse for the next three weeks. This is the play that features such immortal musical numbers as �Whistle a Happy Tune,� �Hello Young Lovers,� �Shall We Dance?� and �Getting to Know You.�

The Weston Playhouse has been known for many years as one of the top playhouses in Vermont.

While you are in Weston, you will probably want to spend time at the famous Vermont Country Store and the smaller but more traditional Weston Village Store. I've been to both and enjoyed them. The Vermont Country Store can get crowded when the tour buses pull up but the store is big so people tend to spread out. There is a nice picnic area and woodland trails behind the store's parking lot for anyone in your group who is not a shopper.

The town of Weston is a very nice looking village and worth a visit anytime. Weston is located in the southeastern part of the state (Google map).

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

More Women-only Vermont Outdoor Adventures
Even though there is only a few days notice on these next two items, I thought I would throw in a couple of more outdoor adventure camps devoted to women because of popular response to my post about Doe Camp Abnaki.

July 14, 2007 Ladies ONLY Shotgun Shooting Clinic at the North Country Sportsmen's Club, located on Gun Club Road, Williston, VT (near Burlington in the north west part of the state). There will be classroom safety instruction, trap range instruction, lunch, hunting tips, clothing, and the art of trap shooting.

The cost is an amazingly low $15. You better confirm that when you call to register! That $15 fee buys you two rounds of trap, loaner shotgun, ammunition, eye and ear protection and lunch. Clinic is rain or shine. Contact: Cindy Pease (802) 872-9508 (please, no calls after 8:00 p.m.) or via email at cindy.pease@verizon.net. A registration form is also available at the Club's website.

Photo (c) Extreme Adventures VT

July 15th- 20th - Women's Multi Sport Week, Hike, Kayak, Cave, Climb, & Raft for ages 18 and older, sponsored by Extreme Adventures Vermont. It costs about $960 more than the shotgun clinic above but you get a lot more too. In fact, it looks like a very good value considering everything the women campers get to do during the week.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor except photo by Extreme Adventures above

Children's Junior Ranger Program in Woodstock This Thurs
If you are planning to go to the July 14 Billings Farm Children's Day I wrote about a few days ago, you may also be interested in the nearby Junior Ranger Program on Thursday July 12.

The Junior Ranger Program starts 2:30 pm at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park Visitors Center in Woodstock VT. The Park is "next door" to Billings Farm and Museum. Boys and girls age 7 - 10 can take part in several activities guided by a park ranger and see what it is like to be a ranger.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Park Visitors Center

The web site does not say what those activities are or how long the course lasts. In fact, the web site needs a lot of work to be informative and really show off all the assets of this great facility. Government bureaucrats are not marketers however, so the web site, although well designed, lacks enough information, especially photography, to enable viewers make an informed decision about whether it is worth seeing. So you'll have to trust me completely on this one, the park is definitely worth seeing. Click here for an events calendar.

The Junior Ranger Program is free. Reservations are not required but if you would like more information, or you don't know me well enough to trust me, you can call 802-45-3368 ext 22.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Solar Fest Alternative Energy Expo
SolarFest 2007 will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15 at the Forget-Me-Not Farm in Tinmouth Vermont (Google map says it's in nearby Middletown Springs VT). Tinmouth is a few minutes north of Rutland in the south central part of the state.

This is an educational and entertainment event that last year attracted about 3800 people from many states. Now in its 13th year, SolarFest focuses on solar and wind energy. There will be dozens of workshops, about 100 vendors, and musical entertainment.

SolarFest Vendor Area

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

July 14 Children's Day at Billings Farm, Woodstock VT

Cow petting at Billings Farm

The 22nd annual Children's Day at Billings Farm and Museum will be held this coming Saturday, July 14. Billings is a great family destination any time of the year but his event makes it even more special for children who will get an insight into what it was like to be a farm kid back in the old days.

Children and adults will get to watch and take part in traditional farm activities, horse-drawn wagon rides, games, farm animal programs, butter and ice cream making, fence building, wood sawing, stenciling muslin, making a quilt pattern, and coloring farm bookmarks to take home.

I think Billings Farm and Museum is one of the top places to visit in Vermont, and the town of Woodstock is one of the most beautiful in all of New England. Billings Farm is a highly well maintained and first class facility, and the Museum has many top quality displays.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Women Only Camp Teaches Outdoor Skills

Camp Abnaki in North Hero Island Vermont on the shores of Lake Champlain

Doe Camp is a project of the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association and Vermont Outdoors Woman devoted to teaching women outdoor skills in a friendly, non-competitive, female only environment (some of the instructors are male). The emphasis is on having a fun experience while gaining skills and developing friendships.

It is open to women 18 years and older and is held several times a year. The next camp is Sept 14 - 16, 2007 at Camp Abnaki, a YMCA camp on North Hero Island, Vermont right on the shore of Lake Champlain.

Doe Camp Abnaki has courses in firearms, fishing, archery, kayaking, canoeing, survival, ATV riding, and tree identification.

What is equally impressive as the number of courses is the cost. Thanks to generous sponsorships, Doe Camp is only $245, which includes food, lodging, and instruction. There is an extra fee for some programs and additional discounts for students, tenting, or drive-in. Scholarships are available.

More information is available on the Doe Camp Abnaki web site.

Here is a detailed listing of the Doe Camp Course offerings:

Archery using woman-friendly equipment: learn how to select the proper equipment, technique, safety.

Fishing with live bait and lures on Lake Champlain: learn what to use for bait and lures to bring in the fish. Learn to read the water and where the fish are. Basic casting and retrieval techniques, lure choice, varieties of live bait, handling of fish.

Fly fishing: learn basics of three different casting strokes, knot tying, fly selection and identification.

Fly tying: learn to tie various types of flies and to use them.

Forest and land management: review Vermont forest history to understand what we have and where we might be headed. Take a forest tour to explore wildlife habitat, deer management, water quality, wilderness, and forest health issues, along with woodlot management.

Property boundary identification: learn how to find and follow a property line even in the depths of the woods.

Tree identification: learn to tell the difference between a pine tree and a hemlock, a red maple and a sugar maple. Learn to count the age of a tree, and how a forest evolves from one type to another over time. You will be able to name deciduous trees in the midst of winter even after their leaves have fallen to the ground.

Game cooking: learn quick, inexpensive and easy ways to cook up some venison the right way! Beginning with the basics of removing the meat from the bone and finishing up with some appetizing venison for lunch

Open fire camp cooking: learn how to cook on a campfire from starting a fire to knowing when the coals are ready.

Hunting skills: learn how to find your game after it is hit, and the techniques of getting something as large as a deer back to your vehicle without help.

Training hunting dogs: learn how to train a dog from a pup to a master hunting dog.

Critter calling: making various animal noises including ducks, moose, deer, turkey. Easy to do and always creates a lot of laughter.

Nature

Animal tracking: learn how to track and read the signs of wild animals.

Birding hike: learn waterfowl and songbirds and their habitats in woods and waters.

Nature photography: a slide show covering the fundamentals: light, composition, perspective, depth of field, exposure, basic artistic and technical aspects, image editing tips in Adobe Photoshop, fieldwork with discussion on seeing and setting up photos.

Kayaking nature tour: learn thechniques while paddling beautiful Lake Champlain.

Shooting classes:

Gun Cleaning: learn to clean and care for firearms.

Handgun skills and marksmanship: Equipment will be provided. Beginning with firearm safety, become familiar with pistols, loading, unloading and safe handling in a real setting. Learn shooting techniques, have the opportunity to develop or improve marksmanship, and discuss how to find a range or club in your area and what events are available on both a local and state level for women interested in additional instruction or competition.

IPSC Pistol Shooting: introduction to the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) pistol shooting competitive discipline. In practical shooting, the competitor must try to blend accuracy, power, and speed, into a winning combination.

Muzzleloader skills and marksmanship: Equipment will be provided. Take a step back in time to learn about the pioneers' most important tool - the muzzleloading rifle. Gain experience; learn safety and proficiency with the modern caplock, traditional flintlock and matchlock muskets.

Rifle skills and marksmanship: Equipment will be provided. Beginning with basic firearm safety, become familiar with rifles, loading, unloading, and safe handling in a real setting. Learn shooting techniques and positions.

Shotgun skills and marksmanship: Equipment will be provided. Beginning with basic firearm safety, become familiar with shotguns, loading, unloading and safe handling in a real setting. Learn about the different shot-gunning clay fields of trap, skeet, and sporting clays.

Sports and recreational skills

ATV Rider four hour course is an introduction to the safe operation of an ATV including starting, stopping , turning, riding on hills, basic safety gear and environmental concerns.

Canoeing: learn paddling strokes for canoeing, and how to right an overturned canoe safely.

Kayaking: learn the basics of kayaking.

Bike tour: learn local island history while ridinge through the scenic back roads of North Hero Island.

Sailing: learn basic sailing including trimming the mainsail and jib as well as steering the boat.

War canoes: and introduction to war canoe racing, an exhilarating and demanding sport which descends from ancient cultural traditions. No racing involved. Learn to work as a team to maneuver large canoes through open waters of Lake Champlain.

Survival Skills

Orienteering & GPS: Learn how to find your way there and back with a map, a compass, and GPS. Work together as a team, and individually to locate earlier placed markers.

Personal security in the backcountry: learn skills that can reduce the hazards of traveling in the backcountry in a group or alone.

Wilderness survival: learn how to survive in the wild, including fire, compass, shelter, signaling, clothing, edible plants, water, equipment and much more.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Burlington Area Garden Tours July 8
This Sunday there will be a rare opportunity to see some of the best private gardens in the Burlington area. Eight gardens will be open to the public starting at 10:00 am and ending at 3:00 pm.

The 11th annual Flynn Garden Tour is a fund raiser for the Flynn Theater, a Burlington landmark which hosts many types of performances. Ticket and raffle sales enable local schoolchildren to attend and participate in the Flynn's educational matinee theater programs.

Tickets are limited. The price is $35 in advance and $37 on the day of the tour. Contact FlynnTix Regional Box Office at 153 Main Street, Burlington, Vermont, 802-863-5966, on line at www.flynntix.org, and at Gardener's Supply Company, Lang Farm Nursery, Horsford Gardens & Nursery, and the Shelburne Supermarket. For more information, contact Gina Haddock at 802-652-4533 or rhaddock@flynncenter.org, or visit www.flynncenter.org/gardentour.html.

According to the web site, this year's tour includes:
"* The three-family Willey Farm compound
* The chance to see what landscape nursery owners/interior designers do with their own house and gardens
* A sensory therapy garden designed by a couple whose personal story a professional landscape skills combine to make it a sophisticated and poignant place
* An urban neighborhood landscape redefined
* Tea (included in the ticket price and catered by the New England Culinary students and Chef John Barton) served from 3 to 4 pm at Lang Farm Nursery

"In addition, fairy houses, a temple, ponds, waterfall, collector's specimens, a cottage garden, vegetable plots, and many examples of the use of stone in the home landscape make the Flynn Garden Tour an idea-gathering event for new and veteran gardeners."

On the day of the tour (Sunday, July 8th) tickets will be on sale from 10 am to noon at Lang Farm Nursery, 51 Upper Main Street, Essex Junction, 1 1/2 miles east of 5 corners on Rte.15.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Vermont Bluegrass Music Festival July 13 - 15
The Basin Bluegrass Festival will be held July 13 - 15 in Brandon VT , on Route 7 about 17 miles north of Rutland.

Sixteen bands will each play three times during the festival.

In addition, there will be workshops on playing bass, banjo, rhythm guitar, mandolin, as well as singing harmony and song writing.

The festival is held at the end of Basin Road, off McConnell road.

The organizers emphasize that this is a family festival. Anyone misbehaving, appearing loud, intoxicated, or possessing illegal drugs will be removed. There will be security on site. There will be cover for rain, medical services, water to fill tanks, hot showers, and dump station. Tent campers are welcome. Lawn chairs are welcome but high back chairs are prohibited. Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash and not allowed in the concert area.

There will be a Martin Guitar Raffle courtesy of Dave Nichols Custom Pearl Inlay and the Martin Guitar Company.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

The Amazing, Stupendous, Magnificent Big Top Tent Show, Circus Smirkus
I went to Circus Smirkus in Waitsfield last night and had a wonderful experience for the third year I have attended one of these great shows.

You will marvel to see these young people (ages 10 - 18) in person and appreciate all the skill, enthusiasm, and athleticism they have. The video below will give you a taste of what it's like:

These folks are not only skilled, they work extra hard. As evidence, they have an ambitious schedule of 70 shows this season which ends in August:

JULY 1
Greensboro, VT
The Circus Barn
1 Circus Road
2 shows:
2 & 7 pm - Sunday

JULY 3 & 4
Waitsfield, VT
Bundy Center for the Arts
4 shows:
2 & 7 pm - Tuesday & Wednesday
Presented by The Bundy Center for the Arts

JULY 6, 7 & 8
Essex, VT
Champlain Valley Expo
6 shows:
12 & 7 pm - Friday
2 & 7 pm - Saturday
1 & 6 pm- Sunday
Presented by Champlain Valley Expo & The Circus Barn, Inc.

JULY 10 & 11
Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratgoa Race Course
4 shows:
2 & 7 pm - Tuesday & Wednesday
Presented by The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs

JULY 13 & 14
Wilbraham, MA
Fountain Park
Tinkham Road
4 shows:
2 & 7 pm - Friday & Saturday
Presented by Wilbraham Hampden Academic Trust, Inc.

JULY 16 & 17
Brattleboro, VT
VT Agric. Business
Education Center
4 shows:
2 & 7 pm - Monday & Tuesday
Presented by KidsPLAYce

JULY 19, 20, 21 & 22
Wellesley/Dover, MA
Elm Bank Horticultural Center
8 shows:
2 & 7 pm - Thursday & Saturday
12 & 7pm - Friday
11 am & 4 pm - Sunday
Presented by The Circus Barn, Inc.

JULY 23, 24 & 25
Sandwich, MA
Heritage Museums & Gardens
5 shows:
7 pm - Monday
2 & 7 pm - Tuesday & Wednesday
Presented by The Circus Barn, Inc.

JULY 27, 28 & 29
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Waban Park in Oak Bluffs
6 shows:
12 & 5 pm - Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Presented by the Edgartown School

JULY 31 & AUGUST 1
Revere, MA
Beachmont School
15 Everard Road
4 shows:
1 & 7 pm - Tuesday & Wednesday
Presented by the Revere Department of Recreation

AUGUST 3 & 4
Wilton, NH
High Mowing School
4 shows:
2 & 7 pm - Friday & Saturday
Presented by The High Mowing School

AUGUST 6 & 7
Kennebunkport, ME
Rocking Horse Stables
Arundel Road
4 shows:
1& 6 pm - Monday & Tuesday
Presented by Kennebunkport Consolidated School

AUGUST 9 & 10
Freeport, ME
Merriconeag Waldorf School
4 shows:
1 & 6 pm - Thursday & Friday
Presented by Merriconeag Waldorf School

AUGUST 12 & 13
North Conway, NH
Cranmore Resort Ski Area
4 shows:
1 & 6 pm - Sunday & Monday
Presented by Mount Washington Valley Children�s Museum

AUGUST 15, 16 &17
Montpelier, VT
Montpelier High School
5 shows:
2 & 7 pm - Wednesday & Friday
11 am - Thursday
Presented by The Circus Barn, Inc.

AUGUST 18 & 19
Greensboro, VT
The Circus Barn
1 Circus Road
3 shows:
7 pm - Saturday
2 & 7 pm - Sunday

Other Circus Smirkus videos are available here.

And, for something a little different in summer camps, ranging from 2-day to 2-week residential sessions for ages 6 to 18, beginner to advanced, read the Circus Smirkus Camp page on their web site.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Killington Wine Festival July 12 - 15
The sixth Annual Killington Wine Festival will be held July 12 to 15, 2007. Enjoy wine tasting on top of one of Vermont's highest peaks, as well as at a few of Vermont's most prestigious inns. There will be four days of tastings, dinners, dancing, seminars. Reservations are required for some events and recommended for others (click the web link above for details). For tickets, call 800-337-1928.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival July 6, 7 and 8
Stoweflake Resort in Stowe Vermont will hold their 21st Annual Balloon Festival this weekend. Some 25 balloons are expected to attend.

Flights are Friday, July 6 at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, July 7 at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 8 at 6:30 a.m. There is free admission at 6:30 a.m. for event volunteers. The rest of the day, public admission for non-Stoweflake guests is $8. Stoweflake guests and any children 12 and under are admitted free. Tethered rides on the hot-air balloons are $10 per person.

In addition to the balloon launches and tethers, the festival includes children's activities, mini-facials at the Resort's deluxe spa, chair massages, food, drinks and live evening entertainment.

Spectators are invited to take tethered rides or volunteer to be a ground crew person.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Discover Art and Adventure Along the Rock River July 21 and 22
By Pamela Mandell, Publicity, RRA
pmandell@svcable.net, 802.348.9902

The 15th Rock River Artists' Open Studio Tour will be held on Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22 from 10 AM-6 PM.

The tour begins at the Old Schoolhouse in South Newfane, VT where an exhibit of work by 24 artists gives tourgoers an overview of what�s on offer, including painting, photography, collage, printmaking, pottery, furniture, sculpture, metal work and bookbinding.

Maps are provided and then visitors go on to the studios of their choice throughout the villages of South Newfane, Williamsville and Newfane (easily found a couple miles off VT Route 30, ten miles northwest of Brattleboro).

---------------------------------------- / / / ------------------------------------

A little more information on the Newfane area I wanted to add to Pamela's article above:

Newfane town green, photo copyright Linkvermont.com

[Brattleboro is in the southeastern part of the state. Newfane is widely known as a classic looking New England village that you should put on your must-see list for southern VT touring.

Here is how Link Vermont website describes it:

"Newfane, South Newfane, Williamsville (Pop. 1,555): Newfane is one pretty place! This is not just our opinion, its village green and the inns bordering it are somewhat legendary . . . The columned courthouse, church, town hall and inns are the real-thing-equivalent of the tiny make-believe ones some of us decorate our homes with during the Christmas season."

Places to See Before You Die
A few years ago, Patricia Schultz published a book called "Places to See Before You Die" (Workman Press) in which she recommends the village of Stowe. Personally, I would have just said Vermont. Her book has been on the NY Times Best Seller list for more than three years. Mine has not. In fact, it's languishing in non existence. So, we'll give Patricia the official nod for being the authority in this matter but reserving my right as a resident to expand her selection a tad.

