Vermont Travel Notes

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

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

" 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

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

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

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