She has also just published a book called "1,000 Places To See in the USA & Canada Before You Die" and Stowe is again included. It's published by Workman Publishing and no doubt available at your local bookstore.

The Travel Channel is broadcasting a weekly series based on the original book. And there is a website on the way.

Stowe, Vermont was also included recently in LIFE Magazine's '100 Places to See,' the only place in Vermont to be honored.

The LIFE Editor, Robert Sullivan, said Stowe was included because "It's pulled off the amazing trick of becoming famous and a destination, yet remained true to its essence: It is what it is, a New England village of great charm and a day-to-day that features village rhythms�.

The only thing I can add is that Stowe is great. A great start. Branch out in some easy drives around the state and you will be highly impressed with all the picture postcard scenes you will have around nearly every corner.

For such a small state, there is an amazing number and variety of things to see and do. That's why I started this blog: people sometimes asked me if there's much to do here. The answer is a big "YES", or better, "HECK YES!" If I were to spend my time more profitably writing a travel book about VT instead of this not-for-profit blog, I could publish a very thick book to answer that question.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Gardens and The Vermont Gardener Blogs
For the past month or so, I've had a link over in the left column to a blog called The Vermont Gardener. I've been meaning to write an entry about it for quite some time and now I'm finally getting around to it.

The Vermont Gardener is written by a perennial flower grower named George Africa. Or should I call him a farmer rather than a grower? Would he call himself a farmer? I know he owns a new tractor (I'm a little envious of that) and he sells the plants he raises so I think it's an accurate term but I'll have to ask him. And his business is called the Vermont Flower Farm.

It is one of the most enjoyable blogs I read and I look forward to the stories and the photographs. The only problem I have with the blog is that it makes me feel like a complete slacker. Our gardens look puny compared to his and reading the entires about the projects he has makes me want to get back to work just to keep up with him.

George has a job away from the perennial gardens but he must work another 40 hours a week around his property nurturing his perennials. His wife Gail, Alex, and Karl the wonder dog are involved with the business too.

Their Vermont Flower Farm is located about 45 minutes from us in a town called Marshfield (Google Map). I can't wait to get up there for a personal visit because the farm looks so beautiful but also because it's one of my favorite parts of Vermont and I have not traveled his road yet. The farm welcomes visitors and the plants are available for purchase or just for admiring.

The website is extensive and includes such items as tips on building a hosta garden, deer control, invasive species, building stone steps, virtual tours of the gardens from recent years, and an order form if you would like to purchase some plants online.

This is a great part of Vermont to visit. It is near the state capital of Montpelier, and not too far from Interstate 89 which you will likely find yourself on at some point in your travel here.

The town of Peacham is nearby and is one of the most photographed areas of the state. Don't miss Rainbow Sweets in Marshfield, one of the hidden gems we like to tell our guests about. I'll write an entry about them someday too but for now, trust me, you will be knocked over with the taste of their pastries. The owner is a memorable character too.

Another favorite spot of mine is the Molly's Falls Lake at Marshfield dam on Route 2 a few minutes north of Marshfield village. It's a beautiful lake undisturbed by development, surrounded by heavily forested hillsides, and it has a small parking lot and picnic area. Don't forget your camera - you will want to record your visit. You will have to double back a little bit on Route 2 to get to Vermont Flower Farm.

I'm pretty sure George must only get a few hours sleep each night because in addition to his job, his garden, his business, and the Vermont Gardener blog, he also has another blog called Vermont Gardens. Both blogs have lengthy and frequent entries.

Even though I am trying to finish the mother of all remodeling projects, I'm very much looking forward to taking some time off to get up to Vermont Flower Farm.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Make Your VT Fall Foliage Lodging Reservations Soon
We have been steadily getting calls for lodging during fall foliage. I received a call yesterday from a woman who said she had tried two other places before us and they were both full on the two dates she wanted.

If you plan to travel to VT during the last week of September or the first two weeks of October, you should make your reservations as soon as you can. Rooms are still available but the selection becomes smaller with each passing week.

Whatever you do, don't drive here thinking you can easily find a place to stay. Each year we get some drop-ins who did not know what a busy time of year that is here. We've been fortunate so far in calling around and finding some lodging for them but sometimes it is fairly far away and or not the best accommodation.

A few years ago, the only thing I could find locally was a deluxe suite priced at more than $400 that was available only because of a last minute cancellation. It was late at night and the couple decided to take it but naturally they were not happy to do so. I hope they have other good memories of Vermont besides what they had to pay for a room that night.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Quilt Festival June 29

Shown above is the Vermont Quilt Festival 2007 Raffle Quilt created by Jan S. McTaggart and Mary K. Ryan, and hand quilted by an Amish woman.

The Vermont Quilt Festival begins this Friday, June 29 at the Champlain Exposition Center in Essex Junction, as well as St Michael's College in nearby Colchester.

2006 Festival Best Landscape: Vermont Valley View by Pamela L. Druhen

Click this link to see photographs of all the Festival's 2006 Winners. The Festival not only includes displays of hundreds of quilts, but also classes, tours, gallery talks, silent auction, guest artists (including Vermont's Warren Kimble this year), guest speakers, vendors, consignment sales, appraisals, and receptions.

2006 Winner Best of Mixed Technique: Rosy Garden Patch by Judith Thompson

Blue Map is a Great Map of Burlington and VT

(c) 2006 Information Gallery

At our inn, we keep a supply of the Blue Map for our guests who are traveling to Burlington VT. It has a map of the greater Burlington area including such surrounding towns such as Essex Junction and Colchester. Best of all, it has a large section devoted to a helpful close-up of downtown Burlington and the Lake Champlain waterfront.

All the attractions in the Burlington area are shown including Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farm, ECHO Aquarium, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, cruise ship docks, and the car ferry to NY.

There are numerous advertisements but they are laid out in a similar size and style, and they are listed in a well designed format that makes them helpful instead of intrusive.

The multi-panel fold-out map brochure also has a very good map of most of Vermont and a little of upstate NY including Lake Placid.

You can see all of this online at the Blue Map website. When you are in Vermont, you can find the Blue Map at many information centers, attractions, and kiosks on the Burlington lake front near the ferry and cruise ship docks.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor except the Blue Map sample above

Free Movies at Ben & Jerry's Factory
For the past 29 summers, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory in Waterbury VT has shown free movies. The first one this year is Saturday July 7 with the showing of Wallace & Grommit. All movies are rated for family viewing. The series continues each Saturday through the end of August - you can see the summer movie schedule on the B&J web site. Click on the Event calendar to see the movie line up.

All shows are free and start at dusk. You should bring your own chair if desired. The facility is handicapped accessible. and Ben & Jerry's offers special assistance - just call Dana or Jerry at (802) 882-1240, extension 2300.

The Ben & Jerry's factory is on Route 100 about a mile north of Exit 10 off Interstate 89. You will see the Ben & Jerry's sign on the left.

Their factory tours are the number one tourist attraction in Vermont. June hours are 9:00 to 5:00 and starting in July the tours run from 9:00 to 8:00. I recommend going early in the day or late to avoid the large crowds. The tour buses usually start showing up around 10:00 am and keep coming until mid afternoon.

The tour lasts just half an hour but at times the wait to get in can be as long as an hour. It is a light-hearted and entertaining tour with free ice cream samples at the end.

The factory also has a Scoop shop with all their flavors in cone, dish, or sundae, plus a well stocked souvenir shop.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Free Stowe Music in the Meadow Concert at Trapp Lodge

The very popular Music in the Meadow series starts this Sunday, July 1 at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe. The United States Air Force Liberty Pops band will be performing. The band must have many requests to perform on a July 4 holiday so Stowe is fortunate to get them.

The meadow at the Trapp Family Lodge is a very large field with a beautiful vista of the Green Mountains behind it. If there is a better looking outdoor concert area in this country, I haven't seen it.

This concert starts at 7:30 pm and admission is FREE, a great bargain compared to the usual $25 for adult tickets in this series.

I've found that it is best to arrive about an hour or more before the concert. Many people do so and some bring a picnic basket.

The other concerts in the series are the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, July 8; Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, July 15; The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Sept 2.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor except the meadow concert photo above which is (c) Trapp Family Lodge.

July 4th Parades and Fireworks
Vermont has more July 4th parades and fireworks per capita than any state in the country.

No, I don't have any source to cite on that statistic, and I can't prove that Vermont is number one except by logic.

No one will ever research this statistic because no one besides me cares. So, I won't be proven wrong. If something can't be found to be incorrect, then it must be correct. Right?

Vermont is a great place to celebrate the nation's birthday. In addition to all the usual great reasons to be anyplace where it is scenic, quiet, safe, and fun, Vermont offers a unique opportunity to see several parades and fireworks. Many of the villages here have their own little parade and festivities culminating in a fireworks display. Moreover, VT ski areas are promoting their summer offerings and many offer a day-long event with music, food, and fireworks.

What is interesting is that even though Vermonters are a pretty relaxed group of folks, there is actually some planning and organization in effect. Many neighboring towns cooperate with each other and don't schedule conflicting July 4th events. As a result, there are events a few days before and after the actual July 4th date. This year, the 4th falls on Wednesday so many of the holiday events will be the weekend before - June 28 and 29 in other words.

The list of July 4th events is too long to spell out here but there will certainly be plenty of opportunities for you. Check with your lodging host to see what's available.

You will probably find these events are much more accessible than the big shows in major metropolitan areas where crowds are immense. I've found that Vermont events have a much more relaxing and entertaining atmosphere, and that the events are better than you might assume for such a small rural state.

And I can prove that too.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

South West Vermont Blog
One of my favorite blogs has posted a couple of new entries which will be of interest to travelers visiting southern Vermont.

The South West Vermont Blog today has an article about a beautiful museum that I have wanted to visit for a long time, the Southern Vermont Art Center.

And the prior blog entry recommends some "off the beaten path" hiking in the Arlington area which ties in nicely with my post below about hiking.

Southern VT is a beautiful area to tour and I always recommend to travelers that they spend two or three days there and two or three here in the more northern part of the state. That way, it's easy to make day trips not only around Vermont but also the Adirondacks in NY (Lake Placid, Lake George, Saranac Lake, etc), the White Mountains of NH, and even Montreal, an easy 2.5 hours drive from us - roughly the same as Arlington and other southwest VT villages.

This is such a small part of the country, you don't need to pack up and move every night. It is much more relaxing and enjoyable to stay in one or two places and spend your time enjoying each area instead of just driving to the next lodging place every day.

We sometimes hear from first-time guests, especially those from large states like Texas and California, that they are quite surprised at how small New England is, and that they wish they could spend more time in each area getting to know it better. But that's part of what travel means, getting to learn new parts of the world.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Alpine Slides

The Stowe Alpine Slide opens tomorrow. This is a lot of fun for both children and adults. There is a height restriction for children before they can go by themselves but usually by age six children are tall enough to go by themselves. Children under the minimum height or under the age of two can ride double with an adult.

The adventure begins with a ride on a double chair lift to the top of Spruce Peak Mountain. At the top, you will pick up a plastic sled and get on the track for an exhilarating ride that lasts about three minutes if you go down quickly. You control the speed of the sled with a stick. Pull back and the sled slows down. Push the stick forward and you speed up.

There is also an alpine slide at the Pico ski area next to Killington and just a few minutes east of Rutland in central Vermont. The Bromley Thrill Zone near Bennington and Manchester in the southwestern part of the state also has an alpine slide.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Hiking
There is an overwhelming abundance of hiking in Vermont. I have no idea of how many miles of trails there must be but it would not surprise me if it were thousands of miles. We get a good number of hikers at our inn each year, many of them here to hike Camel's Hump, just a few miles away. It is the third highest peak in Vermont and has the state's most distinctive profile. It is a moderate hike until the last few hundred yards where hikers almost have to crawl up the bare rock of the Hump itself.

Camel's Hump mountain is featured on the US Mint's Vermont quarter.

One of my favorite books for getting hiking information is the Day Hiker's Guide to Vermont published by the Green Mountain Club . The club is located about ten minutes from our inn and you can stop there to purchase maps and books. Local outfitters around the state will have them too. The best way to make sure you get what you want is to order it online from the Green Mountain Club well in advance of your travel date.

The Green Mountain Club built Vermont's Long Trail between 1910 and 1930. The trail runs directly over the main ridge of Vermont's Green Mountain range from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border, a distance of 270 miles. Today, the club still maintains the trail.

The club's website is a good starting point for all hikes throughout Vermont.

Another hiking web site I found recently is Marc Howe's Peakbagging Guide. . For hikers looking to climb high peaks, Vermont is ideal as Marc points out that the state has about a hundred 3000 footers and a handful of 4000 footers.

What I find most interesting about this site is that Marc has climbed the mountains (some several times) and writes from personal experience. He includes a good number of photographs too. He lists all the VT mountains he has climbed (24 so far), their elevations, and he has links to the reports he has written on each one. You can see that he does a lot of hiking year around so it's easy to be confident that he knows what he's talking about.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Montshire Museum in Norwich VT and Green Mountain Railroad

�Toy story� makes debut in Vermont this summer
By Kevin Coburn
Manager, Public Relations
Montshire Museum of Science

If your parents never let you break open your Etch A Sketch� to find out how it works, you�ll love Toys: The Inside Story, now open at the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vt. The new exhibition illustrates simple mechanisms commonly found in toys, and lets visitors create their own toy-like combinations of gears, pulleys, linkages, cams, and circuits.

Toys will be on display every day at the Museum through September 9. The museum unmasks the amazing collection of switches, cams and motors that make an Elmo doll dance and Mr. Machine� run. Adults will discover the �inner life� of favorite toys from their childhood like the Etch A Sketch� and the Operation� game while children will delight in the many hands-on components.

Toys: The Inside Story is free with Museum admission. (Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for children ages 3-17, with children under 3 free). The Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week throughout the year, with new extended hours 10 am through 7:30 p.m. each Friday.

By the way, Green Mountain Railroad is now operating weekend trips to the Montshire every weekend from June 30-September 2. The White River Flyer leaves the White River Jct. depot at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 2:30 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday, arriving 25 minutes later at the museum's front doorstep.

The Flyer also offers short round-trip excursions from the Museum to Thetford, Vermont, and back (these trips leave the Montshire at 11:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. These excursions last about an hour round-trip. Visit the White River Flyer Summer Schedule for more details.

Vermont History Expo June 23 and 24
This year's Vermont History Expo will be held June 23 and 24 at the Tunbridge World's Fairgrounds in Tunbridge VT.. Hundreds of volunteers work many months preparing for this event and their work produces outstanding results.

The state's 150 historical societies and 30 history museums will be represented. There will be exhibits and demonstrations of such things as traditional crafts, 19th century children's games, log cabin museum, antique tractors and farm equipment, blacksmithing, print shop, school, winer transportation, Revolutionary War encampment, Civil War encampment, Korean War encampment, eight meet-the-author book signings, realistic simulator that puts you at the controls of a train locomotive, rare heirloom animal breeds,

One of the most popular parts of the Expo is the Genealogical Center where you can get help researching your family history and ancestors.

There will be 20 some performances on stage plus a good selection of food vendors.

On Sunday, there will also be a live auction in the afternoon.

I attended the Expo a couple of years ago and was impressed with the scope and quality of this event.

For more information, see the Vermont History Expo website.

For information on Vermont historical societies, see the Vermont Historical Society website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Burlington "Chew Chew" Food Festival June 22 - 24, 2007
The 22nd annual Burlington "Chew Chew" Food Festival June 22 - 24, will be held on the Lake Champlain waterfront in Burlington. The organizers do a good job of keeping this popular event fresh by requiring that vendors must serve one new food item each year. Prices are kept low and portions small so you can eat cheaply but in a wide range of food styles. Bon Appetit magazine called the festival one of the top four in the east.,

The web site has a full vendor and menu list plus a map and schedule.

Entry is $2 per person and the first 1000 children are admitted free. Nine food tokens cost $5. Most food samples cost three tokens.

Musical performances by top regional bands (including crowd favorite, Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys) and individual performers all three days are a big part of the festival.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Quechee VT Balloon Festival This Weekend

Father's Day weekend in Quechee, VT means it is time for one of the state's top annual events, the Quechee Balloon Festival.

The 28th Annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Fine Art, Craft & Music Festival starts June 15 and runs through the 17th. There will be balloon flights twice a day in the early mornings and early evenings. A craft fair is the center attraction at the Village Green event area and features the work of some 50 crafts people.

The entire festival emphasizes family activities and there are many items to make the event a family outing.

There will be live music such as rhythm & blues, jazz, 60's tunes, jump swing, a fiddlers' competition, plus an antique and classic car show, clowns, mimes, jugglers, puppeteers, unicyclists, vaudeville acts, and dancers, church rummage sale, and the Quechee Library book sale.

There will be many choices for food including breakfast, barbecue, sandwiches, ice cream.

The Ottaquechee River runs through the village and over a waterfall at the Village Green which make a picturesque backdrop for the event.

Exit 1 from I-89 onto Route 4 and travel west. Note: you will see signs about Route 4 being closed but that is for bridge repairs in Woodstock and you won't be going that far if you are going to the balloon festival.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Flag Day June 14, 2007

Bennington Battle Flag

This Thursday, June 14, is Flag Day, a proclamation by Woodrow Wilson 91 years ago which then became an official holiday when President Truman signed a Congressional Act in 1949. June 14 was chosen because that is the day in 1777 when Congress officially adopted the basic layout of the flag that has evolved since then.

The flag above is popularly known as the Bennington Battle Flag but also referred to as the Filmore flag because it was carried home after the battle of Bennington by a soldier named Filmore who passed it down through the generations including President Millard. Today the flag is on display at the Bennington Museum.

The Bennington Battle took place in August 1777, twelve years before Vermont became a state. The Americans were led by General John Stark. He and his "Green Mountain Boys" defeated 600 German mercenaries.

General Stark gave a rallying speech to his men before the battle in which he said "My men, yonder are the Hessians. They were brought for seven pounds and ten pence a man. Are you worth more? Prove it. Tonight, the American flag floats from yonder hill or Molly Stark sleeps a widow."

The flag below is the one adopted by the Green Mountain Boys and was most likely also in use at the same battle.

I highly recommend a visit to the Bennington Museum - it's a beautiful facility. There are many historical displays, exhibits and events you can see on their Calendar web page. The museum also has the largest public collection of Grandma Moses paintings in the world.

The town of Bennington is located in the southwestern part of the state just a few miles from the New York and Massachusetts borders. Here is a link to a Google map of the Bennington Museum's location.

Green Mountain Boys' Flag

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum Events
The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is one of the greatest assets for both the town of Burlington and the state of Vermont. It's in a scenic location right on the waterfront and it is one of the top places you should put on your list to visit.

Two fun events are coming soon:

# Kids� Pirate Festival � June 16�17 (Father�s Day fun for the whole family!)

# Bon Voyage Party for Schooner Lois McClure � June 17

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Manchester VT Antique Car Show at Hildene This Weekend
The Manchester VT Antique and Classic Car Show, also known to car enthusiasts as the "Hildene Car Show" or simply "Hildene" is this weekend.

Hildene is a mansion once owned by the son of Abraham Lincoln. It is now a museum with beautiful gardens and grounds. It is located in the countryside south of Manchester VT and north of Arlington in the southwestern part of the state. Here is a link to a Google Map of Hildene Road.

The countryside around there is ideal for driving tours.

Legendary stock car driver and NASCAR pioneer Junior Johnson, the "Last American Hero" as author Tom Wolfe called him, will be the Grand Marshall.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Old Cemetary Headstones
Old cemeteries are everywhere in New England and Vermont has its share of course.

Here is the epitaph on a headstone over Anna Hopewell's grave in Enosburg Falls, in northwestern Vermont:

"Here lies the body of our Anna, Done to death by a banana. It wasn't the fruit that laid her low, But the skin of the thing that made her go."

More amusing tombstone epitaphs are at the Onward Bound blog.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Burlington VT Jazz Festival
The Burlington Jazz Festival continues this weekend with multiple performances Saturday and Sunday. A detailed schedule with biographies of the performers can be found here.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Top International Tennis Event Comes to Stowe July 14 and 15
Tickets are now on sale for the Fed Cup Semifinal between the United States and Russia, which will be held at Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe, VT, July 14 � 15, 2007. Topnotch is ranked #1 in the Northeast and in the Top Ten Best U.S. Tennis Resorts by Tennis Magazine.

This will be the fifth meeting between the United States and Russia in Fed Cup play with the U.S. ahead in the series, 4-1. Russia defeated the United States in the 2005 Fed Cup Semifinal in Moscow the last time these two countries met.

While the USA is battling the Russians in Stowe, defending champion Italy will host France in Castellaneta Marina.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (888) 334-8782.

The Fed Cup has been played for more than 40 years and is the premier international team tennis competition and the largest annual international team competition in sport for women.

It is likely that the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, will play at the Stowe event. The two were part of the USA team that beat the Russians most recently in Del Ray Beach FL.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Corvette Classic Car Show in Stowe Begins June 15
The Green Mountain Corvette Classic is being held June 15 - 17, 2007 in Stowe, Vermont.

There is a cocktail party, car corral, vendor auto market place, motor show, barbecue, dinner and dancing to the best of the 60's band, Sunday morning breakfast run, people's choice awards, and competition of colors awards.

Entrants can register either online or at the event on Friday from noon to 7:00 pm.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Green Mountain Opera Festival presents Madame Butterfly

The Green Mountain Opera Festival started a few days ago and will conclude June 24. The festival includes concerts, open rehearsals, master classes, a new young artist program, opera chats, picnic. The online festival calendar has details of events, dates, and locations.

The highlight of the festival are performances of Puccini's masterpiece, Madame Butterfly, on June 22 and 24, 2007 at the Barre Opera House, in Barre VT (north central part of the state close to Montpelier). You can purchase tickets at Barre Opera House online ticket sales web page.

The festival is sponsored by the Green Mountain Cultural Center which also sponsors other events during the summer.

The Madame Butterfly painting above was created by Vermont artist Bill Bauer who donated it to the Green Mountain Cultural Center. The GMCC is holding a silent auction for the painting and, as of May 4, the bidding was up to $3250. You can submit a bid by calling 802-496-7722.

(c) 2007 (except Madame Butterfly image) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

June is Birding Month in Vermont

Goldfinch photo from Wikipedia

One of the things that virtually all our guests enjoy to one degree or another, is seeing the birds around our inn. We have a large window (actually seven pieces of glass) about 20 feet long and seven feet high. We have three bird feeders outside the window which are visited by a lively and colorful array of gold finches, blue jays, house finches, black capped chickadees, nuthatches, and mourning doves. We get the occasional rose breasted grosbeaks, evening grosbeaks, and orioles. Many of our guests have never seen a hummingbird and are fascinated by the flashy, iridescent ruby-throated hummingbirds which we get at the feeders all day long.

If you are a casual bird watcher like most of our guests, or even an advanced birder, Stowe Vermont and the surrounding area would be a good place to visit this month.
The village of Stowe is sponsoring "Wings Over Stowe," a month-long series of demonstrations, exhibits, walks, and films all focusing on the vast array of avian wildlife in the Green Mountains.

The website includes details about each activity, and there is a well done calendar of activities, plus a downloadable brochure with schedule, and a very helpful Stowe birding map.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Two of the Best Scenic Drives in Vermont

View looking east from the top of Mount Mansfield, Stowe Vermont

There are many hundreds of miles of scenic drives in Vermont but two of my favorites are Route 108 through Smuggler's Notch, and the Mount Mansfield Toll Road, both in Stowe.

The section of Route 108 that runs from the village of Stowe to the village of Jeffersonville includes a memorable drive through smuggler's Notch. This Notch Road is narrow (no edge marking and no center line), tight, and twisty. You will be driving up a steep grade with deep forests on each side. There are several hairpin turns where you will be going five or ten miles per hour. Unfortunately, the driver won't get to see as much as the passengers because you have to keep your eyes closely on the road. The passengers will have a great time viewing the scenery which becomes more enhanced at the slow driving speed. One of the features of the drive are massive boulders right alongside the road, some of them the size of a small cottage.

At the road's peak, there is a small parking area on the left (coming from Stowe) where you can stop and get out of the car to admire the scenery. There is a hiking trail on the other side of the road. We hiked it once and I did not care much for it. During busy periods, it will be crowded with people and the hike itself is really like a climb up a one mile staircase. However, at the top is a beautiful mountain lake - you can see a picture on the Scrapbook page of the Grunberg Haus web site. A much better hike is along the Long Trail running over Mount Mansfield which you can get to from the Auto Toll Road.

The Stowe Auto Toll Road starts at the parking lot behind the Stowe Inn and rises several thousand feet to the top of Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain in Vermont. To get there, drive on Route 108 from the village of Stowe toward the ski area. About five miles from town, watch carefully for the Toll Road sign which will be small and included with other items of interest at the Stowe Inn. A landmark just before the left turn into the parking lot are some tennis courts also located on the left shortly before the parking lot. Here is a link to Google Maps. Go to the rear of the parking lot and you will see a slim toll booth.

The road starts out on paved road but soon becomes a dirt road. The drive to the top is very twisty and takes about 20 minutes. There are a few pull-off areas along the drive where you can stop and admire the view but the best view is from the top. The photo at the beginning of of this article was taken from the top of the Gondola which stops are few hundred feet short of the toll road parking lot elevation but it gives you a good idea of what the view will look like.

Thee will be a ranger at the building next to the upper parking lot. I suggest you ask him or her the location of Frenchman's Pile. (No, I don't know why it's called Frenchman's Pile. It's just a three foot high pile of rocks.) It's about a 15 minute walk along the mountain ridge hiking trail to Frenchman's Pile and the view from there is truly magnificent. You can see in 360 degrees. To the west you will see the Adirondack Mountains of New York and to the east you will see the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Burlington and Lake Champlain will be right below you and they'll look like a very tiny, miniature town and lake. If you know the villages in the area, or if you have a map, you can pick those out too.

To my mind, this is one of the best things to do in Vermont.

Unfortunately, the road is for cars and pedestrians only. Bicycles and motorcycles are not permitted.

The toll is $21 per car unless you have more than six people in the vehicle, in which case the toll is $6 per person.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Vermont Travel Notes One Year Milestone
The first entry in Vermont Travel Notes was May 31 2006. Today, after 197 more entries, we have arrived at our one year anniversary.

As I write this, the counter says a little over 122,000 visitors but I did not turn it on until a month or so after I started the blog. Back then I was still learning this blog software and I didn't know there was a counter available. In the eleven months the counter has been on, we have averaged 11,000 visitors per month. I don't keep close track of the numbers but they seem to be increasing a little each month.

So, we will keep plugging along trying to bring good information about traveling to Vermont. There are some improvements I want to make. The biggest is probably every part time blogger's biggest challenge and that is to make time to write frequently. I have the feeling I should write shorter entries but more of them. And I'm going to get further out ahead of events - sometimes I write about them a day or two before they happen. Fewr typos would be nice to.

If you have suggestions, I would appreciate hearing them. You can use the Contact Us link at the top left of the page.

I enjoy doing this and sharing the enthusiasm I have for all the wonderful things to see and do in this beautiful part of the world.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

It's Vermont Open Studio Memorial Day Weekend
While traveling around Vermont this Memorial Day weekend, look for artists and craft workers who have opened their studios to visitors. Some of these are retail operations that are usually open anyway but many others are located at the artist's home (or barn, in some cases!). This is a rare opportunity to see their actual studios which I think is more interesting than seeing their works in a gallery.

There will be oil and watercolor paintings, pottery, hand-blown glass, wood furniture, photography, sculpture, jewlery, quilting, fiber arts. The best place to get information is at the Vermont Crafts Council website. There is also a very well done brochure that you can pick up at any of Vermont's Vermont Welcome Centers and other information racks located in stores, inns, gas stations, etc.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Dandelion Festival May 19

In suburbs all over this country, homeowners are gearing up to do battle with lawn weeds this spring. The king of all weeds, the dandelion, is often number one on their hit list. But naturally, here in Vermont, we take a different tact - people here cultivate the darned thing for heaven's sake. And wouldn't you know, there's even a group of Vermonters who have a festival celebrating America's most frustrating weed. To top it off, there is another group of Vermonters who actually show up at the event. Go figure.

You should come out and take a look at these quirky folks. You'll find they are friendly and relaxed. Some of that may have to do with the fact they are drinking white wine that's made from their exalted weed.

So, while the rest of the country digs, cuts, chops, burns, poisons, and generally mutilates the poor plant, you can find a place that celebrates it with raised glass and grateful palates. This festival is a good chance for you to make an entry in your list of goofy but fun stuff you did with your time on this planet.

The festival is Saturday, May 19th at Grandview Winery from 1:00 to 5:00.Admission is free. There will be music along with other types of wines to taste. Grandview Winery is located about 15 minutes north of Montpelier. You can get directions here. It's a very scenic area to drive around exploring. I recommend a drive up through Plainfield and Marshfield over to the town of Peacham and just pick some side roads to explore. It's a lot of fun to see the beautiful vistas and farms back in the hills and you will no doubt find some good places to photograph. The area around Peacham is one of the most photographed in the state of Vermont. Cabot Cheese factory is nearby in the town of Cabot and it's worth a visit for the factory tour and cheese shop.

The dandelion blossom produces a wine that tastes surprisingly good. It is aromatic and lightly sweet. Quantities are limited and the price is about $15 a bottle.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Summer Camp for Children
I don't have any personal experience with Mud City Adventures but their summer children's camps sound wonderful. They have day and weekly programs, Saturday camps, twilight camp, overnight weekend and week-long adventures, and sailing camps. There are an amzing number of activities for ages 3 to 16. You'll wish you could go to some of them. However, they do have some adult activities too, so don't envy the kids.

Mud City Adventures is based in Stowe VT and is named after an actual Vermont town located near Stowe. Considering how much kids like to play in mud, it seems an ideal name. The activities however are far beyond playing in the dirt. Take a look - I know you will be impressed.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Stowe Basketry Festival May 16 - 20, 2007
The 16th annual Stowe Basketry Festival focuses on educating enthusiasts on the art of of basket weaving. A staff of 16 well known basketry teachers from the US and Canada will hold one and two day workshops plus evening lectures in weaving styles ranging from traditional to classic to contemporary.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Burlington Marathon Memorial Day Weekend
Burlington is one of those cities where residents give a lot of support to local events. One of the biggest and most enthusiastic responses each year is to the annual Keybank Vermont City Marathon which will be held Sunday May 27 this year. Hundreds of local volunteers and tens of thousands of spectators enjoy the festive atmosphere and see the event as an unoffical welcome to milder weather after a long season of snow. Details are available on the Run Vermont website. Resgistration is closed but there is a Transfer Board where you might be able to buy someone else's entry for $70 for the marathon, $90 for a 2-Person Relay, $130 for a 5-Person Relay. Time is short: the transfers must be postmarked by this Friday, May 11.

For youngsters, there is the 7th Annual Y.A.M. Scram - Kids' Fun Run on Saturday May 26 with options for a half mile, one mile, and two mile events. Note: there is NO raceday registration so if you are interested, please go the Yam Scram online registration page.

The weekend's events include the HERC Sports and Fitness Expo with information on many types of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, climbing, yoga, energy enhancement, etc. Everyone is welcome and admission is free. The event is located at the Burlington Sheraton, and it is where runners sign in and pick up there registration packets. On the websitse is a list of Expo vendors and a list of Expo seminars.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

The End of Vermont Skiing

Killington May 4 2007

Vermont skiing for 2006/2007 comes to an offical close this weekend when Killington, always the first to open and the last to close, wraps up the season.

Killington this weekend will have nine trails, three miles, open. One chair will be operating: the Superstar Express serving More Difficult and Most Difficult terrain only. No beginner terrain will be available.

After the ski area stops on Sunday, the Killington golf course opens at the end of the week, May 11!

Some other ski areas are not officially open but you can find some intrepid skiers and boarders snowshoeing up with their equipment on their backs, and sunscreen in their pockets, to get in a few more runs on what has been a great season.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

The Bob Newhart Inn
Just back from a one week vacation, what do I decide to do? Write an entry publicizing another inn of course.

Actually there is some sense in this, in a roundabout, six degrees of separation kind of way. First, Tom Poston died a couple of days ago. He played played George Utley, the slow, inept handyman on the Bob Newhart Show. That show placed Newhart as the owner of a Vermont inn called the Stratford Inn, and surrounded the laconic actor with a wild assortment on deranged people, most notably the brothers Larry, Darryl, and Darryl who looked like three extras from a droll, Vermont-style Deliverance movie. It was Newhart's longest running show, starting in 1982 and wrapping up its run in 1990.

We are asked from time to time if that inn actually exists. In fact, it does although different from the TV icon. It is called the Waybury Inn and it's located not too far from us on Route 125 in East Middlebury Vermont. The Waybury's web site has a page devoted to its famous TV connection. The Waybury exterior was shown during the TV show's opening although it is now painted green instead of the white color it was back in the 1980's.

Coming back full circle to Tom Poston, and just to prove once again that you cannot judge a book by its cover, it turns out that in real life Poston could not have been the fumbling goofball he played on stage. He was a highly decorated WWII airman who entered the US Army Air Corps as a private and attained the rank of captain in just five years, serving in North Africa, Italy, France, and England.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Still Skiing in Vermont
Spring arrived in Vermont late last week but three ski resorts will stay open: Jay Peak, Stowe, and Killington. It's been a great year for skiing even though it started late. And the spring skiing was excellent as well. These three ski areas consistently have the deepest base depths, best conditions, and high elevations so they can keep going after other ski resorts have closed. You can get more detail on the Vermont Ski Area Association web site. I'm not sure how much longer the conditions will be reasonable enough to ski but I'll guess a couple of more weeks, based on past seasons. It's actually a great time to ski. The days are long and warm, the crowds are non-existent, rates are at their lowest, and the snow usually has the classic "pop corn" consistency which makes for a lot of fun. Don't forget your sunblock.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Southwest Vermont Blog
Yesterday I ran across a Vermont blog I had not seen before. It's called Southwest Vermont Blog and I think you will find it useful if you are planning to visit the Bennington - Manchester area. It's not very active - three blogs so far in April, two in March - and it looks like it just started in January. However, it is well written, entertaining, and informative. We'll keep an eye on it and hope it continues.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Killington Pond Skimming Postponed
I just happened to be looking at the Killington web site and saw a tiny notice that the Pond Skimming event scheduled for today has been postponed to noon tomorrow, Sunday April 22.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Killington Live Snow Cam
Want to see for yourself what the snow conditions look like at Killington? You can do so at their K-1 Web Cam. Most other ski areas or Vermont attractions have just a fixed camera if they have one at all, but you can actually take the controls at the Killington web cam and point it nearly anywhere you would like. You will have to wait in line for your turn before you get control but there is a counter to let you know how long the wait will be.

Click the Start Control button in the lower right below the picture. This gets you in line and starts the countdown timer. The status box turns green when it is your turn to control the camera and you are limited to one minute of use. You can move the camera left or righ, telephoto in or out. When your one minute is up, you can get back in line by repeating the same procedure. The camera has pre-set locations and will scroll them at the bottom of the window. Pre-sets include the K-1 Lodge, Lower Superstar, Lower Highline, and Killington Peak.

Control time is limited to one minute per user. When your time has expired, you're free to click Start Control again and you will be placed into a que and the countdown timer will again display the time remaining until you have control of the camera.

You don't have to control the camera to enjoy it. It's easy enough to just sit back and watch as other people control the camera.

The Killington Web Cam is like looking out your window to see what snow and ski conditions are. It's good for a few minutes of fun and some helpful information about snow conditions.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Spring Break in Vermont

This photograph has been emailed around Vermont lately. I think it speaks for itself.

(c) 2007 [except photograph by unknown individual] Jeff Connor

Ben & Jerry's Newsletter and Discounts

Ben & Jerry's has an email newsletter that sometimes includes discounts or special offers. You can sign up for it at the Chunk Spelunker page of their website. The email we received today has a two for one offer - buy one cone or cup and get a second one free.

If you are planning to visit their Waterbury Vermont factory, or if you have a Scoop Shop in your local area, it would be worthwhile to sign up for the newsletter and get the discounts plus news on new flavors, etc.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Power Outages
If you have reservations for lodging in Vermont this weekend, especially central Vermont, you should call or write to the facility to make sure they have electric power. Last weekend's storms knocked out power in many areas of Vermont but Rutland County was hardest hit and some places are still without power. The Vermont utility there has even hired extra crews from as far away as Ontario Canada to aid their efforts to get electric customers back online. As of this evening, Central Vermont Public Service has restored power to 40,000 of the 50,000 customers who had lost power. Most likely, things will be back to normal by this weekend but I would check to be sure. Also, you can track this by checking CVPS's web site which has daily updates. Even if your reservation is not in this area of the state, it would be a good idea to check with your lodging facility just to make sure.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Travel Plan Idea Blog About Burlington
The Travel Plan Idea Blog is enjoyable to read because it covers many intriguing places to visit all over the world. As the blog name says, it's a very good source of ideas for planning your travels. Recent in-depth articles focused on Thailand, Italy, surprising new trends in honeymoons, and St. Barts.

Out of curiosity, I recently tried the blog's search function using the term "Vermont." The results came back with a few hits including an article entitled "What To Do in Burlington, Vermont" written by the blog's owner, James Trotta. It turns out he was a camp counselor in Burlington back in 2000. He wrote the article last summer with the caveat that some of it may be outdated. Most of the information is still good and I have updated a few items below.

Sweet Tomatoes Trattoria is still there and last year received an excellent rating on one travel website.

The Wine Works bar he mentions is now called "drink" while the rest of the operation is a wine retail store that retains the original Wine Works name.

JP's Pub on Main Street is a smaller venue that's big on fun and it continues its popular karaoke tradition.

Church Street is a four block former street that was converted to a brick paved pedestrian mall. Lined with restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, and distinctive stores, it is the center of entertainment in northern Vermont. There are also pubs and restaurants on nearby streets.

Burlington is VT's largest city (population, 45,000) and it's also a big college town. The University of Vermont (everyone here calls it by its Latin initials, UVM, Universitas viridis montis, the University of the Green Mountains); St. Michael's College; and Champlain College make up the triad of higher education in this clean and pleasant city.

The other great area to visit in town is the waterfront which also has a fine lineup of restaurants, museums, marinas, cruise boats and a wonderful view across the lake to the Adirondack Mountains in NY. It's a popular place to watch bright pink and red sunsets in the evening. James mentions The Spirit of Ethan Allen cruise ship that is still in operation but is now on its third new ship which was launched about four years ago. Another cruise line started a few years ago. It's called Northern Lights, a smaller ship but more upscale.

The Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream factory is about five miles from our inn and it still has the tours that James mentions. The factory and its tours are the number one tourist attraction in Vermont. During the late summer and fall foliage periods, the wait times for the tour can get long so we recommend to our guests that they get there either early or late in the day in order to avoid the crowds.

I have had a link to the Travel Plan Idea Blog on my Vermont Travel Notes blog for some time now and it is one of the web sites that I take a look at every day.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Final Vermont Pond Skimming Contest of the Season
The final pond skimming event in Vermont this season will be held at Killington Ski Resort this Saturday, April 21. This is the 26th year these lunatics have gone out of their way to get soaking wet in cold weather. What could be more fun? Watching, for one.

If you haven't seen one of these events, there is a good description and a video on the Scenes of Vermont website.

It's good, wholesome entertainment for everyone except the participants but they don't know any better so it's OK.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Finding a Vermont Maple Syrup Producer to Visit
I mentioned Two Old Saps maple syrup producers yesterday which is a great place to buy syrup but difficult to visit because of their location. However, there are many maple syrup producers all over Vermont who are well geared up for visitors and in fact welcome them either seasonally or year around.

Our favorite recommendation is Morse Farm located a little north of Montpelier. They even have a small theater set up to show the entire process from tapping the trees to bottling the syrup. They also have a wood fired evaporator boiling down the sap so you can see the process in person. There are guided tours of the sugar house and knowledgable staff on hand to answer questions. And there is a store with all their products plus other Vermont products and souvenirs.

For a list of maple syrup sugar houses open to the public, go to the Vermont Sugar Makers Association website which shows the sugar houses by county.

The way the weather is going, there may be another couple of weeks of good sap flowing. In fact, some Vermont sugar makers are back to getting Grade A Fancy syrup which usually only happens early in the sugaring season. Then they progress through Grade A Medium, then Dark, and then Grade B which has a very heavy, musky maple taste and is usually used for cooking but some folks like it on their pancakes too. Not much Grade C is produced because there is not much demand for it. It's usually sold to flavoring companies who use it for flavoring in manufactured food products. By the way, some "maple syrups" are actually maple flavored corn sweetners like Aunt Jemima's which has just a few percent syrup in its contents. A lof of hard working Vrmonters would prefer that you buy the real thing, of course. And we'd prefer you come here to enjoy our beautiful state and buy your syrup here too. But if you can't visit now, many of the syrup producers are happy to ship.

Here are some interesting facts from the Morse Farms web site History Page :

"On the average, it takes 40 gallons of maple sap to make 1 gallon of pure maple syrup. We drill 1 tap hole in each of our maple trees, which gives 10 gallons of sap in an average year. So, 4 maple trees, 40 to 200 years old, are needed to make one gallon of pure maple syrup.

"Maple sap is 2% sugar and weighs 8.35 lbs. per gallon
Maple syrup is 66.9% sugar and weighs 11 lbs per gallon
One gallon of maple syrup makes 7 lbs of maple sugar
Maple syrup contains 50 calories per Tablespoon
Corn syrup contains 60 calories per Tablespoon"

That history page also explains why producing maple syrup is called "sugaring."

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Two Old Saps Vermont Maple Syrup Producers

Vermont Grade A Dark Amber Maple Syrup - our favorite

We go through about 12 gallons of maple syrup per year at our inn. We were buying it from some neighbors but their evaporator pan (used to boil down the sap to make syrup) cracked and they don't have the money to get another one. Further, they "aren't getting any younger" and are therefore thinking this is a good time to retire from the hard work of making VT maple syrup. We had to locate another supplier and after several phone calls, we found the best price at Two Old Saps in Lincoln Vermont, about 30 minutes south of Burlington in northwestern Vermont

I met Paul, one of the saps, the other day and had a nice chat along with getting a look at their sizable sugar house where they boil down sap from 2,000 maple tree taps. A neighbor of theirs was also dropping off some of his sap when I drove up.

You can't order online at their website but they do have a toll free phone number: 1-877-683-0269. If you are in the area, you can stop by for a visit but be forewarned that a normal car (i.e., low and two wheel drive) probably won't make it up their long dirt road that goes fairly deep into the forest. If you have a four wheel or all wheel drive, you shouldn't have much of a problem but the driving will be slow because of either the frozen ruts or mud depending upon the weather that day. That's just the way it is during Vermont's sugaring season.

You can read more about the different grades of Vermont maple syrup at the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Vermont Chocolate Show May 26 and 27
I know that I'm way out in front of this May event but I wanted to have it on record for readers who search by category or use the search function. And I will mention it again in this blog closer to the event date.

The 1st Annual Vermont Chocolate Show will be held May 26 and 27 2007 at the Stoweflake Resort in Stowe Vermont. Note on the website that they are looking for volunteers so maybe you can help out and snag some free candy.

Someone has put a lot of thought into this one. Look at these events: chocolate art display; chocolate education programs, including cooking demos and healthful tips; children's chocolate land; chocolate martini bar & beer Lounge; ultimate chocolate breakfast; chocolate spa treatments. Sounds yummy. Don't forget to bring insulin.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Update: Stowe Has Now Had Nearly Six Feet of Snow in April
In yesterday's entry I reported that Stowe Resort has had about five feet of Snow in April but today they updated that to nearly six feet.

Since January, Stowe has been the grateful recipient of an amazing 25 feet of snow. More is on the way tomorrow and Monday. As a result, Stowe is extending their season to April 29.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

April Showers Bring . . . "What the heck! Is that MORE snow???"
I don't really feel like typing now because I spent an hour and a half this afternoon raking heavy wet snow off the inn's roof. Shoveling the stuff is bad enough but working with your hands above your head is just numbing. Roof raking and bookkeeping are the only two jobs I don't like.

Rainy spring is normal here but if the temperatures stay low, it means a lot of snow. It is not unusual for us to get some snow in April but nothing like this.

Several of Vermont's ski areas closed last weekend but I know Sugarbush, Stowe, and Killington are still open. Sugarbush and Stowe will close the end of this month and Killington plans to close May 5. They won't be closing for lack of snow but only because skiers won't be coming in large enough numbers. Stowe reports over five feet of snow in April ALONE! What started off as one of the slowest winters ever has turned out to be one of the snowiest on record. And there is a major storm on the way Sunday. I hope my roof rake breaks soon so I can just give up.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Pet Friendly Travel

There are many lodging facilities in Vermont that welcome pets. In fact, if you go to the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing homepage and scroll down, you will see the pet friendly network logo which leads to 273 listings of pet friendly establishments throughout Vermont.

An easier way to find them is to visit the VDTM Travel Planner page. This search engine does an excellent job and you will find it easy to locate many lodging facilities that cater to pets as well as people. Note that in Step 3, you should click the box next to pets. If you search statewide for all types of lodging, you will get so many "hits" that the results will be numerous and unwieldy: 254 matches! But if, for example, you can narrow the search to Central Vermont, and the type of lodging to Bed & Breakfasts, and Cabins, you will get 10 matches.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Vermont Travel Help from Google Mobile

Google has an impressive array of travel information you can use in your travels to Vermont and other locations.

For instance, to get real- time flight information, you just text message your flight number to 466453 (GOOGLE on most mobile devices). You will receive a text message back with the flight's status. For more general information, text message the name of the airline and you will get back airline's toll free phone number.

The Google Mobile SMS page contains a list of other services including weather, sports, movies, restaurants, and much more. It helps to have the zip code of the Vermont town you will be visiting.

Google gets the flight information from a company called FlightStats which has even more information about flights and airports than Google has, and I suspect you will find it more handy than just using Google Mobile alone.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

April Fools at Bolton Valley
Bolton Valley Ski Area will flip their normal adult lift ticket from $52 to $25 tomorrow to celebrate April Fool's Day. They are open from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. This ski area, about 25 minutes south of Burlington VT, is popular with locals who want to avoid the crowds and higher costs of the nearby big name resorts of Stowe and Sugarbush.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

How to get Rich and Famous, and Travel the World

Yes, you too can become rich and famous, and travel the world. Read on to take the first step:

You may have seen and clicked on the Travel Rants link in the left hand column. It's a well done travel blog and, contrary to the name, is not always a rant. Often there are raves and usually there is helpful and interesting news and information.

Darren Cronian, the editor of Travel Rants, is holding his first "Travel Rants Blog-a-thon" which he hopes "will persuade more people to blog and share stories about their travels and unearth future travel writers." So here is your chance to become a paid travel writer. If you win, you will receive not only great wealth and fame (long term of course), but also some nifty immediate rewards.

First place will also win 200 Euros (about $266) worth of Amazon vouchers donated by sponsors SA-venues.com ; second place wins two Lonely Planet guides; and third place receives two Strider Expeditions t-shirts.

A panel of travel experts will judge the entries and choose the winning entries which will then be featured on the Travel Rants Blog (the first step on the road to fame).

The challenge is open to anyone even those who do not own a blog.

"Rules:

� Your blog post most be no more than 350 words
� The blog post must be useful for travellers and travel consumers
� The blog post must be unique [they will be checking]
� You can include links to other travel sites [but not your own!]
� The deadline is midday [GMT] on the 31 May 2007
� The Judges decision is final

Please email your blog posts to editor@travel-rants.com before the deadline."

Have fun. Let me know how you do.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Vermont Ski Area Events This Weekend
April 1, Bromley Ski Area's Foolish Special two-for-one Sunday when you can get two lift tickets for the price of one. Bromley is Vermont's only mountain with southern exposure so it gets sun all day long. Located near Manchester in the southwestern part of the state, so this is a popular place for people from Albany and central Massachusetts.

Killington is hosting one of its biggest annual events, the 27th Annual Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge from Saturday, Mar 31 to Monday, April 2. The event draws a thousand or so spectators to watch the great abilities of some 200 amateur bump skiers and boarders.

Boarding for Breast Cancer, March 31 and April 1, sponsored by Stowe Mountain Resort and Boarding for Breast Cancer Casual, fun, educational, fund raising events: March 31 - B4BC Slopestyle Event for riders, skiers, or telemarkers; April 1 - Group Jam in the Lower North Slope Terrain Park including Groups of 3 / Costume Contest/ Dye your Hair Pink.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Date Change for Sugarbush Pond Skimming and Reggaefest

Sugarbush has changed the date of its Pond Skimming and Reggaefest from Sunday April 1 to Saturday March 31. Pond skimming is an event where the competitors try to cross a shallow pond on their skis or boards without falling down. As they say, it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, then it's funny.

This is a great Vermont tradition, now in its 40th year. You are welcome to watch or join in. There will be prizes for Best Skier, Best Rider, Best Costume, Best Jr., Best Crash'n'Splash. There will also be live music with lots of laughter and relaxing enjoyment. Always a fun event. Admission is $25. Located at Sugarbush's Lincoln Peak ski area.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Another Great Discount at Stowe
Stowe has introduced another great discount if you can ski two days on the weekends of March 31st & April 1st, and April 7th & 8th. The total for a two day lift ticket is just $70, a great deal that equals $35 per day compared to the normal season rate of $76 per day.

To get this deal, go to Spring Summit Ticket Special Couponl and print the coupon. Present it at any resort lift ticket window to get your lift tickets.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Major Price Reduction at Stowe
I mentioned in a March 14 entry that Mad River Glen had reduced their weekday lift ticket price to $29 and now Stowe has also reduced their rate. However, you can't get the discount directly at the mountain. To get the discount, you go to a grocery store or other retail outlet to purchase a $49 "Direct to Mountain Card." You then turn in the card at the Stowe sales window to get the lift ticket. The card is good for the remainder of this 2006/2007 ski season including weekends. That is quite a discount from the normal $76 Stowe lift ticket price.

The participaing stores are located throughout New England, New York, and New Jersey. Click here to see a list of stores where Stowe Direct to Mountain Cards are available. Store inventories may vary so it would be a good idea to call ahead to your local store.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Mogul Ski School at Sugarbush March 31

Want to learn how to do this?

Sugarbush is hosting a Mogul Logic Ski Camp March 31 and April 1. The course is $275 which includes personalized coaching and video analysis from World Cup mogul skiers. The price also includes lift tickets but if you are a season pass holder you can enroll in the coaching and video analysis only for $225. More information about the course is available at Sugarbush Mogul School web page and more information about the Mogul Logic company is also available online.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Best Written Summary of Vermont's Snowfall So Far
Here is the best written summary I've seen about this amazing Vermont winter. It got off to a slow start but then came on with a roar, building up with increasing strength culminating in a Valentine's Day blizzard that dropped 30 inches of powder snow at our inn, and then was followed by another foot and a half on St Patrick's Day weekend. And those were on top of several dozen snowfalls of two to eight inches each at our mid- Green Mountain location. The upper elevations at the ski areas experienced even more snowfall than we did.

I have quoted the article below in its entirety. It's from a Stowe Mountain Resort weekly newsletter called The Inside Line . I subscribe to several Vermont ski area emails and newsletters but Stowe's is the best. Each issue has a few articles and an events calendar. It's worth subscribing to even if you don't plan on skiing Stowe because it is so interesting and well done.

This is from Vol 16. Number 15, Mar 22, 2007:

"Winter '06-'07 Among the Best for Snow

"Ever since the Martin Luther King Weekend back in mid-January, winter has been on a very positive track here in Stowe. Bottom line, it has snowed a ton. The accumulated total snowfall is now being measured at around 288� which translates to 24 feet of snow. That is a lot of snow by any standards, and with another storm or two will rank among the better winters on record.

"That item is particularly noteworthy this winter, because back on January 12th the snow stake was showing a grand total of 11�. Now it�s flirting with breaking 90�. Pretty heady stuff when you consider that down country media were convinced that ski season was headed for disaster back in late December. Statistics are a funny thing, but locals will tell you that the skiing off the top of Mansfield was awfully good back in late October into the first week of November. Folks were excited. Then the first of two long thaws hit and most of November was too warm for snowmaking. There was a bit of a rally staged by Mother Nature in late December and things were pretty good for the Holiday week. Then a January thaw arrived, and ended with a storm on January 14th. Nobody knew that we were heading into a stretch that would deliver 15 feet of snow in six weeks and give Stowe some of the best and most consistent conditions anywhere in the country. February was off the charts and March began with a big storm. Saint Patrick�s Day was celebrated in white this year as two-to-three feet fell in another classic Nor'easter. Who knows what the rest of the season holds? Rest assured, there will be plenty of snow to take us deep into April."

The article above is (c) by Stowe Mountain Resort.

Here is a link to the Inside Line Newsletter where you can sign up to subscribe. The newsletter content is updated each week so the article above will be gone soon.

Mad River Glen Events March 24 and 25
The Saturday, March 24 Backcountry Challenge at Mad River Glen is a competition but not a race. The competition is between you and the backcountry, not other people. You choose your equipment - snowshoes, telemark skis, randonee - and then you take on the rugged terrain of the Green Mountains. The entry fee is only $15 and that includes lunch! There will be a raffle with many good prizes at the end of the challenge which is sponsored by The SKIRACK.

The next day, Sunday, March 25, is the Northern Forest Snowshoe tours led by a Mad River Glen naturalist who will take you exploring through the hardwood and boreal forest ecosystems and show you which trees are called moosewood, rock maple, and shadbush among others. The tour is rated easy to moderate difficulty and runs at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Laughs and Music This Weekend

Above: a stuffed kangaroo (or dog?) goes for a long ride in a recent Sugarbush Big Air Contest. Photo (c) 2007 Sugarbush Resort

This weekend the emphasis will be on laughs and music with pond skimming, dummy big air contests, and Reggae festivals.

Red Stripe, a Jamaican beer brand, is sponsoring Ascutney Ski Area's Spring Fling Weekend starting March 24. Free, live Reggae music Friday night and Saturday noon to 8:00 pm plus an outdoor limbo contest on skis.

The traditional end-of-season pond skimming contests have started. Sponsored by Vermont's Trout River Brewery, the Annual Pond Skimming Competition at Burke Ski Area will be March 24. This years theme is story book characters. There will be awards for best splash, best story book costume, best wet look, and best exit.

Mount Snow has three big events this weekend. The March 24 pond skimming contest is called Sink or Swim . Skiers and snowboarders dressed in costumes will attempt to cross the 100 foot long pond called "The Bog." Most eventually don't make it and the flops are met with laughs
and cheers.

Mount Snow's Bud Light Reggaefest starts March 24 and continues through Sunday afternoon with performances every day and night. Jamaican style drink and food too.

Mount Snow employees and guests go head to head March 25 in this Dummy Big Air, a "truly dumb competition" to see which one is the most creative, stays in the air the longest, and whether or not it stays in one piece (note: explosives are no longer allowed!). This year BUD TV will be on site to film every dummy in the competition and some among the spectators.

11th Annual Sugarbush Dummy Big Air March 24. I think Sugarbush has the longest running Dummy Big Air contest in Vermont, this year's event being the 11th.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Stowe's Spring Summit This Weekend
As we near the end of March, the ski area parties start to move outside. This Saturday, Stowe will hold the first of its Summit Celebrations. Basically, it's beer, barbeque, and bands, with some events, contests, special deals thrown in too.

The first contest of the weekend is the Slopestyle Series Two, a two run, freestyle format through North Slope Jib Nation Medium Terrain Park for skiers, riders and telemarkers alike. Register in the Den at Mt Mansfield from 8:00 to 10:00 Saturday morning. Contest begins at 11am. $15 fee.

The second event is the Sunday March 25 Mt. Mansfield Ski Patrol Bumps Contest which is open to all ages and all styles including ski, board, telemark. This is a popular event for spectators too and proceeds go to the Vermont Children�s Trust Foundation.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Bag Balm: Probably Vermont's Second Most Famous Brand

When I was in college I worked at a pharmacy. One of the funniest (to a 20 year old) products at the store was something called Bag Balm . The pharmacist told me it was developed to keep the skin on cow udders moist so they would not become so dry and chapped that the cow would find milking painful. And the pharmacist also told me it was the best skin moisturizing product even though it cost far less than the upscale cosmetic creams the pharmacy also carried.

Bag Balm was not that well known back then but it is today, and it is still made in Lyndonville Vermont by The Dairy Association. The Dairy Association founded the business in 1889. Bag Balm became known nationally when famous reporter Charles Kuralt featured it on his television news series �On the Road� and in his 1985 book.

Bag Balm is great for hands dried by winter weather and it helps year around for cuts, scratches, skin irritations. Dog owners, groomers, and veterinarians use it on paw abrasions, and you will usually find it on farms where it is used on all types of animals.

The Dairy Association also makes products for horse hooves and leather goods but they will always be best know for that funny-sounding but great-working product called Bag Balm.

Interesting side note: The Dairy Association has been headed by only three people in its 118 year history and only four secretaries (or administrative assistants, as they are called today).

The Dairy Association's town of Lyndonville is a nice place to visit. It is located in the Northeast section of the state known as the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont's most rural and least populated area.

Lyndonville is one of three villages that comprise Lyndon. The other two are Lyndon and Lyndon Center. Yes, I know it's goofy but that type of arrangement is common in Vermont.

The town of Lyndon had already been organized 75 years before Lyndonville was built in 1866 to serve as a major railroad center, making it Vermont's only railroad-built town. Today the population is about 5,500, not one of whom has dry skin.

Vermont's best known brand? Ben & Jerry's ice cream, naturally!

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Another Six Inches of Snow
Last night and this morning, we received another six inches of snow at our north central Vermont location. Snow flurries were scattered around the state with some locations getting no snow and others getting a foot or more. Stowe and Smugglers' Notch report about another foot of snow today for a weekend total around 32 inches but the king of the hill statewide, Jay Peak, in far northern Vermont, reports six inches today for a total of three feet of new snow this weekend.

The only mild complaint I heard yesterday was that the snow is so powdery, it's tiring to ski in it. But our guests loved it and many commented on how much snow we have piled up on the ground. Some of the mounds around the edge of our parking lot are over six feet high.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Sugarbush Triathalon April 7
The Sugarbush Adventure Games are scheduled for April 7, 2007 at Mount Ellen. Adults compete on Saturday and a children's mini event is the next day. There are classes for men, women, and children, both individually and by team. This is a very popular event and will attract about 700 competitors.

Now in its 29th year, it can claim to be the only "four-event triathlon" in the U.S perhaps because other people are better at math, or maybe because Vermonters are less inhibited. The events are running, whitewater boating, cycling, and cross-country skiing.

The Kids' Triathlon has pond kayaking, running, and bicycling on special courses scaled for the little people.

You can registers online here.

I did not see anything on the Sugarbush website about ClearwaterSports but last year they coordinated the Kids' event so you can contact them if you have any questions about it.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

About a Foot of New Snow
We received about a foot or more of fairly powdery snow overnight and all the ski areas are running wide open. They report anywhere from 12 to 20 inches of new snow with base depths of two feet to six feet. Right now at mid afternoon it is 21 F (-6 C) with a little wind from time to time. Thin overcast with the sun trying to come out. Forecasts are for some light and scattered snow showers today and tomorrow with temps in the mid 20's F. All our guests are out skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. I'm sure they will come back with very favorable reports on the conditions. We will have a few more weeks of winter so plan now to come to Vermont for great early spring conditions on the snow.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Stained Glass Class
Yestermorrow, a design/build school located in nearby Warren Vermont has a Stained Glass Intensive Class that teaches designing, making, and repairing stained glass windows. The course covers identifying styles, the design process, cutting and assembling the window. Also, it will teach how to restore old stained glass windows. You will see that this is more than a casual class yet it is designed for people at all levels of experience. Tuition is $750 plus $75 for materials. April 1 - 6, 2007.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Flying Humor
I found this web page this evening and got a few chuckles out of it especially the second section, aircraft maintenance engineers 'gripe sheets' or 'squawk reports' comments. For instance, the pilot reported "Something loose in cockpit" and the mechanics repair log replied "Something tightened in cockpit." And "Left-inside main tyre (tire) almost needs replacing" was responded to with"Almost replaced left-inside main tyre." Click here to read the rest.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Large Snowfall Forecast This Weekend
Starting late Friday night there will be a major snow "event" as the forecasters like to say. Most of the forecasts are hedging about the depth but right now the consensus is 7 to 14 inches from Friday night to Saturday mid-day.

Here are a couple of good quality weather websites you might keep an eye on: Best Ski Weather and Roger Hill's Weathering Heights.

Jim Roemer, one of the guys behind Best Ski Weather, stayed at our inn last year. He's known as "Dr. Weather" a nickname he picked up a few years back from a Stowe Resort executive who was impressed with Jim's abilities.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Green Mountain Film Festival Starts Friday

Just a reminder, and in case you did not see the Feb 22 entry on this blog, the Green Mountain Film Festival in Montpelier VT starts this Friday and runs ten days. There are still plenty of tickets and most movies are shown more than once. See the website for a detailed schedule and list of guest speakers.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Mad River Glen Reduces Midweek Price
Mad River Glen ski area has reduced their midweek adult lift ticket price from $35 to $29. I have not heard of any other ski areas doing the same.

We still have at least several more weeks of good skiing left. As MRG mentions on their website, they have had nine feet of snow since early February. So, even though it's been warm here, there is still plenty of snow left everywhere especially at the higher elevation ski areas where the temps are cooler.

Note: if you go to the MRG website, you'll note that the live cam shows a bit of fog but it's actually not as thick as it might appear because the camera is quite a distance from the slope and you are seeing all the fog in between.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Vermont Maple Open House Weekend March 23 - 25, 2007

Rustic buildings you see around Vermont, like the classic example above, are where maple syrup is made (I photographed this one because it's a good example and it had the advantage of being very near our inn.). These sugarhouses are being opened now to begin one of Vermont's longest and most popular traditions, maple sugaring season. It usually starts around March 1 in southern Vermont and works its way north as the days become longer and warmer. The best way to get maple sap flowing is with cold nights and warm days. It's a short season lasting only four to six weeks. And like most agricultural crops, there are good seasons and bad ones.

If you get off the highway and take some of the main two lane roads such as Route 100, you will likely run across a maple sugaring operation underway. But most of them are off the main roads and it's best to do a few minutes research on the internet to find a couple in the area of Vermont you plan to visit. The best website to visit is the Vermont Sugar Makers Association

In ten days, the Vermont Maple Open House Weekend will be held at sugarhouses throughout Vermont. The Sugar Makers web site lists sugarhouses open to the public throughout the state. You can watch maple syrup being made, learn how the process works (it's more technical than you might think), perhaps get a fresh sample and even taste "sugar on snow" candy, a rare treat and something you should make a point to experience if you have not done so. It's made by drizzling hot syrup on packed snow to make a chewy candy, and it is usually accompanied with a bite of cake donut and then a bite of a pickle. Or the other way around - I forget which. Seriously, that's how it's done. Keep in mind that we've been living through long winters here and we have time to think of stuff like this. It's not just a Vermont tradition by the way, you will find it in other maple sugaring states and Canada.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Kids Adventure Week at Mount Snow

Mount Snow has a Kids Rule Adventure Week this week. SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer will be there for picture taking with the children, strolling the base area, and just hanging out for fun. The Dirty Socks Funtime Band will perform Wednesday at the Snow Barn. There�s lots more going on including scavenger hunt, movies, family relay race, karaoke, magic show, etc. See the web site for detailed schedule.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Rain Yesterday Did Not Amount To Much
The rain forecasted for yesterday did not amount to much and went mostly through the southern half of the state. We got a few drops at our place in Waterbury, in north central Vermont, and one of our guests said that there was a short rain period in Waitsfield south of us. Mad River Glen reports that they have some patches of crusty snow in low elevations but upper elevations did not get rain. Stratton and Mount Snow in southern Vermont say their trails are in excellent condition - probably because they got it groomed overnight. So once again, the weather forecasts turned out to be pretty much a non-event. I suppose I should add that snow is in the forecast for this morning but I'm looking out the window at a beautiful morning with temperature of 30 degrees F or -1 C. It's going to be another great day for skiing and other outdoor activities. We've been fortunate to have a string of more than three weeks of great winter conditions.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

2007 Flower Show Going On Now
I just learned that there is a major flower show in Burlington this weekend or I would have posted this earlier. The weather forecast is calling for rain this afternoon so if you are looking for an indoor activity, here is one possiblity.

The Vermont Flower Show is a large event organized by the Vermont Association of Professional Horticulturists and it includes tours of the garden displays, garden model railroad displays, seminars, workshops, children's room, merchandise for sale, food court, art display, floral competition, and more.

The "Walk on the Wild Side" show emphasizes wild flowers but also includes all other areas of gardening including items such as walkways and waterfalls. It is being held at the Champlain Valley Exposition Center in Essex Junction. The show has an extensive and very well done web site that includes driving directions.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

At Stratton: Snowboard Championship March 12 - 18
The 25th annual US Open Snowboarding Championship is March 12 to 18, 2007 at Stratton Vermont, the mountain where US snowboarding took hold and grew into the huge sport it is today. The 500 biggest names in the sport will be competing in superpipe, dual giant slalom, boardercross, big air competitions, and a junior hafpipe jam for ages 15 and younger. Free admission.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Vermont Ski Furniture

Most likely you have seen those chairs or tables made out of old skis but did you know that there is a company in Vermont that makes those products?

Vermont Ski Recyclers is a 12 year old, Morrisville Vermont company making furniture from outdated ski equipment that otherwise would have ended up in a landfill.

The furntiture is often used indoors but naturally the skis can hold up to many many years of outdoor use.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

VT Backcountry Skiing for Women
The Vermont Outdoors Women organization is holding a workshop to teach backcountry ski techniques to women who have experience with cross country skiing.

The March 17, 2007 workshop will be led by Mary Lou Recor, Lead Women's Workshop Coodinator for the Green Mountain Club Education Staff.

Registrations are requested a week before the workshop.

Contact Green Mountain Club at 802.244.7037, by email at gmc@greenmountainclub.org, or you can register online at www.greenmountainclub.org

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Bitter Cold Today But Warm This Weekend
I checked both Stowe and Sugarbush to see if they were operating today and to my surprise they are. When I called Sugarbush, the woman who asnwered the phone said it was -5 degrees F (- 20.5 C) at the base without the wind chill but it is windy today so the temperature feels far lower. Stowe reports 0 degrees at the base and - 12 (- 24.4 C) at the summit without wind chill factored in. Winds today at noon were 18 MPH gusting to 30 MPH.

A big change is coming just in time for weekend skiers and other outdoor entusiasts. Saturday's high is predicted to be 36 F (2.2 C) and Sunday 39 F (3.9 C). There is a 40 % chance of snow Saturday afternoon.

For a full weather outlook, check the National Weather Service web site.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Daylight Savings Begins Sunday
You'll probably be hearing this often this week but daylight savings time begins Sunday March 11 at 2:00 am. We "spring ahead" by setting the clock forward one hour when going to bed: 2:00 am becomes 3:00 am for example.

We are doing this three weeks early this year because Congress changed the official date as part of a program to help save energy . . . we will spend more of our waking hours in daylight and less time after dark, thereby saving energy. The end of Daylight Savings will be November 4, 2007, one week later than usual.

I just downloaded the Microsoft software to update my operating system and Outlook because they are not programmed for a switch to Daylight Savings Time at this early date. It was an easy download. You can find it here: Microsoft Daylight Savings Time Update Center.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Mad River Rocket Sled: Well Named

I ran into a friend and fellow innkeeper yesterday who very enthusiastically told me he had just purchased a Mad River Rocket sled. As he said, the product is well named and the emphasis should be on the word "Rocket."

I should explain that this guy is over 50 years old and not what anyone would call a wild man! But he had attended a demo put on by Waitsfield VT outfitter Clearwater Sports and had such a great time, he bought one of the sleds. I've heard of other people doing the same thing. The sled may look like a young person's toy but its appeal is much broader. Its reputation is growing too. I think the product is only a few years old but its popularity in this part of Vermont is strong. Everyone I know who has tried it has had a great time. They are fun to ride and easy to control.

Mad River Rockets sleds come in five models, range in price from $50 to $275, and are made in the USA just down the road a few minutes from me in Warren VT. You can buy on the web site or click a link to one of the retailers listed there.

When you are at the web site, be sure to see The Stash photo gallery for great photos of the sleds at Ranier, Utah, Italy, Germany.

Here is the best way to give this a try. Rent a Mad River Rocket sled at Clearwater Sports in Waitsfield VT for just $12 and have them give you directions to Lincoln Gap Road about 15 minutes drive from the store. This road is closed to car traffic in winter and provides a long, thrilling ride. Take a look at some YouTube video here and here to see how the sleds operate and how much fun they are.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Telemark Festival at Mad River Glen March 10 and 11

About 1,000 skiers are expected for this year's North American Telemark Festival at Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston VT, the oldest and largest event of its kind. It is also one of the biggest annual events at Mad River Glen and this year it will be held this coming weekend, March 10 and 11, 2007. Telemark skiing is an older style of getting down the mountain and it's called "free heeling" because the skier's boots are not connected to the skis the way they are with modern ski equipment.

The weekend includes competitive skiing, clinics for beginners to experts, and product testing made available by all the major telemark equipment manufacturers. The cost is $54/day or $104 for both days which includes lift tickets, demo equipment use, clinics, and Telemark Dance Party sponsored by Magic Hat Brewery.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus
Photo (c) 2007 North American Telemark Organization

VT Skiers Excited About the Snow Conditions
We had many guests over this last weekend who raved about how good the skiing was. All of them were very experienced skiers who have been coming up here and elsewhere for years.

On Friday we received 12 inches of snowfall, Saturday saw another couple of inches, and as I write this Sunday evening we have received another three inches and it is still coming down. We will probably end up with a foot and a half of snow in just one weekend (stretching the weekend to include Friday).

I've held back on the superlatives about the ski conditions throughout Vermont but we are seeing skiing that is unusually good. Believe it or not, Vermont gets more snow in March on average than any other month. Plus, the days are longer, temps higher, and there are fewer skiers to work around. Now is the perfect time to come enjoy the alpine slopes, cross country trails, snowmobiles, snow shoes, and other activites. We probably have another month left so plan now! We are starting to fill up the next two weekends and I imagine other inns are also the same.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Hammerhead: the Vermont-made High Tech Extreme Sled

It is interesting to see how geography and weather affects life. In a place where there is much snow and many hills, even leisure activities like sledding can get serious after a while.

Evidence of this is the Hammerhead, a full-out sled for those who want to see how far sledding can go. The company is located in the central Vermont town of Ferrisburgh, south of Burlington about midway to Middlebury. The sled is recommended for people at least ten years of age and is really designged with adult size sled drivers in mind. It measures 51" long x 9" tall x 23" wide.

The company has an outstanding quality website loaded with information right down to a link to the website of an industrial design consulting firm that helped develop the Hammerhead.

There is a very good review of the sled by Ken Picard on the Seven Days newspaper. The opening paragraph of that review actually summarizes the sled well: "Combine the operational simplicity of a downhill sled with the 21st-century engineering of a snowboard and the lightweight durability of a modern snowshoe, and what do you get? A sled that handles like a Ferrari and moves with nearly as much speed."

Also see the Find A Hill database submitted by the public at large in different states describing their favorite sledding hills.

The retail price is around $300. Yes, it's a lot for a sled but considering you will be going as fast as a rocket, it's a ton cheaper than rocket fuel. You should also budget a helmet and some protective gear in case your sledding hill has trees.

When you are in Vermont, check some of the local outdoor outfitters to see if you can rent one. I know Umiak Outfitters in Stowe rents them and they can also direct you to some local sledding hills (I like the one behind the Stowe elementary school).

There is another great sled made in Vermont called the Mad River Rocketsled and I'll post an entry about them soon too.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

How To Pronounce "Pico"
I received an email asking how to pronounce "Pico" I have heard even Vermonters pronouncing it differently but it is "Pee-ko." It opened in 1937 and is one of VT's first ski resorts.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

12 Inches of Snow Today
We received about a foot of snow today and most ski areas are reporting from six inches to one foot. Pico in central VT, a little east of Rutland, had the most: 20 inches today.

Most Vermont ski areas don't report their total year to date accumulations but two who do are Jay Peak in northern VT at 231 inches, and Sugarbush in the north central part of the state at 167 inches.

The forecast for tomorrow is 35 degrees F, maybe a little sun around noon, possible afternoon flurry with little or no accumulation. Pretty much the same thing Sunday. Gentle winds both days.

After such a slow start, our downhill and cross country skiing this year is turning out to be "epic" as one VT ski area put it.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Stephen Huneck Book Signing at Vermont Ski Museum

Popular Vermont artist Stephen Huneck and his dog Sally, the subject of a book called "Sally's Snow Adventure" will be at the Vermont Ski Museum in Stowe this Saturday March 3, 2007 from 3:00 to 5:00. Stephen will read from the book and sign copies. It's Sally's birthday and there will a surprise birthday party for her.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor
Image copyright Stephen Huneck Gallery 2006

Tree House Building Class
Here is something unusual to do this coming Sunday, March 4 at 11:00 am. It is a tree house building class at the ECHO Aquarium on the lakefront in Burlington. Bill Allen of Forever Young Treehouses will demonstrate the proper construction of a treehouse - good information to have for a spring/summer project.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Snow In The Friday Forecast
Roger Hill, our local weather guru, thinks we will get 6 to 12 inches of snow starting Thurs night and continuing into Friday. Some sleet had also been predicted by others but Roger thinks that will be south of us and all we will get is snow. This should be a great weekend for all snow-related activities.

Here is what the Valentine's Day blizzard did to our parking lot. That vehicle is a tall SUV that was covered up to the bottom of the windows. You can see the snow on the roof is about 2.5 feet deep. This vehicle was driven by a couple from Florida! For a full size view of this photo, go to my Photobucket page.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Mount Snow Mardi Gras Celebration March 3
The 5th Annual Mardi Gras Celebration at Mount Snow is March 3 and 4 this year. It includes a parade through the base area, skiing jesters, children's events, music performances, contests, and parties.

Also at Mount Snow on March 3 is the United States Snowboard Association competition on UN BLANCO GULCH terrain park.

The Suzuki Halfpipe Jam for both skiers and riders is on the same day and will held on Mount Snow's Gut Superpipe for a chance to win cash prizes. Registration is FREE and open to the public. See Mount Snow's Events Calendar for more details on these events and others.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Snowmobiles in Vermont
Snowmobiles are not as common as cars in Vermont but sometimes it seems like they are. The Vermont snowmobile season got a late start this year but it is fully underway now. There are options for people to rent or operate their own snowmobile.

If you don't own a snowmobile or can't bring yours with you, here are two rental outfits (note: there are more but I'll just mention two now and write another entry about some others at a later date):

High Country Snowmobile Tours , located in the town of Wilmington in southern Vermont, has many types of tours including a two hour, evening, half day, full day, private, corporate, snowmobile safety course, and an introductory course. Prices range from $55 to $285.

Snowmobile Vermont has new or late model snowmobiles, helmets, and boots. The tours run every day, conditions permitting, at Killington, Okemo, both in central VT, and Stowe in northern VT. I took a two hour ride at the Stowe location a few years ago and had a great time. This is a very well run operation and the tour went deep into a beautiful forest. Note: this is real back country snowmobiling, not just plodding around a flat field. We had some guests at our inn who mostly enjoyed themselves on this tour but they were surprised at and intimidated by the rugged terrain. They were not the outdoors type, let us say, so keep in mind that these tours are not ideal for shy and hesitant people. The tour is conducted at a reasonable speed and with safety in mind but it is not for everyone. If memory serves, a two hour tour for two people on a snowmobile is about $160.

Note: both companies take a credit card and place a hefty deposit on it in case you damage the equipment. This is returned to you at the end of the tour. And both operations will take walk-ins but it's better to reserve ahead of time.

If you own your own snowmobile, you should take a look at the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST), a huge organization made up of some 140 snowmobile clubs around the state. VAST operates more than 5,000 miles (!) of snowmobile trails in Vermont. There is an annual fee of $95 for out of state residents ($65 for Vermont residents) to ride the trails plus a required local membership of $5 to $15 depending upon which club you purchase a membership from. You must show registration and proof of insurance. The VAST website has full details for joining as well as map ordering and other information.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

April Maple Festival and June Quilt Festival
It's early to write about these two events but the brochure distributor just dropped off literature about two popular Vermont events.

The Vermont Maple Syrup Festival celebrates one of Vermont's biggest "crops" : maple syrup. This event will be held in St. Albans in far northern Vermont April 27 - 29, 2007. It celebrates the end of maple sugaring season with an exhibit hall, store, contest, demonstrations, crafts, antique show, pancake breakfast, youth talent show, and fiddler's variety show. For details, see Vermont Maple Festival

The hugely popular Vermont Quilt Festival is scheduled for June 29 - July 1, 2007. It is held at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction VT, a suburb of Burlington. There are displays, workskhops, lectures, merchants mall, appraisals, kids classes, and award ceremony. If you want lodging in the Burlington area on those dates, now is the time to get them. This festival fills most of the rooms in the Burlington area. For details, see Vermont Quilt Festival

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Sugar Mountain Farm Blog
Farms, especially dairy farms, are a major Vermont attraction and are also highly valued by Vermont rasidents. Here is one of the better Vermont farm blogs I have found: Sugar Mountain Farm Blog

It is well done, interesting reading that will give you good insights into what it is like to farm here in some of the most beautiful but very rugged country in the world.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Pittsfield VT Snowshoe Marathon
What do Vermont joggers and runners do during winter? They run in snowshoes. In fact, there are special racing snowshoes made just for snowshoe running.

Marathon runners stay in shape and compete in winter too. One of the major snow shoe marathons, the Pittsfield Snowshoe Marathon is scheduled for March 3, 2007 in Pittsfield VT, about 12 miles north of Killington in central VT.

Top prize for both the male and female categories is $500. The marathon is a challenging one that includes 5,500 feet of elevation change. There is also a half marathon.

There is also a postrace lobster and shrimp dinner with a presentation by famous mountaineer and guest speaker David Breashears who will show his Mount Everest movie. More information is available at the Peak Adventures website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Mad River Glen Naturalist Series This Weekend
Mad River Glen not only has skiing, it also places great emphasis on the environment. They see themselves as much more than just another ski hill. A major part of their mission is providing environmental education for both skiers and non-skiers. Here is their mission statement:

" Mad River Glen's Nauralists Program seeks to educate the public about the ecology and conservation of our unique alpine environment and to advocate the stewardship of Stark Mountain for recreation, healthy forests, and wildlife habitat. Our education program provides alternative recreational activities at Mad River Glen and strives to inspire young people to become involved in the Cooperative mission and the protection of our environment."

This is a very good quality program which has several events this weekend:

February 17-25, 2007 President's Week Naturalist Series. Kids and adults alike are welcome! Naturalist guided snowshoe treks available every day. Easy to moderate difficulty. 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM

February 24, 2007 Family Snowshoe Adventure special outing designed with families but everyone is welcome. Easy snowshoe terrain combined with lessons about Vermont's forests and wildlife. Ages 5 and up. 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM

February 25, 2007 Winter Wonders Snowshoe - instruction on how wildlife adapts to the the challenges of winter. Easy to moderate terrain. 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM

MRG puts a considerable effort into this program. The outings are excellent quality, educational, and fun. Highly recommended.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Stowe Ski Resort Events Feb 24 and 25, 2007
February 24: Mount Mansfield Ski Club Mogul challenge - an annual freestyle event on Slalom Hill at Spruce Peak (the mountain on the right as you come up Route 108).

February 24: Torchlight Parade and Fireworks - takes place on the Gondolier Trail at 7:00 pm. Go to the Midway Lodge at Mount Mansfield (on the left as you drive up Route 108 - look for the Gondola sky cars as you drive in).

February 25 - Stowe Derby: one of the oldest and distinctive ski races in North America and a major Stowe event each year. This is a race from the top of Mount Mansfield, highest mountain in Vermont, down to the village of Stowe. Since 1945, it has been the "ultimate" test of a skiers ability. Attracts about 1,000 competitors including the Canadian Cross Country Ski Team and the NCAA college champions but also casual skiers who just want a challenge. Here is the 2006 Stowe Derby Web Site which has some information about the event and its history. And here is the 2007 Stowe Derby Web Site which is basically an online registration form.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Green Mountain Film Festival Schedule Released
The Green Mountain Film festival will be held March 16 - 25, 2007 in Montpelier. Films will be shown at Savoy Theater, City Hall Arts Center, and Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Two addtional venues this year are the Unitarian Church and Langdon Street Cafe.

Films to be shown are: Avenue Montaigne � Beauty in Trouble � Been Rich All My Life � Black Gold � El Carro � The Cave of the Yellow Dog � Climates � C.R.A.Z.Y. � Family Law � Flock of Dodos � Following Sean � Gimme Shelter � Gobi Women�s Song � Grey Gardens � Gypsy Caravan � Holding Our Own � The Host � Into Great Silence � Jonestown � Land Mines: A Love Story � The Light Ahead � Living on the Fault Line � Men at Work � Molly�s Way � Our Daily Bread � El Perro � The Refugee All-Stars � The Ritchie Boys � The Rules of the Game � Salesman � Shakespeare Behind Bars � Sisters in Law � Suite Habana � Ten Canoes � Today�s Man � Wondrous Oblivion �

Kenneth Turan, LA Times and NPR film critic is the featured speaker this year.

Advance ticket purchases are recommended. For more information, see Green Mountain Film Festival

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Stowe Snow Stats
Here are some interesting statistics about the amount of snow at Stowe Ski Resort.

more than 100 inches so far in February

there has been snowfall 30 of the last 40 days

total snow accumulation since Martin Luther King holiday weekend in Jan is close to 12 feet

At this rate, we'll still be skiing into late April.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Events This Weekend Feb 23 - 25, 2007
Ben & Jerry's Winter Festival
North Central Vermont
Waterbury VT
February 24, 2007
11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

These folks put the fun in funny business. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory is located off Interstate 89, Exit 10, Waterbury-Stowe, go north toward Stowe on Route 100. The factory will be up the road about 3/4 of a mile on the left.

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Vermont Style Mardi Gras in Burlington
Northern Vermont
Feb 24, 2007

Magic Hat Mardi Gras Parade and Block Party sponsored by Magic Hat Brewing was scheduled for Saturday Feb 17, but had to be postponed beacuse the city streets could not be clearned of all the snow after the Valentine's Day blizzard. It will be held this Saturday, Feb 24. The parade starts at 3:00 pm on Church Street in Burlington but there are activities/parties before and after.

There is a wheelchair accessible viewing area located immediately in front of Burlington's City Hall between Church and College Streets, and a special children's viewing area so they can see the parade without tall adults in the way.

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Middlebury College Winter Carnival
Central Vermont
February 22 to February 25 in Middlebury VT. Now in its 83rd year!

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Brattleboro Winter Carnival
Southern Vermont
Feb 16 - 25

Family friendly activities.

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Extreme Sled Demo Day
Northern Vermont
February 24th
Jackson Arena in Stowe Village from 10am � 3pm.

I have been planning a blog entry about Mad River Rocket Sleds and Hammerhead Sleds, both made in VT. However, you can personally test these unique and high tech sleds this coming Saturday. Also try an Air Board, a European inflatable sled that has even gained acceptance at some lift served areas in Vermont.

"Today�s gravity powered winter toys have been supercharged for performance. Using modern high-tech
materials have made these new hybrid sleds lighter, stronger, faster and more maneuverable than the sleds and toboggans of years gone by.

'The Industry has dubbed these new toys EXTREME SLEDS for their ability to negotiate advanced terrain. But this name can also be a bit mis-leading in my mind, in that the sleds are far safer and user friendly on our back yard hills than the traditional sleds I grew up with, because of their ability to steer and stop.' says Steve Brownlee owner of Umiak Outfitters ."

Participation is FREE.

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Telemark Ski Clinic at Stowe Resort
Northern Vermont
Sunday Feb 25, 2007

Beginner�s clinic for first time Telemark skiers will be held on Spruce Peak at SMR from 10am � 12am. An intermediate clinic for Tele skiers looking to improve their skills will be offered from 1pm � 3-pm. For more information see Umiak Outfitters or call 802-253-2717.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Updated Snow Forecast For Thurs to Sun
The Single Chair Weather Blog has updated its "busted" big snowstorm forecast this week (see my Feb 17 entry below). However, Joshua Fox, the blog writer, foresees some snowfall late afternoon Thursday and Thursday night, probably amounting to a few inches by Friday morning. That could be, might be, may be, perhaps followed by an inch or two Fri night into Sat morning. So, we are not getting another big snow as we did on Valentine's Day, but we are getting back to our more normal pattern of several inches per week just to freshen up conditions. The high temperaturs Sat will be in the teens. Sunday will be in the 20's. Wear layers, have fun!

(C) 2007 Jeff Connor

US Open Snowboarding Championships March 12 - 18
The 25th US Open Snowboarding Championship will be held March 12 - 18, 2007 at Stratton Vermont Mountain Resort the birthplace of snowboarding. This event is expected to have more than 20,000 spectators to watch the best riders in the world.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Vermont Tour Guide
Not everyone who comes to Vermont in winter is here to ski, snowshoe, skate, or snowmobile. We often have guests who just wanted to go someplace quiet and relax. They often ask for recommendations on where to go to see some great scenery, shop, and dine. We have lots of suggestions and it's easy to fill a day with some leisurely touring activities.

For an even better experience, you could have a local drive you around while you sit back and relax. It's much easier to enjoy the scenery when you don't have to spend most of your time with your eyes on the road.

One tour company is located in Stowe. Mountainview Tours offers tours of Burlington, Montpelier, Middlebury, Stowe, and southern Vermont including Woodstock.

For example, the Stowe tour is three hours long and costs $45 per person for two to four adults, and $35 pp for groups of five or more. One of their most popular tours is "A Taste of Vermont" which includes Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Cabot Cheese, etc. It is four hours and is priced at $55 per person, or $45 pp for five or more.

Mountainview Tours also offers trips to Maine, New Hampshire, and Montreal.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Excellent VT Ski Weather This Week
According to Joshua Fox's Single Chair Weather Blog, this week will bring fresh snow every day which should make for an unusually good skiing experience right through the coming weekend. He is predicting 12-28 inches over a four day period starting tomorrow. However, I heard on the radio earlier today that some forecasters are now saying that we won't get as much snow as was expected so we'll have to see how this progresses. No matter if the snowfall will be on the low end or high end of the estimates, it should make for memorable skiing.

He is predicting the coming weekend will be dry with high daytime temperatures in the middle 20's degrees F and low temperatures around 10 degrees F.

The only potential bad news is that next week might start with ice or rain. All the more reason to hit the slopes this week.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Longest Ski Trail in the East Is At Stowe

The longest ski run in the east is Stowe's Gondolier, a 1.6 mile, 20 degree pitch, intermediate rating knee burner. It is accessed by Stowe's Gondola and is one of two Stowe trails with lighting for Saturday night skiing from 4:00 to 9:00 pm.

Rates for Saturday night skiing are $25, Twilight (1:00 - 9:00 PM) $63, and all day $77 for adults. Night tickets are available only at the Midway Lodge Guest Services Desk.

For this trail and all the others, see Stowe's interesting interactive trail map.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Jay Peak Mardi Gras Celebration
This year's Jay Peak Mardi Gras will be February 26 - March 3, 2007: a week long family event with New Orleans food prepared on-site by Chef Mark Uddo (founding partner and Senior Chef of the Culinary Institute of New Orleans), bands every night, mask making workshops with Vermont artist Maggie Sherman, snow sculpture contest, snowball throwing contest, cooking demonstrations, etc.

Middlebury: Oldest Student-run Winter Carnival in the Country
From February 22 to February 25, the Middlebury College Winter Carnival will have an ice show, ski competitions, fireworks. It is held in Middlebury VT, one of the best looking villages in New England, and it's the the oldest and largest student-run carnivals in the country.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Burlington Mardi Gras Postponed
I just found out that the Burlington Mardi Gras originally scheduled for today (see my Feb 12 post) has been postponed to next Saturday the 24th.

Avalanche Warning Issued at Stowe
Stowe Rescue has issued an avalanche warning for all backcountry areas including those that are inbounds. With all the new snow, the chances for a backcountry avalanche increases. I imagine that other ski areas will have similar conditions. Check with mountain officials to get their recommendation on where to ski the woods. Always go with at least one other person and preferably more; go with people who know the way; do not go late in the day or in bad weather. Under Vermont law, if a rescue operation is called out on your behalf, you are responsible for all expenses.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Snowshoes in Vermont
If you have not tried snowshoeing, you should give it a try on your next visit to Vermont. It's easy to do and a great way to have fun in the snow. As they say, if you can walk you can snowshoe. It makes walking in the snow much easier because you don't sink in as much as you would with just boots on - what's called "post holing." Snowshoes have metal claws on the bottom to help grip in even icy conditions.

Here are some ideas on where to go.

Tubbs snowshoes were manufactured for many years in Stowe VT. Unfortunately the company was sold to K-2, a large ski manufacturer, which then moved Tubbs production to China.

As a result, I don't feel as much loyalty to Tubbs as I once did but they make a great snowshoe and they support the sport. One good thing they have continued is their Tubbs Trailnet website which lists hundreds of snowshoe trails recommended by people who are familiar with the trails.

To find a snowshoe trail, choose a location and degree of difficulty (easy, moderate, more difficult, back country). These trails are submitted by people who snowshoed the trails, mostly locals who are familiar with the area. Many of them are snowshoe enthusiasts who enjoy sharing their trails with fellow snowshoers.

Easy does not always mean easy for you. If you are 45 years old and spend your days at a desk with little exercise, you may think the trail should have been ranked difficult. On the other hand, you might find a trail rated moderate is actually easy for you. Or it could be an easy trail with moderate sections. These are not a scientific judgments and they are not precise - just one person's assessment.

There are 239 reviewed trails in Vermont, a small fraction of the number actually here.

You should also talk to the innkeeper where you will be staying. They may have their own trails like we do (with free snowshoes to use on our property) or they will refer you to a local outdoor outfitter.

Two excellent outfitters I am familiar with are Umiak Outfitters in Stowe and Clearwater Sports in Waitsfield but you will find other outfitters all over Vermont. Most outfitters can set you up with equipment and directions, or better yet for casual snowshoeing, offer guided tours of area woods. Some of them add in things like wine and cheese tours, wildlife viewing, etc.

Ski areas, both alpine and nordic, are also a good source of trails and equipment rentals. For instance, Bolton Valley.

You can check the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association website which lists snowshoe outfitters in northern VT: Bolton, Essex Junction, Huntington, Jay, Stowe, Waitsfield; and in the southern half of VT: Killington, Rawsonville, Bondville, Stratton and West Dover.

I recently came across Maple Ridge, a company that makes excellent quality waterproof maps for snowshoeing and cross country skiing the Stowe and Smugglers Notch areas.

The Green Mountain Club is Vermont's leading source of information for trail users. If you have time before your arrival, I highly recommend ordering their book Snowshoeing in Vermont. It has trail descriptions, directions on how to find the trails, good places to park, maps, mileages. We have a copy of this book for use by our guests and the place you are staying may have one as well. We just copy the information on whichever trail the guest wants to try. It's a great way to choose a trail suitable for the guest's skill level and engery level.

You don't have to find a forest trail to snowshoe in Vermont. There are many, many town parks and municipal playgrounds where you can have a leisurely snowshoe walk on level ground. Again, your innkeeper will be the best source of local information like that.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Waterbury "Chilympaid" Church Supper
A church chili supper and competition combined at the Waterbury Congregational Church this Sunday, Feb 18, starting at 5:30 p.m.. You don't have to bring chili but people in the area will be cooking up their best chili recipes for the contest. Dinner is just $5 per person or $15 per family. The Church is a large white one on north Main Street in Waterbury VT. This is a family friendly, alcohol-free event.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

President's Day Weekend Weather OUtlook
Here is a detailed weather forecast for the next several days from Joshua Fox's Single Chair Weather blog

"It will be cold and blustery through Friday with temperatures on the (Mad River Glen) mountain struggling to make it past 10. Saturday should see some moderation as temps climb into the teen with less winds . . . beginning Thursday evening and ending Saturday morning we could see an additional 4-10 inches with the wide ride range accounting not only for uncertainty but also elevation on the mountain. At some point on Saturday a break in the snow is likely . . . late Sunday which could bring a burst of terrain enhanced snow and another 5-10 inches by Monday morning. Although a powder day appears very likely on Monday, it will be windy and very cold with temperatures at least 10 below in the morning and struggling to make it above zero during the afternoon. So in summary, we have new snow predicted for lift opening on 3 out of the 4 days between Friday and Monday. Friday and Monday are cold and blustery, Saturday and Sunday are not as cold."

Click the link above if you wold like to read more.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

VT Ski Areas Report Big Snowfalls
Mount Snow in southern Vermont reports 21" to 24" snowfall yesterday. Sugarbush in north central Vermont got 4 feet of snow in the last 48 hours for a season total of 153 inches (12.75 feet). Jay Peak in far northern Vermont was one inch short of 6 feet in the last 48 hours for a season total of 196 inches (16.3 feet).

All three advise that there may be wind holds today when they cannot operate the lifts.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Roads Getting Cleared Soon
The snow plows have been at work all night and it looks like major roads should be in decent shape by mid-day today. There will be some exceptions no doubt and a few spots may see some drifting but overall, travel should be basically fine.

The Burlington airport is open but there are no flights to Philadelphia or LaGuardia because those airports are closed.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Wind Conditions May Slow Ski Areas - If Anyone Can Even Get to Them
In addition to the two feet of snow we have had today (the storm gained enough strength to be categorized this afternoon as a blizzard), winds are very strong tonight and may hamper lift operations at the ski areas tomorrow too. However, even getting to VT may prove to be too much of a challenge anyway.

This is the biggest snow storm I have ever been through. I would imagine it will take the better part of tomorrow to get the roads plowed and to get Burlington airport open. The winds are pushing the snow around so much that even if the roads are plowed, they drift back over soon after.

The snow in our parking lot is a little over knee deep. A tall SUV belonging to our only guests tonight is nearly covered in snow drifts because the wind has pushed the snow up the sides of the car to the bottom of the side windows. My four wheel drive pickup truck with four snow tires is stuck on the driveway because it slid into a snowbank when I foolishly tried to drive though more than a foot of snow this afternoon. I'm waiting for the snow plow guy to come and help pull me out. I started raking the building roofs but all the snow blew back on and I have to start again tomorrow. Raking heavy snow from two and three story buildings is a major pain especially when it is this windy and cold.

Other than that, it was a quiet day.

Before you head out to anywhere in Vermont, check the Agency of Transportation Vermont Road Report map and the Vermont Road Conditions Text Report. If you are away from internet access, you can call The Vermont Agency of Transportation's toll free road report at 1-800-ICY-ROAD.

This link is the FAA's Flight Control airport status report on Burlington VT airport (BTV), however you should also check your airline to get your flight's status.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Gale Force Winds This Afternoon
Gale force winds on the summits of Vermont's Green Mountains are expected this afternoon stepping up to hurricane force by this evening. The winds will not be that powerful at lower elevations but will still be strong. Expect power outages.

Here is a good, albeit a bit technical, discussion about what is going on here in Vermont and New England weather: Single Chair Weather Blog

Happy Valentine's Day Snow Lovers!

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Ben & Jerry's Winter Festival
Ben & Jerry's 2007 Winter Festival will be held here in Waterbury VT on Saturday February 24 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. There are free factory tours all day plus games, snow sculpture, ice cream caractures, music, snowshoe tours, food samplings from King Arthur Flour, Bragg Farm Sugarhouse, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Laughing Moon Chocolates, Cabot Cheese. The Vermont Instititute of Natural Sciences will have a "Bird on a Glove" (hawk, owl, falcon) demonstration from 1:30 to 3:00.

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory is located off Interstate 89, Exit 10, Waterbury-Stowe, go north toward Stowe on Route 100. The factory will be up the road about 3/4 of a mile on the left.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Two-for-one Deal at Stowe on Valentine's Day
I mentioned in a Feb 10 post that I heard Stowe had a two-for-one ticket price this Wednesday, Valentine's Day, but I could not find it on their website. They posted it today: Stowe two-for-one Valentine's special.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Vermont Style Mardi Gras in Burlington
Mardi Gras Parade and Block Party sponsored by Magic Hat Brewing is scheduled for Saturday Feb 17, 3:00 pm on Church Street in Burlington.

This is one of the major festivals in Vermont and it gets thousands of visitors for a couple of reasons: it's a lot of fun and it's free. Young children are welcome and in fact there is a special area for them to view the parade: look for the Kinko's on Church Street.

Also, there is a wheelchair accessible viewing area located immediately in front of Burlington's City Hall between Church and College Streets.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Major Valentine Snow Storm Wednesday
We had an another inch or two of snow last night and early this morning but the big news is that a Valentine gift from nature is on the way in the form of 18" to 36" of snow this coming Wednesday. If you plan on being in Vermont, keep in mind that this area is why four wheel drive vehincles are made. If you don't own one, you would probably be smart to rent one.

Here is a weather forecast from Joshua Fox's Single Chair Weather Blog:

Monday, February 12, 2007

"Major storm set to strike northern/central Vermont

"Biggest storm, on a synoptic scale, is set to strike Mad River Glen and surrounding Vermont beginning late in the evening on Tuesday and lasting into Thursday. There will be both very heavy snow and high winds. The northern half of Vermont, the White Mountains of New Hampshire and much of the southern two thirds of Maine look to be in the storms sweet spot where total snowfall based on preliminary indications will be in the 18-36 inch range by late day Thursday.

"Posted by Joshua Fox at 9:20 AM "

Wax up the ski's, it's going to be an epic weekend.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Nearly Two Feet of Snow This Past Week
Today I had some guests from southern NH say they were surprised to get up here and find all the snow. They have not had much snow there.

The fact is, we have not been getting any news-making big dumps but we have had quite a few days recently when we have received several inches at a time, and the upper elevations at the ski areas are getting a little more. Stowe ski resort is reporting 18 to 24 inches last week. Bolton Valley reports 15 inches last week. Here is tomorrow's report from Bolton's online snow report: :

"MONDAY: Sunday was picture perfect. With 2-3" on Saturday, after getting 8" of fresh snow on Friday on top of 5-6"Thursday and another 6-8" last Saturday. It just sparkled up here on the trails! We expect great skiing and riding again all week long!"

So far this year, Bolton has recorded 140 inches of snow.

No matter what it looks like around your town, we have a lot more snow than you might expect. And there is a big storm predicted for Valentine's Day so we will keep an eye out for that.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Brattleboro VT Winter Carnival Feb 16 - 25
The Brattleboro Winter Carnival, Brattleboro, VT features a pancake breakfast, sleigh rides, music performances including country/western jamboree, karaoke, square dance, ice fishing derby, queen's pageant, ice skating show, Vermont's distinctive sugar on snow (hot maple syrup poured on snow which makes a maple flavored taffy), $1 movies, petting zoo, torchlight parade on the ski slope, and other family friendly activities.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the carnival, there will be fireworks and a revival of the traditional Snow Ball, a semi-formal dance that was once a highlight of the carnival.

Brattleboro is in southeastern Vermont town and is known for its 70-metre ski jump. The carnival started as a one-day ski-jump competition. Click here for a detailed schedule of events during the carnival.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Vermont Romantic Valentine's Day Ideas
What could be better than a romantic trip to a beautiful place like Vermont for Valentine's Day? A relaxing day snowshoeing a quiet woods, or skiing in the clean mountain air, or perhaps a sleigh ride, then a delicious dinner for two, an evening in front of a cozy fireplace . . . that is the essence of a memorable Valentine's Day. Give your loved one a gift they will not only appreciate but also cherish for a long time.

If you can't get away, find a distinctive gift instead. I believe Valentine's Day is the busiest period of the year for Vermont Teddy Bear , even surpassing Christmas, for good reason: these are the highest quality teddy bears you can find and they are made in the USA, right here in Vermont. You can buy just the plain bear or dress it up with all kinds of costumes including occupantional and Valentine's themes. Guaranteed home run!

And if you have a Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop nearby, just swing by on the way home and pick up one of their Valentine's Day ice cream cakes with special "Love You" message on top! You might want to call ahead and reserve one just to be safe.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Great Skiing Outlook
Today the temperatures were comfortable with a high in the mid 20's F and little or no wind. In the past week, we have been getting small snow dumps of 2" to 4" at a time. Ski areas in our north central part of Vermont have received 1.5 to 2 feet of snow over the last week.

Skiing was great today with good temps all day long, great snow conditions, and even though there were people all over the place, it never got crowded. It snowed a bit during the day and picked up the pace late afternoon.

The temps are predicted to drop again next week but the snow conditions should remain great. If you plan to ski Vermont, the outlook is very good.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Valentine's Day Ski Specials
Lift tickets at Sugarbush will be just $14 on Valentine's Day! I think I had read in a local newspaper that Stowe will have a two-for-one special that day but I can't find it on their web site. They may not be promoting it but that happens sometimes and you won't know of a special until you show up or call and ask.

Check for similar specials at other ski areas. If you are not sure which one you might light to go to, a good place to start is the Vermont Ski Areas Association web site.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Mad River Glen Ski Area Featured in New York Times
The New York Times today published an article about Mad River Glen, probably the most distinct ski area in all the USA. When you visit Vermont, you will likely see bumper stickers that say "Mad River Glen: Ski It If You Can" which reflects the challenging aspects of a ski area priding itself in being a mecca for pure skiers. The skiers at Mad River Glen are the type who will find it hilarious that Stowe has a keyword ad above the article.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

New Snow

Shown above is the The Alakazam Tube Park at Magic Mountain in southern VT which reported a 2" to 4" snowfall yesterday. (I've been having some trouble over the last few days getting the web site to come up in Firefox but it works fine in IE.)

Sugarbush in north central VT received 6"

Jay Peak Resort in northern VT got a 9" dump, for a season total of 113"

Scattered flurries are in the forecast for the next few days.

The skiing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing, sleigh riding, sledding, tubing, dog sledding, skating, and beautiful winter scenery are in full swing.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

It's Snowing Again
After three sunny but cold days, it clouded over this afternoon and light snow showers began. So far, at 10:00 pm, we have received about two inches of snow and it's still coming down lightly.

The weather forecast calls for snow off and on over the next five days, so there should be plenty of fresh natural snow for skiing this weekend. The high Saturday will be in the low 20's F or -7� C. Sunday is forecasted to have a high of 9� F or -13� C. Those are ideal temps for powder snow. With all the natural snow and cold temps for making even more snow lately, all the ski areas are reporting good base depths and 95 to 100% skiable trails.

If you have been waiting for ideal ski conditions, now is the time.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Western Skiing vs. VT Skiing
If you are trying to decide between a ski trip out west or to VT, here is some guidance from a Skimrv.com Forum member today, Jan 30:

"Despite all the howling about the bad conditions a month ago and the often heard cry, "this sucks I'm going out west" the season has turned around. The west except for the PNW has not seen alot of snow this season. Even the big storms we saw on the news in Denver was concentrated on the front range and the resorts west into the mountains didn't get the big dump.

"The first western resort to fall off the table this season is June Mountain, sister resort to Mamouth Mt. in CA. They are throwing in the towel and closing due to lack of snowfall this season. Heavenly, Squaw and Mammoth long used to huge Sierra dumps are still only 70% open. There are resorts 100% open but the skiing has not been like you see in the brochures. Even Utah has not seen alot of new snow in the last 2/3 weeks.

"This is not totally across the board as I heard Alta/Snowbird got some snow last week but not much in the Park City area. If your going out west make sure you check the conditions at the resort your going to cause you might be shocked to find that the conditions here in northern Vermont might be as good or even better. "

You can see this entry and subsequent responses under the heading "The shoe is on the other foot now" in the Topics column.

I was corresponding recently with someone who lives in Park City and he told me the same thing: not really that much snow there despite all the headline news about major storms in the Pacific North West.

The Skimrv.com website is an excellent source of information about Sugarbush, Mad River Glen, and the Mad River Valley in general. Look for frequent posts by "win" who is Win Smith, an owner and CEO of Sugarbush. I suppose there might be other major ski area owners who are just as accessible as Win, but I have not heard of any. It's an unusual opportunity to communicate directly with the "top dog."

Lots of good reading on this forum because you get straightforward facts and opinions. It's interesting and helpful to see what the insiders are saying about what is going on.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

An Amazing Deal at Stowe Feb 2: $35 Lift Tickets

[Photo courtesy of Stowe Resort]

Most everywhere else it is called Groundhog Day, but at Stowe Friday, February 2 is called Woodchuck Day . Of course in ski country, you WANT a longer winter. So, perhaps to bring good luck to themselves, Stowe has decided to make a sacrifice to the snow gods by cutting their lift ticket price in half that day.

For just $35, you can ski all day while also getting a FREE Stowe Points Card (a $75 value that saves on lift tickets the rest of the season) to the first 500 people to come out.

With the best conditions of the season right now, this will be an oustanding opportunity at "The Skiing and Riding Capital of the East."

(c) 2007 (except Stowe Woodchuck photo) Jeff Connor

Ski All Day for $3.50
I mentioned in an earlier entry that a group deal at Magic Mountain was the lowest price I had seen. However, I forgot that some Vermont ski areas have a "roll back the clock day" when they lower their prices to what they were when the ski area opened years ago. For instance, Mad River Glen's Roll Back the Clock Day is coming up in a couple of days. On Jan 30, all lift tickets are just $3.50, the same price as it was in 1949. Now THAT is the lowest price I have seen.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

The Skiing Is Great Now
Our guests are reporting excellent ski conditions for both downhill and cross country skiing. By way of example, one of our favorite places to cross country ski, Trapp Family Lodge had 6" to 10" of fresh snow this week. It has been cold here so the new snow had been all powder. Lately, we have had beautiful sunny days with day time temps in the mid 20's F, or - 3 C.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Robert Frost Museum

Everyone thinks of Robert Frost as a New England poet and it's therefore surprising to learn he was born in California and spent the first eleven years of his life there. That's just one of the interesting tidbits you can learn about America's most famous modern poet at a museum and web site dedicated to remembering his life.

The Robert Frost Museum is located in the C. 1796 stone house where Frost lived from 1920 to 1929. Located in Shaftsbury Vermont (southern part of the state), the house is just a few minutes drive from Frost's burial site in Bennington.

The museum is maintained by the Friends of Frost group which also has an online Frost Free Libraryof downloadable books and articles about Frost, plus an audio recording of him reading some of his poems.

(c) 2007 (except the photograph from the Friends of Frost) Jeff Connor

Green Mountain Film Festival
The 10th annual Green Mountain Film Festival is scheduled for March 16 to 25 this year. It will be held in Montpelier's Savoy Theater. The line up will be announced in early Feb but you can go to the website and see what kinds of films have been shown in recent years.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

An Extraordinary Ski Discount
As I mentioned in the previous post, a little research will turn up some great deals at Vermont ski areas. Here is another quick example.

At Magic Mountain in southern VT, they have a deal called Car Pool Fridays which is good on every non-holiday Friday through the end of the season. Your entire car load skis or rides for only $50.00.

If you can pack six people into a car, it will cost each person only $8.33 to ski or ride all day. I think that is the cheapest rate I have ever seen.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Discount Ski Deals
If you are thinking of skiing, be sure to look for discounts. Virtually all alpine ski areas offer them, as well as some cross country ski areas. Just check the ski resort's website to get details. The price may even influence your decision on where to ski.

Every ski resort has the usual multi-day pass discounts and of course weekdays are always cheaper than weekends, except during holiday periods. However, you should also look closer at some of the other offers the ski resort has. For instance, at Mad River Glen in January, weekday passes are just $29, a phenomenal price. Mad River Glen changes offerings every few weeks so it is worthwhile to check the website occasionally.

Here are MRG's other discounts:

Ski for $1
Buy a two-day ticket and ski the next day for only $1! Available every day throughout the season except during holiday periods.

Afternoon Half-day Special
Ski every non-holiday afternoon Sunday through Friday for only $29!

The Day-and-a-Half Midweek Special
Buy a ticket for the next day and ski the afternoon before free! What a great way to get out of town for a quick getaway! This special is available after 12 noon Sunday through Thursday and is not offered during holiday periods.

Any Other Pass Special
Ski for only $29 midweek when you present any valid season pass from any other ski area.

The 30 Day Ticket
Ski for 30 consecutive days from the day you purchase your ticket for only $279 or $219 for juniors & seniors.

Vermonter Wednesdays
Vermonters ski every Wednesday for only $29! Not valid during holiday periods. Must provide proof of residence.

$29 Student Deal
College Students ski every midweek day for only $29!. Not valid during holiday periods. Must provide valid student ID.

AARP Member Discount
AARP Members Ski for only $29! Monday-Friday (non-holiday) with a valid AARP membership card.

The Legend Ticket - Seniors 70 & over Ski Free
1st five days of skiing are free then it�s only $100 for a Legends Season Pass. Co-op Shareholders over the age of 70 Always ski FREE!!!

I'll write from time to time about other ski areas and their special discounts but you can check them yourself. A good starting place if you don't have a specific resort in mind is the Vermont Ski Areas website conditions page. Click the name of the resort in the left column and it will take you to another page where there is a small summary of the resort as well as a link in the center column which can then take you to the resort's own web site. On that site, click Tickets & Passes or the equivalent and that's usually where the discounts are summarized.

Quite often, lodging establishments will have discounts available either with or without a package.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Brookfield Ice Harvest Cancelled
The Brookfield Ice Harvest, one of Vermont's oldest traditional events, has been cancelled this year because of thin ice. The ice on Sunset Lake is about 6" thick now which is enough to support a few people but only about half as thick as it should be to support the weight of several hundred people who usually attend the event. The event had been scheduled for Jan. 27.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has often named the Brookfield harvest a top 10 winter event. It reenacts ice harvesting that took place there, and all around northern New England, during the 1800's and early 1900's until commercial refrigeration replaced it. Large blocks of ice were cut by hand, loaded onto horse-drawn skids or wagons, and hauled to insulated rail cars. The trains would then take the ice to such places as Boston and New York, where they were stored in insulated warehouses to help preserve meat and other foods.

Brookfield is the home of the floating bridge which you can drive across in warm weather. It's also home to Ed Koren, one of my favorite cartoonists. He has had about 1000 drawings published in the New Yorker magazine over the last few decades. His drawing style is distinctive as you can see at The Cartoon Bank web site Here is his self portrait with cartoon pen and fireman's outfit because he is a member of the Brookfield volunteer fire department:

(c) 2007 (except the Ed Koren cartoon) Jeff Connor

Total Snowfall at Sugarbush
I picked Sugarbush as an example to summarize all the snow we have received. Southern VT will generally be a little less and northern VT a little more.

For what it's worth, Sugarbush is trumpeting the fact that they are the first VT ski area to be 100% open. They have 53 miles of trails in full operation.

Here are the stats:

New Snow
24 hrs: 1"
48 hrs: 13"
72 hrs: 15"

Base
Min: 8"
Max: 38"

Season Total: 65"

I think Sugarbush gets an average annual snowfall around 225". Everyone in the state got a late start but it looks like they are making up for lost time very well.

Snow Conditions
Primary: Packed Powder
Secondary: Powder

They are still running the snow guns pretty much full tilt too and our guests are reporting that conditions are good everywhere especially on the side trails that don't get as much traffic. Have fun!

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Women's Ski Program at Bolton Valley
This Women Only program is designed to improve skiing or riding skills, meet new friends, and enjoy the outdoors in a relaxed, friendly and non-competitive environment.

Designed by women instructors specifically for women students, it is conducted by female coaches.

You can join sessions on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays for five weeks of coaching and enjoy the continuity of the same group and coach, or you can switch days if your schedule requires it.

Check Bolton Valley's web site for details.
Program price for five sessions is $139.00 - a great bargain. Discounted Day Care for session participants $19.00 per child a day

Also, Bolton has discounted women's skiing/riding without lessons on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Women's Lift Ticket Price are $26.00 and you can add a lesson for for an additional $6.00 for a total of $32.00. Quite a bargain!

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Great Skiing
We ended up getting about a foot of snow here yesterday so I was surprised that the ski areas reported less than that. However, I think it might have to do with the period of time that is counted. I just counted all the snow which really started late Thurs night but I did not see it until first thing Fri morning. Add in constant snow all day Fri, and a little bit more last night that I did not see until this Sat morning, it turns my casual 24 hour observation into what is really 36 hours.

For the last 24 hours, Mount Snow in the southern part of the state reports getting 4", Middlebury College Snow Bowl in central VT got 5", while Vermont's most northern ski area, Jay Peak, received 8".

For the most recent 72 hour period, Jay reports 15", Middlebury 7", and Mount Snow the same 4".

Note: I got these figures directly from the ski resorts' web site snow reports. I had started looking at OnThesnow.com but the reports were so weird that I doubled check with Vermont Ski Areas Assn web site which had different numbers. I then went to individual ski area web sites to confirm the numbers and they agreed with the VT Ski Area Assn reports. As a result, I'm rethinking the use of OnTheSnow.com as a reliable source of information.

Skiing was very good today with powdery conditions even though it was cold and windy at times. Tomorrow is shaping up to be even better.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Dog Sled Rides

Here's something your friends, neighbors, and co-workers probaly haven't done: take a dog sled ride! There are several in our north central Vermont area and no doubt there are others throughout VT. I have not compiled a list of these yet but you can ask the lodging extablishment where you plan to stay.

By way of example, I got an email today from Rob Farley at October Siberians who was excited about the fact that we now have enough snow for him to start up his dog sled rides. He has rides in some great areas including Little River State Park in Waterbury, Mount Mansfield State Forest in Stowe, as well as South Lincoln and Ripton Vermont. Rob has links to detailed trip descriptions on his web site. He's flexible with his trips and is happy to work with you on creating a special trip plan if you wish.

The base rate is $250 for two people on a six to seven mile trip.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Big Snow
It's 9:00 PM as I write this and the snow is still coming down as it has been since I first saw it at 7:00 this morning. It is a slow, steady snow with medium size flakes falling almost casually but steadily. So far, we have about five or six inches on the ground at our inn and it looks beautiful. The forecast is for the snow to continue overnight and then as occasional flurries tomorrow.

If you can get away, now is an optimum time to come up for all the winter activities. Mad River Glen ski area, the favorite ski area for all the locals who wait patiently for snow like this in order to get the maxium amount of enjoyment from Mad River because it is a great ski area but does not make snow on their trails.

Also, this weekend is the Stowe Winter Carnival There is a major ice carving competition, snow volley ball, Super G ski race, Kids Karnival with games and sock hop, Chicken Pie Supper, Warren Miller ski movie, nightime celebrations with blues band at a local bar. You can watch some activities and participate in others.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Tax Free Clothing
As of Jan 1, any clothing purchased in Vermont is no longer subject to sales tax. Vermont is one of the states joining in a new program to make tax laws (but not rates) consistent around the country. It's also in response to the enormous revenues some states were losing to internet retailers. Previously in Vermont, any clothing purchase over $110 was subject to the sales tax. Now there is no limit on the amount of clothing you can purchase tax free.

We have had a number of our inn's guests ask about outlet stores. There are two outlet "malls" in Vermont. One is in Manchester VT in the southwestern part of the state and the other is in Essex Junction VT, just a little outside Burlington in the northern part of the state,

There are 36 stores that make up Manchester Designer Outlets . In my opinion, this is a very nice shopping experience because it's not a mall setup but a grouping of attractive shops in a village setting. The Manchester area is well known as being a "high dollar" destination with luxury lodging and restaurants. These shops are of the same caliber.

The Essex Shoppes is a mall near Burlington with 26 stores, an eight screen cinema, and six restaurants. We recently ate there at the Tiny Thai and enjoyed a very good quality meal at low prices. If you go to the Essex Shoppes website, don't overlook the discount vouchers page under Additional Links at the top right of the Shoppes page.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Burlington Advice on MSNBC.com
I just ran across this short articleon MSNBC.com but it was written Dec 26. It's a short review of a few things to do during a 24 hour layover in Burlington. It's mostly the standard stuff and would take more than 24 hours to do (the Shelburne Museum alone would easily take a day) but it's a useful guide.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Pants On Fire
OK, they did not really LIE, but all the weather forecasters got it wrong in predicting the amount of snow we would get Mon and Tues this week. We got several inches of snow but it was far short of the 7 to 14 inch range frequently mentioned in local media and online. Sleet was predicted and we did get some of that but it was not too bad. So, we'll be thankful for what we got and wait to see what comes.

Just picking Stowe snowmaking as an northern VT example, here is their snow report today:

Last 72 Hours 8-12"
Last 7 Days 13-23"
Season Total 82"

Snowmaking trail depth is 30" to 42" and natural snow trails are 12" to 18"

And picking Stratton snow and trail report as a typical southern VT ski area, they report one inch in the last 72 hours and a base depth of 12" to 34".

It's not the big snow winters we are accustomed to but we can work with it. Most alpine ski areas will have most of their trails open this weekend and some cross country areas in northern Vermont are starting to open.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Ice Bar at the Stowe Winter Carnival
The Stowe Winter Carnival is this coming weekend, Jan 19 - 21. One of the things you should make a note to see there is the ice bar being built next to Stowe's best known bar/nightclub, The Rusty Nail. It is located on Route 108, also called Mountain Road, the main road from the village out to the ski area.

About 20 tons of ice blocks are being used to build the 25 foot bar plus ice tables and chairs, two person ice throne, and a liquor luge (whatever that is) all inside eight foot tall ice walls. This bar was inspired by the winter carnival ice bars of Quebec, the Canadian province that shares a border with Vermont.

Here is a link to the Stowe Reporter newspaper which last week featured a front page photograph of the ice bar under construction. This link will be outdated in a few days when the next issue of the newspaper comes out. If you would like to see how the Quebecois do it, go to this link about the amazing Ice Hotel in Quebec City.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Free Get Out of Work Letter
From those wonderful folks at Stowe Resort, here is a letter to your employer explaining why you won't be able to come to work. They're so excited at Stowe with all the snow we have received, and how much more is expected, that they've gotten a little giddy I guess.

Today it snowed about three inches and we may get about another 12 inches between now and late Tuesday. This coming weekend should be excellent for skiing and other outdoor activities. Or use the letter to your employer and get here sooner!

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Breast Cancer Snowshoe Series
The Tubbs Snowshoe Company is sponsoring a series of snowshoeing events named "Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer" to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The first event is January 20 at Stratton Mountain in southern Vermont.

There are 3K and 5K casual walks plus a 3K Fun Run with prizes for the more fleet footed. Snowshoers of all ages and abilities are invited for the walks. Tubbs Snowshoe company will have 350 snowshoes free to use on a first come, first served basis. Or bring your own or rent.

For more information and to register online, click here.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Vermont Nature Photo
An misty winter day in Vermont . . .

I have written in this blog about "Megapickles, " one of my favorite Vermont websites, where I found the photo above. It's actually a photo blog by an unamed Burlington area college professor. I have a link to it in the left column of my blog.

This spectacular photo was taken near the town of Townshend, a little north of Brattleboro in the southern part of the state. I had to reduce the size, so to get a full appreciation of it, go to the web site at Megapickles Townshend

Weather Forecasting
Forecasting mountain weather must be very difficult. I've found that Vermont weather forecasts going out more than a couple of days are surprisingly inaccurate. Even the daily forecasts are often suspect. This morning, weather forecasts on the local radio stations called for snow showers morning and afternoon. It's been sunny all day.

Nevertheless, we all continue to look at forecasts. I check Weather Underground and weather.com

The most accurate local forecasting is done by Roger Hill. He has a website called Weathering Heights

Also, there is a Mad River Glen related weather blog I have started to read that seems very good: Single Chair Weather Blog. It is focused on Mad River Glen ski area but what it says holds true for most of north central Vermont.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

National Guard Mountain Exercises on Display
This Sat and Sun, the Mountain Infantry from the Vermont Army National Guard will be demonstrating their mountain skills and training at Mad River Glen Ski Area.

This is an annual event at Mad River Glen and open to the public to observe the training. The exercises include rock climbing, rappelling and winter bivouac at stations on the mountain.

Also, Mad River Glen is offering all active and retired military personnel 2-for-1 skiing lift tickets.

Mad River Glen relies mostly on natural snow. It only makes snow at the base elevation and on the beginners' slope. As a result, the mountain is not open this weekend but the beginners' area is.

If you go to the National Guard exercises, be sure to visit the General Stark Pub afterwards. Nothing fancy but I like its rustic pub atmosphere with wood beams and large stone fireplace.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Lots of Fresh Snow
At our location in north central Vermont, we received about one or two inches of snow yesterday and about another four inches today. Stowe Ski Resort reported receiving about eight inches today. Over the last week, they have received eight to 14 inches depending upon elevation. I could not find any other ski resort with a snow report for today. Most of them publish it the next day.

It looks like there is plenty of snow for the snowmobile, cross country ski, and snowshoe operations to get started again.

In a meeeting today with other inn owners in the Mad River Valley area (Sugarbush and Mad River Glen ski areas), it was a common experience that our guests were reporting good skiing from mid-mountain to the top. Thee were lots of compliments for Sugarbush working extra hard. The trails that were open were in good condition and a lot of snow making and grooming was taking place. Mad River Glen plans to reopen this weekend. More information to come later.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

Stowe Winter Carnival in 10 Days
The Stowe Winter Carnival is scheduled this year from January 19 to 21. The carnival, now in its 33rd year, features activities for both young and old, from zany sports events, Ice Carving Competitions, movies, Kids Carnival Kaos and the infamous Village Night Block Party.

"Tour the town, while watching Professional Ice Carvers create elegant and masterful Ice carvings throughout the village on Demonstration Day, and see the see the competition evolve at the 7th Annual NICA sanctioned Ice Carving Competition.

"Tourists and locals alike participate in such zany events such as our infamous SnowVolleyball Tournament, Stowe Super G Ski Race, Kids Carnival and our long-standing, ever popular Village Night Celebration Block party on Main St. There is something for everyone in the family as we become "The Stowe Must Go On."

Four Seasons In One Day
Today we started with snow, which changed to rain, then a little sleet, and finally in late afternoon the sun came out. The upper elevations at the ski areas have snow and it is certainly cold enough at night (high teens to mid 20 degrees F) to make snow and get it groomed. The forecast is for snow showers the next two days (light accumlations in other words) which should help the downhill skiing but probably won't be enough for other sports such as cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, etc. And it certainly has not been cold enough for outdoor skating or ice fishing.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Beautiful Weather . . . Unfortunately
Today the temperature reached 58 degrees F here. Combined with rain last night, we now have no snow at our location in north central Vermont. The elevation at our inn is 1050 feet. The upper elevations at the ski areas are still plenty white but the skiing is spring like. Some recent guests reported that Stowe and Sugarbush were "not great but OK." Some of them decided to try Jay Peak about an hour north of us and came back with an enthusiastic endorsement. Jay Peak traditionally gets more snow than any ski area in Vermont - about 350 inches per year.

If you are planning to come here for cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or sleigh ride, I would suggest planning other activities or postponing the trip for a while. Down hill skiing should continue to be OK. Temperatures next week are predicted to have highs in the mid-30's and night time temps in the teens. It will be even lower on the mountains so the ski areas should have no problem making snow at night.

We still have great scenery to see and indoor activities such as swimming and ice skating. Plus lots of great shops and restaurants. If you are planning to come for alpine skiing or just to take a break, I would still come. If you are planning to ski in southern VT, be sure to check on conditions before you hit the road.

We Have Snow!
During our usual slow season in Nov and early Dec, it was very mild weather here as it was throughout much of the eastern half of the country. But now the temps are back down to normal, the ski areas are able to make snow, and we've had some good natural snow. In fact, today it snowed most of the day and we received about seven or eight inches of dry, powdery snow.

We have enough snow now that the other types of winter activities besides downhill skiing are getting started. I've been getting emails from outfitters saying that they are starting up their cross country skiing, snowshoe, and snowmobile operations.

Excellent Airfare Search Service

I have found an airfare search engine site that is highly impressive and a very welcome new approach to finding a flight. Farecast is an independent web site you can use to research airline fares between 75 US cities. It's still in Beta (test) form but looks to be working fine with only a couple of minor bugs I experienced.

This is not an online booking site like Expedia. It's more of a search engine specifically for airline flights. However, there are links directly to each airline's web site reservation page so you can book directly with the airline. In case you are not aware, booking flights online will save you money compared to calling the airlines and booking with one of their agents.

Note that Farecast is free of charge for you to use. They have revenue from pay per click advertising, and it would not surprise me if the airlines pay them a small fee for each booking.

I found the search function very easy to use and the results came up quickly. Once in a while, the system will "hang" and the results never show. Just click another tab or the browser back button and then return to what you were looking for. Each time I did that, the results came up quickly.

There is an intriguing feature called Fare Prediction as shown in the illustration above. However, it does not always appear, notably if airfares have been stable recently on the particular route you are researching. If it does appear for your search, it will show if the lowest fare is likely to rise or drop over the next seven days.

Also, there is a feature called Fare History which charts the lowest fare observed each day for your trip, up to 90 days ago. In other words, it's as if you would have searched for your trip every day and plotted the lowest fare actually available. All this is based on more than 90 billion airfare observations based on real pricing and availability.

Airports in this region which are included in the database so far are: Burlington VT, Boston MA, Manchester NH, and Albany NY. Montreal is not yet listed.

One of the things I like best about this web site is that you don't have to specify dates of travel. That's always been a pet peeve of mine when dealing with other travel search web sites. Sometimes I just want to know which are the cheapest (or most expensive) times to travel to a particular destination. Farecast has solved this issue. If you are flexible with your schedule, or if you are just curious about how much flight costs can vary, you can research fare history between two airports.

The more I delve into this site, the more features and usability I discover. It is quite an amazing achievement. Please note that I have no connection with this web site and will not receive any compensation for mentioning it. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

(c) 2006 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

First Snow of the Season

This photo was taken today at Stowe.

Last Friday we received our first dose of snow for the year. We had just an inch of snow at our facility (1,050 feet in elevation) and it melted the next day. The higher elevations got quite a bit more and it's sticking. Bolton Valley Resort reported that they got five inches of snow last Friday. Stowe reports that they received a couple of feet of snow during the week. They posted some photos online today that show early season skiers getting their first runs in.

A lot of rain is in the forecast for this weekend but the high elevations will get more snow. We will not only have a white Christmas, we may be on the way to having a white Holloween.

It's time to start thinking about skiing. It's not too soon to check your equipment and see if you need anything. If you are going to be in this area tomorrow, you may find some equipment bargains at the Orage early season sale, 102 Kimball Avenue, South Burlington. Stowe Resort representatives will have a table there to sell discount season passes too.

Ski areas often have discounted season passes available on their websites. If you would like to ski this part of Vermont, got to the Stowe and Bolton links above, and also see Sugarbush and Mad River Glen. A comprehensive list of all the Vermont alpine and cross country ski centers is available at Vermont Ski Areas Association.

(c) 2006 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus